Snowshoe Hare without a dog - advice wanted!

Well, my first snowshoe season has come to an end. My hunting buddy and I hunt without a dog. We went out maybe 10 times to forests that hold snowshoe for sure. Lots of hare tracts and droppings. I got one snowshoe that he flushed, it was still in November when there was no snow and the hare was white. Subsequently we went many times to a place that holds lots of them, but we only had one sighting, no shots. But there are lots of hare tracts and droppings in that forest. I'm wondering what we were doing wrong? Do you guys think that we fail to spot them sitting in the snow forms, or do they hear us before we can see them, and run? Which is it? Anything we can do to improve the odds? We even tried this: one would sit in one place, and the other would circle around him trying to flush a hare, still nothing.
Thanks for any advice.

As an experienced hunter, I spotted your biggest issue right off the mark.
The reason you're seeing so much sign with so little success is that you were foolhardy enough to start hunting snowshoe hares!
Rookie mistake :moose:

Welcome to the club LOL

That's why we snare them up here lol

Hi Marko, I to hunt with no dog and all the things that your doing is fine. Finding habitat is the key but doesn't mean its a sure thing. Sometimes these hare have two different attitudes, either they sit still until you almost kick them in there butts or they are flushing way a head of you. The more times you go out and see them the more success you will have training your eye to see them flushing. I always try different things like you and your friend do. Sometimes we stay about 20 yards from each other and one will walk 20 yards kicking cedar trees then stoping while the other guy is watching his buddy ready to shoot. Try different bushes and find similar habitat where you notice them before. It also might be a low cycle in that area you are hunting and might take time to produce numbers. Keep a mental note of where you see them, how many you get in the season, and what time of day your hunting them and compare them year to year. My goto spot has slowed down the last couple of years and I too go empty handed but we still do have success and each year is different. This is the sport of hunting, it being hard is what makes me want to do it. Good luck

Don't think you've been doing anything wrong just numbers seem way down. Tracks and droppings are a sign some are around however its amazing how much sign a few hares can make. There's always next year.

Here is a possible tactic if there are two or more hunters with no dogs. As mention earlier sometimes the Hare will flush well out in front of you. {sometimes and sometimes they sit tight} Set up drives like you are pushing deer or have a hunter remain still and lying in wait on a spot where runways intersect, while the other hunters circle and move around the bush , if you can get a hare up and moving it will circle back on its runways

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Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers

Don't think you've been doing anything wrong just numbers seem way down. Tracks and droppings are a sign some are around however its amazing how much sign a few hares can make. There's always next year.

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I'll agree with this post, I believe the only way to judge hare population by tracks is to check the next morning following a snowfall so you see nothing but fresh tracks.

Thank you to everybody, your advice will be very helpful next season!

If you can rustle up a couple more hunters and slowly and quietly drive them you should do better.

Stalk and wait, get low...scoped .22. Sit still for 20 minutes in known area....this is what happens in the deer stand...with a .308....but oh, no, no, no, never with a shotgun or .22 in hand...grrr. 4 yrs...3 rabbits.

Okay, I just gotta say it. Hunt rabbits and wear out your boots, Hunt rabbits with Beagles and wear out your shotgun. :thumbup:

Sit, find an area with lots of track and sit the first light in the morning and the last light in the evening. The issue is that in most cases you cannot see them and they know it. I have shot snowshoes hares but all of them has been before they turned white.

I am planning to hunt them once the snow melts, but we have a season that goes until the end or March here.

May not be as sporting but they are still hard to find.

In most cases, hunters hunting snowshoe rabbits "walk to fast " and don't use their eyes .

Walk slowly through the thickest & youngest evergreens you find closest to wet/swampy areas. Look around (360) very carefully, and then look some more. You will be able to spot eyes, an unusual shape, or some movement. And if you spook one, wait for 15 min. without moving; they always circle back! (got a few this way, learned this trick after I stopped & had a smoke after one took-off from my feet). Be ready, but do not rush the shot.

Most importantly, have patience. Do this and your chances to connect will increase.

Just before dark they start moving around We watched the links hunting them .

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Originally Posted by Marko

Well, my first snowshoe season has come to an end. My hunting buddy and I hunt without a dog. We went out maybe 10 times to forests that hold snowshoe for sure. Lots of hare tracts and droppings. I got one snowshoe that he flushed, it was still in November when there was no snow and the hare was white. Subsequently we went many times to a place that holds lots of them, but we only had one sighting, no shots. But there are lots of hare tracts and droppings in that forest. I'm wondering what we were doing wrong? Do you guys think that we fail to spot them sitting in the snow forms, or do they hear us before we can see them, and run? Which is it? Anything we can do to improve the odds? We even tried this: one would sit in one place, and the other would circle around him trying to flush a hare, still nothing.
Thanks for any advice.

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