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Post by welder on Dec 30, 2021 17:23:50 GMT -5
While coyotes absolutely do kill rabbits, I have always thought the list is something like this: 1. FERAL CATS! 2. Birds of prey 3. Coons 4. Roundup/brush killer 5. Habitat loss I'd move habitat up to 2 but you hit the nail on the head. The birds of prey is an interesting one. When I built my running pen over the years I noticed crows flying slow around it real low, hovering and then dropping to the ground. Never could figure out what was going on until one day I was in the barn and watched one. I ran out there real quick and it was on a rabbits nest eating the babies. They would hover until they found the mama and drop down to chase her off and then eat away. We don't allow crows around here anymore. I should have said in no particular order. I've never heard of Crows eating baby bunnies, but it is not surprising. IMO, hawks and owls are brutal and with owls in the mix, it's a 24/7 assault on rabbits.
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Post by firstwd on Dec 30, 2021 17:59:18 GMT -5
While coyotes absolutely do kill rabbits, I have always thought the list is something like this: 1. FERAL CATS! 2. Birds of prey 3. Coons 4. Roundup/brush killer 5. Habitat loss I'd move habitat up to 2 but you hit the nail on the head. The birds of prey is an interesting one. When I built my running pen over the years I noticed crows flying slow around it real low, hovering and then dropping to the ground. Never could figure out what was going on until one day I was in the barn and watched one. I ran out there real quick and it was on a rabbits nest eating the babies. They would hover until they found the mama and drop down to chase her off and then eat away. We don't allow crows around here anymore. Homestly, I would put habitat first then domestic cats. Feral cats makes it sound like they don't have homes, but the most prolific killer is a well taken care of house cat because their kills are all for sport and not food.
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Post by drfleck on Dec 30, 2021 19:08:26 GMT -5
I went out tonight for a couple hours. No snow remaining on the ground just wet slop. I wouldnt think the weather conditions were ideal but I did manage to either jump 3 rabbits or jump the same rabbit 3 times. Shot and missed twice. Looking forward to getting some snow this weekend and colder temps. I know the snow makes them easier to see but do you think the cold temps cause them to hold in place and wait to run until you are closer? It was warmer today and they seemed to be jumping up much further in front of me.
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Post by span870 on Dec 31, 2021 4:21:12 GMT -5
I went out tonight for a couple hours. No snow remaining on the ground just wet slop. I wouldnt think the weather conditions were ideal but I did manage to either jump 3 rabbits or jump the same rabbit 3 times. Shot and missed twice. Looking forward to getting some snow this weekend and colder temps. I know the snow makes them easier to see but do you think the cold temps cause them to hold in place and wait to run until you are closer? It was warmer today and they seemed to be jumping up much further in front of me. Cold weather definitely makes them sit tighter but I don't know the theory behind it. Only guess I'd have is it be the same as a cold winter day and you're in bed snug and warm and just don't want to get up. They aren't dumb animals though. Watched them many times when being ran, if they get far enough ahead, stop and lick their paws. No idea why but imagine it may make it harder for a dog to smell them. Hunted a burn over a couple years back real soon after the burn. Those rabbits knew that the cover was sparce and you'd see them jump cover and run 75 to 100 yards before you got to where they were sitting.
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Post by freedomhunter on Dec 31, 2021 5:54:58 GMT -5
I'd move habitat up to 2 but you hit the nail on the head. The birds of prey is an interesting one. When I built my running pen over the years I noticed crows flying slow around it real low, hovering and then dropping to the ground. Never could figure out what was going on until one day I was in the barn and watched one. I ran out there real quick and it was on a rabbits nest eating the babies. They would hover until they found the mama and drop down to chase her off and then eat away. We don't allow crows around here anymore. Homestly, I would put habitat first then domestic cats. Feral cats makes it sound like they don't have homes, but the most prolific killer is a well taken care of house cat because their kills are all for sport and not food. yes, the young moms are stupid. I provide plenty of habitat for them but they want to den the babies next to my foundation and my tom cat kills them all. And she hides in the cover away from the young.
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Post by jman46151 on Dec 31, 2021 10:44:23 GMT -5
While coyotes absolutely do kill rabbits, I have always thought the list is something like this: 1. FERAL CATS! 2. Birds of prey 3. Coons 4. Roundup/brush killer 5. Habitat loss I'd say it's the birds at my in-laws. There's always a hawk or owl flying around. Not to mention a few crows. Went out for about an hour again yesterday and only kicked one up in the same spot as last time. I think I'll give a rest out there until next year.
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Post by Mack Apiary Bees on Dec 31, 2021 14:40:54 GMT -5
When I was a kid I loved rabbit hunting. My guess the last time was around 1986. I moved to Fort Wayne and never picked it back up. This intrigue me to pick it back up.
