Its WABBIT season.

Thumper Dunker · July 04, 2012, 03:11:00 AM

Our cotton tail season opend on the first of july. Had to work on the opener . But that was ok I have a hot spot all to myself.Finaly got out this after noon . Took me almost 90 minutes to get my five bunnies.

Theres still lots of them out there.

After i got my bunnies I spent the rest of the after noon scaring the ground squirrels. Getting close to coyote chasing time.

Night Wing · July 04, 2012, 05:49:00 AM

Nice harvest of cottontail rabbits.

Here in Texas where I live, one really can't bowhunt rabbits until after the first frost. Our rabbits have worm parasites burrowing in the meat due to the extreme summer heat. We call these worms, "wolves".

Goshawkin · July 04, 2012, 09:41:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by Night Wing:
one really can't bowhunt rabbits until after the first frost. Our rabbits have worm parasites burrowing in the meat due to the extreme summer heat

Same here.

Shedrock · July 04, 2012, 09:45:00 AM

Good shootin' Thumper!

twitchstick · July 04, 2012, 09:50:00 AM

Love hunting bunny's:clapper:

smokin joe · July 04, 2012, 09:50:00 AM

We're all coming to your house for rabbit stew.
Yum.

rastaman · July 04, 2012, 10:45:00 AM

Fried rabbit, bisquits, and gravy! Way to go sir!

kindor · July 04, 2012, 10:51:00 AM

What kind of bow is that your shooting all those rabbits with?

LBshooter2 · July 04, 2012, 10:55:00 AM

I thought you didn't want to eat rabbits in the summer due to parasites? Is that just a wivestail or what?

Mike Mecredy · July 04, 2012, 11:24:00 AM

I grew up in Northern California and we frequently had temps of 100 or more and we started hunting on the opener on July 1st. We never had a problem with anything when it came to eating cottontails. I suppose other places may have. But since I left California, I've killed and eaten cottontails in New Mexico before the frost and here in Idaho before the frost. And in all three places we were told not to, and never had any problems at all.

As well, never known anyone to get sick. I have been told by everyone that said I would get sick they they all knew someone who ate a rabbit and it made them sick or killed them. But I'm thinking if that many people were effected there would be something on the news about it, or a big shortage of hunters.

ChrisM · July 04, 2012, 11:27:00 AM

Thumper do you call or just spot and stalk?

centaur · July 04, 2012, 12:03:00 PM

Or sit on a bait pile of carrots?

Thumper Dunker · July 04, 2012, 12:30:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by ChrisM:
Thumper do you call or just spot and stalk?

Both. I use the call to make them stand up for a better shot but they will come to you. Not so much the cotton tails but a buck jack rabbit is a real sucker to being called in.

ChrisM · July 04, 2012, 12:32:00 PM

Is the call a distress call?

Thumper Dunker · July 04, 2012, 12:43:00 PM

Just a soft short baaa. The call in the picture is my lucky old fawn call.It has taken tons of stuff from crows to coyotes and one bobcat.For rabbits use happy sounds so they will come in to see whats going on.Never have called in a ground squirrel got to work on that. :rolleyes:

Grey Taylor · July 04, 2012, 01:39:00 PM

Ground squirrels come in pretty good to almond calls. But there aren't many folks making calls that sound like almonds so it can be tough.

California has those wolves, too. They're the grub state of a certain fly. Ugly and disgusting to find in a rabbit but it doesn't hurt the meat.
Tularemia is an issue with some rabbits but if they're thoroughly cooked even an infected rabbit is safe to eat. But if a rabbit appears sick or lethargic I'd probably still let it go.
There are a lot of legends about rabbit fever out there but there is also some good information on state game sites as well as health agency sites to dispell the myths.

Guy

RedShaft · July 04, 2012, 03:03:00 PM

Wish we could hunt stuff like that rite now. that be awsome! nice shooting!

wildwood · July 04, 2012, 05:15:00 PM

on calling ground squirrels. if you miss and they duck down try making a kissing sound on the back of your hand. Sometimes they will pop back up.but it only works once usually. so aim small

Cyclic-Rivers · July 04, 2012, 09:52:00 PM

Rabbits are all over here right now. Cant hunt them till Fall.

Good shooting!

eminart · July 04, 2012, 11:08:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Mike Mecredy:
I grew up in Northern California and we frequently had temps of 100 or more and we started hunting on the opener on July 1st. We never had a problem with anything when it came to eating cottontails. I suppose other places may have. But since I left California, I've killed and eaten cottontails in New Mexico before the frost and here in Idaho before the frost. And in all three places we were told not to, and never had any problems at all.

As well, never known anyone to get sick. I have been told by everyone that said I would get sick they they all knew someone who ate a rabbit and it made them sick or killed them. But I'm thinking if that many people were effected there would be something on the news about it, or a big shortage of hunters.

If you ever see one of those "wolves" which are bot fly larvae, you won't WANT to eat it, although I'm sure it's safe. I still have nightmares about one crawling out of a squirrel I killed as a kid.