Where the Jacks at?

7191 Views 47 Replies 13 Participants Last post by hunter gary 45, 13 d ago

MNAZOutdoors

Discussion Starter · Oct 29, 2012

Hey everyone, I'm new to this site.

I moved back to Tucson from Minnesota a few weeks ago, and have been out hunting 3 or 4 times a week since. I mostly head out to the Redington Pass area, and have had some success. 2 nice Cottontails, 1 squirrel, 1 Western Diamondback, got less than 10 ft from a Ring-Tailed Cat, and have been stalked by a pretty decent sized lion. I usually go out about 45 minutes before sunset. Haven't tried the morning hours yet.

A good amount of my trips out there I haven't seen anything, been looking around some new areas and have found some pretty massive piles of rabbit dumpings, so I know they are around...

Open to some new areas though, if anyone has any good ideas?

I've never shot / eaten a Jack before, and I'd love to try. I've had PLENTY of Minnesota Cottontails and Snowshoe Hares, but no Jacks.

Considering their size, I'm more than stoked to find a couple of them.

Also, if anybody here is looking for a hunting buddy, none of my friends here hunt, and it would be nice to go out with company, maybe someone who knows the area better.

I carry a 12 gauge and a deadly accurate .22. After my lion experience, I carry both. When the sun starts going down and I can't effectively use the scope on my .22 anymore, I switch to the 12. I've so far shot all of my Arizona game animals with my 12 gauge, and recently bought the .22 for a little more fun/challenge, but haven't yet spotted a hopper while it was in my hands. I've got the .22 zeroed in to do dime sized groups at 50 yards, so I'm MORE than excited to lay out a Jack 75 or 100 yards away.

Okay, that's enough of an intro / ramble.

If anybody knows of awesome areas to hunt around Tucson, or wants to go out, let me know!

I'd also like to go out for lions, coyotes, bobcats, birds, squirrels, snakes, etc. I'm pretty much into hunting ANYTHING. I have a bow also for archery only hunts.

-Dan

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MNAZOutdoors

Discussion Starter · #21 · Dec 24, 2012

I also am a firm believer of #4 when I'm rabbit hunting. They seem to reach out a little farther and maintain energy a little better, not to mention penetration. I've blasted a bunny at 15 yards that I couldn't even see anymore through a thicket of sagebrush, and the #4s just punched their way through and dropped it like nothing. When I'm carrying my SG along with my .22, I always load it with 7 1/2 and keep a couple #4s and a few slugs (just in case...) in my "tactical fanny pack." I encounter quite a few Doves and Quail when I'm out looking for rabbits, that's why I run the 7 1/2 steel most of the time.

Kinda funny, most people take opportunistic shots on rabbits while bird hunting.

I take opportunistic shots on birds while rabbit hunting.

MNAZOutdoors

Discussion Starter · #22 · Dec 24, 2012

You really like the trigger sticks? I've seen them, and seen a few people use them. Been thinking about getting one, but I'm usually steady enough freehand that I can make confident shots to about 110, yards with my .22. A freehand shot with my Mark II on a soda can at 110 yards I can do probably 4 out of 5 times, so I think that's good enough, especially considering that it's about the max effective range of really being able to hit something consistently with a double duecer. Already using a good 6-7 inches or so of holdover the way it is.

I still want one though, 5 out of 5 is way better than 4 out of 5. Definitely help with headshots on those big Jacks, too!

They sell a Winchester Shooting Stick at Walmart for $10, telescoping, tall enough to be used while standing. I might go pick it up and try it out. The Primo's ones look a little nicer, but they cost like 7x as much.

Coues84

· #23 · Dec 24, 2012

Grab ya a yucca stalk, whittle off the end to the required height, and you have a free and "green" walking/rifle resting stick. Frap a couple of them together, and you can spread them out for an even steadier rest.

