27 replies to this topic

[Bisley]

Well, we made it out Sunday and saw a bunch of rabbits, just not the right ones for me . Lots of jacks and a few cottontails, oh well, at least I had a great time. The funny part was how all the rabbits never ran, they just stared at us like as if we didn't even exist. I even had one of the few cottontails we saw run up in a bush less than a foot from the road. I pulled up next to the bush and reached out the window and rattled it around only to have it run about twenty feet away and stop again. I could have stuck him with my walking pole. However, when we got out and walked with the guns, they wouldn't quit running.

Also, a few weeks back AirRifleHunter and I were talking about how he mentioned seeing them hiding in the shade and I told him that is mostly what I have seen for many years. Well, we got some pics from yesterday that show what we mean. Almost every one we saw was like this, in the shade. More than just coincidence.





Oh, and I forgot to mention that we did see chukar! They flushed about twenty yards from us, what a beautiful sight. That alone makes it worth the drive out there. You can't find those scouting for rabbits here in L.A.

[Air Rifle Hunter]

Sorry you didn't see many Cottontails.

I actually saw 7 Jack Rabbits on Sunday (bagged one and posted about it in the airgun section) and only 6 Cottontails. About two weeks ago I saw about two dozen cottontails and I'm sure there were more. I don't know where they all ran off to. Most of the jacks and cottontails were relaxing the the shade of a shrub or large brush too.

From the photos you posted I can see that spotting those jacks is a little bit easier to spot than where I've been hunting them. Most of the bushes where I'm at are around 4 to 6 feet tall with smaller 3 foot tall ones heavily interspersed amongst those. I need to find an area like the one in your photos. There are a few spots in amongst the heavy brush that look a little like that and I do always try to search those out. And I don't mean that to sound like complaining either. I love a challenge and I figure that when I bag a jack or cottontail out there where I'm at, especially using my air rifles, that it was a well earned shot and harvest.

A question... was it hot where you were at? I ask because where I was it was 98 degrees and HOT by noon! I guess the really good thing about your scouting trip was the spotting of the Chukar. Like you mentioned, that in itself was definitely worth the trip.

Hopefully it was just an odd day for us both and maybe the cottontails will all be out celebrating July 1st with the rest of us who are heading out on the first day of the new hunting season. Wouldn't that be nice. I'm counting the days...

[screwwork]

Bisley,

I cannot agree more with you for looking for rabbits in the shade. I have seen more rabbits sitting in the shade of the bushes driving down Hwy 99 & I5 headed back in forth for work. As for the amount of shade required for rabbits a bush a 1 foot tall and above works for them.

[zippy1970]

Always find them in the shade . Sometimes just bushes with ears .

Too many problems / issues for me to get out & scout .

I know I can find Jacks . Just need to look harder for the Cottontails .

Andy

[Frank]

Excellent pics, Bob.... on both the rabbits and terrain...

I was agonizing on whether to do a little coyote hunting just prior to the cottontail opener, before all the hunters are out and some of the rabbits are slain. I have done that in the past a few times, but normally do not go this early, due to the young dogs having a more difficult time of survival if mom is killed.

Anyway, and good luck to all this weekend

[Air Rifle Hunter]

It is down to 3 1/2 days now Bisley . I think the cottontails are getting really nervous right about now and passing around photos of you so that the young ones know who to look out for and maybe little placards that say, "If you see this guy... RUN!"  rabbitrunning.gif   9.65K   0 downloads.

Tick Tok....  littlerabbithopping.gif   9.92K   0 downloads

[rustygun]

The Rabbits not only use the shade to escape the heat but it gives them some extra camo and protection from airborn predators.

[Bisley]

You are surely right screwwork, they definitely don't require much, just enough to block the sun.

They must have already passed around that photo ARH because they sure did not stick around for me once I got out of the truck Sunday. Maybe I will just drive along and stick them with a pole from the truck , I swear I could have drove over some and they would not have moved .

Frank, get out for God's sake, you're making even me nervous. I know you gotta be going crazy and ready to scratch that itch by now . How long has it been since you've been out? Too long, right? Besides, I wanna see how those lead-free laser beams do so I can see whether or not to recommend them to my hunting partner

And forget about scouting Andy, just head up with me for a day and a half turn-around trip to Inyo. We can leave around 2:00 after I get home from work one Saurday and head home Sunday night. We can even take the truck and burn my gas if you wanna help drive for a bit so I can finally get some damn rest . And we can get some fish too while we're up ther. By the way, got your message late last night, I rarely even look at the phone any more. Check your e-mail tonight

[Air Rifle Hunter]

They must have already passed around that photo ARH because they sure did not stick around for me once I got out of the truck Sunday. Maybe I will just drive along and stick them with a pole from the truck , I swear I could have drove over some and they would not have moved .

