Jack rabbits

I was out today and a few weeks ago for snowshoe hares. Two different locations north east of lake simcoe. Both times on public land. All I saw was tracks, but great exercise either way. In both areas I was approached by passers by and asked what I was hunting. I told them rabbits. In both instances, separate individuals asked me if I got any Jack rabbits. I thought that was a peculiar question. I’m mainly hunting bush, no fields in sight. They told me they’ve been seeing Jack rabbits in the bush.
A couple of weeks ago when the person told me that, I shrugged it off as misinformation. Maybe they’re seeing things. But today in a completely different location I had dejavu. I asked if they were sure, they told me they got one during deer season.
I’m now beginning to wonder if Jack rabbits have adapted to different habitat. When I was younger we would walk field edges and fence rows in south western Ontario. We never pushed bush lots for Jacks. Big farmers fields with scrubby tangled fence rows were the ticket, now I’m wondering.

Anyone hearing or seeing anything similar?

I barely see rabbits up that way, let alone Jack rabbits. Possibly mistaken identity? Although you'd think with Google images it would be easy for people to tell the difference. It could be like the illusive Ontario cougars, you never know!

To be honest I've never seen a Jack ever but I sure would like to, even if I wasn't hunting.

Me and my buddy once saw a jack in the forest while hunting snowshoes. Felt weird because there was no open fields close by. I think he was lost LOL

I have taken a few in hardwood forests when there’s deep snow on the ground. These where more open woods and I believe they where there to feed on the bark and twigs.

Our Essex county Jack population has rebounded and stable.

The lack of snow over the last 5 years or so has turned a lot of hunters off and allowed the population to come back.

So far this winter we have had about 5 days of decent snow cover and our group has taken 7 jacks.

Looks like late January winter will show up down here and we may be able to bag a few more.

We bbq the back straps medium rare and they are amazing! The rest of the meat gets made in to peperonies! :)

interesting, i haven't seen any jack rabbits in years

I've been hunting for about 5 years and have never come across one. My dad got one probably 10 years ago or so but he hasn't seen anything since either though he often reminisces the seasons where he used to get a couple back in the day... hopefully the population makes a comeback. Wondering if it's just hunting pressure that has really reduced the numbers? or perhaps coyotes too?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JP Outdoors

I've been hunting for about 5 years and have never come across one. My dad got one probably 10 years ago or so but he hasn't seen anything since either though he often reminisces the seasons where he used to get a couple back in the day... hopefully the population makes a comeback. Wondering if it's just hunting pressure that has really reduced the numbers? or perhaps coyotes too?

---

My guess, numbers have gone down because of coyotes, changes in farming methods, and loss of fence lines. I think coyote numbers are likely the big reasons. In the old days, we did jack drives with the gun club on Saturdays. We always got lots of Jack’s, and very rarely saw a coyote, maybe one during the winter. There were lots of fox around then as well.

I have only once seen a Jack (European Hare) and that was long long ago in Lindsay, ON. I think it was probably 1990.

Saw a jack this spring while hunting for turkeys up in the shelburne area, toying with the idea of going after it but don't think I have the legs for it anymore.
To sneak up on a jack you need real soft fluffy snow to muffle your noise otherwise they'll bust you and be long gone. On hard crunchy snow a push and stand combo is your best bet. Problem is how you decide who's going to bust their hump pushing the fence rows and who's going to freeze their but off waiting.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers

Saw a jack this spring while hunting for turkeys up in the shelburne area, toying with the idea of going after it but don't think I have the legs for it anymore.
To sneak up on a jack you need real soft fluffy snow to muffle your noise otherwise they'll bust you and be long gone. On hard crunchy snow a push and stand combo is your best bet. Problem is how you decide who's going to bust their hump pushing the fence rows and who's going to freeze their but off waiting.

---

really? my dad and uncle have hunted that area all their lives and recently havent seen anything, good to know theyre still out there

Yeah... they are adapting to new habitat because the habitat you expect to find them on is gone. Lots of farmers got rid of bushes, hedge rows and cover to make fields bigger. If the jacks are going to survive they have to adapt. We shot one last week out of a swamp.

