Snowshoe in TN and NC???

[Briarhoppers]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lepus ... us_map.svg

I've seen several maps that show snowshoe hare's range extending down the appalacian mountains into NC and TN. Take a look at the link to see one of these's maps.

Having lived in TN and NC most my life, I've never seen a snowshoe or even heard of anyone saying they've seen one. I've also never even heard any old timers talk about having seen one long ago. So, did snowshoe ever live that far south and if so, how long ago was it?

TN has brought the elk back, let's bring the snowshoe back!

-Pete

[mooredog]

I heard there was a one in central indiana at a PPH a year ago ! It ran forever ! One judge even saw it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL !!!!!!!

[Rowco Beagle Kennels]

I am not in the part of NC shown on the map but I have hunted in the Va portion many times. Never saw hare or talked to anyone who did. However, a year ago Johnny and I saw 2 rabbits at separate places that were very abnormally large for cottontails, at least 2 1/2 normal. Wondering if anyone else in the South has seen this and what do you think? ROWCO

[T LEE]

I was at a trial in Mars Hill , NC and saw a couple of different size rabbits during the cast. One was twice as big as our Eastern Cottontail. The local guys called it a "Woods Rabbit". I don't think that it was a Hare and didn't look like the type of Hare we see in Michigan. I did hear there are a few Hare in the NC mountains.

[tenntreedog]

There`s susposedly a few snowshoe up around the top of Roan Mtn.on the Tn. N.C. line.but most of that area is a state park so no hunting.I`ve nrver saw one but have talked to a couple of people that say they have. ?

[Gunslinger Beagles]

I knows you said tn or nc but they are some in wv in pocohonas co. Im going this year with a man i go to church with. Come on and go with us. Ive never hunted them before and its sounds like it is going to be a blast.

[Brice McGlamery]

I was born and grew up in East TN in the foothills of the mountains and I moved to NC in which I have lived there the rest of my life at the foothills on that side and I never have heard or seen any snow shoe. I know the map showed it but I am 71 years old and from my knowledge there has never been any showshoe. We hunt alot in the mountains and there is some good cottontail hunting there but now snowshoe.

Brice McGlamery
Mac's Kennel

[mybeagles]

Ive never hunted them before and its sounds like it is going to be a blast.

If there are just a few hare there why would they allow them to be harvested? There are areas in northern lower Michigan that used to have good numbers of hare, but when they got scarce people just kept killing. I have run into guys that would go out on a fresh snow and drive for hours to find a track, cut the dogs loose and shoot the rabbit the first chance they got.

I'm not opposed to hunting and harvest some for the table every year, but if the numbers are so scarce it takes you several drops at different locations to find one it doesn't seem like very good game management to harvest it.

Mybeagles

[Briarhoppers]

Thanks for the replies guys. If snowshoe would survive and repoduce in the TN / NC mountains, I wish TWRA would stock them and then once the population was stable open the season on them. Would be great!

mybeagles: not sure I understand your post. No one is talking about hunting a scare population of hare. The line you quoted was in reference to hunting hare in WV.

-Pete