Jackrabbit hunting around the Wasatch front?

[sgthartman]

I live in Provo, and I'm currently waiting for coyote season to start up. In the meantime, I've been itching to try my hand at jackrabbits. I've heard they are around, and I've heard rumors about something in Lehi, but nothing really convincing. Does anyone know of anyplace I would have a chance at finding a few of these? I know that there isn't a legal season for jackrabbits, but is there a specific time of the year that is best to hunt them here in the this part of Utah?


Thanks!

[UnderratedF00l]

The desert west of Delta is a decent place. Last time I was out there we bagged 5 in about 2 hours (this was last summer).

[DaKnife]

Open sagebrush covered land is what you want, I can't think of anything still like that near Lehi. What used to fit that description is now houses, or Camp Williams. Make sure your not in the Lake closed to shooting areas around Lake mountain but otherwise that's what you are looking for.

Oh and Underrated, I wouldn't call Delta "around the Wasatch Front" by any count. Maybe it's closer than areas in CO or AZ but it's still NOT the Wasatch front.

[UnderratedF00l]

Oh and Underrated, I wouldn't call Delta "around the Wasatch Front" by any count. Maybe it's closer than areas in CO or AZ but it's still NOT the Wasatch front.

Yeah, you're right, but there really aren't any decent places around "the Wasatch Front" that I've been able to find to hunt bunnies. The OP is in Provo (and so am I), so I thought I'd point out where I usually go when looking for some long-eared varmints.

[sgthartman]

Dang it, that's disappointing. I guess I'll keep target shooting then. Maybe I'll breed 100 jackrabbits and let them loose in Provo. That'll make this place a little more entertaining.

[smurf351]

Correct me if I am wrong, but there isn't any season or restrictions on coyotes in Utah. The only stipulations that I can think of is the $50 bounty that you can collect. You have to register, which started July 1, but you can't collect any $ till sometime in Sept.

[YoZUpZ]

If you don't mind getting some exercise and doing some hiking, I've seen A TON of them in the foothills behind the University of Utah and Research Park. But with all of those jacks comes a ton of rattlesnakes, so if you do go up there, be careful... A couple years ago, I was nearly bit by one after I came inches from stepping on him (it was right where the trail and grass meet).

Also, you'll want to keep an eye out for people, because you will run across hikers/trail runners every once and awhile.

If you take Sunnyside Ave east off of Foothill, there are a few places where you can park and start hiking up before you hit Emigration Canyon.

[sgthartman]

Correct me if I am wrong, but there isn't any season or restrictions on coyotes in Utah. The only stipulations that I can think of is the $50 bounty that you can collect. You have to register, which started July 1, but you can't collect any $ till sometime in Sept.

No there aren't any restrictions, it's just that pups don't come around until sept/oct at the earliest, and the best time is really the winter.


ANd thanks YoZupZ, I'll probably take a trip up one of these weekends and scout it out.

[James]

Jack Rabbits? Back in the late 50s and Early 60s there was loads of jackrabbits. They were eating the farmers out of house and home. Out towards Snowville, they made fence corners with a pen in the corner, then a big bunch of people would make a drive towards the pens. When they had corraled hundreds of jacks, they would get in the pen with ball bats to kill them.

I remember going hunting out that way with varmint rifles and killing over 100 a day. (each hunter) Could have been more, but we always shot all our ammo and had to quit.

Sorry, the last few times I went out that way we saw only one or two Jacks. They seem to have been thinned out badly.

I used to see jacks and Varying Hares on my 90 acres out in Avon, (Cache County) but haven't seen any in a long time. We also used to get loads of those Varying Hares in winter. They would be around every hay stack, but they are gone too. Don't even see tracks in the snow in winter.

[James]

Oh, to answer one of your questions, The best time to hunt them is winter. They tend to bunch up then. Areas with lots of sagebrush are where to look. Good Luck!

[quychang]

Jack Rabbits? Back in the late 50s and Early 60s there was loads of jackrabbits. They were eating the farmers out of house and home. Out towards Snowville, they made fence corners with a pen in the corner, then a big bunch of people would make a drive towards the pens. When they had corraled hundreds of jacks, they would get in the pen with ball bats to kill them.

Even into the late 60's Snowville was a great place for Jacks. We used to spot light them, and kill 100-200 per trip with one driver and two shooters. I haven't been out that way in years, so wouldn't have a clue. There used to be quite a few Jacks and Cottontails up Ogden canyon, between Pineview and Camp Kiesle before they built Causey Dam. But haven't seen anything in that direction except a rare Cotton Tail up on Monte when we ride our ATV's .

Mel

[LocknLoadGunsGear]

I hunt Jacks out by the Landfill by the training facility called Global One, 2 shooters and spotlight easily bag 40-50 per night, Large Jacks too. I think might be some Zombie Jacks out there, cause we shot a couple that came charging toward us [Edited by mod. -Don] near jumped in the truck

[sgthartman]

So is this something you always do at night? Would it not be worth the time to try it during the day?

[quychang]

You can hunt them during the day, and you'll get a few. They are more active at night.

Mel