Snowshoe/Cottontail questions

[Spearo]

Hey everyone,

I was wondering if anybody had any tips for hunting snowshoe and cottontail hares in Western Washington. So far I have walked the logging roads in the Olympic national forest, and have seen some upland game birds but no hares of any kind. I'm new to land-hunting, and I know not seeing something doesn't mean it isn't there, but I also don't know if I'm even looking in the right place. I know last year was a bumper year for rabbits, so I'm assuming the problem has more to do with my novice stalking skills and less to do with rabbit populations, but that being said a gentle nudge in the right direction would be very much appreciated.

Thanks for any and all help in advance, cheers.

[JimmyHoffa]

Early mornings and late evenings.  Find areas with big blackberry thickets along the road and with green grass along the side of the road.  Hunt in the snow too.  They leave tracks that you can follow.

[JeffRaines]

I've seen the most on the roads right after a rain around sunrise. You can check around old roadbeds(read - roadbeds that are not drivable and barely walkable, even better if they're barely visible/not marked on a map but you can see these roads on Google Earth). I've seen them on or around those, usually when I don't have the right weapon with me 

[Spearo]

I've seen the most on the roads right after a rain around sunrise. You can check around old roadbeds(read - roadbeds that are not drivable and barely walkable, even better if they're barely visible/not marked on a map but you can see these roads on Google Earth). I've seen them on or around those, usually when I don't have the right weapon with me 

Cheers man, really appreciate the tips. I think the roads Ive been walking are too active, so Ill use google maps to hunt down some better ones. Thanks again.

[Spearo]

Early mornings and late evenings.  Find areas with big blackberry thickets along the road and with green grass along the side of the road.  Hunt in the snow too.  They leave tracks that you can follow.

Alright, Ive been going in the mid-afternoon so Ill start going out earlier or in the evenings. Thanks for the info.

[7mmfan]

Definitely early and late. I walk a well used walking trail by my house and I'll often hear them in the hour's up to dusk, and then in that last hour or so of light I'll start seeing them, sometimes lots of them.