MNAZOutdoors

Discussion Starter · #24 · Dec 27, 2012

2

I went out for some bunnies tonight, missed a HUGE Jack at about 125 yards (I had just slammed a 20oz cup of coffee and couldn't hold the rifle still to save my life..) and missed another one FOUR times with my shotgun at maybe 25 yards while it was zig zagging full speed through some cactus. I saw a couple more running up the hillside, but I got distracted by a nearby Cottontail. Ended up with no Jacks, but two Cottontails at least.

Got this one on the run and through some brush with #4.

Picked this one off a hill about 50 - 60 yards away. It ran up, stopped, turned, and looked at me. I put the crosshairs on it's chest and let one rip with the .22. I forgot I was using a little faster ammo than I was zeroed for, and ended up hitting it in the neck with a Velocitor. Went straight through and came out the buttocks. Can't wait to hit a Jack with one of these!

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roadkill46

· #25 · Dec 27, 2012

i'm not too steady anymore so i use the sticks. i paid a lot for them 4 seasons ago and they still work perfect. i have a home made set in the truck also but they are a length for sitting on my dog bucket. the primos are tall! or you could grab a good stick, or a the correct length of dowel from Lowe's and a 'V' yoke and screw it into the top for 1/4 the price. looks like you're a pretty dead eye with that .22 though!
There is another factor that figures in when shooting with the sticks, since i hunt the orange groves and their are houses a little more than 1/4 mile away, i hunt suppressed. those rounds are not good for 100 yard shots. right now it's the M&P 15-22 with the can, but i have an all VQ 10-22, canned that is quite a bit more accurate, it has a normal 3x9 and the M&P has an EOtech with 3x magnifier, so i can't see out there as far also.
i know, making excuses. i have #4's and 7.5 in the side saddle of the SG when pred hunting, but you really have to make a dedicated switch with a 5 capacity tube and rack them all out prior to putting in the lower shot.

sounds like you have a great spot, our bunnies stay low to the fields and citrus transition and i don't kick many up on the ATV when out in the desert looking for coyotes, maybe one or two throughout the day.

man our cottontails are small, remembering the huge ones we got for my mom back in the day 40+ years ago! funny story, skinned one out and cut off it's head with the skin still attached and made a 'sock puppet'. turned him right side in, stuck my hand in and my finger to move his head around. mom was cleaning in the kitchen, could see her through the window, snuck up and put my rabbit puppet right in the window and said 'Hey lady watcha doin?'......thought she had a heart attack! too funny.

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AzCountryman

· #26 · Dec 27, 2012

Nice bunnies.....I will be going out tomorrow morning. lol thats a good story roadkill

MNAZOutdoors

Discussion Starter · #27 · Dec 31, 2012

So, weirdest thing happened today when I was out looking for Jackrabbits..

I came across this.

I called the Sheriffs Department, and they sent out some Deputies to come and check it out.

A few hours later.. I'm in the news!

http://www.kgun9.com/news/local/185229242.html

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MNAZOutdoors

Discussion Starter · #28 · Dec 31, 2012

... I also shot at a Jackrabbit that was... Fornicating with another Jackrabbit, but I missed. I hadn't had time to sight the new ammo with my rifle, and later on found out it was shooting pretty far off at 50, so I'm sure at about 125 or so, it was probably off by like a foot. Got her all dialed in, and.. Saw no more Jacks. Going out tomorrow, hope I find me a monster!

Coues84

· #29 · Dec 31, 2012

Dang that will ruin a hunt rather quickly. Not the first thing I would want to be finding out there. Hopefully it will answer some questions for some family some where.

roadkill46

· #30 · Dec 31, 2012

i think it was Rizzo's beetles!

MNAZOutdoors

Discussion Starter · #31 · Dec 31, 2012

I sent the pic to one of my friends back in Minnesota, and he replied "Maybe some of those Hares out there are bigger than you think..." Lol

roadkill46

· #32 · Jan 1, 2013

went out yesterday morning for jacks, way to many pickers in the groves to shoot safely, so i was on my way back to the truck, kicking rocks, since i didn't think they picked on new years eve, and a big ear popped up 10 feet in front of me. scope was on 9 power so naturally i missed and was pissed!
going out around 1200 today with a buddy, gonna shoot with the hush puppy 15-22, i must have bumped that other 10-22 scope or something but i need to rezero the dang thing that's for sure.

