I went "rabbit" hunting over Christmas break with my terrier, Weasel. (Here in Maine, they refer to Snowhoe hares as rabbits, even though they are hares.) I went out one day and she ran several of these hares, but she doesn't bark while on the trail. The problem is that she has so much white on here, I'm not positive which one is the dog most of the time when these rabbits run through the fir tree thickets. I fixed this by putting a bell on her collar. We ended up getting 2 hares.They turned white at the beginning of December. We had about 6" of snow for awhile which made them hard to see. Then it rained after Christmas and made it very easy to see them. Very cold now, but still no snow.
This photo is the first one. They look as big as the dog, but they weigh only about 3-4 pounds, Weasel weighs 11.
It's pretty funy to see her grab them by the throat after the shot, when they kick and flop around, they drag her along. LOL. If anybody else was around to see me laughing, they would probably think I was completely crazy. (Maybe I am)
Here in Western Canada we call those "bush rabbits". Populations are cyclic. Some years you can walk all day without seeing one, other years then run ahead of you by the dozens.
Ted
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Life's tough... It's even tougher if you're stupid. John Wayne
Here in Western Canada we call those "bush rabbits". Populations are cyclic. Some years you can walk all day without seeing one, other years then run ahead of you by the dozens.
Ted
Their population goes up and down here too. I've never seen them get so many that they run ahead of me, but this is definitely a year with more than usual.
I put these in the crock-pot with potatoes, onions and carrots. Very good and tender.
Many youngsters here, myself included, started their rifle hunting by shooting these with a 22 rimfire. Lots of fun. I have not shot one in decades though.
Ted
-- Edited by M12Shooter on Tuesday 3rd of January 2012 06:10:35 PM
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Life's tough... It's even tougher if you're stupid. John Wayne
We don't have any hares here that I am aware of but the hill billies (cotton tails) and swamp rabbits (Jack rabbits) are plentiful. We run them with beagles in briar thickets. They can sure make a fellow with a gun look silly.
Good shooting and great eating I am sure.
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"If money can fix it, it ain't broke" The great theologian and my crow hunting partner AW.
I use an orange collar and bell on my basset when we hunt. In the deep snow I have to make sure the bell stays cleaned out. If it packs full it stops ringing.
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I use an orange collar and bell on my basset when we hunt. In the deep snow I have to make sure the bell stays cleaned out. If it packs full it stops ringing.
Welcome to the forum and thanks for the suggestion of keeping snow out of the bell. I had not thought of that problem.
You can buy orange dog vest at Walmart for like ten dollars if you are having trouble telling your dog apart. I use a bell also but I have beagles. Put bells on because they say coyotes will stay away with a bell. Does it work? I don't know but my dogs have not been eaten yet. LOL
You can buy orange dog vest at Walmart for like ten dollars if you are having trouble telling your dog apart. I use a bell also but I have beagles. Put bells on because they say coyotes will stay away with a bell. Does it work? I don't know but my dogs have not been eaten yet. LOL
I've seen the vests at WalMart, but they were all too big. Even the "toy size." Her chest is only 4" in diameter.
We have tons of coyotes here too. Especially in the cedar swamp where I hunt these rabbit. I thought of the bell and the sound possibly spooking the coyotes. I hope it works, Weasel would make an easy snack for a coyote.
Yep a red hear i do hunt cottontails & swap rabbits to with my beagle Sparkie Use the Rem 20ga 870 or Benelli 20ga. Use Imp cly choke with 7 1/2 in thick stuff. More on fince rows pasure fileds near by use 5 shot mod
Yep a red hear i do hunt cottontails & swap rabbits to with my beagle Sparkie Use the Rem 20ga 870 or Benelli 20ga. Use Imp cly choke with 7 1/2 in thick stuff. More on fince rows pasure fileds near by use 5 shot mod
I wish I had a beagle, I could really get some rabbits then........
nice hunt i miss my beagle i started hunting with my uncle for rabbits its a lot of fun. as far as the vest on that little dog you need to be very careful if the dog is in thick brush it can get hung up and you may not be able to get to it .this sound off the wall but i use to run my dog in areas others hunted and was nervous about the dog getting shot so i spray painted his back orange he stood out pretty good then
nice hunt i miss my beagle i started hunting with my uncle for rabbits its a lot of fun. as far as the vest on that little dog you need to be very careful if the dog is in thick brush it can get hung up and you may not be able to get to it .this sound off the wall but i use to run my dog in areas others hunted and was nervous about the dog getting shot so i spray painted his back orange he stood out pretty good then
I could see how that would work. Once, while traveling through Northern California I saw a pasture full of cows with the word "COW" spray painted orange on each one. I can only imiagine why the farmer felt the need to do that.
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"If money can fix it, it ain't broke" The great theologian and my crow hunting partner AW.
LOL. If anybody else was around to see me laughing, they would probably think I was completely crazy. (Maybe I am)
Use the Rem 20ga 870 or Benelli 20ga. Use Imp cly choke with 7 1/2 in thick stuff. More on fince rows pasure fileds near by use 5 shot mod 