28 replies to this topic

[jessedlc]

I am a newbie hunter , have never called a yote, but did manage to call and take a bobcat this year, anyway I been hunting jackrabbits but have been unsuccessful. As I drive into the desert looking for a place to hunt (mostly at idle) I see the jackrabbits take off about 25 yards in front of me. As I start to walk with a shotgun, I spook them out at about 25 yards as well, and they hall ass. Anyway all my shots have been misses, this was yesterday. In total I saw about 6 rabbits while walking and 4-5 while driving. My question is am I doing this right, and are the number of jacks i am seeing sufficient for a good hunting spot that I should continue to hunt or move on????? THANKS IN ADVANCE

[Bennie]

Your doing fine just need to learn to be fast shouldering your shotgun and lead them a little bit.

[docskinner]

Yep - and once you start hitting them, you will be an accomplished gunner. Jacks area great trainer. Grew up hunting them with .22s. After that, tracking deer in a scope was cake...

[Thumper Dunker]

I do not chase them any more . You can call them in, right now they are in rut and its easy . Get your fawn,jackrabbit or cottontail call . Get in a good spot and make soft chirping sounds and soft meow like sounds.It works . Do not just walk in sneek in .Don't laugh it realy works.

[tawnoper]

Just put the cross hairs on em and squeeze the trigger. Boom.

[jessedlc]

I thought about that but i never see them until they jump out of the bushes like there running away from killer bees, thats why I thought the shotgun would be best

[tawnoper]

That's when they are the most fun to shoot with a rifle.Although I really don't think shotguns are too sporting for jump shooting jacks...if you are going to use one try some Hi-Base #6. Not too tough to hit.

[DirtyDave]

High base #6 or #5 shot and a Mod or Full choke. WALK SLOWLY AND QUIETLY. You cant walk too slow. Sounds like you have a good spot for Jacks. They are usually more spread out than cottons. Try to whistle loudly to stop them when they run. I can stop them about 50% of the time by whistling.Watch where they go when they run. Make a big circle around where you last saw the jack and come in from the other side or flank em.

[fakawee]

I like shooting them with the 17hmr's. All the jack's I've shot at usually run 40-50 yards then stop or hunker down thinking they got away. Definitely get out and walk slowly and when you flush then, stand still and just watch them till they stop.

[docskinner]

High base #6 or #5 shot and a Mod or Full choke. WALK SLOWLY AND QUIETLY. You cant walk too slow. Sounds like you have a good spot for Jacks. They are usually more spread out than cottons. Try to whistle loudly to stop them when they run. I can stop them about 50% of the time by whistling.Watch where they go when they run. Make a big circle around where you last saw the jack and come in from the other side or flank em.

I used to have a squirrel call I used to stop them. A little chatter and they would stop right away. not for long, but it would give you teh shot.

[tawnoper]

I spent alot of time in the dez growing up chasing jack rabbits. And alot of times once flushed they don't stop...regardless what sounds you make.I much prefer shooting them moving anyway as apposed to waiting for them to stop. If you are carrying a shotgun and waiting for them to stop...you are carrying the wrong gun.

[jessedlc]

I shoot at them as soon as they flush while they are running away, however they flush out before I can get too close, maybe I am too loud and spook them. I also have a 10-22, ar 15, and a 243 with a scope, I just thought that shotgun was the way to go, since when I sit n glass an area I cant c nothing but bushes and dirt. Maybe I just need more experience in what too look for. By the way those pics u took are awesome, like i said everytime I see them they are haullin ass

[DirtyDave]

Again, Slow Down and Stay Quiet. The slower/quieter you are, the closer you will get. I have had them get up right at my feet, even with my daughter with me. I showed her the importance of staying quiet while hunting.Once you know what you are doing, a shotgun will become TOO EASY. I pretty much only use my Bow for rabbits anymore

[STPilot]

Or an Airgun! Like Dirty Dave said... SLOW and QUIET, can't say it enuf... I like to go out with my PCP, which means I gotta get fairly close, less than about 70yds cuz a want a guaranteed chance at a head shot.Saw this guy at about 100 yards with binoc's. He was just milling around some rocks so I kept an oak tree between me and him and stalked to less than 60 yards and bingo at 57yds got him between the horns.. He never saw me

[DirtyDave]

Yeah I use the air rifle for my Covert Urban Rabbit Hunting

[asquirrelsworstenemy]

You're doing just fine. They can be tricky little critters, but as said earlier, once you get the first one and kind of figure out where and how your gun patterns on them, it's a cake walk. I've taken several with a shotgun using 5-7 shot, usually about the same distance you said they're running away from. Have even taken one with a 3030 while it was on the run! Just have fun and don't get discouraged! Happy hunting!

