texashuntingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
nmmuledeerhunter, Dzia-Dzia, TraeMartin, Beatixre, MooseSteed
71989 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
dogcatcher 110,788
bill oxner 91,416
SnakeWrangler 65,417
stxranchman 60,296
Gravytrain 46,950
RKHarm24 44,585
rifleman 44,461
Stub 43,769
Forum Statistics
Forums46
Topics537,031
Posts9,719,610
Members86,989
Most Online25,604
Feb 12th, 2024
Print Thread
cottontail rabbits in north Texas #8528182 02/10/22 02:02 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,414
S
stinkbelly Offline OP
THF Trophy Hunter
OP Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
S
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,414
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.

Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas [Re: stinkbelly] #8528315 02/10/22 04:38 PM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,273
B
BenBob Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
B
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,273
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Confirmed in Texas, Die-Offs Reported


https://www.kut.org/texas/2020-05-08/a-mysterious-virus-is-killing-texas-rabbits


Tired, Wired, and Uninspired
Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas [Re: stinkbelly] #8528321 02/10/22 04:43 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,592
C
chalet Offline
Extreme Tracker
Offline
Extreme Tracker
C
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,592
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.
Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas [Re: stinkbelly] #8528341 02/10/22 05:08 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,417
S
SnakeWrangler Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
S
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,417
I used to hammer them near Stephenville on my grandfathers place. He was covered up. Might check feed stores for access to private properties….


Originally Posted by Sneaky
I believe in science and I’m an insufferable [censored]
Originally Posted by beaversnipe
Actually, BBC is pretty damn good

"You Cannot Simultaneously Be Politically Correct And Intellectually Honest!"
Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas [Re: stinkbelly] #8528361 02/10/22 05:47 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,084
J.G. Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,084
They are inside the cities, like morning dove.


[Linked Image]
800 Yard Steel Range
Precision Rifle Instruction
Memberships and Classes Available
Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas [Re: stinkbelly] #8528386 02/10/22 06:36 PM
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 2,755
S
spacejunkie Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
S
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 2,755
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.

Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas [Re: stinkbelly] #8528466 02/10/22 08:22 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,592
C
chalet Offline
Extreme Tracker
Offline
Extreme Tracker
C
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,592
"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.
Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas [Re: BenBob] #8528508 02/10/22 09:10 PM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,695
C
Cochise Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
C
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,695
Check some of the East Texas WMAs. I am in Van Zandt County and we're flat covered up in cotton tails.

Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas [Re: chalet] #8528575 02/10/22 10:20 PM
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,129
B
Biscuit Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
B
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,129
Originally Posted by chalet
"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....."


😎

Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas [Re: stinkbelly] #8529919 02/12/22 08:37 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,414
S
stinkbelly Offline OP
THF Trophy Hunter
OP Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
S
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,414
2 hours today on public. Not a rabbit seen.

Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas [Re: stinkbelly] #8529932 02/12/22 08:49 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,846
G
Greg Z Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
G
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,846
let me know when your ready for a road trip.


Greg Ziemer
Sewell Lexus
214-597-6006
Life's short... Enjoy the ride!
Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas [Re: chalet] #8543951 02/28/22 06:06 PM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,304
S
Stump_jumper Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
S
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,304
Originally Posted by chalet
"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
Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas [Re: stinkbelly] #8555118 03/13/22 05:03 AM
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 133
G
guysamson Offline
Woodsman
Offline
Woodsman
G
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 133
We have had very few compared to normal this year.


Life passes most people by while they're busy making grand plans for it.

www.ottfamilyjewelry.com
Great prices on chains, bracelets, and rings.
Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas [Re: stinkbelly] #8555137 03/13/22 05:22 AM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,903
Sniper John Offline
gumshoe
Offline
gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,903
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.

Re: cottontail rabbits in north Texas [Re: stinkbelly] #8555142 03/13/22 05:38 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,788
dogcatcher Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,788
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"_______________

[Linked Image]
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 2004-2024 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3