Why?

[rabbitsmoker]

Actually we see the most rabbits when it snows we went Sat. about 3 in and we hunt this spot regular and it looked like the bunnies tripled couldnt keep the dogs on the same rabbit and the jump races was unreal they could sight chase a long ways I just hate walking around in the stuff i feel alot my legs feel like jello when i get home

[Swampman]

I know a lot of guys go to the UP in Oct.,but have any of you ever been to the UP for snowshoe in Jan. or Feb.?
It's below zero and lots of snow and ice here in WI. and Norwester lives way north of me in Northern Ontario.
No offense meant, but I don't think you understand what it is like in the north country in the winter, it's quite severe.

Swamp

[mike crabtree]

I dont doubt it is severe, but it is a fact Snowsoe leave more scent, and dont hole up. Im sure you dont have heads up running in the dead of winter.

Im not say our dogs are better or worse than northern dogs, most of mine are northern bred anyway. Just that I think you can have better running on snow with a Hare than you can on snow with a cottontail. We have 17" inches of snow now with more hitting now. We have only been able to see the ground 1 week since December 21st, So dont think Im comparing running a Cottontail on Sod to Hare on snow.

[rabbitsmoker]

I purchased a female from up that way 2 years ago when i got her the hair on this female was very thick alot thicker than my others a friend told me he was because of the frigid artic cold i thought it may have been in her breeding but she was the same as the rest of mine

[Swampman]

Remember the snow we have in the north usually has very little moisture to it because of the colder temps.
Not saying your dogs are any worse or better either Mike, just saying that running in snow with high moisture content in 20 degree weather does not compare to running in snow with low moisture content and sub zero temps.
For example we got about 2 feet of snow in Dec. then it rained the first week of Jan. The temps dropped to single digits to below zero,this turned our snow into a 10 inch thick block of ice. It really hasn't snowed until last week when we got about 2 inches. Ice does not hold scent, I don't care if your running cottontail, snowshoe or a bear. Fortunately we got 10 to 12 inches in the last day and a half so finally we should have some good running.
I will say though if you want to compare apples to apples, exact same conditons, yes snowshoe seem to have more scent in my opinion, but rarely do we get those ideal conditions up here.

Swamp

[RiverBottom]

I don't think hare leave more scent on snow. In fact, I'm pretty sure of this fact.

On snow, how much scent there is for the dogs to work with depends a lot on how much of the rabbit comes in contact with the snow. Soft snow, that the rabbit sinks into is always better running than hard snow that the rabbit can stay up on. Always. More surface area touching the snow means more scent left behind.

Snowshoe hare are made for staying up on top of the snow. Cottontails are not.

[bucks better beagles]

Snow = fox. Rabbit hunting on anything more than about 4" of snow is a waste of time but, fox, now you are talking fun,

[Tundra Beagle]

Joeyman, the obsession with snow is that not all dogs can do it. Most all dogs can run on bare ground but not all dogs can run on snow. I hunted those darn cottontails this past weekend in PA and it was fun but that darn hole thing SUCKS! There is only one way for a hare to get away and that is to just plain out smart your dog. On snow the dogs cannot lie, you know where the track is and that just makes it better. If you ever get the urge your more than welcome to come here and run these hare. When you grow up with snow, it is fantastic. Hope your hunt goes well.

[NorWester1]

Norwester,

Dont you think Hare leave more scent??

I have ran both, I dont drive all the way to the U.P.every year because scenting on Hare sux.

Mike,

In my opinion I think it probably has less to do the game itself and more to do with the conditions in which you are hunting & running

That said I just can't imagine trying to run anything with less scent than the snowshoe hares here where I am. If cottontails do have less scent I thank God we don't have them here as I have enough troubles with these stinky hares

[mike crabtree]

Ill just say this. My dogs cant run a cottontail for a cicle on this crust and be consistent doing it. sometimes you can try to put them on a rabbit you saw fresh, but never even get a bark. It gets so ugly I just dont even take them on the old crusty icy crap anymore.

I just figured the Hare left more scent on bad conditions like they do on good conditions,It makes sense to me.I have never had a cottontail run like those white rabbits in Michigan. . If the Hare running was as bad as the Cottontail running Ive been having , nobody would be looking forward to snow that is for sure!!!

[NorWester1]

Mike Crabtree wrote,

Ill just say this. My dogs cant run a cottontail for a cicle on this crust and be consistent doing it. sometimes you can try to put them on a rabbit you saw fresh, but never even get a bark. It gets so ugly I just dont even take them on the old crusty icy crap anymore.

Perfect.

Couldn't have written it better if I tried.

Oh....... perhaps just insert snowshoe hare where you wrote cottontail and you get an idea of what hunting hare is like where I am The only other exception is there isn't much of a crust usually till spring when it warms..... so most times you can find fresh hare tracks in dry powder and still not move it any better
Don't sweat it though....... I'm sure your snow will be gone soon. Snow usually lasts till May here and can start up again in September, so ya ain't got it THAT bad Mike.

[mike crabtree]

I guess it will leave the Groundhog said otherwise though.

How do you keep from ruining the dogs feet when it ices over on top?? Mine keep wearing off pads to the blood. Ive bout give up.

[NorWester1]

It really only does get crusty here in the spring. It's almost always a dry powder here and don't ever get much of base to it. So I never really have that problem for any sort of extended time. Not enough to wreck dogs feet anyway (knock on wood,fingers crossed etc,).

I do know that the guys down east (where they are more prone to meltdowns and then re-freezing) use an ointment called "Pink" ointment I think. Pretty sure there is still an ad for it on the Canadian Trial site.

[mike crabtree]

I also use the pink ointment, but when they are hurt its too late .

[Joeyman]

well guess what snow for the last weekend of gun season. yippppeeeeeeeee....yeah freakin right. Can't believe this.......... ........ .........