[jessedlc]

Thanks for all the replies! last question, does the ammo matter that much in shotgun??? reason is I was using some very old ammo "remington express power piston magnum #6" the box it came in was dam near falling apart, anyway a couple of the shots I took at close range, the rabbit was practically in the middle of the dirt cloud that the shot kicked up from the ground as I shot, but the rabbit came out haullin ass like always. Using a browning citori 12 G over under. THANKS again

[BCF]

Just keep practicing jesse. Like guys say, you really have to lead them with a shotgun. It started to get too easy, so I went Saturday with my air rifle. I called in and killed a good size coyote with my AR, but didn't see nearly as many jacks as usual. Never even took a shot at one, but I could see it's a whole new ball game hunting with air rifles and something I'm nit going to be good at right away.

[Bisley]

Unless you are just looking for meat, I can not emphasize enough the joy of what we refer to as jump-shooting jacks! To heck with all that sneaking around being quiet junk, we jump just as many trapsing around laughing and having a good time. It also forces you to get quicker. And if you really want an addicting rush, leave the old scattergun at home and grab rifle or pistol. I always suggest the .22 simply because you will be shooting a lot, even though not necessarily hitting. I have converted everyone I know from my hunting partner of over 20 years to my 12 year old nephew. They have more fun missing with a rifle or pistol than they do hitting them with a shotgun. And when you do hit one, it feels better than a hundred of them with a shotgun. But I do have to warn you ahead of time, if you do try this, you must be one of us that enjoys a challenge and just being out more than just killing. You owe it yourself to at least give it a whirl.Also, no matter what gun you choose, you should try it with a friend if you can. Set yourselves about 40-50 yards apart and walk. Besides having someone to chat and joke with, the rabbits tend to run in circles and quite often you can get them to run right into each other. Good luck and happy hunting.

[Yateswell]

They have more fun missing with a rifle or pistol than they do hitting them with a shotgun. And when you do hit one, it feels better than a hundred of them with a shotgun. But I do have to warn you ahead of time, if you do try this, you must be one of us that enjoys a challenge and just being out more than just killing.

+1I started with 12 gauge and usually could kill "ton", but I quickly got bored. I'd prefer quality than quantity, and mostly challenge. Hit a running jack with rifle or pistol is much more rewarding than using shotgun.

[Thumper Dunker]

Unles you get one on the run with a stick and string.

[Bisley]

I wouldn't brag too much about that shot TD, you completely missed the heart/lung area :smiley-outta-here:You never cease to amaze me with that thing. Skill is an understatement on your abilities with a stick and string :signs1180lq:I should also add that while I highly promote rifle/pistol for rabbit, I will use a shotgun when it becomes more about meat, like when we try to eat solely what we catch/shoot while camping. This is why I never condone a shotgun, just highly promote and recommend the other for a majority of the time .

[Thumper Dunker]

I got real lucky on that shot. Only one I ever hit running. Think it was two years ago. I still like sniping them with the 204 sometimes.

[KNOCKED UP]

Stick with it Jesse, Master the shotgun first, then the rifle and bow.Tom

Attached Files

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[Air Rifle Hunter]

Wow! That a nice bag of Jacks there Tom. Nice job!

[BullsEye]

Shooting jacks with a 22 is a ton of fun! You have a good spot just keep going for them. If your ammo is questionable you can get another box for 5 bucks. I shoot them with low base 7 shot 20 gauge but I prefer using my 22 because I like to eat them. The 22 usually goes right through them where the shotgun leaves a lot of shot and splintered bones in the meat. Like others have said hunting them with 2 people is easier because you can spread out 20 to 30 yards from each other and they usually run from one person to the other. Another tactic my buddy's and I employ is one has a scatter gun and the other has a 22. That way we can reach out and touch them if they keep running and if they are in close the shotgun is nice too. But the 22 is also nice because its easy on your ears.

[Bisley]

I shoot at them as soon as they flush while they are running away, however they flush out before I can get too close, maybe I am too loud and spook them.............. like i said everytime I see them they are haullin ass

So, while everyone is telling you to "keep using the shotgun", you may still want to consider a rifle or pistol. If they are already so far that you are not getting them with #6's, anything short of buckshot or slugs is going to be useless also. But again, your choice (and frustration), you already know what I would do. Besides finally hitting them, you will also find that ALL your shooting skills will improve (shotgun, rifle, and pistol) if you ditch the shotgun. Aim small miss small, and reach out a Hell of a lot further. But who knows, maybe the bunnies will finally get tired of running and you may get them to stay closer for the shotgun .

[Thumper Dunker]

[IUsing a rifle is too easy and feels like cheating. Most of these rabbits was called in or stood up to check me out..

[Bisley]

Almost didn't recognize a picture of you without a bow and something dead . Very nice Rabbit Whisperer. And just to add to the fact that it can be done, and that I do practice what I preach and am nit just a member of . These are just some of the ones that are not too graphic. But I will say that almost every one I take is running, and that is not by my choice, believe me . The rifle kills "harvests" are a lot uglier and I do not want to put on photobucket (or here, as I worry about kids and PETA) but I got a ton of them pics too. So now you know it can be done and is about the most fun way to do it for sure.