Hookup wrote:can anyone fill me in on hunting rabbit? Other than elmerfud, i've no idea where to begin doing it.
Technique, gun, load, do you need orange on?
Snowshoe hare - as Tlunge said, beagles are great. But hunting without a dog is quite a lot of fun too.
With dogs - challenge is the shot -running bunny through thick cover. They can really motor too!
Without dogs - challenge is spotting the hare in it's form before it bolts- the shot is easy.
Where to hunt - I prefer edges of swamps that have dead trees and weeds sticking through the ice, must be lined with conifers. Hunt in the thick conifers along the edges of the swamp. The snowshoe hare will usually be about 20ft from the edge, hiding under a branch or up against a tree trunk under snaggy brush and brambles.
Find the runways, and you will be close to a hare. When you see "rabbit raisins" under the low hanging branches, you're in the money. Look for the eye- a dark circle against a white backdrop.
As for orange, it is a good idea - esp when hunting with others. It is not the law AFAIK.
I use #6 lead mostly, allows headshots on the still ones and a pattern on the running.
Have fun!! When you spot your first snowshoe without a dog, you'll be thrilled. I've been hunting them for quite a few years, and I still get excited when I spot one...
