Trad Gang

I know our small game seaon has been going since September 1st but man o man was the NY Deer hunting thread enjoyable and informative.I really enjoyed seeing what others were experiencing across the state.Why not start a small game thread to go throuh the end of the season.I may have a start before dark as the squirrels are tearing up my bag target in the yard.   :banghead:

Is baiting allowed LOL!!!!! The tree rats are playing hell with the bird feeder.....  :rolleyes:

I saw a porcupine back in October...brought back some old memories from last year; too many to actually take one again though...

Great thread idea, Izzy...

Well Pilgram..... Are you SURE you can skin porky?????

I saw a lot of porkys this year but they stink to damn bad to put an arrow through.Been tempted by tree rats all deer season but never let go on one.Now Ive got bunnies on the brain.

Chuck,
Thanks to one guy I know, as fast as I can hit 'em.

Izzy,
Ain't it the truth. And I'm thinking bunnnnnny! all day long...

All I can think about are bun buns too.  I hope to spend a lot of time looking for them.

I have a few train tracks close by,

The edges look like great rabbit territory.  Is it illegal to walk along the edge of the woods along the tracks?  Does it depend on what typs of trains use the tracks? If it's only freight lines and not Amtrak maybe I can get away with it.

I know Bowspirit can skin a porcupine.  Ask him how they taste.

I have squirrels in the yard too, but how about the woods/ are they out in the snow much?

Did somebody say "bunnies"? OMG the best thread of the year will start at 12 midnight!

Happy New Year Everyone!

... mike ...  :archer:  ...

I've heard some rumblin's, waiting to see what it's all about.  Won't lie and say I have shot my bow since archery ended.  Got a real nice 10 point with the gun, and a few grouse with the Fox Sterlingworth.  Might have to start shooting the bow again though.

I've been calling for predators and out for squirrel and rabbits when the time allows.

I'll be looking at some good squirrel woods tomorrow, giving myself a birthday present.

Sunday is rabbits with Shawn.  I have to get over there now as I'm going to miss the Saturday of the big hunt.  Can't miss a hunt with the huntmaster hisownself when the invite comes out....  I'll be bringing my St. Judes donations with me in case I don't get back.

I havent been out in the woods since the close of deer season. I hope to get out this weekend.

Cool thread. I think if everyone shares a tip now and then, it will help everyone else out.

Gotta tell ya... Anytime afield with your bow is good. Hunting small game like bunnies and tree rats with trad gear is great! Lots of fun and a nice social event to boot. Sometimes I think deer hunting is over rated...  :rolleyes:

Then, that's just me.

... mike ...

Tip #1!!! Get to Shawns, after that everything else is just practice and a warm up.I know what your saying Mikey but dang I just cant get myself to loose an arra on a bunny when I know theres venison afoot.I gotta say though, the little critters are more "FUN" than deer when you consider deer hunting a way of life or a lifestyle.

Joe and I have been getting the beagle pups started, Buster really turned on yesterday. I'm hoping to put an arrow through a bunny before seasons end or at least part way through   :bigsmyl:

Nothing like hunting rabbits with or without a dog. I must be a great hunter it seems like 6 shots or more for every rabbit taken. I am outside of Franklin NY and not that many rabbits left after the coyote have dinner. We have till Feb 28 to get out there and shoot a few arrows.

Bunnie, Bunnies everywhere. I have been out 4 times and the least I saw was 5 and I was only out 20 minutes. I saw 19 in about an hour the other day!! The thread has begun and bunnies beware!! Gonna hunt some yotes tonight with the bow as well! Sunday warm up at my house 1pm. Shawn

I got a couple skweeeers earlier in the season and have been out after bunnies some with no luck yet.  (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v639/drewsbow/hdycvcvrccv015.jpg)   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v639/drewsbow/hdycvcvrccv021.jpg)

I got some time yesterday to chase some rabbits in the second half of the day. I jumped five and got two running shots. Missed both shots but boy was that was fun. I jumped them all in grass fields rather than in the brush piles and thick hedge rows that I usually do. I am hoping to make my first running harvest shot this year.

Say,I was just reading a post from Shawn Leonard about his annual memorial bunny hunt,sounds like a great cause and hunt. I would like to make plans to attend this event, does anyone know what part of the state that the hunt is held in.
Thanks, Brian

Hooper, its just below Albany in a town called Selkirk. People come from all over the state, so check his thread now and then and you might even be able to arrange a carpooling thing....

I worked last night and got home 6am this morning. My plans are to time in Penn St/LSU because I'm heading out back for some afternoon rabbit chasing.
2" of packed snow, heavy briars...can't wait.    :readit:    :cool:

Joe Sounds like a good afternoon.

How is the rabbit hunting on days like today (High winds)?

