Welcome to AHT, Brian T. Enjoy AZ.

 

Aye, welcome to AHT. I've got a couple friends who've been trying to find a spot like that. I don't know about Roosevelt lake, or sycamore creek, but I can comment that most of Maricopa is built up with housing subdivisions now. There's not a lot of area left to hunt in without getting far out of town - and once you've done that, the rabbit population shrinks drastically. (For instance, we took a trip a couple years back out west of 'copa, going south on 115th ave I think it was, to that lone boot hill. Not a one to be seen.)

Two good rabbit areas have been mentioned here on the boards that are a bit more of a drive - the ranch roads out by Bagdad, and then the road out of Meyer towards Four Peaks. Bagdad tends to run about 10 degrees cooler than the valley, since it's higher elevation, but it's still desert territory; if camping, bring plenty of ice. The Meyer spot I haven't been able to try yet.

 

Welcome to the boards. I think you would enjoy the rabbit camp these put together. I attended for the first time and had an amazing time from the hunting to the campfire talks in between.
I learned a lot myself from basic cleaning the rabbit by greens sons to pedicures (inside joke) lol

 

I also attended rabbit camp for the first time this year and Fern is right it was a very fun weekend.good food good company lotsa rabbits

 

watch out for those little fishes Fern!

 

Look into the Sonoran Desert National Monument. If you head southwest from Tempe and get on Hwy 8 you will run into it. I've had some pretty decent luck on the west side of it earlier in the year although I haven't been out there in a few weeks. There's not too much traffic out there, but the breaks of hunting public lands is that you have to share with everyone.

As far as gear goes you are all set, just go for a walk around and you will find rabbits. If you can get there early in the morning or later in the evening while things are cool you will have better luck, but they are out there all day.

 

Look into the Sonoran Desert National Monument. If you head southwest from Tempe and get on Hwy 8 you will run into it. I've had some pretty decent luck on the west side of it earlier in the year although I haven't been out there in a few weeks. There's not too much traffic out there, but the breaks of hunting public lands is that you have to share with everyone.

As far as gear goes you are all set, just go for a walk around and you will find rabbits. If you can get there early in the morning or later in the evening while things are cool you will have better luck, but they are out there all day.

My first hunting trip was the SDNM. There was absolutely nothing in the northeast area we went to, so I tend not to recommend it. Were you out by Gila Bend? We definitely didn't get that far out though.

 

Echo the fun from this past Rabbit Camp....my first time as well and had a blast. Everyone was really friendly and willing to help and answer questions....cannot wait till next year

 

There are tons of areas within 30 minutes for you. All kinds of good rabbit area along Usery, bush highway and up 87. You can head East a bit on the 60 too. Check out the online HabiMap (http://habimap.org/habimap/) and select the land ownership layer. It will show you all the public land. Also, if you purchased a hunting license, you don't need a state land trust permit. Your hunting license is your permit to access state trust land.

 

Thanks! I've been up 87 and tried sycamore creek, not a great spot but at least I know where to go plinking :/. Definitley going to try the other areas you mentioned.

 

i have never heard of a State Land Trust Permit......???? like said above and on the signs themselves, your hunting license is your permit to hunt that land. May i ask what you paid for said permit? and why they said you needed it?

 

A permit is required and your hunting license satisfies that requirement, however, not everyone is a hunter. A permit is available for those who do not purchase hunting licenses. Not sure of the price. In this case, he probably bought a permit he didn't need, if he already had his license.

 

Hi, I'm Brian and I just got started hunting, got my gear and license all sorted out. Let me explain my current gear set up and where I'm from. I'm very new to hunting, never did it before and fishing probably doesn't count. I want hunt rabbits and I've been spending quite a bit of time learning about them and getting a fair idea of where to go, but still uncertain of what my best options really are. I realize I'm probably late in the season since summer is just starting and perhaps I'm better off waiting until september or october. I live in Mesa and I've been trying to figure out what would be my best options for hunting areas that would have the least issues with other hunters, off-roaders and hikers. I only have time on the weekends to really do this and Only willing to drive so far that doesn't exceed a half hour of driving for now. perhaps later on in the cooler months i'll consider camping out somewhere for a few days.

My current gear is pretty basic for now, with standard hunting vest, first aid kit, knife, portable shovel, good boots and such. I have a Marlin Model 60 semi-auto .22LR rifle, it shoots very nice and accurate, cycles rounds fast. Current choice of ammo is Aguila super extra and Federal gameshok (this is really nice ammo, btw). I probably would have gotten a shotgun but I'm pretty good with my aim so far and I don't have a good scope on it yet, but will soon once I get the tools to sight one correctly. Perhaps I'll get a 20gauge later once I find a good deal on one. I've been very tight with my budget on this so far since I'm pretty new to this.

So, from Mesa, where would be good place to go? I've been told north of roosevelt lake might be good. Sycamore Creek off of 87 might be an option, since it's got a large wash. Though it seems like people off-road there a lot. Maybe I could look south of phoenix area toward maricopa or out toward surprise? Maybe west toward buckeye, seems risky though since there's a lot of military stuff going out there. I hear farms are great, but I have no idea who would allow me to hunt on their land. I also did just purchase a state land trust permit, just to be safe.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

hello brian
my name is sam (samiam) and i started hunting rabbit last year here in az and have learned a lot. i typically go twice a month. you are welcome to join me. send me a pm and ill give you details . also get a copy of hunting regs - rabbit season is year-round. there are a few things you need to know about hunting rabbit in az or you will definitely come up empty-handed. your .22 will be perfect for squirrel later in the year.