I know. Isn't it amazing how they will run right out in front of your vehicle and stand/sit in the road for what seems like an eternity, but if you are walking around and they see you they hop off like someone just fed them tabasco sauce. I wish they would act like I was a truck . Maybe you should bring some shooting sticks that have long spikes on them so you can stick them .

[Bisley]

I wasn't kidding when I said I thought about it. This is my walking/shooting stick, and old $5 military surplus ski pole with a metal tip. I put the shotgun shell on for the hard rocks and such. I also think that I am going to make a small cardboard cut-out of a truck to hide behind this Sunday in case the pole doesn't work

[BCF]

Cool man. I saw some chukar too last weekend out in the desert. They were just walking around on flat ground about 20 yards from an asphalt road. Funny...when I actually hunt them, I usually have to hike up the nastiest rockiest mountains...

[Air Rifle Hunter]

2 1/2 days...

 RabbitScratching.gif   10.11K   4 downloads

[Bisley]

And it looks like it's gonna be a H O T one too

Funny...when I actually hunt them, I usually have to hike up the nastiest rockiest mountains...

Not me, mine are on the nice flat valley floor, just the way I like it You would kill me if you knew just how spoiled I really was
I have always said that any day you see deer or chukar in CA, it is a great day. Just gets the old blood flowing don't it? I can hardly wait until dove opener let alone the quail/chukar opener

[Braz]

I'm up at my cabin first time since last August when my problems started. Two nice bucks walked by today A big fork. Must have been at least 16-18 wide inside. With him was a 3x4 at least 2 4" high. In velvet of course and is why they are in camp where the brush is much more limited. Went to Burney and saw another small fork standing along the road. Also saw a half dozen or so does today. Lots of deer out and about the camp area.

[Bisley]

There is just something about deer in velvet Braz, wish I could have seen them myself. I don't know if it just makes them look bigger, or just that we don't see it that often that makes it so appealing? Good stuff. If that doesn't make your day, nothing will

[Shoot-it]

2 1/2 days...

 RabbitScratching.gif   10.11K   4 downloads

that one had fleas lol

[Bisley]

that one had fleas lol

It didn't have them before, must have got them from ARH

[True2ThySelf]

My brother and I finished some work on his brakes and so we took a test drive around the neighborhood...we saw 8 cottontails sitting behind a fence by the wash, too bad I didn't have my camera. Tomorrow I'm hoping to have some pictures

[Bisley]

Tomorrow I'm hoping to have some pictures

Tomorrow I'm hoping to have some pictures AND some rabbits

Even if I get skunked, at least I get to see my hunting buddy and the young hunter again

Good luck to all, and take the cameras.

[Yateswell]

Go and get them, good luck to your guys.

[Braz]

Sitting on my front porch when the 4pt walked out of the brush maybe 50 ft in front of me. Naturally the camera was inside. I had to let him move off before going for the camera haven't seen him since. But I'll be here for several more days so will keep trying for a picture. I may even set up the trail cam in the front yard.

[Frank]

Good luck to all, and take the cameras.

Or use your cell phone if you forget the camera or the camera is not working... dead battery etc! Not that that's ever happened to me

[Braz]

Got a few pictures with the camera through the window at aout 6am one morning. since I'm back home at the computer I can get them posted up. Not good pictues, but you get the idea of the bucks.

[Rimrock]

Looks good, Braz. By September they should really look good with hard antlers.

[Frank]

Yep, nice job, Braz... My scenery around here sure sucks compared to yours. Pics are indeed a thousand words

[Bisley]

Thank you Braz, you just made my day, whether you know it or not. I have a picture from almost ten years ago that was taken near Douglas Pass in CO. The two of these guys could be twins. It made think all about it again . Like I said, I don't know if it just the way they look while in velvet, or just the fact that I don't get to see it that often that makes me appreciate it that much more. But right now after seeing your pics, in my mind I am ten years younger and deriving up that pass again (about 20 miles from my grandparents farm) just because I haven't seen deer in two days and want to see some. CO eill spoil you like that. Thanks again, ans here's the picture of his twin that was out in a field approximately 300 acres large right off the highway.

[rustygun]

I wish I had a view like that.

[Thumper Dunker]

Theres deer like that out there? Great stuff Braz.