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Snowshoe Hare

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 9:04 am
by michael601
I've been out 5-6 times this winter trying to hunt snowshoe hares and rabbits, but no luck. I see their trails and pellets all over the place so I know they're around, but I haven't seen a single hare! I hunt alone, no dog, and I walk quietly through the bush, stopping every few few feet for a look around, but no luck. Any advice would be welcome.

Re: Snowshoe Hare

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 9:55 am
by smitty55
Bunnies are mostly nocturnal anyway so not seeing many in the daytime isn't unusual, specially if you're being quiet and no dog. I would try the opposite. Don't be quiet, find the messiest areas and brush piles and stomp away while trying to keep an eye on the opposite end of the pile. You need to move them somehow. Good luck with it.

Cheers

Re: Snowshoe Hare

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 10:11 am
by Jimmy_1
Go out with the folks who run Birds of Prey.
Its fun and you will get rabbits and all kinds of critters.

We got a skunk once....eeeewwwwwww

Re: Snowshoe Hare

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 10:46 am
by Tip-up
smitty55 wrote:Bunnies are mostly nocturnal anyway so not seeing many in the daytime isn't unusual, specially if you're being quiet and no dog. I would try the opposite. Don't be quiet, find the messiest areas and brush piles and stomp away while trying to keep an eye on the opposite end of the pile. You need to move them somehow. Good luck with it.

Cheers

I agree with Smitty. Being quiet won't help much until you spot one.

Been seeing them almost every time I've been on a hike in the woods this winter. Sometimes two at once. Most of the time in thickets and hiding under or around fallen, dead trees. You wouldn't see them if they didn't get spooked.

Re: Snowshoe Hare

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 11:58 am
by flewdoggII
I third the motion. Make noise and kick up thickets and branches. They're not going to move if not spooked and their white fur makes it hard for you to see them while still.

Re: Snowshoe Hare

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 2:37 pm
by smitty55
flewdoggII wrote:I third the motion. Make noise and kick up thickets and branches. They're not going to move if not spooked and their white fur makes it hard for you to see them while still.
Yea. all you have to spot is the dark tips of the ears when they're still.
In a normal winter with more snow they usually into the cedars by this time and don't taste very good anyway. Not sure how it will be this year though.

Cheers

Re: Snowshoe Hare

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 9:36 pm
by Out4trout
They are not yet confined to the conifers. I'm still finding them in the mixed wood areas. Seems they know they are white, because with less snow they are a bit better hidden than other years, generally near a tree trunk or blowdown. Personally, I prefer the silent stalk. I walk and stop, look for "snow lumps", and usually the eye gives them away.
Good luck, get a few soon while they still taste OK.

Re: Snowshoe Hare

Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2016 7:28 am
by Markus
Get out after a fresh snow. Kick one up and get on it's tracks. They dont go far from their comfort areas and do big circles.

Also, try to get to kow the area's you hunt. Bunnies love to sit and sun themselves on southern facing humps and exposures. My favorite spot is a length of railroad tracks that has a southern facing bank on one side. You just slowly move along looking for their tiny black eye. They rarely move unless you push them.

Re: Snowshoe Hare

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 9:47 am
by michael601
Thanks for all the advice. Finally did one after 30 minutes of following tracks. More than anything, I think it takes a lot of patience. Also, the more you hunt the buggers, the more experience you get. More experience = better hunter!