WNY bunny 2014 ??

[swampbow2]

Last year longrifle got a bunny hunt going in WNY that I couldn't attend. Since the St Jude hunt isn't until mid Feb. I was wondering if anyone was interested on getting another hunt here to the west going again this month ?

[Sockrsblur]

I don't think that will be a problem... last year was a lot of fun. Ill be watching this one you are talking Jan right?

[swampbow2]

Yup January. Kinda short notice I know but this isn't planning a safari. We just need to pick a spot and show up with our bows.I'm fortunate to have a very open schedule and I just hope we can get a date that will allow for a good turn out.

[nashoba]

I'll be there with my dogs again but I wont be hunting because I had shoulder surgery two weeks ago. Longrifle emailed me a couple weeks ago about getting together again this year so I'm sure he will be interested. Did you guys have a place in mind?

[larry]

I'd be interested in attending, depending on the date.

[swampbow2]

Last year you fellas didn't get into the rabbits on Harwood but was that weather or just no bunnies ? I used to hunt Hanging Bog (Rushford)for grouse late in the season and shot a few rabbits.I haven't been there in 5 years but it used to be fair hunting along the south side.Iroquois NWR has some bunnies but parking in the winter can be tough.I saw very few rabbit tracks while deer hunting this year on the Tonawanda WMA.Anybody been to Carlton Hill lately ? Suggestions ?

[Knawbone]

I attended last year and intend on it this year. I hear tell The Hornell area may be a hidden gold mine for rabbits- let me see what I can find out. It would also be more central for folks wanting to attend from the central part of the state. We had a great time last year!

[Stone Knife]

I'm game, Hornell would not be far for me. David do you know of some land there?

[Knawbone]

I forgot who I was talking to, but they said there was good rabbit hunting on state land there. I'll have to map the area and do some scouting around. I want to do more rabbit hunting this winter and that would be a good place to start. A hunt and scout is in order. Ya Jim, that area is about central to all you guys that attended last year and central to 3 or 4 of us here in the finger lakes area. If the bunnies are there it would be a good spot that would lend to a bigger attendance.( hopefully )

[Stone Knife]

Still my mind wanders to shooting carp  

[longrifle]

Marv, you beat me to it, I was waiting til the holidays were over to get some dates out there. I would like to have 2 hunts if we can, one soon and maybe another a few weeks later. The main hounds men are Alex and Jim without there dogs it's just a walk in the snow. I am going to ask that anyone who is interested in going do some research on a good spot.I will be in contact with Alex and Jim and get the dates set. We want to try and make this a yearly event, great group of guys last year.

[swampbow2]

I'm about the worst person one could find to try and plan anything so I sure didn't mean to get ahead of you longrifle . You know most of the guys and have done this before. I just didn't want to miss it ! Take the lead Ger please and I'll follow as best I can.

[Knawbone]

I called a couple of encon officers yesterday to try and find out where the best place is to go for rabbits. haven't heard from them yet, and may not(who knows). I am going to try and get up there ( Hornell area ) today and look at a couple of plots of state land. I may not find tracks in the snow, but brush chewing should be present if nothing else. Maybe I'll run in to some hunters or locals with info. Should be a nice day to get out with the Bushbow and look for some bunnies.

[NANUK]

I would love to hunt with ya'll.

[Sockrsblur]

Going to a new spot would be fun, I don't mind traveling. I agree that it was a lot of fun watching the dogs work so what ever the houndsmen favor is fine with me. Two hunts would be great, let's set one up as soon as we can then. Time goes to fast... it will be spawning carp before Jim knows it.

[Knawbone]

Just got back from scouting around the Hornell area. Wow, what a day! I started out looking for state land, but couldn't find either tract I was looking for. Tha land in that area is all farm land with most of it planted in corn. When I saw how choice the area looked for bunnies, I started going to farms and knocking on doors. I got permission from two land owners and will hopefully get calls from two more. Three people I talked to, said almost any farmer in the area would let us hunt. I explained we were trad hunters looking for farm land to hunt and would be very respectful of their land. I got nothing but possitive responces from all I talked to.
       When I get a tally on all the available land and we can come up with a date, I will contact the land owners and give them an Idea of how many of us will attend and work out the details. The last farmer I talked to said he would take us to some choice bottom land surrounded by corn, where the coyotes and fox have little to no effect on the rabbit numbers.
     
     This area looks really good guys. The farms are in the Arkport township very central for all concerned.  The prospects for shooting action looking good here. Open to any other Ideas or areas of course.

[Sockrsblur]

David you are a good scout! Thanks for taking the time to look around.

[nashoba]

Sounds good David thanks for the leg work. The dogs are getting itchy to get out. Lets try to set something up soon before the winter starts to take a toll on the bunnies, that way maybe we can also get out more than once.

[Stone Knife]

Cool arkport is not too far from me, I hope we can set a start time a little later than last years if it's too early and snows that day I'm out because I have to work til 7:30 most snow days.

[Knawbone]

The one question I got asked the most was how many hunters and dogs would there be. I said probably 7 to 12 people and 2 or 3 dogs. I need to talk to a couple of land owners and find out where some of these tracts of land are, and where we can park. I'll finalize everything this week so we can set a date. I told the land owners that we would want to hunt this month in all likelihood. We should have plenty of good Bunnie turf to hunt! We could all meet in the small town of Arkport, and carpool to the hunt sights. The hunt sights would probably not accommodate all of our vehicles.

 I believe the one valley location is near town with corn and brush along the railroad tracks!...............I'm thinking some Bunnies should be there for sure! None of these people I talked to said anything about other rabbit hunters hunting their land.Looks like some good situations for late season bow hunting.

 If everyone is in agreement, I'll go ahead and seal the deal.......so to speak!