Snow shoe hare hunting question

[Whoknows]

So to damper the winter blues i thought I would try my luck hare/shed hunting. Following the logic that animals that are lower on the food chain are more abundant i thought this should be an easy task. Let me tell you I put on alot a miles, found endless amounts of tracks and came up empty. I could not beleive how many tracks there are vs visible animals. I tried slowly walking around areas criss crossed with tracks hoping to catch one out basking in the afternoon sun. Is hare hunting something that can be done without dogs? Or was i doing something wrong? Any tips would be helpful.

[Silkworm]

When I was younger my father and I would walk in a zig zag pattern through the thickets or an area with alot of Waboose (rabbit/hare) sign. Go slow and look for their black eyes. It works best during winters like this (heavy snowfall)especially after a big snowstorm of fresh powder because they don't seem to like running that far. If you don't get a shot off the first time you usually get a second chance. I never tried it but I hear it works better if you have someone to drive for you and you just wait for a rabbit to run by. I get all my Waboose from snaring now. The internet and Youtube have some good info just search "rabbit snaring".

[mixxedbagg]

I kick up quite a few walking through lowland brush near conifer bogs or through aspen regen during winter. Shouldn't be too difficult without a dog.

I think I'd find some aspen regen in the 1" range, put on snowshoes of your own, and bushwhack through them. I don't know if they spend much daylight right on the trails. If nothing, you'll get some serious exercise.

[matchset]

i was in a snowshoe hare hunting contest last winter. great fun! but anyways....

the best advice i can ya is to walk slow; and stop often. when u stop they'll bugggger!

brush piles, small aspen, and dogwood thickets are great spots to hit.... but if u just bust through them you'll walk right by them or they'll run before you even get there.

[Jackpine Rob]

Some really good advice so far! Mixxed is right in pointing you towards the swamp brush (usually tag alder) adjacent to spruce bog/swamp. During daylight hours those rascals move towards the thick stuff, and can hold awfully tight. Walk slow and look for the black eye or black ear tip. If you can walk easily with snowshoes, the brush isn't quite thick enough!

They also like to sleep in woodpiles/brushpiles. Dad used to jump on brush piles or start messing with his woodpiles while I posted on the other side with my trusty .410.

If all else fails, spend an evening just before dark sitting quietly on a vantage point and watching carefully. Much will be revealed.....

[leech~~]

I have always had my best luck with Snow shoes this time of year in really low thick Pine areas. They seem to sit pretty tight around their holes. Some have a little yellower fir right now which may stand out a bit but you have to look for the eye! Good Luck.

[Whoknows]

Thanks for the tips. I'll give it another try before the season closes. With all the tracks I have seen, there has to be a bunch around. I keep picturing a network of tunnels under the snow full of hares just mocking me as I stumble and tumble through the knee deep snow. lol

[TooTallTom]

I've enjoyed reading this thread, I might have to get out after some of those wascals next winter.

What makes you think that they're mocking you, rather than plotting a counter-attack? Don't forget your holy hand grenade...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apDGPl2SfpA

[BobT]

The first time I went snowshoe hunting I was with three of my friends. They were spotting hares everywhere and I couldn't see them. After a few trips I finally "trained" my brain to pick them out and eventually I got to where I'd pick an eyeball or ear tip from among the brush and snow. What you experienced is not uncommon. It takes some practice as they are very well hidden by their color. If you're seeing a lot of tracks around, they are there.

[DonBo]

The first time I went snowshoe hunting I was with three of my friends. They were spotting hares everywhere and I couldn't see them. After a few trips I finally "trained" my brain to pick them out and eventually I got to where I'd pick an eyeball or ear tip from among the brush and snow. What you experienced is not uncommon. It takes some practice as they are very well hidden by their color. If you're seeing a lot of tracks around, they are there.

Yes, what he said. +1

They're not burrowing in the snow, though they may hide under a brushpile or snowed under branches, but they do not burrow like cottontails. If you're seeing lots of tracks, just keep at it.

[Silkworm]

Yeah, I agree with the above posts. You really have to spot your first one or two and your eyes become "trained", then it becomes much easier to spot them.

[Archerysniper]

They are some of my favorite winter targets, I go up to the fauther in laws and we break out the recurves. Just walk slow and study everything most of them I shoot are under 5 yards.

[Whoknows]

Taking one with a bow sounds really neat. I think I'll start with 20 gauge and see how that goes. Thanks for the tips.

[Tom7227]

Here's an article from today's Star Tribune on this subject:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/115611569.html