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Rabbit Question
First time rabbit hunting in CO. And looking to start scouting some public land locations within a few hours of Denver for the upcoming season. I was wondering if you guys had any recommend locations or advice? Thanks for your time.
Never done so well on the public lands. Lots of ticks and disease. Farmers fields, especially the wheat fields, seem to be the place and the farmers love for you to kill as many of them as is legal, and virtually any other small game (coons, badgers, yotes, skunks, etc.). They certainly are pests out there. The area between hwy 14 and Brush/Fort Morgan is packed with them. Cottontails as well as jacks.
Forgot to mention-dawn or dusk. Especially dusk. They come from nowhere.
Thanks, good info.HAve you encountered any bad experiences while getting permission from the farmers? Do you just drive on there property and knock?
I took a few out east on some state trust land on the Platt last year. I was loaded for Goose so they were well tenderized when I put them in the pot. My personal favorite is when I find a rancher with and overpopulation problem.
Not to hijack your thread, but I was thinking... I've hunted rabbit with a 22 and a shotgun. Has anyone tried those 9mm shotshells? It wouldn't be the most 'cost effective' way to take a rabbit, but the idea of shooting at one running full speed with a handgun makes me want to try it.
The Hayman burn area outside of Deckers has a few cotton tails. Seen probably 3-4 per day while bow hunting. You'll will have to do a lot of walking to find them. I'd rather walk around in the mountains than out on the flats though.
Also those rabbits are dumb. They run about 20 yards and stop. Not really a challenge to shoot them just in finding them.
Originally Posted by SSChameleon
One of the places that I go fishing a lot has a rattlesnake problem of biblical proportions, so I have done a ton of testing of pistol caliber shotshells. A 9mm shotshell with #9 shot fired out of a 5" bbl at an empty coke can has trouble denting the coke can across my gun shop. Honestly, your not going to do any real damage to a cottontail with a 9mm shotshell over about 6' away, and if you did, it wouldn't kill him. I have taken two with 44mag shotshells, both within 20 feet, and I probably wouldn't do that again. I may consider it if #6 44mag shotshells were avail...
I have taken a fair number with a 22 revolver on the run at close range. Not easy but not impossible: 1. Be very, very sure of your target and whats around it. 2. Know what arc you can safely shoot in given surrounding structures, and be very sure Bugs is in that arc. 3. Make sure your buddy, kid, etc. is not in that arc 3. Aim at the nose 4. Front site, front site, front site. 5. Don't get excited and blow your trigger control.
Rabbitstew, in my not so limited experience, the further you get away from Denver the better your luck knocking on farmers doors will be. Also, if you can get off of the I-70 or I-76 corridors, your luck will increase even more. Just for example, Ft. Morgan farmers get the crap beat out of them by hunters. I have gotten a lot of refusals around there. By the time you get 45min south of the highway, almost no one will say no to birds and small game (big game is another story).
I have a few jacks and a few cottontails on my place. Last year there were so many I couldn't throw a rock without hitting one. This year, hardly any. Strange..
Nontactical - Thanks for the info. That is a lot of good stuff. I'll be out with the 22 this year for sure.
I haven't tried the shot shells in my 9mm, but i have had trouble with them cycling in other pistols
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