Anyone hunt snowshoe hares?

[EatAlltheAnimals]

Ok the interest of extending my hunting season a bit longer, I want to hunt snowshoe hares. I went with a few buddies up to Toutle mountain this weekend to see if we could get on any and came up empty. Didn’t see any rabbit sign but did spook a doe and see lots of other sign.

We were looking around 2500-3000’ elevation range.

Any snowshoe hunters that can offer any tips? When I called the WDFW biologist for the area, he said he hadn’t heard of anyone hunting snowshoes.

Thanks in advance!


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[jdb]

Man my son killed one a couple years ago and I crookpotted it with spuds and cream of mushroom soup. It was horrible. And I burped it up for two days.

[EatAlltheAnimals]

Man my son killed one a couple years ago and I crookpotted it with spuds and cream of mushroom soup. It was horrible. And I burped it up for two days.

Really? That bad? Sorry to hear.


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[WA hunter14]

We have absolutely tons of snowshoes here about 3000ft is the lowest elevation.  They are extremely spooky and its almost impossible to get a shot on one. The only ones ive killed were burning brush piles and they would run out of the pile when it got smokey.

[WA hunter14]

I do know a few guys that actually go after them sometimes and they drive around about 4000ft elevation and spotlight them and shoot them with shotguns. Dont know exactly how,  they might see one run across the road and try and get after it or maybe they just shoot them from the pickup witch is obviously illegal.

[Magnum_Willys]

Son got one long time ago - pan fried in teriaki sauce - he loved it.  They are tough to find.

[zwickeyman]

I have killed quite a few with my recurve while Elk hunting in central Idaho, September and they were all great eating. I have only killed 2 in WA and both were in October at about 5000' both were good.

I would get on some shoes and get up between 3500' and 4500' and cover some ground

[KFhunter]

I haven't figured out how to hunt them without dogs other than road hunting at dusk before the snow flies.   
Once the snow flies and you can't drive the roads good luck!

I've tried snowshoeing and I'm just not keen enough to pick them out before they bolt.

Sure I coulda got one here and there and have, got some with bows too, but to hunt them effectively enough to bring home decent bags..nope!

If you want dog advice there's a few beaglers on here, or have previous experience doing it.

[EatAlltheAnimals]

I do know a few guys that actually go after them sometimes and they drive around about 4000ft elevation and spotlight them and shoot them with shotguns.

Thanks, I think my elevation was too low ok the first trip. It just didn’t seem like the right kinda country.


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[EatAlltheAnimals]

I have killed quite a few with my recurve while Elk hunting in central Idaho, September and they were all great eating. I have only killed 2 in WA and both were in October at about 5000' both were good.

I would get on some shoes and get up between 3500' and 4500' and cover some ground

Thanks. I was expecting snow on my first trip but apparently we were to low in elevation. Up the mountain I go.


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[KP-Skagit]

I had a good buddy who hunted them religiously in Alaska. He targeted low elevation swamp lands in the snow. The hares were stripping bark on willow scrub. They are a tricky little animal to see and can run about 20 mph...

Here in WA I have gotten into them in similar areas though at higher elevation (3000 to 4000 FT). Look for patches of scrubby deciduous trees (willows) near springs and they may be in there. In the snow also pay attention to tracks.

In terms of eating I have eaten plenty and find them to be excellent. Just remember, like a big ole blue grouse a big snowshoe will be some of the toughest meat around.

[DOUBLELUNG]

I've hunted them in NH with beagles and shot them incidental to deer hunting there too.  Hunted them quite a bit in the Snowy Range west of Laramie when I was in college, and statewide incidental to big game.  Look for dense willow patches surrounded by conifers.  We did well without dogs with 2-3 guys stillhunting through with shotguns and #4-6 lead, open chokes - look for the black eye.  We would get about half before they ran seeing the eye, the rest when they flushed from one of us toward another. 

In Chelan County I don't see many below around 3,500-3,800'.  I've considered snowshoeing for them but haven't.

I think they are better than cottontails, which I also really like. 

[EatAlltheAnimals]

I had a good buddy who hunted them religiously in Alaska. He targeted low elevation swamp lands in the snow. The hares were stripping bark on willow scrub. They are a tricky little animal to see and can run about 20 mph...

