MICHIGAN'S RABBIT ZONE

Ricko · Post by **Ricko** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 12:30 pm

I've always wondered if one could draw a horizontal line across the state, like the DNR does to define the hunting zones, only this would be a line that to the north would be snowshoe rabbit country and to the south cottontail country.
How do you suppose the line would look as far as taking in what counties?
I've never really hunted north of Newaygo, and all I've ever encountered are cottontails. I've never hunted snoeshoes, but thought it'd be a lot of fun to try sometime. Thank you.

Robert W. Mccoy Jr · Post by **Robert W. Mccoy Jr** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 6:25 pm

I have killed cottontail rabbits and Hare on the same day in the same general area around Mio.

There are cottontails every where in the state.

Steve Mikkelson · Post by **Steve Mikkelson** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 6:35 pm

Ricko · Post by **Ricko** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 7:20 pm

Thanks for the information. Then I guess I'm safe to assume that I shouldn't find any snowshoes around the Big Rapids area?

bluegrass · Post by **bluegrass** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 12:06 am

No, actually, I have ran an occasional snowshoe in Newaygo, White Cloud and east of Big Rapids too...Tony

Ricko · Post by **Ricko** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 7:13 am

Okay Tony, how did the dogs do? Does the speed and how hard the snowshoe is being pushed determine how large a circle it's going to make?
I believe a snowshoe dog is larger and faster than a cottontail dog, correct? So would the cottontail dog, because of its size and speed put less pressure on the snowshoe, and thus cause it to make a smaller circle?? Lets say, if it takes the smaller dog 3 hours to do what the taller,faster, dog does in 1 hour, then I'd guess that's an awlful lot of work for the smaller dog.
Hmmm......don't tell me, do I now need 4 dogs? Two smaller med. speed dogs for cottontails and two taller, faster dogs for snowshoe hunting???

mur the bear · Post by **mur the bear** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 9:03 am

I don't think one can ever determine a dogs speed by it's size.Unless you are referring to a site chase.
I've seen some small dogs get in deep snow and do a real good job on hare.It's more the size of there heart that counts.
I've only ever owned beagles from hare hound bloodlines.They have run both cottontail and hare very nicely.
I'm sure others will come on here and tell you the same about dogs that are from a cottontail or swamper backgrounds. And I would agree with them.
I don't think the speed of the hound has any thing to do with the size of a circle.With different scenting conditions hounds run different speeds all the time.I never notice a big difference in the circles.
Occasionally on the real slow days the hare will try stay in a small thick swamp rather than get out and circle but that is about it.
You shouldn't need two types of hounds to enjoy both activities

bluegrass · Post by **bluegrass** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 9:52 am

The dogs I have now are the dogs I would run on either rabbit...I don't think the speed of the hounds makes that much difference in the size of the snowshoe circle, but as I said, I have run the OCCASIONAL snowshoe, I'm not that experienced in hunting hare...The snowshoes I have jumped have circled once relatively close, and on the second circle have lit out like a deer...I have yet to kill one, but have seen a few...Tony