I was out shooting Jackrabbits in the desert recently and made one of my best shots in awhile. Jack got up about 10 yards out and ran across a huge mudflat. I had my rifle strapped over my shoulder so by the time I could line up on him he was 75 yards out or so and I took a wild shot and missed. The next shot was more controlled and I dropped him. He was quartering away to the right. I walked off 121 paces from where I fired to where he was hit. Factory sights. Rifle was 1894C Marlin 357 mag. Bullet= 125 gr. Rem. SJHP.

seems like I led him about a body length

Just how big do jack rabbits get? About a year ago in Montana I shot one at about 20 yrds. with my .357 Blackhawk and after retrieving it was astounded. I'm 6'2" and when holding his hind legs up to my face level his ears were touching the ground, so he was about 6" - 6'6" extended. Is this normal or was he a prehistoric record?!?!?!

Sure it wasn't a kangaroo that escaped from the zoo? Do they have zoos up there??

Yeah I think they do have zoo's up there Dan. So how big do they get there in UT.? I was wondering because the ones I've seen here in AZ. since moving are nowhere near as big as the one I shot in Montana. He might have been a very old one of exceptional size.

They vary with age, pretty big though. Maybe around three feet streched out.

hmmmm, now you got me thinking........
I wonder how Roo tastes?!?!?!

nice shot, you must have been surprised when you saw him drop, there must have been another shooter....lol just joking with ya

Dan,

Yeah, they do get big! Back in 1962 hunting on my college roommates dad's farm we jumped an animal we first thought was a Mule Deer fawn. We were in the greasewoods about chest high and didn't get much of a look at him until he was too far for our shotguns. We were really surprised to see that it was a huge Jackrabbit! His ears must have been nearly 3 feet from ground to tips when he was sitting.