Hooper cant tell you from experience but from what I've heard you won't regret the JLMBH.

Bought some adder heads today, I figure for 4.50 per six count what the heck.  I'd spend half that on washers any way!  besides the local hardware store didn't have any washers to fit.

Anyone use these before?

The adders work well, and take some punishment.

All set for tomorrow and the warm up. Hope to have hero pics for this thread...

Oops ,sorry I didnt read it was a NY Thread. My bad....  :o

That's ok Richard, we welcome all!  besides when i come back To Wi I''ll show you some of the best squirrels around.  I have a Big River bow being built in WI Rapids as we speak.   Usually make it back once a year hopefully twice a year as soon as I have more vac time.

Come to NY and you can post your story and pics   :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

Well I got my first hooper of 2010 this afternoon. I hunted behind my house and must of walked 100 miles and didn't see or jump a one until I entered my backyard,don't that figure. Caught him sitting in the hedgerow between me and my neighbors. Shot him sitting at about 10yrds and thought about jumping him for a running shot but it was just to dam close to dinner time and I was starving so I took the safe shot. ( LOL ). I have had 5 running shots so far and missed them all, hoping this year to get one on the run.

ishiwannabe - Thanks for the response to my question and I can't wait to see some of those hero pic's.

(http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp235/BRIAN845_2008/100_1119.jpg)

Hooper ya ought to come!! Last year we had people from 11 states and so far this year we are up to 7 states and Canada as well. It is a blast!! Shawn

Nice bunny! I have managed to get three over the years, and the one running shot I made was pure luck! Sitting or running, a tough critter to take with a bow.

Shawn- Thanks, I am planning on attending. Sounds like you have a good pocket of hoopers there. Reminds of Chaumont Bay in the islands. Looking forward to meeting you and the other Trade Gang members.

How is the rabbit hunting on days like today (High winds)?  

I'm not trying to talk myself out of today but would like to know for days that are windy and I have an extra couple hours.

Do they just hide or can you catch them out!  I was thinking they might be out on steep hillsides out of the wind.

Well done Hooper.I've never hit one on the run either.But like Jamie said,they can be tough to get whether they're gittin' or sittin'.

Awesome Hooper.Good bunny there.Charles any weather is good if you have actual brushpile dens or really any type of structure where theyll live.You gotta do some convincing to get them out but if its their den theyre gonna be there at all times other than feeding.Get them moving from their dens and theyll usually stop for a second probably in brush where you cant shoot but they will stop many times.

Planning out how next Sunday is going down already!  It involves flinging arrows at rabbits.  Anyone else?

I can't wait to see what these adders will do to a rabbit.  They look kinda mean.

After the bunny hunt warm up I still have bunny fever.I went out with my trusty mutt today close to home.He will only follow and will not walk ahead of me so I wind up busting all the brush piles myself when I hunt him.I managed to jump one today and missed another "Thread The Needle" shooting through a blowdown,missed that sucker by only a hair from 10 yards.He ran up the hill and all my dog would do is watch me to see what I was going to do. Man,,Im sure glad I was alone that was an embarrasing set of circumstances.Ill keep on trying to show him to see that theres more to life than laying on the couch and being spoiled by mama and the kids but man its gonna take some work. On the bright side I got a lot of stumping in and didnt loose any arrows.  

Izzy,

The rabbit hunt last weekend was a blast, it only fueled my fire.  If I were to take my dog, he would walk at my heels and then when I jump something he is fast enough to catch it.  He brought a rabbit home about in November that he caught in the back yard.  It was still warm.  I've seen him catch up to squirrels many times.  Sometimes I wonder who the dog is.

It was great meeting you!

Embarrassing or not you made an awesome shot at the JLMBH last year, just watched the video.

Good luck!

Charles,we'll have to bring the mutts out together once or twice.Maybe mine will learn something.

Ha ha, mine wears a cute coat, since he is half bald (no hair on his belly)  Perhaps we can send them into the feild and sit at the house and shoot the $+*?.  Ok I don't want stinky arrows maybe just a target or two.   :biglaugh:

Are you attending the January MHTA shoot?  You can see my new bow.  in fact if you are impatient you can PM me your e-mail and I will forward some pics.

I'm just about ready to remove all my broadheads and install them there bunny busters.  :D  That makes me smile. Small game with a longbow is sooooooo relaxin' and fun.

... mike ...  :archer:  ...

