Bunny wabbits [Archive] - Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum

trouble

02-05-2008, 08:14 PM

had a recent slow fall and hadnt had bait out for a while therefore the area wasnt plowed with predator trcks and i realized a i a lot of rabbits on my land. When do you snare rabbits?what do you need? what do i need for it to be legal

catnthehat

02-06-2008, 06:12 AM

rabbits can be snare all year long as far as I am aware.
Find their runs where they cross a trail, rig up some picture hanger wire or similar stuff, making the loop about 3.5 -4" and about 4-6" off the ground.
Cat

Reeves1

02-06-2008, 07:27 AM

Every now and again I get the urge for some Rabbit (Snowshoe Hare) for a few meals. So , there are two times of year I like to get out for them.
The first is late fall, after they turn white, and before snow fall. Real easy to see them in the bush, use the .22 to take them with.
The next "season" is winter. I'll find a thick bush and look for their trails. I then set up snares, using natural choke points. I also will build a bit of "fence" to help direct them into the snare.
Had 7 set up yesterday. Although a couple of them had been disturbed, none were caught last night. I fixed them up & set a couple more.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/snare4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/snare3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/snare2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/snare1.jpg

Samwise Gamgee would be proud of these Conies :grin:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/snare5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/snare6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/snare7.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/snare8.jpg

Why they are called Snowshoe Hare . (I have big hands).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/snare10.jpg

Reeves1

02-06-2008, 07:54 AM

Thought you may want a bit more info ?
Cook'n them: http://www.justgamerecipes.com/inxrab.html

How good is Rabbit meat : http://www.nutritiondata.com/foods-rabbit000000000000000000000.html

What I do is, cut the back legs and back (up to where the ribs start) off the Rabbit. These are for one meal for the wife & I. The rib cage, belly and the front end/legs are boiled till the meat can be removed from bones with ease. The meat is then used for stew/soup.

Also, you do not want to take too many out of your bush. Make sure enough are left to produce a crop for next season !

Next time I get one I can take pictures of how I clean them, if there is an interest, I can post the pictures.

Reddog

02-06-2008, 08:08 AM

I like eating them too! I always have one small problem though. After I'm done skinning them I have a hard time getting the hair left on the carcass off. I doesn't seem to want to wash off, it just sticks. How do you guys clean the hair off of the carcass?

Reeves1

02-06-2008, 08:19 AM

I pull & twist the head off (leaves a great deal less fur around the neck area), then split the fur along the back about an inch. Make sure you have water running in the sink. I then use both hands to "roll" the fur down the front legs/rib cage/splitting fur along the back all at the same time. Wash fur off of hands as needed , then grab the front rib cage/legs and work the hide off, all the time keep rolling the hide away from the body. You'll end up with just a few hairs and I pick them off.

I used to raise them for meat as well. Used a Flemish Giant buck, and California Giant does. Big fast growing Rabbits.

gonefishin

02-06-2008, 10:08 AM

Swamp_Donkey

02-06-2008, 10:52 AM

Wish I had rabbits on my land:( I've got lots of deer, moose, grouse, and coyotes. but no rabbits???????

trouble

02-06-2008, 04:52 PM

thatnks thatll get me started but still two question

1)in all the pictures privded (thatnks very much) you have them anchored to a tree or branch or somehtign sturdy i only have grass. What required as far as a stake?

2)how do you skin them as i would like to keep a few furs as a keep sake. Is it like you do in the firearm safety booklet (slitting in the back and inserting your fingers and pulling forward and backward)

gonefishin

02-07-2008, 09:36 AM

As far as staking the snares, grass won't work. Rabbits put up quite a struggle when they're fighting for their lives. You will have to get a stake of some sort pounded into the ground just off to the side of the trail and as for size, I would go with something about an inch in diameter. That being said, make sure you put something on either side of the snare (little twings or somethign) to funnel the rabbit into the snare (like in the pics above).

As for skinning, I would suggest skinning up the belly if you want them for furs. Make sure you do it carefully as rabbit hides are extremely thin and very easy to tear.