 

Thanks for the offer, I appreciate it. I'll have to think about it, so far I like hunting solo and I've only had some close calls in getting rabbits, but no takes yet. I'll let you know when when I find time.

 

Hey all sheriffs are not......... Derps. Just the uniformed and Derps are. I had one stop me when driving on a private road that was posted and he red lighted me so I stopped, Told me to turn around and leave or he would site me, UNTIL I told him I OWNED the road and land I was on. He Shut the H up in a hurry............ DERP !!!!!!!

 

Hey all, new to az and hunting rabbit. Live in fountain hills and got a .177 trying to find some good spots around.
Thanks

 

Right near you is the McDowell Mountain recreation preserve, there are all kinds of quail and rabbit up there. A shotgun is allowed as a take method there, rifles are not. I was there last week, took a cotton tail and a Gamble's quail. There are tons of game there and in the McDowell mountains in the other side of the Indian reservation.

Only drawback is the $6 day pass for vehicles, so every weekend you go, you have to pay the fee. That or you can pay $89 for an annual pass. price aside, I saw about 3 covey of 6-12 quail and a handful of rabbits in the hour and a half I was there...in the middle of the day. I am sure that if you got there at sun up or an hour and a half before sun down, you could nab a few rabbits and could limit out on quail if you were patient enough.

 

Welcome to AHT jessie. You better spend a few bucks and buy at least a 22 or cheap shotgun. 177 is good for at your own property only. You live 45 mins away from me, Im in Payson. Anywhere around the grass where you live will be rabbits. Good Luck, I think ?

 

Haha thanks will do!

 

Some guys swear by hunting rabbits with rimfire. 99% of the time it's the trusty ol 870 for me. I'm actually heading out as we speak but I'm down in SE Tucson near Vail.

I havent had much problems finding rabbit anywhere in this state. The method of hunting will change depending on where you are. the main spot I go, if I was on foot, I would be lucky to see one and only around watering holes. I usually drive around on the dirt roads and spook a handful up everytime out on the way back to the water.

 

When I was much younger I would spot and stalk rabbits with an air rifle 177cal. I use Shot guns now. I get more rabbits and quail.

 

i take the pigeons off the roof with a Gamo Fusion. man that thing is quiet with the suppressor on the end, all you hear is the impact and feathers!!!

 

Went out today, got one this morning. saw 3, some dove, and a couple other critters. the best part about rabbit hunting is it is available year round, pretty much everywhere, at anytime.

Don't need a better excuse to get my son out than that.

 

That is awesome! I got out there this morning and limited out on dove by 9am. Hell of a day!

 

I hear farms are great, but I have no idea who would allow me to hunt on their land. I also did just purchase a state land trust permit, just to be safe.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Friends and I have been out hunting Doves the last couple of weekend. We have seen several rabbits roaming around the desert. We saw some Jack Rabbits Too.

Have you had much luck lately?

Also, I have never heard of a State Land Trust Permit before. I went to their website and it appears that a license hunter is an exception to the State Land Trust Permit Requirements.

https://land.az.gov/faq/general-faq

Why do I need a permit to go on State Trust land for recreation purposes and how do I obtain a recreational permit?
ShowAnswer
Arizona State Trust lands are not "public lands", as are Federal lands under the management of the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management. Federal "public lands" are managed for the benefit and use of the public, while State Trust lands are managed for the benefit of 13 Trust beneficiaries, which include the public schools and prisons. The Land Department's trust management responsibilities include requiring a permit or lease and charging a fee for use of Trust land. Exceptions to this requirement are licensed hunters and fishers, actively pursuing game or fish, in-season, and certain archaeological activities permitted by the Arizona State Museum.

 

@Damian, we still need to find a dedicated rabbit hunting ground. Our dove spot is hot, but I have only seen the one or two rabbits...I want some stew man!

 

Be Happy with Doves, all we got now are Eurasians hanging around. I got a bunny in my front lawn everynight eating grass. hes a pest.

 

Oh, don't get me wrong, I am grateful for the doves, but at the spot that I go to, we end up limiting out on mourning doves by 9 a.m. . I would like to find a spot close to there where I can then go and hunt rabbit and potentially quail so that I bring home as much as possible in one trip. I get Eurasians all over the place at church I started bringing the slingshot with me so that I can go to church and bring home a couple of birds

 

find your nearest non-posted orange grove or get permission to hunt them, they are always full of jacks down here

 

Can you take rabbits at night? I was in 18b the other night after lion and coyote and was able to spot a couple rabbits. I didn't take the shot because I thought Rabbit was daytime only. A buddy said I could hunt them at night but the regs don't specify daylong hours for rabbit.

 

No, you cannot takes rabbits, or any small game at night in AZ. Shooting hours are half hour after sunrise until half hout before sundown.

 

Wait a minute. The regs do not say that at all. Never ever has it been half hour after sunrise to half hour before sunset, LOL, Thats BALONEY. The regs say no artificial light, moonlight may not be used in take or pursuit of small game, in essence if you can see it during any daylight hours, ie, pre dawn or pre dark, its legal to pursue and take if in a safe manner.

. Pg 99, 2016/17 Az Hunting Regulations, Bottom of page, under shooting hours.