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Author
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Topic: Jack Rabbit Hunters
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Cal Taylor
Knows what it's all about
Member # 199
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posted July 17, 2006 08:31 AM
If anyone is intersted in shooting a few thousand jack rabbits, give me a call. I took the kids out last night from about 6pm till 9pm, before dark and shot over 80 with 22s. I have no idea what a guy with a centerfire could do in a day. I have never seen the numbers like this. It has been really hot and dry, so anywhere there is water they are congrgated like fleas. We didn't even make a dent in what we saw last night and never got more than a mile or two from the house. If you crossed the whole ranch you had better have a trailer on just to haul ammo.
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Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
FoxPro Field Staff Member
Posts: 1069 | From: Wyoming | Registered: May 2003
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Locohead
World Famous Smoke Dancer
Member # 15
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posted July 17, 2006 08:54 AM
Holy Frijoles! I bet your gonna have some really fat coyotes this week!
$20.00 says that in no less than 30 min. after reading this post, NASA will be putting in for time off! ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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I love my critters and chick!!!! :)
Posts: 2219 | From: CO | Registered: Jan 2003
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Rich
2,000th post PAKMAN
Member # 112
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posted July 17, 2006 09:06 AM
Well let me see---------widespread drought + one water hole + lots of tasty jackrabbits =? I think Cal won't need his howler in order to locate the coyotes. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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If you call the coyotes in close, you won't NEED a high dollar range finder.
Posts: 2854 | From: Iowa | Registered: Feb 2003
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NASA
Knows what it's all about
Member # 177
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posted July 17, 2006 10:21 AM
Loco, you wouldn't? ![[Confused]](confused.gif) I like hunting and I also like shooting. PD's and jacks can't be considered "hunting", but it's for damn sure fun.
You wanna' take a ride up? Don't sweat the gas. You provide the munchies, I'll provide the transportation. Deal?
Posts: 1168 | From: Typical White Person | Registered: Apr 2003
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varmit hunter
Knows what it's all about
Member # 37
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posted July 17, 2006 10:49 AM
Cal, sounds like great training for the kids.
I would love to get out there and hire Dave as my personal running jack Rabbit shooting instructor.
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Make them pay for the wind.
Posts: 932 | From: Orange,TX | Registered: Jan 2003
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Cal Taylor
Knows what it's all about
Member # 199
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posted July 17, 2006 12:21 PM
Yep, I may have Lonny and Nasa coming, but was hoping Dave would bite too. He could get enough video here in a week to make four or five varmint safari videos. (kind of like some of the texas guys with coyotes) I got to shooting quite a few running shots with the 22 just out of boredom with the sitters. I went to town and bought a case of 17 HMR and will start whittleing on them with that also.
[ July 17, 2006, 12:22 PM: Message edited by: Cal Taylor ]
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Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
FoxPro Field Staff Member
Posts: 1069 | From: Wyoming | Registered: May 2003
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Rich Higgins
unknown comic
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posted July 17, 2006 12:30 PM
Cal, I remember a drought in 1980 and the jackrabbits migrated from all over the desert to Mudlake, Idaho. They were appealing for help in the news media. We were going to drive up and help with the problem but they required a non resident license. Some enterprising fellow organized a drive and wound up clubbing a bunch of them to death and they loaded them on refrigerated trucks and shipped them to Bangladesh.
IP: Logged
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DAA
Utah/Promoted WESTERN REGIONAL Hunt Director
Member # 11
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posted July 17, 2006 01:05 PM
Seems like a bumper crop of 'em all over the West this year. I have not seen them quite as thick as it sounds like you have them Cal, but thick enough that I wouldn't drive more than about 90 minutes to get in all the shooting I want on them. Started last winter, actually - I saw more of them, in more places, while out calling, than I have seen in probably close to 20 years. Only found time to go out and shoot them one day though, and let my Son do most of the shooting (pic below).
Rich, I remember the Mud Lake infestation well. My Dad took me up there probably 10 times over two winters and let me burn up a boxcar of .22 ammo on those jack rabbits. We didn't take part in any of the organized drives, but I still remember the footage on the local news from them.
