I sure love playing cat 'n mouse with these guys with my stickbow. Here's some pics from a few afternoons the last few weeks.
Not the only hunter through this patch today, somebody beat me to it. Any guesses ?
(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/rszdlynxtrail.jpg)
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And a close up.
(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/rszdlynxprints.jpg)
And wouldn't you know it, another hunter. Most of you are probably more familiar with his tracks.
(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/rszdcoytrail.jpg)
Ah, there's one ! Think you could get an arrow through that ?
(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/rszdbunny1.jpg)
I didn't, he ran off before I got the camera put away and the bow up. Lucky for the bunnies (especially this one) I probably like taking their pics more than I like eating them.
Sorry about the sideways pics, photobucket is messing with me.
Found a great spot where they have holes that get them under downed trees that are buried in the snow. Trick is to get them and stop them before they duck into the hole. Here's one of their "entry" holes, you can imagine the tunnel they have under this downed spruce.
(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/rszdbunnyhole1-1.jpg)
This guy got into the hole at his feet and out of sight before (you guessed it) I got the bow up.
(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/rszdbunnyopen2-1.jpg)
I have brought some home with me ;)
.
(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/rszdbunnyhang1b.jpg)
Nice pics. It was 83 degrees here today. It looks like winter is still hanging on up there.
bretto
I'll add more (a lot more) to this later :campfire:
Great Post! Thanks!
Thanks Bretto. Yes we'll have snow for at least another month, we still have 2-3 feet most places.
Nice pics. Looks cold up there!
inversion boots :wavey:
Really neat....was the first track a Lynx?
Nice report with some very nice photos.
Beautiful!
But that snow sure gobbles up arrows, eh!
I was out chasing ptarmigan over the weekend and kept an eye out for snowshoes but didn't see any.
I say chasing because we were hit by an unusual warm spell last week and most of the ptarmigan moved further north. The very few that remained were so nervous from being shot at all winter that they would flush at 50 yards and more.
Ron - you got it, an ok sized lynx.
Ken - Yes I am always looking for the next best small game set-up that doesn't go too far through the snow. Am liking scorpios right now behind a blunted snuffer for bunnies. Hope to get out Saturday for ptarmigan, the last day of the season.
Would you try this shot ? I did, and stuck my blunted snuffer into the alder under the snow where it curves to block his shoulder. Shoulda took an after pic. The head came out of the alder easily though.
(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/rszdbunnyheadmiss.jpg)
It was a lot of fun getting this guy, tough shot, fairly long for bunnies (~20 yards), and most of his body obscured. You win some you lose some.
(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/rszdbunnyhng1.jpg)
Another one wondering whether I see him or not. Part of the game is to try and move like you don't see them, while you get closer or move for a clear shot.
(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/rszdbunnyopen.jpg)
End of a great day.
(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/rszdbunnyhang3-1.jpg)
These guys have some big hoppers, and here's my current set-up of choice.
(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/rszdsnufferbunfeet-1.jpg)
Real cool stuff.
Thanks for the day trip...
Nice set up...
great shooting and a very cool small game head :thumbsup:
Tim, where in AK were you hunting? I grew up in Fairbanks. Sure do miss it up there...
Very nice pictures and post, and some great shooting, congrats.
-Jay
Good going!
Thanks for the blunted Snuffer idea! Got some old ones I'll fix up before next winter.
These days I shoot my scappy arrows tipped with a variety of blunts on risky shots and then shoot judos on shots with backstops of some sort or places where I think that I have a better chance of finding the arrow.
And I have to remember to make more of an effort to take some pictures too!
Thanks for taking us along and sharing. A couple of my rabbit hunting buddys were in the U.P. of Michigan hunting them last week. It was 77°F and no snow. They had to switch up the dogs because they were getting to hot.
Thanks guys.
Archie- I'm in Kenai, but lived in Fairbanks for 10 years, still go back once or twice a year.
Ken- ever tried snaros for ptarmigan ? I've just used rubber blunts and they work, but I'm hoping the snaros will be better in the snow, and maybe even try some aerial shots if I get in to them.
Tracker - that doesn't describe things here. The snow is still pretty deep for dogs, especially a beagle. When there's decent numbers of bunnies it works pretty well being your own dog, although hunting with someone else is usually more productive.
Archie- A lot of the pics are in Sterling.
I love chasing snowshoes! Thanks for sharing.
That looks like a ton of fun. I've never considered hunting any kind of bunnies with a bow until I joined this forum. I usually chase them with a hawk, but I may have to try it with a bow this coming season.
thanks ,cool looking head also, gib
Nice pics
Great Hunt, Great Shooting, Great Post!
Thanks for taking us along
Thanks for sharing! Looks like a lynx track in the first pic?
Brings back good memories of my Alaska days... Loved hunting those buggers. Thanks a bunch for sharing!! todd
That looks like a blast!
Awesome pics, thanks !!! :thumbsup:
awsome pictues and hunt, if those bunnies taste as good as the cottontails we have here in Illinois you have some fine table goodies . I like to deep fry like chicken.
Timothy - I've only used judos and blunts for ptarmigan. I usually use my 71# longbow and the rubber blunts do a good job with that weight of bow at the ranges we normally shoot them at.
When snowshoes are too close I sometimes get a pass through if I hit them broadside in the chest.
Rubber blunts get through brush better than judos and don't penetrate as much as metal blunts so they are actually the small game head I use the most.
Thats awesome,thanks for the beautiful pics
They look like perfect game for the bow. Good shootin Tim.
Thanks for sharing. My favorite animal to hunt when I grew up in Northern MI.
Woodamon - yes, the first tracks are lynx, the other tracks are coyote.
Lin - Thanks. And please, no close scrutiny on my metal work on the snuffer, its right out of the Pleistocene, especially compared to your abilities.
really cool. I love chas'n bunnies
you want a really good grouse/hare head. a 357 case with a large HTM blunt (I think the are called barta blunts now).
For hares you dont need that case. For grouse you most certainly do!
If you try them, you'll want to remove the extractor rims. Pretty simple on a belt sander....even with a file it goes quick. Slide the blunt on and your done.
The other plus in snow, a huge hole for 'arrow trackn'. Shove an arrow in the previous shot hole and keep working it down till it buts up to the nock. Think of the blunt like a wadcutter in snow ;) .
Next time you're up this way holler Tim! I Havent bothered with bunnies in awhile, keep kicking it around...usually too busy looking for the cats when I find the hares.
Thanks Dan. I've used different blunts when the snow isn't as deep, but this setup is pretty sweet, and they don't go far if at all. But I may go to some blunts shortly the way the snow is melting all of a sudden. Thanks for the invite, I'll definitely keep it in mind next time I head up. Thanks again.