22 replies to this topic

[blazing]

wussup guys i have been lurking around this forum for a while now so i figured i'd post something since i need some advice. i have been wanting to hunt for some time now so late last year i went and got my HSC so i can go hunt. i have never been hunting before but i have been read A LOT about it and have a good idea of how to hunt. well yesterday i went to big 5 and bought my hunting L's along with a deer tag(B zone) and a pig tag. i know that rabbit season just started and i wanted to start off with that. eventually i want to get me a deer and pig before my L's expires. but does anyone know where i can hunt rabbits around the bay area? i am from the east bay and was thinking of grizzly island. any help would be appreciated.

[screwwork]

Blazing,check out the DFG web site for Rabbit Hunting Opportunities.good luck & be safe http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/wa/Rabbit Hunting Opportunities at Grizzly Island Wildlife AreaGrizzly Island Wildlife Area in Solano County will open daily to licensed hunters for the taking of rabbits from July 1 through July 26.The bag limit for cottontails is five per day and 10 in possession. There is no bag or possession limit for jackrabbits. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Only shotguns and bow and arrows may be used during this hunt (no rifles or pistols). Shotguns must be no larger than 12-gauge. Non-toxic shot is required.Hunters must fill out a daily permit at Grizzly Island Wildlife Area's Visitor's Registration Booth. There is no fee for this permit. A map is available at the booth showing areas open and closed to rabbit hunting.

[blazing]

thxs. so far that is the only place that i can find where i can hunt rabbits. i plan on trying out grizzly island next week if possible. hopefully i can bring home some meat but i highly doubt it since this will be my first time hunting but maybe i will learn something while im out there.

[blazing]

also i will be using a mossberg 500 security (probably not the best shotgun for rabbits but thats all i have for now). is all steel shots considered non toxic? and which shot shell will be good for rabbits?

[screwwork]

Blazing,did you get the mossberg 500 security combo? steel shot is legal, get a good duck load between #6 and #2with a shorter 18.5" barrel your range will suffer.Only the following may be used to take resident small game: a, Shotguns 10 gauge or smaller using shot shells only and incapable of holding more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined. If a plug is used to reduce the capacity of a magazine to fulfill the requirements of this section, the plug must be of one piece construction incapable of removal without disassembling the gun; b, Shotgun shells may not be used or possessed that contain shot size larger than No. BB, except that shot size larger than No. 2 may not be used or possessed when taking wild turkey. All shot shall be loose in the shell.

[blazing]

no i didnt get the combo so i only have the 18.5" barrel. i figured my range would suffer from a shorter barrel. i heard that the mosserg combo had a fixed choke so i didnt perches that one, instead i am going to buy one that i can switch out chokes or maybe buy a different barrel for my mossberg. i was thinking of getting #6 shot shells too.

[ratassassin]

A good thing to do when you're starting out is talk to friends and relatives and see if they know anyone who has a small hobby farm or a couple acres that you can hunt on. Often small places of a couple acres or so will have ground squirrels and cottontails. Then you can get written permission and hunt those properties with air rifles and if the properties are large enough and not too close to other residences, rimfires. Places that can't tolerate powder burners will often tolerate pellet guns and they're plenty powerful and accurate enough to hunt cottontails out to 50 yards. That's how I started hunting a couple years ago and now my buddy and I have hunting privileges on 5 private properties. We just went out yesterday morning to celebrate 4th of July and got 5 cottontails. I'm working on getting hunting privileges on a couple ranches in Texas now. A buddy of mine just got a job there and he says I can come down and hunt with him when he gets settled. Another friend's son has a ranch and they say I can come down and hunt pigs. Now I just need to find the time off work and away from family duties to be able to go. You'd be surprised at how nice people are to let you hunt on their places. But you have to show respect, be polite and responsible and never abuse the privilege. Even if I get written permission for a place, I always call up the owner beforehand and let them know before I show up. And don't bring out other people to shoot there without getting the owner's permission first. Always shoot in a safe direction and take care to never damage any property. It's just common courtesy but it goes a long way. Good luck to you and welcome aboard. Always good to have another hunter join the ranks.

[blazing]

i have been asking family/friends/coworkers but have not had any luck yet. maybe ill get lucky one day and get access to some private land but i dont think that will happen.

