Regional snowshoe hare hunters, especially those without dogs, have enjoyed excellent early winter shooting, thanks to Maine’s unusually warm temperatures and a lack of snow.
The cotton white rabbits easily stood out against the bare ground like a Q-tip in a coal mine.
Low snow depths have led to excellent accessibility to most rabbit hunting covers. Every sportsperson throughout central and northern Aroostook has a half-dozen productive woodlots or second-growth fields that harbor dozens of hare within a 20-minute drive or less from their home.
It’s a rare winter when hunters can pursue small game in February with no need for snowshoes.
Normal Pine Tree State winter snow depths make it very difficult to hunt rabbits without the aid of a couple or three well-trained beagles. The dogs locate a fresh scent, then follow in hot pursuit. Usually the hare will run in a loop while attempting to stay in its home territory.
The hunter slogs along on bearpaw snowshoes attempting to locate a fairly open area near the spot where the chase began and hope for a passing shot as the fast-moving rabbit streaks by.
It’s a challenging endeavor most winters, greatly determined by snow depth and tree and brush denseness.
Usually there’s at least a 50 percent chance of success, but it’s no simple chore moving through the forest on a pair of snowshoes. Current snow conditions don’t require using snowshoes at all, so a chance at a good shot increases greatly with the improved mobility.
A blur of white fur on the same color snow is a challenge, so most gunners opt for a shotgun’s wider pattern of pellets to tip the odds in their favor. Size No. 6 shot is my preferred load, but a lot of shooters opt for a bit larger size No. 4. Smaller size 7 ½ and 9 pellets put too many holes in the meat, and larger size No. 2s or BBs do too much damage.
Most Maine outdoorsmen own one all-purpose scatter gun, generally a 12 gauge that accepts 2 ¾-inch or 3-inch shells and works for partridge, duck, turkey, pheasant, geese and even pesky groundhogs or squirrels.
These have proven effective and dependable for decades of snowshoe hare hunting. I prefer a 20 gauge for rabbit if I carry a shotgun, and once in a while for a challenge I’ll lug my T/C Contender, single-shot .410 handgun.
Most shot opportunities are 25 yards or less so smaller gauge shotguns work fine. The low snow cover allows “sneak and peak” tactics for those of us without dogs, so it’s possible to get stationary shots at rabbits that think they are hidden.
A .22-caliber rifle with a scope allows head shots for a sure, quick kill and less ruined meat. Shooters seeking more of a challenge even use .22-caliber handguns, bows or crossbows. If a camouflaged hare suddenly bolts from cover, the chance of a sure shot is far lower than if you use a shotgun.
Many decades ago, a solution to this right-gun-at-the-right-time scenario came to me in the form of a Savage/Stevens M24. This unique model features a rifle barrel over a shotgun barrel, and several caliber/gauge combos are available.
I picked a .22 left-right over a 20 gauge setup. With the quick flick of my thumb on a switch set into the hammer, I can select the right medicine for the target in question. Other than being only a single shot, this over and under is a perfect option for snowshoe hare that are running or sitting still.
Stop-and-go rabbit hunting in low snow cover works best with two or three gunners, and has been very productive under current weather conditions. Hunters wear easy-to-spot fluorescent orange and spread out side by side from 10 to 20 yards apart, depending on forest and brush denseness.
Snowshoe hare in their white winter coats tend to believe they won’t be spotted when they hunker down and blend in, so often will stay put rather than run.
Hunters need to all move forward quietly and slowly at the same time for 10 yards or so, scanning the lower tree line, under limbs and near stumps and blowdowns; then stop for at least a minute and look about.
The rabbits’ dark, sparkling eyes stand out, pink noses twitch and most of all the ears swivel and tilt as they listen for danger.
It’s often possible to get an easy shot when the hare holds tight. Sometimes the rabbit becomes nervous when the hunter stops, thinking it’s been spotted, and tries to make a break for it.
At that point, regardless of the direction of the rabbit’s escape, someone in the line of hunters will get a passing shot once alerted by the sport on one side or the other.
March is generally my favorite month to hunt rabbits; days are longer, the sun is warmer and snow levels recede daily. Also it’s mating time for the snowshoe hare, so the amorous animals are active all day seeking a companion rather than just out feeding at dawn and dusk as usual.
As long as there are no major blizzards, hunters should continue to enjoy easy travel and gunning conditions until the season ends on the last day of March.
Have a go of it while the conditions cooperate.