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Posted: 2/2/2006 9:15:16 PM EDT
Evidently Harney County is being over ran with Jack Rabbits! Okay these are old photos obviously but evidently the rabbits are in cycle now and its not rare to shoot 2-300 a night with out making a dent! Does that sound like fun or what? I'd have to take out a 2nd mortgage just for 22 shells! *ETA* another old photo but it says Nightly Round up, which would indicate a reaccuring event? LINK Biologists don’t understand exactly why Eastern Oregon’s Harney County is overrun with jackrabbits while there have been only a handful of rabbit sightings in the Hanford Reach. In Eastern Washington urban sprawl has created a kind of sagebrush island which has likely contributed to the decline in habitat for the jackrabbit and hence, a decline in its population. In the vast sagebrush prairies of Eastern Oregon, however, the jackrabbit population is booming — and they’re having a profound effect on the ecosystem, as well as reducing crop revenues of farmers there. FIELD GUIDE examines how the jackrabbit is part of a tightly woven food chain and how it affects the presence of other animals like coyotes, pronghorn and even golden eagles. |
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You just watch that show too?
That was funny :P Sooo many, just like the mormon crickets! |
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Did you remember the cricket investation back in the late 70s? Yes, that show was halarious. I so want to go shoot some rabbits [no one tell da_bunny kay?] |
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What do you think would happen after capping all those coyotes? Jackrabbits would perform seppuku to keep their numbers down?
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Don't know if I can remember the exact year in my advanced state of decay but it was like that in ~ 69/70. We used to go to Harney Co. on weekends. Would shoot up a brick each per day and there didn't seem to be any end to them.
Some thought at the time was that it was the result of poisoning the coyotes, but seeing it happen again now would seem to point to a natural cyclic event. NMSight |
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Wait until the coyote population rises due to larger food supply, then have another coyote hunt.
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lol, you're turning soft on us munkalido? Actually according to the story the coyote population is really bennifiting from the rabbit explosion so before heading south be sure to pack your AR. Spambo wanna go hunting? If you drive I can scout! |
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My Grandpa was a Game Biologist for the Oregon Fish and Wildlife commision for years and he tells me stories of when the .GOV would pay 5 cents for a pair of ears. My Dad and his brother (My uncle turned out to be a card carriing member of DUh) used to go shoot rabbits out of the back of a Game commision pickup all night. Gramps would go cut ears while the kids reloaded. Good times...
Mark. |
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patty-
"... to shoot 2-300 a night..." Check your game regs and ORS's. There are only a few animals you can shot at night with artifical light (headlights, flashlights, etc.) in OR without both written permission by the land owner and state ODFW. Rabbit is NOT one of the animals. Go ahead and do it but now you know the risks. |
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Well it could be a slight exaggeration but I also believe there is a special bounty put on them since they're devistating crops. |
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Ah, the good times. |
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Hmm......In my experience, you won't get bothered unless you've been tipping back some before you went out. NOT SUGGESTING IT, BUT IT'S NOT "UN-COMMON" We usually quit shooting at night for that reason alone, it's funner to sit back at camp and drain targets for the "down" time the next day. .22's are fun, but if ya wanna make a mess, take the AR with ya. I have a few spots we usually go over in the Warner valley by Hart Mt. One trip last year, in a little over a day and a half I went thru 1200rds. Not alot of target shooting went on either and I'm not a bad shot I might add. It was a great spring last year, hope this year is half as good. And I'll add, there were a few, that were Kamikazze bunnies, they did bite the bullet, less than 10ft while running at me (probably confused) but damn, that is fun! |
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Petagunner, I am so going rabbit hunting with you [and NurseB of course]. Sounds wicked!
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Ya know, on the subject of Law on the night shoots. I recall one time, fueling up in Paisley round 7pm in FEB and the Lake county sherrif telling us where to go....he also added not to shine the light straight up in the air as the game warden was up at Hart Mt. that evening and would be able to see it
And for the record, NurseB does not attend bunny camp. Too many guns, not enough bushes tall enough to do her business.....the pipe bombs and cherry bombs may dissuade her some as well Maybe soon, as the younin gets a little older, she'll attend |
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Patty - Any chance you're going to schedule another varmint hunt? I know Gack would be in for a second chance... Spambo, Peta.. |
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We'll see. I would really enjoy it. I'm wondering if the dogs haven't denned up early this year as I haven't been seeing any. Two days ago coming home in my old pick up [it chugs a long topped out at about 40] I saw one on the side of the road. Nice healthy tall yote. It just turned around and smiled at me. I thought about educating it with my .45 but still had about 30 miles to make it home and didn't want to waste daylight. That was the first coyote I've seen in several weeks. |
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Let us know when they venture out. Little sage rat action might be fun.