Bushmaster

02-07-2008, 11:10 AM

Here's the stakes I made for setting coyote snares in the open. It would work well for rabbits, too, as I catch the odd one.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v399/akabushmaster/mule0108295.jpg

trouble

02-09-2008, 12:41 PM

as pulling a few dozen steaks 12 inches long out of the ground when im done is not in my interest i was thinking id go with mayb e 6 inches of rebar in winter and 12 in summer, for coyotes i use 9 gauge to hold the nsares in the air what should i use for this wire?

How should i attach this wire to my steaks?

On coyote snares there is locks making the loops possible whats used here?

tracker

02-09-2008, 03:41 PM

My grandfather used to snare as a boy & showed me how when I was a kid. Good success but you have to remember to get them before the coyotes & foxes do.
As for skinning without hair just put an inch long cut mid-back on the skin. Put your two forefingers in and pull in opposite directions. You can pull the skin back all the way to the head and ankles. Cut off at the shins and neck, gut and your done.

trouble

02-09-2008, 04:24 PM

just wondering if rabbits would go for bait. I had corn and carrots in mind.

gonefishin

02-09-2008, 04:55 PM

I would suggest staying away from the bait. If you set your snares on their trails, then they will be passing by anyways, so there's no need to try to bring them in. Also, from my experience if you put something unknown/ unnatural on around very near to their trails, they will stop using them. Your best bet is to go as natural as possible.

Da Jimmer

04-18-2008, 10:10 PM

I've always wanted to try rabbit, but haveno were to trap em yet, how much do the furs sell for?

moosehunter3-0

04-18-2008, 10:14 PM

20 gauge wire with a loop the size of your fist. Put the loop a little less than the width of your hand above the ground. Not sure you wanna go after those furry critters right now they will be having babies soon:( lol

chain2

04-26-2008, 07:49 PM

great pics reeves and yes please post some cleaning pics.

Trouble snowshoes live [eat] in the trees? How could there only be grass to attach to? Maybe your after jacks? Just curious...that's all:wave: chain

Reeves1

12-30-2008, 04:11 PM

Tis the season to bump this :D

rustynailz

12-30-2008, 04:45 PM

Awesome setups.

I live in the south end of Calgary and we're overrun with the bastards. Do they die pretty quickly in the snares, or would you wind up attracting too much attention? I've eaten rabbit once or twice and I think they're delicious - especially since they've been feeding on everyone's gardens all year.

Selkirk

12-30-2008, 07:39 PM

" . . . I live in the south end of Calgary and we're overrun with the bastards . . . "

I live in south Cal too (3 blocks north of Fish Creek Park). There are Jacks bloody everywhere ... they're takin' over the neighborhood!!! :ashamed:

I'm thinkin' snares under my front pine, and Jack stew! :D

Reeves1

12-30-2008, 08:16 PM

Do they die pretty quickly in the snares, or would you wind up attracting too much attention?

Fast, no sound ...normally. In the many years I've used snares, only one was alive when found. But I think it was me walking in to check snares that made it run through the snare.

One real good place to set, would be if you are a neighbor of the Ford dealer on the south side of St. Albert :evilgrin:

"Tame" Rabbit is white meat and VERY tender !

cardiacphil

01-01-2009, 10:27 PM

munyee4321

01-01-2009, 10:32 PM

How do jack rabbits taste...there is a ton of them in lacombe and Red Deer...Easy archery Shots...They aren't under pressure so they never run they just sit there...I really wanna try them, but dont wanna waste them if they are gross???

What are the seasons? If Any?

If they are good to eat, they might turn into a winter hobby!

1/2 hour before sunrise 1/2 hour after sunset... 365 days a year hunting not trapping... happy shooting.... wish i was in a heavly jack rabbit populatied area... lucky %^&*(^&* oh they taste like chicken.... shake and bake anyone?

Reeves1

01-02-2009, 05:53 AM

How do jack rabbits taste...there is a ton of them in lacombe and Red Deer...Easy archery Shots...They aren't under pressure so they never run they just sit there...I really wanna try them, but dont wanna waste them if they are gross???

