Snowshoe Hares

[motley man]

Anyone see many snowshoe hares out deer hunting ? Would like to go get a few and I'm not seeing any sign in my area. Used to be quite a few around but they have disappeared. Any other parts of the state have any word on them.

[reinhard1]

interesting question. over the years where i hunt [northern minnesota] i have seen snowshoes and of course years where i have seen few or none. this year i have seen none. wolves, fox, other predators or just a cycle i dont know. good luck.

[mixxedbagg]

Dozens of 'em all over the place near Sullivan Lake campground.

[MN Angler]

The Duluth area has a ton of them as well. We were up a couple weekends before deer opener to get stands/shooting lanes ready and saw quite a few. We went out one day to try and get a few and ended up with five for the weekend. I have never tried them before and found out they are great. We may go out a couple more times if I make it up for anymore bow hunting.

MN Angler

[92python]

Plenty of them in the clearcuts near Longville. They were almost totally white.

[matchset]

check the brush piles! they are there! i've seen a dozen or so

[houndsman]

Seems like the numbers are down some this year I run hare with beagles so seem to always find one or 2 somewere.

[Musky Buck]

This thread rings a bell, the swamp I hunt used to be full of them, haven't seen 1 in 20 years now, what happened ? And as they left the red fox has not been around for just about that long also.

[Lunker]

I hunted hard for grouse for two weeks this fall and never saw one set of the long ears. Then my nephew went out one day later in the season for grouse and shot four, same area. I never see high numbers, but they are out there if you find the right spots.

[pikestabber]

Hares cycle in population just as grouse do, but there are other factors, too... Predations is king. If there are lynx or wolves moving through an area, they can sure clean house in a hurry. Also, an area can be great when there is an abundance of small saplings and other good greenery for them, but when small trees (like aspen, etc.) grow up, rabbits often move on to new areas entirely. Now is the best time to get after them...find their winter runs (permanent trails) and follow these to any area brush piles--then stomp the piles they are hiding in. Best done with at least one other guy--use .22s. Good fun and great eats!