Lotta Rabbits in Wyoming?

[hoosierdude]

We?ll be in unit 22 on BLM second week of October chasing antelope. I bought a small game license in case we tag out early, and I?ll have a savage rascal with cb shorts for camp meat while we hunt pronghorn. We hear they?re plentiful. Any truth to this??

 

[go_deep]

Their like a roller coaster for numbers. 3 years ago you could count hundreds on a mile of road in the morning, last year hardle any. They do differ from area to area also.

 

[kesand72]

Rabbits are a nice bonus while chasing bigger game!!

 

[RICMIC]

Someone on this forum may live in the area, and that would be the reliable source. Otherwise call the WY F&G regional office for their input. I just did that for the Cody region (that covers the other side of the Bighorns) to ask the same info. I suspect that #22 is in the Casper region (#800-233-8544), but the statewide info no. is #307-777-4600. Bring a box of disposable vinyl or latex gloves, clean the rabbits quickly after dispatch and get them on ice ASAP. They do make for some fine eating, and are great fun to hunt.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

We saw a bunch when Antelope hunting. Those hares are big! Freaked me out first time I saw one.

 

[bdan68]

There were tons of rabbits in 2016 in the Ten Sleep area. But as others said numbers fluctuate.

 

[Prerylyon]

+++ on the gloves and quick field dressing of [emoji195] (per whatever the law requires) [emoji106]

True story: was hunting pheasants about 15 yrs ago and it was a slow day; but bunnies popping up everywhere. It was late Nov and cold. Dog couldn't take much more of it, so I said, heck, let's get some bunnies for Sunday supper.

I shot a few and tossed them in my game bag; walked back to truck. 1/2 way home, I started to itch like a son of a gun. Damn rabbits were covered in fleas and now they were on me! [emoji220] I had to fumigate the truck, my clothes, and me. Dog was fine. He had his Frontline...[emoji23]

So...

Yeah, whenever I hunt rabbits, I deal with them on the spot and the meat goes into a plastic bag.

Regards,

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk

 

[JM77]

We saw a bunch when Antelope hunting. Those hares are big! Freaked me out first time I saw one.

I think you are referring to jackrabbits? Wyoming cottontails are much smaller than jacks.

I don't know too many that live in Wyoming that will hunt cottontails before two or three real hard freezes, which most years is well into November.

 

[dirtclod Az.]

Jacks are excellent eating,Large hind legs and backstraps.In Az. have to check liver for disease,Imediatelly toss diseased animals and wash thouroghly.

 

[JimP]

There are mountain hares that inhabit the sage brush areas that antelope and sage hens like to live and they are bigger than a jack.

 

[dirtclod Az.]

JimP are hose Mountain Hares in the U.S?Sure would like to hunt them.

 

[go_deep]

Jackolopes have a 3 point restriction this year, so verify before you shoot.

 

[dirtclod Az.]

Jackalope season in Az. is open year round...If you can find them.

 

[mnhoundman]

We were in 22 last year, didn't see any rabbits. But shot some prairie dogs.

 

[JimP]

JimP are hose Mountain Hares in the U.S?Sure would like to hunt them.

I haven't been in Wyoming to find them but I have seen a lot of them in Utah above 7,000'

 

[JM77]

There are mountain hares that inhabit the sage brush areas that antelope and sage hens like to live and they are bigger than a jack.

I couldn't say about Colorado, but in Wyoming we have Blacktail and Whitetail jackrabbits in sage brush country and Snowshoe Hares in the mountains.

Go_deep remember; a brow tine will count toward the 3pt restriction on jackalopes.

 

[wy-tex]

We have ton down here in Laramie, I would almost pay you to come shoot some in our neighborhood. No crash yet in our population.

Snowshoe hares taste fine to me, but the jacks not so much.

 

[Hilltop]

We have ton down here in Laramie, I would almost pay you to come shoot some in our neighborhood. No crash yet in our population.

Snowshoe hares taste fine to me, but the jacks not so much.

+1 on the Snowshoes. They are great to eat but can be a challenge to find.

 

[shootbrownelk]

We were in 22 last year, didn't see any rabbits. But shot some prairie dogs.

Don't eat the sod poodles, they carry the plague. Leave them for the ferrets.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Jacks are excellent eating,Large hind legs and backstraps.In Az. have to check liver for disease,Imediatelly toss diseased animals and wash thouroghly.

Nope nope nope!
That's why they are good for target practice with my 7mm Rem Mag.