Rabbit Hunting Eastern Washington

[JimmyLee]

Does anyone know of any good places to hunt cottontail near the tri-cities area? I have been looking for a place for awhile now but no one seems to have any answers? 

Season Opens Sept. 1st really want some rabbit stew

[jennabug]

I've also been interested, but finding someone willing to share locations is pretty tough. From what I've gathered, looking around streams and irrigation canals is one of the better ways to find them.  I've seen a lot out around the Badger Canyon area as well, if you can find someone with property who will give you access.

[Bill W]

tagging

[KFhunter]

If you want snowshoe hare I think it's going to be a great year, they're cyclical and right now I think they're peaking as I've been seeing a lot of them.




I don't know anything about cottontails near tri-cities though.   

[Alchase]

There was a thread a few years ago that had a explanation of which months of the year rabbits can be hunted and eaten safely.
After the frost kills the parasites, months with an "r" in it (September - April), but does that work for Washington?

[KFhunter]

There was a thread a few years ago that had a explanation of which months of the year rabbits can be hunted and eaten safely.
After the frost kills the parasites, months with an "r" in it (September - April), but does that work for Washington?

Yes, I've never seen it but it's something to keep in mind. 

http://www.doh.wa.gov/ForPublicHealthandHealthcareProviders/NotifiableConditions/Tularemia

[DOUBLELUNG]

Rabbits can be eaten safely any time of year, disposable rubber gloves are recommended for cleaning and don't eat any of the organs.  The R month adage works pretty well along the northern Rockies, but in eastern WA we don't get frost until October or even later some years.  Unfortunately, while the flea density does decrease later in the year/winter, that is more for plague, which is not often an issue in WA.  A white-spotted liver or spleen should cause one to suspect an advanced case of tularemia, however, it can also be acquired from normal appearing asymptomatic animals. 

There is almost nothing transmissible disease-wise to humans from upland game birds and big game species, however with other species - especially carnivores, rodents and bunnies - meat should be thoroughly cooked and blood borne pathogen sanitary protocols followed to prevent disease and parasite transmission.  That means handling with gloves only until on the cooker.

[JimmyLee]

When I was a kid up in Canada (BC) I use to hunt rabbits all the time and the one thing Grandpa taught me was to look for the white spots. In Washington state, you can only hunt cottontails  Sept. - March so there are no worries about eating them, but I would still check them out to be safe.

Now if I can locate a spot to hunt I'll be happy., happy, happy