I've never eaten Jack Rabbit. But they (mostly) eat grass, so I'd bet they taste better than Snow Shoe Hare ?

cardiacphil

01-05-2009, 11:59 AM

We'll see tonight, I am slowcookin a stew...I dno Munyee says they are good, I'll trust his judgement.

Got two more this AM...Makes for great hunting Archery :) Yeah!

munyee4321

01-05-2009, 01:35 PM

We'll see tonight, I am slowcookin a stew...I dno Munyee says they are good, I'll trust his judgement.

Got two more this AM...Makes for great hunting Archery :) Yeah!

better then skunks or gophers :D:lol:

cardiacphil

01-05-2009, 03:22 PM

haha...yeah I Hope so...LMAO...

We shall see...smells great..

Deemoss

01-09-2009, 12:20 AM

any tips on areas where i can hunt'em around calgary?

cardiacphil

01-09-2009, 02:42 AM

RED DEER...they are plentiful...LMFAO..

I found some in three hills and Airdrie anywhere in the bushy areas, If you find Fresh tracks follow them I am killen them just about everyother day that way somtimes two or three a day..HEHEHE

Good luck and happy hunting

davis

01-17-2009, 02:49 PM

http://www.mucc.org/mood/rabbit/rabbitclean.wmv

cardiacphil

02-01-2009, 09:46 PM

thank you soo much for posting that...I hated skinning these little buggers...I would have rather done 4 deer than 4 rabbits...:)...Now that I could get used to...

Thanks

CP

Albertadiver

02-01-2009, 10:06 PM

I have three that live in my backyard. We have a crabapple tree and they seem to like eating the mushy crabapples that fell to the ground and are now frozen. I get to scare them down the alley whenever I come home after dark.

Always wanted to try rabbit, but never had the heart.

Side note:

On my stag weekend with the boys, we made an igloo and camped out for two nights. Last day, I saw a hare run around the igloo and start hopping away from us. I stood and watched. My one friend ran to the picnic table to take a picture. My other friend (who was chopping wood) threw the axe at it from about 35ft and the guy hit it while it was running and zig-zagging. I don't condone his actions, but it was a 1 in a million throw and we had a snowshoe hair on our hands.

He took it with him home since we were packing up in a few hours anyhow. Apparantley it made a nice little stew.

Big.Bear

02-01-2009, 10:12 PM

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=IpwhOE74TMA&feature=related

davis

02-02-2009, 10:51 AM

thank you soo much for posting that...I hated skinning these little buggers...I would have rather done 4 deer than 4 rabbits...:)...Now that I could get used to...

Thanks
CP

No problem, bud! :) I didn't really mind cleaning rabbits before this video, but I find this method great for cleaning in the field. Glad it was helpful.

The Gilchrist guy in the video that .LOON. posted mentions bitterness in the meat. I've only ever noticed that in early fall bunnies; the ones you'd catch/shoot now taste different. Is that just with the hares we get here in Newfoundland, or has anybody else noticed it too?

GMac

02-02-2009, 05:46 PM

This works very well for me try this out. It's like building sort of a enclosure that
makes the rabbits come to you. Works really well in semi open areas with alot
of random tracks or on worn trails. Cut four trees down and put them end to end to make a box shape, thick spruce if possible ,if not fill in with sticks what ever natural you can get. Leave at least two holes open on each side for the rabbits to pass inside. Set snares in the holes, on the inside put white birch toppings, or other hard wood rabbits like the more you get the better. I have had as many as 6 the next morning out of eight snares.

Reeves1

12-19-2010, 12:12 PM

It's that time of year again...

lyallpeder

12-20-2010, 09:39 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vfkyRle1Rc&NR=1&feature=fvwp

i thought swinging the whole rabbit was neat.

nanuk-O-dah-Nort

12-20-2010, 10:08 AM

better then skunks or gophers :D:lol:

I've been told Gophers taste VERY good.

mild light meat.

better than squirrel (unless you have hardwood nut type trees)

the Metis up in my area swear by them

as for skunk? I dunno but the fur makes pretty mitts