White with white: late winter snowshoe hares

[chinook907]

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 ?  

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And a close up.

[chinook907]

And wouldn't you know it, another hunter.  Most of you are probably more familiar with his tracks.

[chinook907]

Ah, there's one !  Think you could get an arrow through that ?  

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.

[chinook907]

Sorry about the sideways pics, photobucket is messing with me.

[chinook907]

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.
 

This guy got into the hole at his feet and out of sight before (you guessed it) I got the bow up.
 

[chinook907]

I have brought some home with me      
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[bretto]

Nice pics. It was 83 degrees here today. It looks like winter is still hanging on up there.

bretto

[chinook907]

I'll add more (a lot more) to this later  

[GRAYBEARD]

Great Post! Thanks!

[chinook907]

Thanks Bretto.  Yes we'll have snow for at least another month, we still have 2-3 feet most places.

[JV Rooster]

Nice pics. Looks cold up there!

[drewsbow]

inversion boots  

[ron w]

Really neat....was the first track a Lynx?

[Night Wing]

Nice report with some very nice photos.

[Ken Taylor]

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.

[chinook907]

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.

[chinook907]

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.

[chinook907]

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.

[chinook907]

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.

[chinook907]

End of a great day.


These guys have some big hoppers, and here's my current set-up of choice.