Participants in the class should bring with them warm outdoor clothing and be prepared to go outside. The first portion of the workshop will be conducted in a classroom of the Owl Brook Hunter Education Center, and then the class will go outside to the forest, where the dogs will show their hare hunting skills. 

Snowshoe hare hunting is growing in popularity. The hunting season for them runs from October 1 to March 31 in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) A, D1 and E (daily bag limit of 3); October 1 through March 15 in WMUs D2, F, G, I1, J1 and J2 (daily bag limit 3); October 1 through March 15 in WMUs H, I2 and K (daily bag limit of 2) and October 1 through March 15 in WMUs L and M with a bag limit of 1 snowshoe hare per day. Snowshoe hare are frequently found in the habitat of 2 to 8 year-old clear-cuts, shrub-scrub swamps and bogs. 

Snowshoe Hare

Unlike cottontail rabbits, the snowshoe hare is larger in size. Its feet are large, long-furred, permitting them rapid travel over snow. In summer, their fur is brown colored above, white below. Their tail is dark above, their feet are brownish colored, not white as in cottontails. In winter, the snowshoe hare’s color turns to white all over with bases of hairs dark, ear tips dark and the tail all white. In snow conditions, they can be extremely hard to see. They are known to spend the daytime in cover and feed at night in the open. Due to habitat loss and construction, along with predation by coyotes, the more northern areas of the state offer better opportunities for hunting snowshoe hare.

The use of a well trained rabbit hunting dog is best for hunter success today. Although the lone hunter can experience success, his or her chances aren’t as good today as compared to years ago. Although I have never owned a hunting dog, I have hunted with friends who have them and found it quite enjoyable. There is a lot to learn in hunting snowshoe hare and the course offered by Fish and Game is well worth attending, even if you don’t own a trained hunting dog. The course is free.

In past years, my family, friends and I have enjoyed eating snowshoe hare. There are a number of recipes for cooking them. Following is a good one for fried rabbit, found on the internet, from Mountain Breeze Wild Game Recipes (www.mountain-breeze.com).

- FRIED RABBIT (Serves 4) - (To print this recipe, click here)

  A young rabbit requires about 1 ¼ hours to cook..
     • 1 dressed rabbit = 1 ¼ lb. 6 oz.
     • 1/2 Tbsp. salt
     • 1-1/4 cup cold water
     • 1/8 Tbsp. black pepper 
     • 1/4 cup cider vinegar

  FRYING 
     • 1 heavy skillet
     • 1 Tbsp. flour
     • 1/4 cup bacon fat 
     • 1 Tbsp. salt 

  CREAM SAUCE
     • 1/4 cup flour
     • 1/4 cup cream
     • 1/4 cup milk
     • 1 sm. clove garlic cut in half 
     • 1/2 tsp grated onion
     • 1/4 cup water

  MEAT PREPARATION
       1. Clean rabbit by removing scent glands and clinging hair. 
           (Use sharp-pointed knife or crochet hook to dig out any left-over shot or tufts of hair.)
       2. Wash thoroughly inside and out in cold water. Cut into serving pieces and place into bowl
       3. Combine water, vinegar, salt and pepper. Pour over rabbit pieces, cover and soak 2 to 4 hours
       4. Drain well and pat dry with cloth or paper towel

  FRYING
       1. Toss with flour to coat well (a paper/plastic bag works well)
       2. Heat fat in heavy skillet and add rabbit. Cover skillet to steam and cook to tender brown on 1 side for 15 min. Sprinkle with salt
       3. Turn, replace cover, lower heat, cook slowly, turning occasionally for 1 1/4 hrs.
       4. When tender, remove to platter and keep warm

  MAKING CREAM SAUCE
       1. Add 1 Tbsp. flour to fat in skillet to make a smooth paste
       2. Add cream, milk, and water
       3. Cook until thickened, stirring continually
       4. Add grated onion
       5. Serve in hot gravy boat

Bob Harris can be reached via e-mail at: outwriter2@aol.com