RabbitSlayer

· #33 · Jan 3, 2013

best jackrabbit density I have ever seen was the area between Wilcox and Safford along that 191 road. I hunted from I10 up about 20 miles north along 191...

hellion_locdogg

· #34 · Jan 3, 2013

I got a giant jack this weekend, thought it was a fox that busted us until Erik told me otherwise and we walked over to see if he was still there. Glad I got him instead of blanking another stand.

AzCountryman

· #35 · Jan 3, 2013

WOW thats crazy finding a skull out there.

MNAZOutdoors

Discussion Starter · #36 · Jan 5, 2013

AzCountryman said:
WOW thats crazy finding a skull out there.

Yeah, for sure. I always seem to come across a lot of weird things when I'm adventuring around the desert here.

Honestly, I find it hard to believe that nobody else had stumbled across that skull...

MNAZOutdoors

Discussion Starter · #37 · Jan 5, 2013

RabbitSlayer said:
best jackrabbit density I have ever seen was the area between Wilcox and Safford along that 191 road. I hunted from I10 up about 20 miles north along 191...

Nice tip, I'm gonna have to try that area. I love trying out new spots, especially when they produce lotsa bunnies!

MNAZOutdoors

Discussion Starter · #38 · Jan 5, 2013

roadkill46 said:
went out yesterday morning for jacks, way to many pickers in the groves to shoot safely, so i was on my way back to the truck, kicking rocks, since i didn't think they picked on new years eve, and a big ear popped up 10 feet in front of me. scope was on 9 power so naturally i missed and was pissed!
going out around 1200 today with a buddy, gonna shoot with the hush puppy 15-22, i must have bumped that other 10-22 scope or something but i need to rezero the dang thing that's for sure.

Lol, I've had that happen to me with a Cottontail, once. 10 feet in front of me, throw up my rifle and immediately realize that its set at 9X with the objective set for 100 yards. Still got it though, just kinda pointed my rifle at it and blasted.

I know what you mean about "bumping your scope" and having to zero it again. I was having to zero my scope almost every time I went out. Turns out it couldn't handle the 1500 rms going to the subwoofer in my trunk. Now when I ride with a rifle in my car, I turn the bass off. It cost me a few Jackrabbits. Lol

MNAZOutdoors

Discussion Starter · #39 · Jan 5, 2013

Been having some luck lately.

Got this Cottontail on the run up the bank of a wash with some "High Velocity" #4. Did quite a number on peter there, half of the bones in the rabbit were busted up pretty good. Still managed to salvage 90% of the carne, though.

Simmered it in a can of El Pato with some potatoes. Pretty damn good...

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MNAZOutdoors

Discussion Starter · #40 · Jan 5, 2013 (Edited)

3

Got this nice Jack tonight... About 50 yards, just sitting in some grass behind some branches. It was kind of an iffy shot, there was "debris" in the way, but I had faith in the 40gr Velocitor, and it served me well.

Got it between the front legs about an inch to the right of its left front leg, and it passed all the way through and exited the opposing side a few inches in front the back legs.

Ran about 15 ft and plopped over.

I feel like a little kid every time I blast a big 'ol Jackrabbit!

I've been thinking about trying my hand at Coyote hunting... I have a call, and I can use it well enough to drive a domesticated dog nuts, so maybe it'll work on a predator... I really have no idea where to go, although.. I do see Coyote crap and prints just about everywhere.

Maybe Lion hunting, too. They've hunted me, I think it's time to seek revenge.

Kinda wanna go out and look for some feral pigs also. I love me some pork!

Probably gonna go for Javelina coming up with my bow. Never shot anything with it other than a Raccoon, so, that might be interesting... Considering my likeness to Rambo, it shouldn't be a problem.

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