[jono1798]

I'm a beginner like yourself. I've been doing some research and reckon Knoxville up by lake Berryessa would be descent enough for rabbits. It's a shame theres nothing closer, there are areas close to where I live are absolutely crawling wit rabbits but the lefty fart sniffing treehuggers make hunting near SF impossible.......shame

[blazing]

so im guessing ur talkin about the knoxville WA?http://www.dfg.ca.go.../knoxville.htmlhttp://www.dfg.ca.go...villeWaTopo.pdf

[jono1798]

That looks about right. I haven't made it up there yet though. I'll let you know how I get on as soon as I get a spare minute to get out of the city. I have a 28" semi auto 12 gauge to to the job or a .22 bolt wit a 3x9 scope, I'm still juggling which to bring.

[blazing]

thxs that sounds good. if i do have a chance to go to grizzly island on sunday ill will let u know how that goes too

[blazing]

went out today and did not have any luck. seen one cottontail crossing the road while i was driving and that was all. but on they way there i seen a heard of elk (about 15-20 elks) that were about 150 yrds out just posting there looking at me. also seen a few pheasants while i was there too. im might head back there on sunday again but im not to sure cuz this trip was discouraging since i didnt even get a chance to shoot anything. i was looking for signs of rabbits (fresh poo) but didnt see anything. if anyone has any suggestions/ tips for me that would be great or even take a noob out and teach me what it take to find some game.

[Braz]

The only suggestion can make is to use the shift key and make a few capital letters. It would make it a whole lot easier to read your posts.

[blazing]

lol i will keep that in mind in future posts.

[Braz]

Well, you sure didn't on that one.

[Single Six]

Go early and evening and glass. Find water or at least green stuff. They need food, water, and cover. Watch for little bunny trails. Follow 'em when it's warmer and you'll jump them - be ready!

[blazing]

I got there just when the sun started rising cuz i read that best time to see rabbits were sun rise and sun set. The grass there is real thick and tall (most were betwen my knee and waist) so its kinda hard to see small game. How does rabbit trails look like? I was looking for fresh poo but had no luck.

[CBR400RR]

Rabbit trails will be little paths where the grass will be worn down, if the grass or brush is tall it will look like little tunnels. You go to the edge of water or a grassy field and start looking twards the brush for paths or tunnels worn into them. Then setup at a distance you know you can hit a small target and sit waiting for the sun to go down and they will come down the trails to you.

[blazing]

Thats great info, i will have to look for signs likt that when im out again. But at grizzly island they only allow shotguns so i cant hind to far. i am thinking about going out to fremont weir this weekend to see if its any better there. If anyone has any info about that area and would like to share it that would be greatly appreciated.

[fishandhunt4ever]

Welcome to CPC, if you are looking to learn you are the right spot. There are a lot of knowledgeable people on here.I own two Mossbergs(one I use for hunting, and also the home security one). To plug the Mossberg, you can do it with a wooden dowel that can be purchased at home depot or lowes for like 89 cents. Buy one that will just drop right in, not snug, so that if you want to unplug it, it will be easy to pull out.For the shot size, in my opinion since your spread will only be good out to about 10-15 yards with the cylinder choke, I would suggest that you use like a #BB or #2 size. This way if you hit a rabbit out at beyond the 15yard range with only 1 or 2 pellets, you will be hitting it with a good size pellet. I would recommend this for your current set up only though.Good inexpensive steel shot that I have been using(for ducks) are the Winchester XPERT Hi-Velocity

thxs that sounds good. if i do have a chance to go to grizzly island on sunday ill will let u know how that goes too

[Turas]

Rabbit trails will be little paths where the grass will be worn down, if the grass or brush is tall it will look like little tunnels. You go to the edge of water or a grassy field and start looking twards the brush for paths or tunnels worn into them. Then setup at a distance you know you can hit a small target and sit waiting for the sun to go down and they will come down the trails to you.

CBR that's great advice. Putting it to use bowhunting cottontails here in San D. Much appreciated.

[CBR400RR]

Anyone that wants to go rabbit hunting let me know I can guarantee you a ton of them any evening in the East County, only thing is no firearms, air guns or bows only and you need to have a valid hunting license.