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Post by span870 on Dec 31, 2021 18:10:19 GMT -5
When I was a kid I loved rabbit hunting. My guess the last time was around 1986. I moved to Fort Wayne and never picked it back up. This intrigue me to pick it back up. Stomping brush was fun when I was a kid then I got some rabbit dogs. Made it even more fun. Nothing better than listening to them hounds running a bunny especially when they get a sight chase in and start screaming
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Post by drfleck on Jan 2, 2022 22:29:48 GMT -5
Trampled through the reservoir for 3 hours this afternoon. Only saw one. He was down along a drainage into the river. Fired a 3 shot burst at point blank range...and missed. At this point I'm really just in this for the exercise. Maybe I need to change up the terrain I'm hunting. Spent a lot of time walking through crp and along wood lines today. Will try again in a couple days.
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Post by budd on Jan 3, 2022 10:11:25 GMT -5
I seldom killed a rabbit/hare. Some years I ran over 250 days a year and never killed a hare all year. Kill him today and you cant run him tomorrow. I had hay and grain feeders, along with sulfur blocks placed around my running grounds. In the spring and summer when my dogs would catch the occasional hare, I noticed they would be covered with small deer ticks. Cant help but make me wonder if lyme's may take it's toll on the population?
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Post by bowonlykindofguy1 on Jan 15, 2022 12:33:30 GMT -5
Cool day out chasing them today.
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Post by span870 on Jan 17, 2022 7:36:04 GMT -5
Cool day out chasing them today. Awesome bud. Congrats. Been working 14 days straight training on a new line but going to put some miles on the hounds the next 4 days
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Post by duff on Jan 19, 2022 9:09:01 GMT -5
Cool day out chasing them today. Awesome bud. Congrats. Been working 14 days straight training on a new line but going to put some miles on the hounds the next 4 days So much for 4 days a week running...I win again.
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Post by greghopper on Jan 19, 2022 9:14:28 GMT -5
Awesome bud. Congrats. Been working 14 days straight training on a new line but going to put some miles on the hounds the next 4 days So much for 4 days a week running...I win again. Some folks train faster than others it seems
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Post by duff on Jan 19, 2022 9:17:39 GMT -5
So much for 4 days a week running...I win again. Some folks train faster than others it seems I mean come on. They don't understand he can't concentrate without a lip full of cope and his Pepsi bottle in his pocket. He keeps telling the trainers...well when I was a mixer driver I just do what I want. And that was usually nothing with a healthy dose of complaining
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Post by span870 on Jan 19, 2022 16:50:05 GMT -5
Some folks train faster than others it seems I mean come on. They don't understand he can't concentrate without a lip full of cope and his Pepsi bottle in his pocket. He keeps telling the trainers...well when I was a mixer driver I just do what I want. And that was usually nothing with a healthy dose of complaining It was just two weeks to learn a new line. For an $8 an hour raise, I'll give em two weeks of my time.
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Post by duff on Jan 19, 2022 18:07:39 GMT -5
I mean come on. They don't understand he can't concentrate without a lip full of cope and his Pepsi bottle in his pocket. He keeps telling the trainers...well when I was a mixer driver I just do what I want. And that was usually nothing with a healthy dose of complaining It was just two weeks to learn a new line. For an $8 an hour raise, I'll give em two weeks of my time. Sho-me-da-money
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Post by beermaker on Jan 20, 2022 13:25:31 GMT -5
Thanks. I'll toss some out next month over at the neighbors. They have a bunch of blackberries and multiflora rose growing and the bunnies love it. It's only a patch that is about 1/2 acre, but every little bit will help. The absolute best thing anyone can do for rabbits and some don't like to hear it, is get rid of feral cats. Top predator in many areas. I don't advocate any harsh means, big proponent of relocating them whether humane society of friendly farmer that will let them be his problem. Keep as many fox around of you have them. Fox love a good cat fight. I know a guy bought 60 acres and didn't have a single rabbit to see. Killed every coyote he could find and still no rabbits. Noticed feral cats everywhere. Couple of years decided not to shoot a single coyote. Noticed at the same time that more coyotes came in, less feral cat sightings and rabbit numbers climbed that he now has enough to take a bunch every year. He told me he'll never shoot another coyote on his property again. Nature has an amazing way of balancing herself with predator/prey coordination. Areas I hunt have a high amount of bobcats,coyotes, and fox. The areas I run that have the most rabbits have a low number of feral cats. Only issue I run into as stated before is the areas that get hunted that guys think rabbit are infinite and you can't hurt the population. Well they breed like rabbits. But they can't breed if they are dead. Yep. I know a guy that had a similar experience. He trained an honery Jack Russell to take care of the cat problem.
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Post by genesis273 on Jan 22, 2022 23:04:23 GMT -5
Heading out for a rabbit hunt in the fresh snow tomorrow morning. Won't be able to walk as far as usual on account of my bum knee in all. But, I'm really looking forward to it!
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Post by deadeer on Jan 22, 2022 23:14:11 GMT -5
Heading out for a rabbit hunt in the fresh snow tomorrow morning. Won't be able to walk as far as usual on account of my bum knee in all. But, I'm really looking forward to it! Luke and I went to Kingsbury FWA today for a couple hours. We cut several tracks, but I couldnt get anything to flush for him. Still had a great time together!
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