Izzy we will bring Molly and Max with your dog. He will learn from them!! Molly is a freak, she has more energy and the best nose I have ever seen. I don't want her hunting bunnies as she is strictly my bird dog but she will run a muck with your dog! Me and Meat are heading out at 3:30 tomorrow for a quick bunny hunt, hopefully he will get his first kill, I saw 7 in the yard this afternoon!! We are gonna do the school push and the horse pasture push, lots of bunnies in both spots! OOOOHHHHHH YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Shawn

Hope to get out next week...small game arras are all ready...gonna break in the new Toelke Whip

I just wanted to introduce myself, I'm new to the Tradgang from NY. Been reading threads for awhile, and like the camaraderie. I've been trying to get out for some tree rats and some bunnies, but I've been sidelined with the flue for the last week and a half.  If I get some pictures, I'll be sure to post. Have fun-Sean Bleakley

That's a Booner if I ever saw one.....

Welcome Sean,  

You are living in a great place!  I miss the Hudson Valley,  There are a lot of great people from that area.  Looking forward to your pics and hope you are feeling better.

I love small game hunting.  I run rabbits a few times per week in Dutchess county ny with my beagles. I run them all year long. I have 3 good hunters right now & 3 pups to start from a litter born this past summer. Mostly not with bow but I have gotten a few with bow over the years. All the rabbits I shoot must be circled by the dogs, no jump shooting or strays allowed. Most times after a 1/2 hour of being pushed the rabbits just hop by slowly as they are getting tired & the shooting is not that hard. The older I get the more I prefer this to deer hunting.  Mike

Guys, come to my bunny hunt in Feb. The Joan Leonard Memorial Bunny Hunt!! Great time and great hunt.Last year we took over 400 shots and killed 19 bunnies in 2 days of hunting! Shawn

Thanks Charlie,

Shawn-I may take you up on that, I just have to see if I can get the days off from work.

Went Looking for rabbits today with Ron W.  Didn't see much wildlife but a had a great time.  I even went home with the same amount of arrows I went with. (almost didn't. The weather was great and its good to get out!

Thanks Ron had a blast!

Did I mention there is now some dead stumps and one dead blue tub in the woods.   :thumbsup:

Good for you and Ron.I took the dog out today.He chased one that I didnt get a shot at and did a lot of investigating near the burrows and brush piles so there is hope for him.Got some stumping in as well, did a lot of close shooting again and Im ready for the big hunt.

Charlie, did you forget the deer you saw....of course I did not see them...lol!

Guys going out tomorrow, should do well. I have a couple good spots!  :rolleyes:  Hopefully a couple dead bunnies tomorrow!! I will post when I get in!! Shawn

Did you get any rabbits??

Yeah I remember the deer Butts.  I thought it was cool wall=king across the empty Mohawk even though the island was fruitless.  Just approaching it I could have swore it was full of game.

Shawn, You're supposed to hit them in the head LOL.

Izzy, are you coming Friday?

I saw 2 rabbits and 2 grouse today! Never got a shot though,  My Dog never saw anything but found a dead mouse!

Perhaps he's the better hunter since he actually found some food.   :biglaugh:

Nice day to be out regardless.

Looking for bunnies in the AM!

Keep ya posted

3 dead rabbits!  Cheated though. Never would have had a chance at any with a bow.

Still pulling out thorns but the pot pie will be worth it.

Come on fellas, screw on the Hex heads and throw on your brush pants its that time again. Ohhhhhh Yeahhhhh. Feel free to post any pic of what diminutive creatures youve brought to bag this season. Please no domestic turkeys though. You know who you are DD.   :D

This guy really took exception to me shooting a decent buck with my longbow and was scolding me worse than my mother after an opossum woke up and got out of the house freezer. Well, I couldn't just stand there and be cussed at like a school boy and proceeded to let him know that I was the apex predator in that neck of the woods.  He tasted pretty good!

 (http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m84/TJReceveur/LBSquirrel.jpg)

Did anybody notice that the pheasant season goes until 2/28 now? Or was that a mistake on the DEC website..... as I recall, it's usually over a lot earlier.

Mine says "Feb. 28" on the downloadable chart, so that's what it is.  But I can't think of the last time I saw a pheasant when actually hunting small game.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/huntingseassummary.pdf

Usually I spot them walking alongside the road as I'm driving to work just after the season closes.  Much like deer.  

I'll be going out to pester some bunnies this weekend (I hope).

My brittany just did the happy dance.

Are there rabbits in New York?  :laughing:  


David

David

"probably not"  I think the JLMBH thinned them out 2 years ago.

Say, here's something I noticed last year and again this year.  Where I hunt bunnies there is a powerline right-of-way and a few "logging" roads.  The rabbits are using the deep tire ruts as travel lanes.  I have never noticed this anywhere else.  We do have a lot of coyotes, and also redtail and goshawk (also just started seeing these latter hawks) are hunting the area heavy (including our bantam chickens!).

Just tossing this out.  I now scan the ruts as well as the base of bushes and grass hummocks as I move along.

I want to go hunt wabbits too!!!!!