12 replies to this topic

[Augnmike]

My son and I went out this morning for a few hours and bagged a few jacks with the Marlin .17hmr. We also got some great pics of a desert tortoise which was really cool. It was an all around fun morning and what made it special was that he told his buddies he couldn't play video games with them today 'cause he was goin' huntin' with his dad. He's only twelve so when girls start into the picture I will no doubt be playing second fiddle. Oh well I will enjoy it while it lasts.

[Cranky Farmer]

Nice! Where are the tortoise pics?

[Thumper Dunker]

good going on the jacks . we need to see the tortoise pics.

[peeker seeker]

Nice Now where is the riptile in the shell

[Augnmike]

Here are the pics of the tortoiseBy the way for you more experienced jack shooters, we could have had more of them but I don't think I was doing it right. We were driving on jeep roads looking for jacks when one would run out from a bush. By the time we got out and loaded the rifle it would take off and the brush is so thick you never see them again. A few of them obviously didn't follow that game plan and paid the price. My question is how do you guys recommend hunting them. I tried walking but again you can't see very far because of the brush. One problem was that we got there late, about nine in the morning, maybe earlier they act different. I also considered finding high ground and glassing but that could be a pretty iffy proposition as well.

[Switch]

Don't sell the glassing proposition short. I find an elevated area and start looking. You would be surprised what you can find looking in the shadows or hollows of small bushes. Rabbits have a short memory and you can shoot several from a single spot. You did need to get there a little earlier, sun up if you can. I also slowly walk for them. I head out into likely areas slowly and watch for movement in the distance. Wear camo if you can. They are very curious and will often stop and raise up on their back legs to check you at a distance. If you spook any close, I crouch down and make a rough dying rabbit call noise. They frequently slow up or stop to see which of their buddies is getting eaten. I always take shooting sticks for this type of deal.Good luck

[Augnmike]

Switch, I posted on another site we both use and thanked you for making this trip happen for us. Thanks also for the specific tips on how to hunt them, you have really helped my son and I out. By the way I am still waiting for my .204.

[Thumper Dunker]

Glassing is a good bet thats how I get most of mine . Get a rabbit call that will make them move or stand up to see whats going on and alot of times they will come to you ,little soft purrs and cat like meow works good. that 204 is a jack getter your going to like it. real cool pics of the tortois.

[Cranky Farmer]

Thumper,Just a rabbit distress??

[Switch]

I use the rabbit distress and it works well. After seeing Thumper's post on the 'meow' sound I gave it a try out in the desert. I felt pretty silly meowing out there when I saw rabbit, but it stopped them about 75% of the time. Those are good enough odds for me.Mike, I totally spaced when I saw your post. I forgot you and I talked. Glad to see the info worked out and glad to see another young hunter in the mix. That's what we need.If you like the .17HMR, you're going to love the .204! My .17 has been gathering dust since I got my .204, but I'll bring it out again when cottontail season opens.

[tawnoper]

By the way for you more experienced jack shooters, we could have had more of them but I don't think I was doing it right. We were driving on jeep roads looking for jacks when one would run out from a bush. By the time we got out and loaded the rifle it would take off and the brush is so thick you never see them again. A few of them obviously didn't follow that game plan and paid the price. My question is how do you guys recommend hunting them. I tried walking but again you can't see very far because of the brush. One problem was that we got there late, about nine in the morning, maybe earlier they act different. I also considered finding high ground and glassing but that could be a pretty iffy proposition as well.

What Switch said works well; get in area that gives some field of view and glass around, a high spot or an adjacent hillside works good. Early in the morning and late in the afternoon Jacks are out and about and are usually easy to spot. During the heat of the day Jacks usually hunker down in the shade of a sage. They usually have their ears pinned back and almost look like a rock or something but once you figure out what you're looking for you can pick them out. Next time out check out all the small depressions under the sage they hang out in. Flat areas that have a lot of brush are harder to hunt cause of limited visability but usually if you walk much slower and do a lot more looking around you can pick up some. Some people like to use a shotgun in these areas and they do work well but I wont use one, much prefer rifle hunting and never thought shotgunning jacks was too sporting. I personally prefer hunting them by jump shooting, it's great rifle practice. I will walk an area and get the rabbits moving providing some good offhand shots. Actually, I pass on most of the close up sitting rabbits. I prefer to get them moving for my shot. Personally, I'd much rather shoot one running then five sitting. Just the way I like to do it.

[MojaveJ]

I also hunt late into the evening and into dark and have had luck doing that I just find a spot either early morning or late evening by driving around and looking for rabbits and set up and start glassing. Last year up here in the Mojave by 29 palms my friend and I found a huge wash loaded with'em and would go out early in the morning and walk along the sides. Our best day was 41 jacks and now when we go back we don't see hardly anything. I think we got so excited that we shot them out. Oh well the yotes were happy and there are several areas that have lots of jacks up here.

[peeker seeker]

What thumper and switch siad. Meow sounds silly but it realy works.I think thay act alot like deer. feeding and stuff when its cool and bedded down when hot.Glassing is great. look for ears. dark blobs under cover. Im getting some of mine in the middle of the day hugging the shady side of almond trees. Thay see me way before I see them. Long shots Got to waer camo. aps Nice pics of the shell lizerd. The best part of taking a kid fishing and hunting is thay allways find some critter to play with.