Trad Gang

Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Pryor on January 21, 2016, 11:46:00 AM

Title: Rabbits.....The ultimate prey
Post by: Pryor on January 21, 2016, 11:46:00 AM
Been a real good year for the rabbits on the western slope.  I have been out chasing them with my Montana, but have not been able to connect.  I usually get between 4 and 6 shots a hunt between 7 and 20 yards.  Probably shot 30 times with no success.  I will get home and shoot at the target and am lethal to 12 yards.  Dang rabbits have a force field around them. Almost broke out the 22 this morning, but couldn't make my self.
Title: Re: Rabbits.....The ultimate prey
Post by: maineac on January 21, 2016, 11:54:00 AM
I cut my archery teeth on cottontails in Massachusetts.  Fun animal to hunt!  They take an accurate shot for sure. Aim small miss small.
Title: Re: Rabbits.....The ultimate prey
Post by: Kingstaken on January 21, 2016, 12:51:00 PM
When drawing on them just pick one hair not the whole hare.     :laughing:
Title: Re: Rabbits.....The ultimate prey
Post by: JEFF B on January 21, 2016, 01:21:00 PM
my fav they are awesome to shoot and eat but i miss more than i get and when i do get em they taste even better   :biglaugh:
Title: Re: Rabbits.....The ultimate prey
Post by: A.S. on January 21, 2016, 01:26:00 PM
Our group of misfit trad archers are having our annual bunny hunt next weekend. I can't wait!  

I too, was raised hunting rabbits. Hearing and watching beagles do their thing is one of the best parts!
Title: Re: Rabbits.....The ultimate prey
Post by: mcgroundstalker on January 21, 2016, 01:26:00 PM
If you aim at their eye, and miss... You'll hit 'em in the head!

...  :archer2:  ...
Title: Re: Rabbits.....The ultimate prey
Post by: M60gunner on January 21, 2016, 02:46:00 PM
Rabbits are what me and my friends cut our hunting teeth on. Started with Whamo slingshots, lemon wood LB's, pellet guns, before moving to .22's and shotguns. Many of my best memories are of hunting rabbits with my dad and my buddies.
Is one thing I really miss about my growing up days.
Title: Re: Rabbits.....The ultimate prey
Post by: Caughtandhobble on January 21, 2016, 03:23:00 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Kingstaken:
When drawing on them just pick one hair not the whole hare.      :biglaugh:    :biglaugh:    :biglaugh:
Title: Re: Rabbits.....The ultimate prey
Post by: Richard Rounds on January 21, 2016, 03:48:00 PM
 (http://i1284.photobucket.com/albums/a567/rbrounds1/fox%20hare%20026_zpspph16i3g.jpg) (http://s1284.photobucket.com/user/rbrounds1/media/fox%20hare%20026_zpspph16i3g.jpg.html)

Hares are my favorite....here's one from this morning   :)
Title: Re: Rabbits.....The ultimate prey
Post by: on January 21, 2016, 04:10:00 PM
Sorry my internet is winking out on me today
Title: Re: Rabbits.....The ultimate prey
Post by: monterey on January 21, 2016, 04:11:00 PM
James, what part of Colorado are you in?

We got into good bunnies last Jan north of Craig.  Can't get anyone fired up to go this year.  We did pretty good, mainly cause the snow was just right.

Keep at it, you will start connecting.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Rabbits.....The ultimate prey
Post by: on January 21, 2016, 04:11:00 PM
Valuable hunting tip.  Find a big thick messy farm grove by a farm with a friendly dog.  Load up your back quiver with harmless looking HTM wood arrows, take your basic hickory or Hill style longbow, get a PIZZA RANCH gift card, show it all to the farmer with a very big 'please oh please'.   Most of the time they say go ahead and will not accept the gift card.  Then you go to the next farm and do the same.  do this until you find one that accepts the gift card.  By then you have more acres of prime bunny habitat to hunt than you can cover in a winter.  ps. Don't follow me to my groves.  There is a large block of farms that really like their big groves 20 miles from me.  I find the farmers do not want two things in their groves, a bunch of hunters with guns and  or too many rabbits.
Title: Re: Rabbits.....The ultimate prey
Post by: Iowabowhunter on January 21, 2016, 04:16:00 PM
I need to get out and chase them more, USPS is worthless however. Somehow takes 3 days to ship a package from a destination 4 hours away.

I could have walked there by now!!!!
Title: Re: Rabbits.....The ultimate prey
Post by: Pryor on January 21, 2016, 06:13:00 PM
They have been thick this year.  The guy I go with uses his 22, and rabbits only count if you hit them in the head. Its good he is around or I wouldn't be eating any rabbit. I have shaved a few hares, but can't get it done. Mostly just like driving the desert early in the morning.  I am lucky to have endless public land to explore right at my fingertips.
Title: Re: Rabbits.....The ultimate prey
Post by: WESTBROOK on January 21, 2016, 06:34:00 PM
Pryor, when I lived out there, we used to hunt up near Maybell. In a good year they would keep ya busy, lots of rocks though..wanto have plety of arrows.
Title: Re: Rabbits.....The ultimate prey
Post by: monterey on January 21, 2016, 07:23:00 PM
Richard, that pic brings back memories.  My very first game taken with a bow was a snowshoe.  That was in Michigan.  We have them here in CO but it takes some serious searching to find a pocket of them.

Here's a few from last year.  They look small, and they are.  They are a sub species call the Nuttalls and that is as big as they get.  They live in the sagebrush where you would expect to find jack rabbits.

 (http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac170/longcruise/Hunting%20Pics/elk%202015/WP_20150106_002_zpsvjgy7n6r.jpg)

When we do see jacks they are usually the jackelope sub species.

  (http://www.wired.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/jackalope1-feat.jpg)
Title: Re: Rabbits.....The ultimate prey
Post by: joe ashton on January 22, 2016, 12:41:00 AM
Did not see a single rabbit yesterday but will try again tomorrow.
Title: Re: Rabbits.....The ultimate prey
Post by: Mark R on January 22, 2016, 03:44:00 PM
Ahh Rabbits,first thing I ever hunted for,I need to find me a good Beagle
Title: Re: Rabbits.....The ultimate prey
Post by: Kingstaken on January 22, 2016, 04:13:00 PM
I reckon would be easier to hunt just one of these. Might need a bigger braodhead though.   :laughing:  

 (http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q93/Kingtaken/Giant-Rabbit.jpg) (http://s134.photobucket.com/user/Kingtaken/media/Giant-Rabbit.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Rabbits.....The ultimate prey
Post by: bofish-IL on January 22, 2016, 04:23:00 PM
Our local club is having our annual rabbit hunt this Saturday. We use to have a great place to hunt. Place was over run with rabbits 24 bow hunters on one hunt killed 48 one day and 24 another year.

Like all great things it ended when the ground was sold. .
Title: Re: Rabbits.....The ultimate prey
Post by: Roadkill on January 23, 2016, 09:39:00 PM
I agree with shooting at the eye, if you miss, the arrow impacting on the other side of them will sometimes come back your way.  I have also had them freeze, get the next one on target.  I love rabbit hunting.  I also make a wad of red yarn with lengths of 12 inches.  When I shoot and miss, I keep my eye on the bunny and toss the yarn on the nearest bush.  Makes it easier to recover your arrows.