Today I took Zach hunting rabbits. This is out first hunt together since Zach's father and my good friend Mike, passed away in October. Zach has been having a tough time of it recently so I decided we needed to go get the stink blowed off.

With temps in the mid 30's and a semi overcast day, I figured conditions for rabbit hunting would be pretty good. Wrong. We didn't see any cottontails but Zach did manage to sneakup on this Boone and Crockett jackrabbit.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h191/recoil_junky/IMG_0731.jpg

The going was pretty tough in sometimes hip deep snow. Zach had a good time watching me flounder through snow he was walking on top of. :D Oh to be 13 again. So, after trudging through all that snow for about an hour we decided to go to another area and see what there was. Here's one of the 5 quill pigs we saw.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h191/recoil_junky/IMG_0739.jpg

I was too slow with the camera AND the rifle to get a good shot at any of 10 coyotes we saw so you'll just have to use your imaginations. Saw 6 in one pack at a distance of over 1000 yards. I don't think the .222 would have had a chance at that range. One of the dogs was standing facing us at about 300 yards, but a stiff west wind sent the 40 grain V-max low left. Way low and way left. I did take the calls but in a 20-30 mile an hour breeze it didn't do much good.

We did get to see several small groups of elk. They were pretty wary of the Expedition, probably from past experiences :eek: Most of them looked to be wintering very well, despite the heavy snow this year.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h191/recoil_junky/IMG_0734.jpg

The best part for Zach was when we were gathering up to leave and I dumped 500 rounds of 22 shells in the mud and snow on the road. Carpul tunnel is not for sissies. He got a real chuckle out of that, but we both froze our hands digging them out of the muck and putting them in a bucket for washing later.

All in all it was a good day even if we didn't get to cook any cottontails over an open fire. :)

Our next plan is to hit it earlier in the day before the breeze come up and do some calling to see if I still have the knack to get dogs in close.

RJ

That is one serious sized rabbit! Nice pics too. I'm sure Zach will remember these hunting/comedy excursions for the rest of his life. If I remember correctly he took an elk this fall as well. I can't begin to imagine what it must be like to lose your father at his age. I'm 42 and I really can't imagine it now. You're doing a great thing for Zach. Keep up the great work.:D

looks like Zack is shooting a 552 rem .22?. Wish I could help you out with the coyotes, I hunt them more than deer. I use mouth calls most of the time. I also use a e-caller I made. My pard and I both made kills last saturday both were female coyotes coming in to a female coyote howl go figure?Q

What's all that white stuff??????????? :eek:

You mean, you ACTUALLY go out into it when you don't have to?????? :confused:

Back when dirt was new, my FIL and I would go out fox hunting (no coyotes around at the time) in stuff like that and the temps hovering around zero. Sit out in the snow with sheets over us and slobber into varmit calls. Only reward was the Royal Canadian sipped by a fire when we got home. :D

It was a good day. Even with all the white stuff. :p

RJ

Looks like a fine day RJ, and warm too at 30F!! Quill pig.....a new one to add to my limited vocabulary.:D