Living with the cottontail and growing fruit

[clarkinks]

The cottontails were checking my tree guards this morning as soon as it snowed. They don’t waste much time. I’d like to trim off a few suckers at the base of the trees but I may just wait a little time before I start that job. I may get it done for free.

[tonyOmahaz5]

Clark,

Just build some simple snares around your trees. Once the rabbit head enter the loop then it is a done deal.

Tony

[clarkinks]

Tony,
Looks like there will be plenty to go around this year. By the time winter is over I may need every idea you have to deal with them.

[swamps]

I suggest the 18 1/2 inch cylinder bore barrel for your Remington 870 or Mossberg 500. Step into the brush swing and fire. It makes a wide pattern at close range. This used to be my favorite setup back when rabbits were abundant.

[clarkinks]

Check your trees often after the first big snow. I know I will be outside looking for signs of problems, lose tree guards, etc. . I will bring help with me as I scout the orchards looking for cottontail trouble! Don’t let them get started!

[smsmith]

3’ of aluminum screen stapled around every fruit tree trunk and a person can forget about bunny damage

[39thparallel]

I walked around my nursery yesterday to see what kind of footprints were out in the 3 day old snow. Not one print in the nursery! A few cat, and fox prints around the fence. 3-4 years ago rabbits were devastating the nursery. Keeping cover mowed down and shooting every bunny on sight made them very scarce.

[clarkinks]

These two are very sweet until rabbits chew on my fruit trees! They both are all teeth when it comes to that! The one is part boxer and he uses those paws just like hands. They are both smart so pulling the wool over their eyes is unlikely!

[mrsg47]

So love your dog!

[clarkinks]

The catahoula has decided he is not my dog at the moment due to a recent encounter he had with a skunk and a bathing episode that involved tomato juice! The other dog is not happy with me either about its bath over a possum ! if they see water they run! The possum smelled worse than the skunk i think so i bathed him with a wash cloth and rum. Hopefully they are over it soon because the weather man has already mentioned snow! The picture below was an unrelated bath but it gives you an idea how they feel about it!

[JCT]

No kidding about Boxers using their paws! Ours will full up ‘box’ with us when she’s excited. She’s part border collie, part boxer and a ton of energy.

[clarkinks]

The catahoula does not get to come see me as much because both original owners have passed away. I offered to take him but the son kept him. If he can get away he comes over. My dog who is a mix aka mut boxer x lab I think pushes the rabbits all the time. He’s just waiting for winter to hit hard so he has more to do. He is keeping the deer out of the orchard lately. Once the snow comes the rabbit will be here .

[mrsg47]

So love your dog!

[clarkinks]

The dog and I are watching for cottontails but I don’t dought some rabbits are getting past us. We have fences up, tubes on trees in outskirts, and we continue to watch and we will see where we are tomorrow. We are desperate for the moisture also so this snow is overall a really good thing.

[susieqz]

one year, evil bunnies cost me more than $300 in ornimental plants plus a bunch of figs.
i built fences, sunk chicken wire into the ground, learned to shoot handguns n started carrying one.
it was a standoff.
then, i met n courted my feral cat, drifter.
she loves a rabbit meal more than anything.
evil bunnies are now extinct in this area.
cat food is for days when her hunt is poor.

[ltilton]

The right cat is a great solution!

[39thparallel]

Here is my bunny killer. This Precharged Pneumatic .22 Cal Air rifle is suppressed and has zero recoil.

[clarkinks]

Someone is still waiting on the rabbits to come back but so far the rabbits declined a rematch

[ltilton]

Do you lurk in a blind to spot them?

[hambone]

What is brand on your .22 rabbit weapon?