DT |
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Patty: Spambo wanna go hunting? If you drive I can scout!
I'm addicted to hunting, so yeah I'll go. Who's got a place for us to hunt rabbit's in Harney County? Sounds like a target rich environment. Too bad we couldn't have a Practical Rifle match there. Nothing like moving targets. Bend writes: Check your game regs and ORS's. There are only a few animals you can shot at night with artifical light (headlights, flashlights, etc.) in OR without both written permission by the land owner and state ODFW. Rabbit is NOT one of the animals. No so. This the goverment. They make the rules. From ODFW Hunting Regulations: "Predatory Animals" means coyotes, rabbits, rodents and feral swine which are or may be destructive to agricultural crops. "Neither landowners nor agents need a permit from ODFW to spotlight predatory animals (as defined ORS 610.002) on land they own or lawfully occupy. ODA(Agriculture ?) has authority to define "agent" for purposes of the predatory aniimal statute. Written documentation is not required. This regulation went into effect in the last couple of years. I love to pop one with a Nosler BT out of my Bushy! Hmmm, that reference to "ferel swine" has got me curious..... Sounds like some of the Portland politicians may be in trouble. Now if we can just get them out in the country onto private land.... Spambo |
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Okay Petagunner where should we go? |
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might be in on this as I get an extra day to play in Feb since it's my Bday month. That and I have loaded mags.
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A place with sagebrush is a good place to start I'd tell ya, but my areas are super secret. If I took you, you would have to wear a blindfold on the way in and that's kinda hard to drive that way Riley south, on 395, any of the areas south of Wagontire are good, does not have to be next to any alfalfa fields either. Most of the spots I shoot jacks at aren't anywhere near any crops as those areas get hit pretty hard. Plush is a good area to start, the bottom ground around that area is good, but further up the hogback road towards hwy 395 is always a good bet. One thing to look for when looking for good rabbit habitat. Soft ground and sage that is not 4ft tall and old. Rabbits like the soft sandy soil and young sage. If there are any rabbits in the area, they will be in those types of locations. I'm planning a trip in that area the week of the 20th of March, first part of that week as my son's B-day is that weekend following. I should also add, the area around horse mountain, inbetween Hwy 395 and Paisley has some great bunny shooting in it as well. |
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Dunno, you would have to ask the coyotes,hawks,snakes and worms about that one Population control at it's best. |
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spambo-
Thanks for the update. Yes, I was going on info from several years ago, like 5+. My bad. However, if you are not the land owner nor an agent of the landowner, seems you still need landowner and ODFW permission. |
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Bend writes: spambo-
Thanks for the update. Yes, I was going on info from several years ago, like 5+. My bad. However, if you are not the land owner nor an agent of the landowner, seems you still need landowner and ODFW permission. Sorry for the govt. double speak, it came straight from the hunting regulations. Anyway, the way I understand it, if the land owner gives you permission, you become "an agent of the landowner". I personally know a few people who have used a spotlight and shot lots of rabbits in the French Glen area. Evidently, the rabbit numbers are large and are becoming a real problem to farmers. Leave it to the govt. to re-define a rabbit as a "predator". I guess it does make some sense since the rabbits are predators of the alfalfa fields. Spambo |
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What day is your birthday? Two of my 3 "W's" have birthdays in February. Petagunner, I don't mind driving around for a while blind folded while you take us to your ubber tactical, secret place but my patience has its limits. Patty |
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HA 1 down.... Really, hit the hogback road towards plush, when you hit the bottom ground start looking east/north east. Look for the type of terrain that I suggested, throw a rock and lock and load |
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I was kinda close to being a leap year baby. |
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So is there a bounty on these jacks now?? if so i'd say we get togather and go make some money....
sounds like fun.. i'll whipe out the 22 and have a blast... Jess |
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Yup. Good fun. Once we shoot'em we fling'em i.e. our much touted "Victory Toss"
http://www.vividology.com/victory-toss.jpg http://www.vividology.com/bunny2.jpg |
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Ya gotta admit a good old fashion bunny toss sounds fun doesn't it? |
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De-pimp zee rabbit!
I looked through the regs, but couldn't find anything so I will ask you guys: -Is there any weapon restrictions pertaining to rabbit killing? I've never gone after small game before except for squirrels and they specifically have a notation that you can pretty much kill 'em with what ever you've got. |
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