How Far east is the Jack Rabbits range?

PACKAMN · Post by **PACKAMN** » Fri Jul 11, 2003 11:07 am

I am planning to try and Hunt Cottontails, Swampers, Snowshoes and Jacks this year!

I have all covered except the Jacks and was wondering what is the farthest east you can find a huntable population?

I guess i want to do a rabbit Grand Slam. This is just for fun and something i have always wanted to do. It would be nice to do it all in the same season!

Any Info appreciated!

Brian

Bopeye · Post by **Bopeye** » Fri Jul 11, 2003 4:05 pm

Pack, I was born and lived in Nebraska until I was in my teens. I know for sure they have jackrabbits. How much further east I really have no idea,but my guess is once you hit the "Big River" going through Kansas City that you won't find many "jacks" anymore. Just a guess however, I really don't know if they have them in Missouri or not.

Post by **Bev** » Fri Jul 11, 2003 4:34 pm

They have them in California and Washington state. That's pretty far west. California has some 10-pounders!

Big Dog · Post by **Big Dog** » Fri Jul 11, 2003 5:59 pm

There are some Jackrabbits in parts of Iowa.

Big Dog

Packman II · Post by **Packman II** » Fri Jul 11, 2003 6:05 pm

Thanks guys i am in VA and would like to not travel any further than i have to.

Has anyone out there ever tried this before!

The jacks excite me and i'll bet they will stretch the legs on my ole patches!

Thanks,
Brian

Big Dog · Post by **Big Dog** » Fri Jul 11, 2003 6:14 pm

Hey Packman II, I live in Nc and go to Iowa every year for a week to Rabbit hunt. I hunt the eastern part of the state and haven't run into any Jack rabbits there, but understand that there are some further south and west in iowa. I don't think you will find them much further east than Iowa, but good luck.

Big Dog

steve · Post by **steve** » Fri Jul 11, 2003 8:40 pm

got them here in Minnesota got one last year and 2 the year before have a female that can do a fair job running them.

Ed Harehunter · Post by **Ed Harehunter** » Sun Jul 13, 2003 11:02 am

TEN POUNDS???? come on now Bev, we're talking rabbits, not dogs.

Packman II · Post by **Packman II** » Sun Jul 13, 2003 11:25 am

Running Jacks with beagles must not be very popular. I can't imagine why it wouldn't be a blast to chase these long legged fellas with a pack of beagles!

why are there so few replies? Is there not a lot of rabbit hunters in the Jacks natural range. Or is it simply that there is a reason that no one runs them with beagles!

I ask these questions because i know little about Jacks! there must be a veteran out there somewhere that runs Jacks with beagles!

Thanks,

Brian

Bopeye · Post by **Bopeye** » Sun Jul 13, 2003 4:13 pm

This is just one persons view. My dad is from Oklahoma and my mom is from Nebraska. They said that Jacks were everywhere, but just weren't that good to eat. I have no idea why, I'll call my parents and find out.

Dad did however hunt cottontails in Nebraska. He said it was one of his favorite meats.

BTW, I would say that there are some 10 lb. jacks running around. They are BIG, and that is with a big B.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jul 13, 2003 11:23 pm

I have ran many Jacks . You must run them a few days in order to get the dogs tuned to running them.. If they try to run the line too perfectly they will just cold trail out. In order to stay hot on a big running Jack the dogs must get good at gambleing where I run here in the big sagebrush. In Ore. in the Chrisrmas tree farms the Jacks run kinda like a Fox only stay in a smaller space. If you go there to run with with those guys your hounds had better be in shape.

bjones · Post by **bjones** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 7:47 am

Central Kansas has a few Jackrabbits. I have heard of guys seeing them when they go out there to hunt phesants. Some years they see alot and some years they see a few. You could contact the state to see how far west into kansas you have to go to find them. I know the southeast part of kansas has none.

Hope this helps in someway

Brian

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 5:28 pm

I will share with you what I was told , years back, about running/hunting jacks ,from a canadian beagler. To hunt jacks is alot like fox hunting,you need alot of hunters spread out over a large area. Jacks will also run right down the edge of a busy road and get your dogs killed,and they will on purpose run right thru a hurd of cattle and take your dogs right thru a barn lot. Jacks are not always alot of fun to hunt,and a good way to get your dogs killed. and if I remember correctly he said jacks can take leaping bounds of 21'.
I am sure that maybe out west you may not have the trouble of the roads. I saw a picture of this beagler in one of the old BB mag. and the Jack he was holding up by the hind legs was as long as the 15 male beagle standing on his hind legs trying to reach the Jack. and I believe that dogs name was Armando's Zachary.

Post by **Bev** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 5:34 pm

Here ya go Ed, for your viewing pleasure:

Doggonnit, the picture won't load anymore.

timberdoodle · Post by **timberdoodle** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 8:52 pm

would you believe there are jack rabbits in NJ. have seen them and watched the Tewksbury foot Bassets rund them on a farm i lived on in huterdon co.