Jack Rabbit Hunting Methods

The Jackrabbit, which isn't really a rabbit at all, but a hare, is found all over the southwest. There are about four different species of jack rabbit, three of which live in Arizona and New Mexico. They are a good bit larger than a rabbit and don't spend nearly as much time below ground. Jackrabbits spend about 85% of their life above the ground foraging and eating.

The Jackrabbit is so prolific that in most areas they are considered to be a nuisance animal. In fact, when you hear the word jackrabbit, typically it's to be associated with some type of a complaint. The jackrabbit will girdle a fruit tree in no time flat, will eat grain, will make a terrible mess of your crops and can actually eat as much forage in a few days time as a sheep can.

Hunting jackrabbits is permissible throughout most of the places they range and you don't really need to be concerned about restrictions. If you have a hunting licenses a rifle or a shotgun, then you've got all that you need to go jackrabbit hunting in most places. In fact, your dog is probably optional in this case.

Good hunting practices tell you to get permission from the landowner where you will be hunting, but aside from this, jackrabbit hunting offers you few restrictions. Check your state for bag limits, but typically, there are none. In many cases the farmer or crop grower will actually ask you to come back and do it again. Jackrabbits can be quite a nuisance to deal with and in fruit tree orchards will cause a lot of damage in a very short time.

Binoculars are going to be helpful to you in locating the jackrabbits and setting up on any high ground around you will also be helpful. The jackrabbit is so common that you are not normally going to have to go far, or to scout far before you find one.
The most suitable areas to hunt will be wide open areas such as desert or prairie areas and open fields. They will hide in the small scrub areas most typically and you can spot them easily on the lower aspect of the brush or scrub weeds.

Sitting quietly will often net you quite a few jackrabbits. They have very keen hearing and very good eyesight. If you have a shotgun sit tight and the jackrabbit will stop to try to scout you out and you'll get a clean shot. Hunting a jackrabbit and trying to take a running shot is possible, but you're going to have to be a very good shot and lead them out in order to attain the rabbit on this one. They are easier to deal with while they are watching you watch them.