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cottontail rabbits in north Texas
#8528182
02/10/22 02:02 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,564
stinkbelly
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,564 |
I have a new versatile hunting dog and I wanted to get her on some cottontail rabbits. Does anyone have any suggestions in north Texas for public land? It seems like they are all shot off of the public land I usually go to. I can't even find them at my house this year. I hit the grasslands a month ago and found only one in 4 hours. Maybe I was in the wrong unit.
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Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas
[Re: stinkbelly]
#8528315
02/10/22 04:38 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,344
BenBob
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,344 |
Tired, Wired, and Uninspired
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Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas
[Re: stinkbelly]
#8528321
02/10/22 04:43 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,677
chalet
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,677 |
I hunt private land in Archer and Clay county and also the Grasslands in Decatur. All of it has good cover. Haven't seen hardly any cottontails the past couple years even when out using a spotlight. Not sure what the deal is.
Shoot. Eat. Repeat.
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Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas
[Re: stinkbelly]
#8528341
02/10/22 05:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,995
SnakeWrangler
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,995 |
I used to hammer them near Stephenville on my grandfathers place. He was covered up. Might check feed stores for access to private properties….
I believe in science and I’m an insufferable [censored] Actually, BBC is pretty damn good "You Cannot Simultaneously Be Politically Correct And Intellectually Honest!"
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Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas
[Re: stinkbelly]
#8528361
02/10/22 05:47 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,841
J.G.
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,841 |
They are inside the cities, like morning dove.
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Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas
[Re: stinkbelly]
#8528386
02/10/22 06:36 PM
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 2,833
spacejunkie
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 2,833 |
If you can find some public land with a railroad running through it try there. For some reason the areas on both sides of the tracks seem to be a place they like.
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Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas
[Re: stinkbelly]
#8528466
02/10/22 08:22 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,677
chalet
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,677 |
"they wonder why there ain't no rabbits left this day and time to tell the truth I think we ate them all in 89....."
Shoot. Eat. Repeat.
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Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas
[Re: BenBob]
#8528508
02/10/22 09:10 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,696
Cochise
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,696 |
Check some of the East Texas WMAs. I am in Van Zandt County and we're flat covered up in cotton tails.
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Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas
[Re: chalet]
#8528575
02/10/22 10:20 PM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,904
Biscuit
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
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Posts: 19,904 |
"they wonder why there ain't no rabbits left this day and time to tell the truth I think we ate them all in 89....." 😎
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Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas
[Re: stinkbelly]
#8529919
02/12/22 08:37 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,564
stinkbelly
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,564 |
2 hours today on public. Not a rabbit seen.
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Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas
[Re: stinkbelly]
#8529932
02/12/22 08:49 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,852
Greg Z
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,852 |
let me know when your ready for a road trip.
Greg Ziemer Sewell Lexus 214-597-6006 Life's short... Enjoy the ride!
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Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas
[Re: chalet]
#8543951
02/28/22 06:06 PM
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,337
Stump_jumper
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,337 |
"they wonder why there ain't no rabbits left this day and time to tell the truth I think we ate them all in 89....." Nope, it is predators. Coyotes are out of control. Lots of bobcats too. We use to see lots of jacks and some cottontails in NW Burnet County then the coyotes moved in. I have seen one jackrabbit in 5 years.
2017 Tundra 5.7 CM 4x4 2006 Champion 2200 Bay Boat
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Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas
[Re: stinkbelly]
#8555118
03/13/22 05:03 AM
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 133
guysamson
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 133 |
We have had very few compared to normal this year.
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Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas
[Re: stinkbelly]
#8555137
03/13/22 05:22 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,227
Sniper John
gumshoe
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gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,227 |
I doubt they were shot off. Cottontail populations are cyclical. A population can slowly increase over 5-10 years or so just to then crash and start all over. Then outside of that of course there is the issue with high predator populations, fire ants, hogs tearing up nests, public land poorly managed for wildlife, etc. But if you find a place with good habitat and few rabbits, don't mark it off your list as it might be a great place in a different year. I have been on the same hunting lease for 20 years. In a high year I can count at least one rabbit for every 50 yards on my morning drive from camp to stand. In a low year I can walk the entire property in a morning and maybe see one rabbit.
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Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas
[Re: stinkbelly]
#8555142
03/13/22 05:38 AM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,840
dogcatcher
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,840 |
We are on the down cycle for rabbits. Like Sniper John said, the rabbit population is cyclical.
Combat Infantryman, the ultimate hunter where the prey shoots back. _____________"Illegitimus non carborundum est"_______________
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