Thread: Rabbit hunting
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Old 04-13-2011, 03:50 PM
Pudelpointer Pudelpointer is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Back in Lethbridge
Posts: 4,647
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A couple observations:

When you say "in the direction of BC" do you mean you will be IN BC, or just West of Edmonton? In AB hares and rabbits can be hunted without a license (by a resident) but in BC they are all considered "small game" and require a general hunting license.

You mention "birds". Need to stop you there. All birds (that you would want to eat) are either protected or "game birds" which require a hunting certificate and game bird license(s). The only birds you can shoot without a license are mourning doves (AKA rock doves, city pigeons, barn pigeons) which can be good table fare, and crows, starlings, magpies, and a few others.

As for the crossbows... why? Not to rain on your parade, in case you are not aware, but you can only use crossbows for hunting big game during the rifle seasons and in a few areas where they have shotgun-muzzle loader-archery-crossbow seasons. Not sure about Strathcona.

As for snowshoe hares specifically, you need to hunt slowly, quietly, and carefully. You need to spot them before they run (once they start it is usually counterproductive to try and follow them or find them again). Watch for them tucked in around deciduous brush piles and under low hanging spruce boughs.

If you are licenced to buy a firearm, get yourself a shotgun. If you are not licensed, then get yourself licensed. Also, go take the hunters education course.

Last edited by Pudelpointer; 04-13-2011 at 03:55 PM.
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