Here in WA I have gotten into them in similar areas though at higher elevation (3000 to 4000 FT). Look for patches of scrubby deciduous trees (willows) near springs and they may be in there. In the snow also pay attention to tracks.

In terms of eating I have eaten plenty and find them to be excellent. Just remember, like a big ole blue grouse a big snowshoe will be some of the toughest meat around.

Thanks KP, I think I’ll be making a trip to the mountains soon. Will keep my eye out for those willows.


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[EatAlltheAnimals]

I've hunted them in NH with beagles and shot them incidental to deer hunting there too.  Hunted them quite a bit in the Snowy Range west of Laramie when I was in college, and statewide incidental to big game.  Look for dense willow patches surrounded by conifers.  We did well without dogs with 2-3 guys stillhunting through with shotguns and #4-6 lead, open chokes - look for the black eye.  We would get about half before they ran seeing the eye, the rest when they flushed from one of us toward another. 

In Chelan County I don't see many below around 3,500-3,800'.  I've considered snowshoeing for them but haven't.

I think they are better than cottontails, which I also really like.

Well, I have the right shotgun setup, now just need to go to higher elevation. Thanks!


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[AWS]

I hunted them a lot in WI and MN.  We'd hunt them after a fresh snow and follow a track till we jumped one then the guy with the shotgun would stay there and usually me with a rifle would get on the track and they would circle back to where they were jumped and the shotgunner would get some nice shots, not unlike hunting them with beagles but I was the beagle.  Quite often I was able to spot one ahead and make a shot with the rifle.  We were usually on XC backcountry skis.  We loved them stewed with onions and served over dumplings with sweet/sour red cabbage on the side.

[Cougartail]

White Pass area has had them in the past? East side and south of the highway was lots of tracks but honestly only seen one?

[EatAlltheAnimals]

White Pass area has had them in the past? East side and south of the highway was lots of tracks but honestly only seen one?

Thanks I’ll have to give it a look.


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[Jonathan_S]

Deep soft snow was hard with the dogs.  They didn't circle like cottontails, they would go up top of the ridges and over the back side. Made me nervous in cat/wolf country.

I've shot several dozen but always just incidentals while cat/coyote hunting and trapping.

[KFhunter]

Deep soft snow was hard with the dogs.  They didn't circle like cottontails, they would go up top of the ridges and over the back side. Made me nervous in cat/wolf country.

I've shot several dozen but always just incidentals while cat/coyote hunting and trapping.

bunch of howling beagles in wolf country, what could go wrong 





 

[Duck_Lover]

Any advice for the other rabbits? Which area can be good to look for without a dog? I am living in King County but like to go east side if there is a better opportunity. Highly appreciate all this great information.

[birddogdad]

many years back in Maine for sure. Found corning them was an excellent way to process and make very edible.

[Threewolves]

My experience was from when I lived in Alaska. Cook them in brown and serve oven bags. it keep the moisture in so the meat doesn't get dry. If they are around hunting them was never a problem. They do have a have a life cycle.  Started with shotguns and that got too easy, went to 22 rifles, then pistols and on to pellet guns. A buddy of mine was using a sling shot with marbles for ammo, but he could as they say "spot a snowshoe in a snowstorm." As stated above look for the eye and the shape, a different pile of snow usually along the edges of openings sunning. First you would see a different pile of snow, then you would notice an eye and the rest would appear. When the cycle was up they were every where. It wasn't anything to shoot 10 to 20 of them hunting with friends. Good thing they are easy to skin Even made rabbit jerky.   
Every now and then it would get cold before the snows came. Now that was some easy hunting white snowshoes on a brown back ground. Oh, safety note look out for toulrimina or something like that "White spots on the livers" comes up every now and then. Those "they" say you can still eat the meat if thoroughly cooked. Unless it was a survival situation, I would pass and just go shoot another one. Good times even in the low cycles you could pick up two or three. 

[KFhunter]

I think ya'll talked me into doing this after I'm done w cougar,  need to hike anyways. 

Used to raise rabbits, quit, so maybe some wild hares might be good.  I'll make sure to wear my contacts so I can see super sharp