Rabbits

[longwinters]

Hows the rabbit hunting been this winter?  I never got out, but it seems to have been pretty slow around here.

Long

[petemi]

I'm gonna find out Monday.  I haven't been out either, but I have two new dogs to try out.  I'll let ya know.

Pete

[Lloyd Smale]

I dont rabbit hunt anymore other then potting one when they happen to show up when im in the woods. My back just doesnt allow me to run around chasing dogs on snowshoes anymore but this last summer I saw lots of rabbits. More then previous years so id say the hunting ought to be pretty decent this year.

[ihookem]

I can hardly even find a rabbit anymore.  Did anyone get any?

[petemi]

I ran Charlie the Feist over about 65 acres on my place day before yesterday and never found even a red squirrel, and we both hunted hard.  21 years ago, when we bought this farm, Patty and I walked the whole 120 acres this time of year..  The creek bottom on the south 40 was alive with snowshoes.  That and the deer herd were major factors in our buying the place.  I've never seen them like that since, and I've shot very few of them, so it isn't overhunting.

Pete

[ihookem]

That seems to be everywhere. I saw a rabbit under the wood pile yesterday, the first one all season. I didn't even bother telling the kid. Would almost be a shame to shoot it. I hate to point a finger but it has to be the wolves. We always had yotes and fox but since the wolves came in there seems to be almost nothing in Price county. Red squirrels are here and there though so I'm proud to say we might be one up on  Petemi . Down here south of FonDulac where I live I get a grey fox on the cam so he makes a difference but I get coons, skunks, cats opposums, hawks, and  crows  all the time. Just too much for good numbers of rabbits.

[petemi]

Some people try to tell you if you have coyotes, you won't have fox, and if you have wolves you won't have coytes......well, we have all three in good, or I should say bad numbers.

Pete

[ihookem]

Up in Price county Wis. we had yotes everywhere, then the wolves came and never hear, saw or pics. Then this year, a few yotes. Down in Fondulac we have more fox on the trail cams but a few yotes too.

[t-reg]

Around here there are no wolves, just seems to be lots of 'yotes, feral cats, wild dogs and a cougar here and there.   Bunnies were so thin hunting wasn't fun - didn't even feel right.  By next fall I'll be set up to take on them 'yotes.

They are hard on the deer too.

[petemi]

I have never seen our woods so barren of game.  The only tracks I can find are deer, wolf, coytote, fox and bobcat, with an occasional Pine Martin thrown in.  I have found NO fresh snowshoe hare tracks at all.  Few grouse and no squirrel.  As a semi-trained wildlife manager, I think the predators will decline and the prey species will increase as the seasons continue because the predators have eaten out their food supply.  I'd just like to thin out some of the predators now..... give the game a chance.  Handi .223 in hand.

Pete

[longwinters]

The last couple of years I have seen a significant amount less small game animals.  But besides the predators you have noted, a lot more hawks and owls.

Long

[t-reg]

But besides the predators you have noted, a lot more hawks and owls.

Just a one day season.........  Please?

[ihookem]

Hey Petemi, did that guy that shot that wolf and threw it on your land ever get caught ? Not that I care.

[petemi]

The last couple of years I have seen a significant amount less small game animals.  But besides the predators you have noted, a lot more hawks and owls.
Long

I trapped, banded and released over 400 Hawks and 400 owls in April and May of 1988 at Whitefish Point.  I think the greatest predators on snowshoe hare and grouse are the Goshawk, and Great Horned Owl, but you don't see many of them.  I only trapped one of each.  The Red-tailed Hawk for example seems to prefer rodents and squirrels.  While the Cooper's Hawk and Sharp-shinned take smaller birds.  The Roughlegged Hawk and the Northern Harrier are mousers...very beneficial.

Hey Petemi, did that guy that shot that wolf and threw it on your land ever get caught ? Not that I care.

The wolf was shot crossing the road off of my property and died 30 feet off the road on the other side and then was transported 7.5 miles north to M-28 where he was found about 20 minutes after being killed.  No, as far as I know nobody has been charged with it.

Pete