"Buck" Rabbits

[Frankug]

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Had my friend Hank over to chase some Buck Rabbits. Which is just a Cane Cutter FYI. On the bed of the truck there is one cottontail and 2 Buck rabbits. You really need some power dogs to take this type of rabbit though. Hank's got them. The pic doesn't really show the size difference. Bad angle I guess. The Buck rabbits are about twice the size of a normal rabbit. The chase is much larger. To the edge of hearing and then back again. Tons of fun! The one in the foreground is a Cottontail. The two in the back are Buck Rabbits. Shot at a woodcock but missed again, twice. Dang!

[birddogger]

I love the pictures!! I grew up hunting cottontails and these photos sure bring back some great memories!

Charlie

[Georgia Boy]

Nice work, that rabbit hunting is a lot of fun.

[buck]

Grew up hunting and raising rabbits. A "Buck" rabbit was always a male rabbit. Never heard of a species referred to it. Guy learns something new every day. Regardless of what one calls 'em, they are a blast to hunt with a good dog.

[RoostersMom]

When we hunt cottontails, we call the males bucks. I have never been hunting for swampers.....tried to make a trip work last weekend, but it didn't come through. I've got it on my schedule for next year for sure though.

[ezzy333]

I had the same questions about the name. Never heard of them. I was wondering if the name came about because they are big. If that were true then I think they mis-named them because a buck is smaller than the does.

Ezzy

[Frankug]

The country folk around here refer to them as "buck" rabbits. Georgia, Alabama. I would think the name stems from the size difference. It is a different species than the cottontail. A Cane Cutter or Swamp Rabbit. They are fun to hunt because they have such a larger chase. Circles but big circles. Runs like a gray fox. Out of hearing one way then back and out of hearing the other. I don't have dogs with that much power, had to bring in some reinforcements. My friends had ten of their top beagles. We ran one for over an hour, to the point we were getting concerned for the dogs you know. You can find buck rabbits down in the swampy areas of the southeast, generally where the cane grows. Hence the name "Cane Cutter'. You will know if you have them because they will leave their pills on stumps or logs down in the swamp. I know where to find and jump cottontails as most do, under brush piles and briars and what not. Buck rabbits will just be sitting on a stump or at the base of a tree but not under something generally. Always exceptions to the rule though.