Us New Englanders better get our bunny hunts in soon

[wapitimike1]

CT, does not allow Bear, Bobcat, Fishercat or Lynx seasons. I've got pictures of Bobcat fawn kills. My nieghbor saw a Bear with a fawn hanging out of it's mouth. I live in the NW corner of the state. I have Bears and cats on the property all the time. I have two big blackies in one cam trak picture at one time. We need to start taking these critters. Our deer and small game in this area are way down.

[Frank AK]

yeah we have a predator problem in AK also.

[Vagrant]

Wapitimike, are you anywhere near Goshen?  My family's had a house there for the past 3 generations.  I go up there every christmas and summer and I see more deer and rabbit then I probably do all year down here in South Carolina.  As far as I can tell the game in Goshen is doing well, but I also don't know how it compares to only about 10 years ago.  Bobcat and other cats are plentiful though, I generally see one or two a week, with a Bear on occasion and maybe a very short predator season would be good.

On the rabbits, as far as I'm concerned they're in no danger, like I said, in Ct. I see them all over the place.

[no]

If you go to a Ct. fish & game book they list 3 species of rabbit, snowshoe, cottontail, & new englad, the new england from what I know of them are only in small pocket areas, not wide spread.
I hunt with beagles in NY & Ct. & have never seen one. I assure you there are plenty of regular common cottontails here. It seems the anti`s may be trying to trick a few people into believing the common ones are in danger, we all know how honest they are anyway. They have regulations against shooting spruce grouse in Ny, but you can still hunt the ruffs. I cant tell the diff when they flush. They are always looking for a way in aint they.  Just my 2 cents.  Mike

[Brian Krebs]

Idaho has had a rule against shooting 'pigmy rabbits'; which have a 'buff gray tail with no white on it'; and are about 4 or 5 inches shorter than cottontails.
When your in pigmy rabbit country they are all around; but so are cottontails; and hares.. you have to see them run before you shoot; or hold them down and measure them.
Although there is a rule against killing them; and you need to know the length of the rabbit to clearly understand the identity of the species; I simply catch all rabbits by hand- and inspect them for identity. If they are pigmy rabbits: I have no hesitation on what to do with them- especially when I run out of toilet paper.
 Hey- don't laugh; the preditors leave them alone after that; and it no doubt keeps them alive longer than normal.
 
  :D    

[wapitimike1]

Yes I live in Goshen. I live on the western side looking down over Tyler lake and the easter half of CT. I live on top of Red Mtn, across from Mohawk park. There's 4000 acres (Mohawk) we (The United Bow Hunters of CT, I'm on the BOD) have been trying to open for at least ten years that I can remember. Since the state of Mass had the anti's pass a ballot issue on bear baiting and dogs. The population has exploded with them down here. There taking a toll on the deer. I have to learn how to put picture's on this thing. I had a two hundred pounder (bear) walk into the middle of my 3d targets I shoot of my deck a week ago.

[vermonster13]

Telling a New england from a common cottontail would be nearly impossible while hunting. In New Hampshire three counties are closed to rabbit hunting because of this. They are in isolated pockets and their habitat is dwindling. if they are listed as endangered, how much will that affect property rights and hunting just from the protections they would be given federally?