Here's a happy LGA, on his first jack rabbit hunt last winter:
- DAA
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"Oh yeah, they're gonna talk to you, and talk to you, and talk to you about individual freedom, but they see a free individual, it's gonna scare 'em." -- George Hanson, Easy Rider, 1969.
Rocky Mountain Varmint Hunter
Posts: 2676 | From: Salt Lake City, UT | Registered: Jan 2003
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Jack Roberts
Knows what it's all about
Member # 13
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posted July 17, 2006 06:38 PM
They are thicker than normal around here this year. I am seeing them out in the middle of the day.
Jack
Posts: 499 | From: Elko NV formerly MD | Registered: Jan 2003
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Doggitter
Knows what it's all about
Member # 489
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posted July 17, 2006 06:51 PM
Dagnabbit! I would SO like to be able to help you too. I've only gotten into them real thick once and man I had a ball.
Posts: 273 | From: Oregon rain forest | Registered: Dec 2004
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Locohead
World Famous Smoke Dancer
Member # 15
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posted July 18, 2006 09:27 PM
Sooo T-squared What time are we leaving Friday?
Call me! Hey Cal', will a plain ol' ordinary Remington .243 with a short barrel be okay?
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I love my critters and chick!!!! :)
Posts: 2219 | From: CO | Registered: Jan 2003
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NASA
Knows what it's all about
Member # 177
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posted July 19, 2006 02:18 PM
.243!?!?!? ![[Eek!]](eek.gif) Danny, save that for when they attack! We're talking volume here. You'd burn up $50 worth of ammo in the first 15 minutes. .17's and .22's will be the workhorses. Save the larger CF's for 300 yd. hero shots. This is going to be hand to hand combat, lol.
I'm pulling out at 8AM Fri. That's 335 miles so I don't want to be sleeping in late. Weather forcast is dry, clear, high 80's.
Posts: 1168 | From: Typical White Person | Registered: Apr 2003
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DAA
Utah/Promoted WESTERN REGIONAL Hunt Director
Member # 11
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posted July 19, 2006 02:45 PM
Make sure you guys have enough fun for me too. Probably be some months before I get time to go out amongst the jacks.
- DAA
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"Oh yeah, they're gonna talk to you, and talk to you, and talk to you about individual freedom, but they see a free individual, it's gonna scare 'em." -- George Hanson, Easy Rider, 1969.
Rocky Mountain Varmint Hunter
Posts: 2676 | From: Salt Lake City, UT | Registered: Jan 2003
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NASA
Knows what it's all about
Member # 177
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posted July 19, 2006 02:56 PM
Dave, it sure would make it more fun if you could be there!
Posts: 1168 | From: Typical White Person | Registered: Apr 2003
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Cal Taylor
Knows what it's all about
Member # 199
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posted July 19, 2006 07:39 PM
You guys could be successful with anything from bazookas down to good sized rocks. Caliber is not important, but the amount of ammo you can afford and bring is. Like I said we shot over 80 just with 22s. Never took a shot over 60 yards or so. My boy (12) is getting dialed in and deadly. The next evening I took the 17 HMR and shot 36 in a row out to 150 or so before my first miss, and I never missed again after that. And with a 20 mph wind to boot. That gun almost makes it too easy, but the 17 HMR easily has to be the ultimate jackrabbit gun of all time. No runners or squealers, just dead rabbits, with some amazing back flips on the head shots.
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Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
FoxPro Field Staff Member
Posts: 1069 | From: Wyoming | Registered: May 2003
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RagnCajn
ADDS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
Member # 879
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posted July 20, 2006 09:50 AM
I went on my first Jack Rabbit shoot a few weeks back. Bought a 17 HMR and let my son ride on the tool box as I spot lighted. He had a blast. The 17HMR worked great. You know it is all about shot placement.
