swamp rabbits?

backyard beagler · Post by **backyard beagler** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 9:45 am

OK I have went north and hunted hare and I would like to go south and hunt some swamp rabbits or cain cutters or whatever they are called. Anybody have any suggestions as to where I could go and any tips about it?

Joeyman · Post by **Joeyman** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 10:08 am

I'm not to sure where to go on public land.

I have a swamp rabbit hunt booked with http://www.catronskennel.net for the month of December. I can't wait to go. I've never been swamp rabbit hunting. I've seen video of their hunts. I have to buy some rubber boots before I go. They walk around in ankle high water most the time. Should be fun.

backyard beagler · Post by **backyard beagler** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 9:52 am

I kinda figured that there was some public land somewhere in the south. I'm not asking for someones favorite hunting spot just some pointers.

coolbrze · Post by **coolbrze** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 6:40 pm

I've been wanting to do the same thing. You wanna make a group hunt out of it?

backyard beagler · Post by **backyard beagler** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 8:36 pm

that would be fine with me, if we can just set it up.

coolbrze · Post by **coolbrze** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:49 pm

I don't know much about swampers other than what I've heard about they're running styles. It's completely different than VA cottontail, but I own a FC who finished in LA on swamp rabbits and would love to run some of them sometime. What southern states have good populations?

fulcount · Post by **fulcount** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:51 am

I've been down there and huntied swampers outside of Paducah KY
I think it was at the Clark river area
had a ball
John O

Shady Grove Beagles · Post by **Shady Grove Beagles** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 5:48 pm

In Tn you have to go to west Tn. to get into swamp rabbits. I'd say anywhere between the Tn. River and the Mississippi River. Bottom land with creeks,slews and swamps is where you'll find most of them.You can jump them sitting up on the higher ground or out in the dry woods but rest assured water won't be far away and they WILL head to it with out any hesitation. They can and will swim as good as a muskrat and if your beagles aren't used to hunting in swimming water you can have some pretty short races!
When you're checking out an area for swampers look on rotted leaning logs and stumps for their big oval droppings. For whatever reason the swamp rabbit climbs up on logs to do his business [or maybe he just hangs out there and the business gets done?]. If you're seeing this then you're in the right area.
Just like most rabbits the swamp rabbit will be found in some of the thickest cover available and the places I've run him often are great for running but present a real challenge to shoot him. No surprise there ---- just got back from 8 days of hare hunting in northern Maine---same thing. Problem in Maine is not finding the hare BUT finding the hare where you can kill him! I've found that in the south if you wait until after the first of the year when the winter frosts and rain have had a chance to knock down some of the ground cover it's better in the swamps
for seeing the game.
Because the swamp rabbit is a big rabbit,runs in a wet/damp environment that is good scenting and will get up and run the beagles will quite often be able to really hammer them.He can give a real good race for your hounds but does not have the long distance endurance of the hare [but a harder runner then your average cottontail]. Last Jan. I ran at the Southern Large Pack Championship Trial at Mel Faust's 200 acre enclosure that is full of swampers. Mel stated that with the "right" dogs that a swamp rabbit couldn't stand much more than an hour of hard running.
Consider that Mel has championed out a kennel full of beagles in those Louisiana swamps so he probably knows from whence he speaks.
I'd say that a BIG swamp rabbit tends to be a little bigger than a hare and I've found them to be excellant eating.
You can find swampers in Georgia,Alabama,Mississippi,Louisiana and parts of Arkansas that I know of. Hunted Mississippi last winter and had a good time and some big rabbits. Don't even think of going there if you don't have a broke dog as the deer are everywhere along with wild hogs,coyotes,fox,bobcat and armadillos too.

backyard beagler · Post by **backyard beagler** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:42 pm

Well I think I have deer broke dogs but as far as all the other I'm not sure. Thanks for the info I didn't realize I could hunt them in tn, thats great.

Ark · Post by **Ark** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 6:27 pm

Arkansas has quite a few swamp rabbits and alot of them are on public land.

I dont know anything about hare but if youre used to hunting cottontails youre probably gonna be in for a suprise.

Swampers will generally go out alot further before they circle.

Theyll also swim a creek or a slough in a heartbeat. Ive had em hit the water and swim out to a floating log or stump and just sit there while the dogs looked everywhere for em.

Theyll give a dog a pretty good test.

arkyhunter · Post by **arkyhunter** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 6:33 pm

Backyard, try west Tennessee, east Arkansas, the Missouri bootheel (SE Mo.), and extreme west Kentucky. Usually any of these delta areas will hold swampers. We have some river bottoms and levees her in NE Ark. and SE Mo. that always hold a few swamps. You can log on to those states Game and Fish websites and usually pull up some CA's that are good.

gus · Post by **gus** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 6:40 pm

Swamp rabbits will also swim out to a little island in the middle of a shallow pond and sit next to a stump or tree that has some covering around it and sit. As was mentioned above, your dog must not have an aversion to water if you are going to be successful hunting swampers. When I lived in Northern Mississippi, I was hunting rabbits and to my surprise I looked up and the rabbit was swimming down a small ditch not more than three feet wide. They have a lot of tricks to shake the pursuing dogs.

kentucky johnson · Post by **kentucky johnson** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 8:02 pm

i love to hunt swampers, they are very tricky and will give dogs a lot of trouble, i have seen them swim across streams and small lakes, to evade a pack of hounds, for such a large rabbit one would think that the dogs could not lose the scent,

backyard beagler · Post by **backyard beagler** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 6:39 pm

Any particular towns in Arkansas and Missouri just for map quest purpose? I like what I'm hearing about them lol

bluemouse · Post by **bluemouse** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 9:37 am

hey, backyard beagler we got a type of rabbit down south here that can walk up right on its back legs. its not as big as the swamper, but its ever bit as tricky and loves the water along with the nasties briars it can hang in. Its a little known rabbit the marsh rabbit. I am new to this site but belonged to beagler board before it got hi-jacked. If you think you might want to try something new let me know and I can set something up after the first of the year when deer season is over in SC. I got a memebership to deer club thats loaded with rabbits and there is no pressure on the rabbits. If you want to know more let me know.

The American Beagler Forum

swamp rabbits?

swamp rabbits?

swampers in KY