Go Back   Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum > Main Category > Hunting Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 06-08-2018, 09:39 AM
BoucherBeagles's Avatar
BoucherBeagles BoucherBeagles is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 10
Default Rabbit Hunting

Looking for somewhere to do some rabbit hunting with my 2 beagles.
Ive tried conservation sites like golden ranches out near cooking lake when I lived in Edmonton, but now I live out near Onoway so I've been trying sites like Letourneau, Atim Creek, and others in the parkland area. I've only ever had success at Golden Ranches, bagging 2 rabbits. Ive seen more in there but just didn't have much luck. My dogs are pretty new, but they have killer drive, are fast, and seem to know what their doing hahah. They've been on a few rabbits in Letourneau, but with no luck, and the chases are few and far between. I feel like my success rate should be much higher, given that there is said to be really big populations of rabbits in and around the Edmonton area, but Im having a really hard time being successful! Looking for some advice, or some guidance from someone who might know where a guy might be pretty successful.



Thanks
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-08-2018, 10:12 AM
Pikebreath Pikebreath is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,257
Default

Well, I am not sure what you consider to be lots of rabbits and "who said" there is "really big populations of rabbits in and around the Edmonton area", but,,,

FWIW, I haven't seen significant numbers of rabbits (well snowshoe hares actually) anywhere in the parkland regions in past 20- 30 years. Your description of how many bunnies you have found really sounds pretty typical now. Back in the 60's and 70's, bunnies were very common through the parkland but predator numbers were much lower back then.

Try focusing further west and north into the forest fringe areas would my best guess as to where you might find huntable numbers of rabbits.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-08-2018, 10:16 AM
BoucherBeagles's Avatar
BoucherBeagles BoucherBeagles is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 10
Default

You bring up a good point. I suppose I may have had a false idea in my head, nobody told me there were large populations. I used to live in the city, and there were tons. I guess Ill just keep doing what I'm doing!
Thanks for the reply.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-08-2018, 10:39 AM
Red Bullets's Avatar
Red Bullets Red Bullets is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: central Alberta
Posts: 12,627
Default

Hare populations experience dramatic population fluctuations in a cycle that lasts 8-11 years. I think the peak rabbit/hare cycle around central Alberta was a couple years ago. The lynx population increases a year after a the peak of a hare cycle so hare numbers go down quickly. Last year there were good populations of lynx.

If you are training your dogs I would suggest that you try walking some of the train track right of ways in the area. The railways usually have good brush along them. There can be good populations of rabbits or hares along the train tracks. In some places the train tracks have been removed but the railway still has the right of way. Some of the railway tracks are barely used anymore. Those would be ideal.
__________________
___________________________________________
This country was started by voyagers whose young lives were swept away by the currents of the rivers for ten cents a day... just for the vanity of the European's beaver hats. ~ Red Bullets
___________________________________________
It is when you walk alone in nature that you discover your strengths and weaknesses. ~ Red Bullets
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-09-2018, 08:20 AM
icecap icecap is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 100
Default Rabbits(snowshoe hares)

I know a great spot north of morinville. A few sections of crown land with only one dirt road nearby. No highways great for the dogs. Haven't hunted there for a few years but we shot so many we had to leave the guns at home and start using the bows. I've seen three and four cross the trial ahead of the dog. Send me your cell number and I'll drop you a pin. Probably an hour and fifteen from Onoway.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-09-2018, 10:21 AM
BoucherBeagles's Avatar
BoucherBeagles BoucherBeagles is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 10
Default

Red Bullets- thanks for the info on the hare population cycles. and yes to be clear, I was in fact originally talking about snowshoe hares, and not rabbits. The railroad tracks sounds like a good idea especially if I can find some that are no longer in use to at least keep the dogs actively running rabbits, even I can't physically hunt them.

Here is a shot of Josie and I with our first hare -

Icecap - that sounds awesome I'd love to check it out

Last edited by admin; 06-26-2018 at 12:46 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 06-09-2018, 06:02 PM
ghfalls ghfalls is offline
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 846
Default

Try leaving the dogs at home and see if you have better success. I live very close to Onoway and me and a buddy snare rabbits an$ the last couple winters, we got close to 200 rabbits each season. They’re out there.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 06-09-2018, 08:41 PM
walking buffalo's Avatar
walking buffalo walking buffalo is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,208
Default

Be sure to spend time in the right habitat. If there is little sign, then there can't be many bunnies around.


ghfalls,
The OP's purpose seems to be to include the hounds.
You are right that for efficiency and numbers, snaring is a great way to satisfy the need for hare pies.
__________________
Alberta Fish and Wildlife Outdoor Recreation Policy -

"to identify very rare, scarce or special forms of fish and wildlife outdoor recreation opportunities and to ensure that access to these opportunities continues to be available to all Albertans."
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 06-09-2018, 09:10 PM
antlercarver antlercarver is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,391
Default Rabbits

Wait till after summer, they are raising babies now.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
beagles, hunting, rabbits

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:04 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.