A few guys from our club were out Saturday and got one Jack rabbit.. more coyotes still ... i was out Wednesday with a friend and saw lots of
tracks in the fields and fence rows ...

I saw one this summer on my road, not far from home. About a week after that I saw one at the south end of Lindsay, near the cemetery. I couldn't help feeling good about the sightings. Even seeing groundhogs in this area is a good feeling these days.

Finally got some snow here in the deep south. Managed to sneak out for an hour of Jack hunting. :)

Jack straps for dinner!! :)

https://images2.imgbox.com/96/28/folfFd6R_o.jpg

I saw the most jack tracks today than I’ve seen in a long time. Good sign for sure...

Looks like a beauty, quite the shot too... Is that a .22
Congrats

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fratri

Looks like a beauty, quite the shot too... Is that a .22
Congrats

---

It's a .223... ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bellerivercrossbowhunter

It's a .223... ;)

---

How far was the shot, looks like you got it right in the head.... Did it take off and then stop for the shot or did you see it sitting up ahead of you. Just curious how it all played out.
Thanks

Nice! Congrats.

Right on!, Congrats

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fratri

How far was the shot, looks like you got it right in the head.... Did it take off and then stop for the shot or did you see it sitting up ahead of you. Just curious how it all played out.
Thanks

---

75 yard shot. It was sitting in the corn row. :)

Beautiful, congratulations

Sent from my SM-A705W using Tapatalk

How much do those critters weigh?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by greatwhite

How much do those critters weigh?

---

8 to 10lbs..

I just wrote a comment regarding my search for European hare and the new habitat I have found them in . I have found they are sticking close to woodlots for cover and to browse low hanging twigs for food. But they do venture into cropped grass fields for food as well. i think the reason they are in the bush is to stay clear on the coyotes. The old, single 35lb coyotes have been replaced with wolf induced larger, faster more pack orientated coyotes weighing as much as 60 lbs.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bellerivercrossbowhunter

75 yard shot. It was sitting in the corn row. :)

---

Nice.....Thanks for responding, do you usually go out with a .223?

Wish we had them up this way

Wow, that's a big rabbit I've only ever seen cottontails. Odd they don't turn white in the winter.

Yep .233 is my go to. Occasionally we will get on a coyote and when we do the .223 gets it done on yotes!!!

One more jack today.

80 yards with the Tikka T3X .223! :)

https://images2.imgbox.com/33/47/sl8PwPEz_o.jpg

Nice, is it the only one you saw and are you just walking the fence lines...
I have not seen one in over 20 yrs.... Thanks for sharing
Congrats

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bellerivercrossbowhunter

One more jack today.

80 yards with the Tikka T3X .223! :)

https://images2.imgbox.com/33/47/sl8PwPEz_o.jpg

---

Congrats!

Couple of buddies were out this morning, flushed four, connected on two of them, used shotguns.

https://i.imgur.com/snO2JIQ.jpg

Damn guys. That’s awesome. Congrats

Nice. Congrats.
I can see that having a nice back-strap for sure.
Would love to be able to hunt them.

Outstanding, guys!

Nice thread to read on a winter night. Thanks for the reports and the photos gentlemen! :)

Jackrabbits were introduced into Ontario in the late 50's and ground zero for the initial release was near Brantford.
From there they have spread in all directions over the years but the coyotes prey on all kinds of rabbits relentlessly, as do the ever growing population of red-tailed hawks. At night we have a few types of large owls hunting them as well, so it's not easy for them to survive & thrive.

A good friend of mine once included me in his group of hunters who went out in fields forming a large U-shaped line while walking the fields. I believe it was in Kitchener area and It must have been around the year 1998 or 99. On that day we were 7 hunters and each one of us took one jackrabbit home, although not everyone had shot one himself.
I personally got a nice one a few years later just west of Collingwood, so they have managed to spread far and wide and I wouldn't be surprised to see them anywhere in Ontario! Sometimes I wish the MNRF would capture a few and introduce them to other parts of the province as they are good and worthy game to pursue.

We are seeing good numbers south of Woodstock.
.I usually only take one a year.
But some of the hounds will run them a bit if they bump one .lots if fun to see them go flat out across a field. They sure can cover ground