Stampeded by Jackrabbits

possumtrot · April 05, 2007, 04:19:00 PM

Went out yesterday to do some shooting in the sand hills and stuck my coyote call in my pocket just to see if I could call one up. I don't shoot them this time of year but like to see them. Called on the "Tweety" and caught some movement about 50 yards from me, and there were a pair of jackrabbits coming to me! They came in close enough for a shot with the bow. I missed and the rabbits ran out several yards and stopped. I hit the call again and here they came again. What I didn't notice was the area behind me. When I turned around it was like a clip out of a Hitchcock movie. Jackrabbits everywhere! Well I had some fun and got some good practice at small moving targets at a close range. I have always noticed the jacks moving during the winter while I made a call, but nothing like this. They were coming to the call. Don't know if they had love on their mind or what, but I do think I saw a couple of them wink at me. Might give it a try and see what happens.... John

Lost Arra · April 05, 2007, 05:16:00 PM

I'm curious why you don't shoot coyotes this time of year.

possumtrot · April 05, 2007, 05:30:00 PM

Hides are of little or no value. Unless someone is having a problem with them, I will leave them alone until cold weather hits..John

Lost Arra · April 05, 2007, 05:43:00 PM

I'm always having a problem with 'em.

Zbone · April 05, 2007, 06:27:00 PM

Just curious - What kind of call were you using?

possumtrot · April 05, 2007, 09:00:00 PM

Tweety Predator Call .... go to allpredatorcalls.com and do a search
Small open reed call with a high pitch. Called in alot of dogs this year year using it and a open reed cow elk call. Sounds very similar. Going to try with the bow this year out of DB blind.... John

Zbone · April 05, 2007, 09:14:00 PM

Thanks

Rufus · April 05, 2007, 09:38:00 PM

I don't like to shoot coyotes this time of year either, but not because of pelts being good or bad. Around here the dens are full of pups and killing the parents kills the pups. Outsmarting or getting lucky with the grown ones is great but just don't have the heart for the little guys to starve to death. I leave them be and come fall they be more of them running around. If I had coyotes killing livestock and such, I might think differently though.
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Rufus · April 05, 2007, 09:50:00 PM

By the way Possumtrot, wife from Artesia. Worked in Carlsbad bunch. SPS. Retiring. Broke a few arrows at range and out in country. Rocks hide in the sand right behind the rabbits down there. Catclaw sucks to retrieve arrows or rabbits out of.

Lost Arra · April 05, 2007, 11:28:00 PM

>>If I had coyotes killing livestock and such, I might think differently though.<<<

You're right. You would.

BMOELLER · April 06, 2007, 09:17:00 AM

Tweety is a great call and so is Thumper. They are made By Verminators in ClayCenter Ks. I've also had good luck with them, but never been stampeded by rabbits.

tamure · April 06, 2007, 10:14:00 AM

Interesting, I'll have to give a try someday. Tons of jackrabbits around here, but they are real cagey and hard to get close enough for a shot.

JStark · April 06, 2007, 11:26:00 AM

That's a great tip! Last year I got a jackrabbit, and after soaking in apple cider vinegar for a day, was as good as cottontail, no joke. My wife loved it!

Any good jackrabbit recipes out there?

possumtrot · April 06, 2007, 07:35:00 PM

I don't know about eating the things. They sure look nasty. I guess a young one might not be to bad.. Rufus, having a shoot at Queen tomorrow. Any good shoots up there? I know that Lubbock has a pretty good club that shoots at Meadow. Would really like to get at a little more and met a few folks.....John

tamure · April 07, 2007, 11:00:00 AM

Jackrabbits do sort of look nasty. But after they're skinned and cut up, they look pretty good. A lot more meat on one than on a little cottontail. I've had one in my freezer for probably too long already. There is a recipe in the LL Bean Game and Fish cookbook for "Tuscan Hare." I'm hoping to try it out this week. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Rufus · April 07, 2007, 02:29:00 PM

Hey possumtrot. Went to Queens long time ago. 1st try with trad equip. Came home with 0 arrows that were shootable. Been hooked since. Good shoot @ memphis May5-6. Can put you in touch with friend at Seminole who has shoots on his place.

tamure · April 13, 2007, 11:44:00 PM

Well, I gave the jackrabbit a whirl. I posted the recipe in the recipe forum, here:

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=7&t=000216