Posts: 362 | From: Shreveport LA | Registered: Jul 2006
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NASA
Knows what it's all about
Member # 177
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posted July 20, 2006 11:07 AM
Hey Cal. I've got a bottle of Patron here that says your personality intensity would hardly be noticeable. I hope you're around for a lab test.
Posts: 1168 | From: Typical White Person | Registered: Apr 2003
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Andy L
HI, I'M THE NEW MODERATOR OF THE CENTRAL MISSOURI FORUM, PULL MY FINGER!
Member # 642
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posted July 20, 2006 11:33 AM
I got a question. Now its got nothing to do with morality or anything, just my ignorance. We dont have any jacks to speak of.
Is there a reason to shoot these things? Destructive? Or just for fun? Kinda like prarie dog shooting?
Just curious. From the outside lookin in, it would seem that if you had a good hole of rabbits, it would make for better coyote hunts. And, maybe take pressure off the lambs?
Just curious.
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Andy
Posts: 2645 | From: Central Missouri | Registered: Apr 2005
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RagnCajn
ADDS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
Member # 879
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posted July 20, 2006 11:50 AM
Same as groundhogs. They are destructive to the farmers crops. I was invited to help a farmer out in the area we were shooting.
Posts: 362 | From: Shreveport LA | Registered: Jul 2006
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Cal Taylor
Knows what it's all about
Member # 199
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posted July 20, 2006 12:03 PM
Andy, Normally I'm not a rabbit shooter or a prairie dog shooter, but they have gotten out of hand! 5 jacks = 1 sheep or antelope.
5 sheep or antelope = 1 cow calf pair or AUM. When there are literally thousands of jacks, you get the picture. The cottontail are at their worst also. I have hundreds of them around my house, and now they are starting to die off, so every day I get to search out the source of the stench and pack it off. I can't do a damn thing about the cottontails as they are a game animal and have a season.
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Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
FoxPro Field Staff Member
Posts: 1069 | From: Wyoming | Registered: May 2003
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NASA
Knows what it's all about
Member # 177
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posted July 20, 2006 12:11 PM
When there are drought conditions the rabbits are drawn in to the areas with the most forage. When that happens to be a ranchers alfalfa, crop, or grass sections, the results can be devastating, physically and financially.
Posts: 1168 | From: Typical White Person | Registered: Apr 2003
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Andy L
HI, I'M THE NEW MODERATOR OF THE CENTRAL MISSOURI FORUM, PULL MY FINGER!
Member # 642
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posted July 20, 2006 12:17 PM
I get the picture. Thanks fellers.
Have fun!!
Cal, that would get old....
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Andy
Posts: 2645 | From: Central Missouri | Registered: Apr 2005
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DAA
Utah/Promoted WESTERN REGIONAL Hunt Director
Member # 11
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posted July 20, 2006 12:30 PM
Andy, I just shoot them for fun, and for the practice, myself. There is no question that they can be very destructive when present in good numbers though. Here is a short video clip that Blaine took winter before last, that shows the kind of density Cal is dealing with. When they get that thick, it ain't healthy for anything.
- DAA
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"Oh yeah, they're gonna talk to you, and talk to you, and talk to you about individual freedom, but they see a free individual, it's gonna scare 'em." -- George Hanson, Easy Rider, 1969.
Rocky Mountain Varmint Hunter
Posts: 2676 | From: Salt Lake City, UT | Registered: Jan 2003
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Andy L
HI, I'M THE NEW MODERATOR OF THE CENTRAL MISSOURI FORUM, PULL MY FINGER!
Member # 642
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posted July 20, 2006 12:34 PM
HeHeHe, yeah, I got that tape Dave. Thats a bunch of rabbits for sure.
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Andy
Posts: 2645 | From: Central Missouri | Registered: Apr 2005
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NASA
Knows what it's all about
Member # 177
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posted July 20, 2006 01:26 PM
Andy, it's fun for the first 90 minutes or so. Then for the rest of the day, it's work. But at least it's work you can enjoy!
If each gun isn't getting at least 20 per hour, we're not giving the rancher what he needs.
Posts: 1168 | From: Typical White Person | Registered: Apr 2003
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