Rabbits being rabbits

[Jingles]

If I remember right from my younger days a long time ago rabbits do have cycles of good years and bad years and I vaguely remember that the cycle was approximately 7 years But that was back in MI and were cotton tails

[furiouzgeorge]

Been seeing them everywhere, and it's been killing me that it's not winter!
 

[Pete112288]

I was taught the same thing in school about the 7 year cycle. If I remember right they talk about the bobcat or lynx populations have a direct correlation with it. Predator numbers go down because of lack of prey, then prey numbers go up while the predator numbers are down, then the predator numbers go up again because the prey numbers went up, then the prey numbers go down again because of increased number of predators, and so on and so on.....

[plottwalker]

been a good year so far in oregon, have not found a spot to run that wasnt full up of them, last season was good in washington as well. 7 year cycles are correct. brush rabbits and cottontails seem to follow this cycle, snowshoes not so much.guys should plan to stock up on shells and dogs this season.

[Jonathan_S]

been a good year so far in oregon, have not found a spot to run that wasnt full up of them, last season was good in washington as well. 7 year cycles are correct. brush rabbits and cottontails seem to follow this cycle, snowshoes not so much.guys should plan to stock up on shells and dogs this season.

I might have to add a dog or two to my "pack" from your stock.  These two are doing awesome for only 14 weeks old.  Really driven.

[plottwalker]

sounds good, everything i have now is spoken for, have a female coming in now... if all goes as planned will have pups ready to in 4 months.

[Powerd]

Been seeing them everywhere, and it's been killing me that it's not winter!
 

What kind of rabbits are you seeing? I thought the rabbits we see in northwestern Washington in people's yards and the streets are mainly the common unclassified kind? Is this correct?

[Jonathan_S]

Been seeing them everywhere, and it's been killing me that it's not winter!
 

What kind of rabbits are you seeing? I thought the rabbits we see in northwestern Washington in people's yards and the streets are mainly the common unclassified kind? Is this correct?

What kind would that be?  Cottontails?  Yeah they are classified and a small game animal.

[jasnt]

Been seeing them everywhere, and it's been killing me that it's not winter!
 

What kind of rabbits are you seeing? I thought the rabbits we see in northwestern Washington in people's yards and the streets are mainly the common unclassified kind? Is this correct?

What kind would that be?  Cottontails?  Yeah they are classified and a small game animal.

i think he's talking feral rabbits

[furiouzgeorge]

Cottontails! I guess I'd eat feral rabbits too...

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[PiNkPaNtHeR]

be careful when eating them.  If they have swollen lymph nodes in the neck they can be infected with Tularemia.  wear protective gloves to avoid contact.  If rabbit appears sick or if you see the liver has white spots the meat is probably infected and should not be eaten.

Yep, always check the liver.  Tularemia is almost non-existent in cold weather months (rabbit season)

Man, that's enough to scare me away from eating them. This is the first I ever heard of it. Shot and ate plenty in Maine many years ago. Potentially fatal? No thanks!
We now have them on the property this year for the first time since we've owned it. One was in the garden the other night as we put up deer fencing but didn't think we'd need to hold it tight to the ground just yet. Wrong again.

[Jonathan_S]

Been seeing lots of hares up high this month.  Saw a few that were poached and left in the road  why?

Gets me excited for winter with the new dogs 

[jasnt]

Been seeing lots of hares up high this month.  Saw a few that were poached and left in the road  why?

Gets me excited for winter with the new dogs 

i bet, I'd be excited too.  I've never gotten a chance to run rabbits with dogs. Sounds like a blast!   

 Why would any one shoot rabbits out of season and hot weather to boot then carry them to the road only to just toss them aside?

[Jonathan_S]

I think they just shot them in the road.  I see hares sitting in the roads up North in the mornings.  Still a brain-dead and wasteful thing to do.

Those snowshoes really give beagles a run for their money.

[seth30]

How far do they run after being jumped?  Are they similar to cottontails or jack rabbit behavior after being bumped?