THE RABBIT HUNTER NOVEMBER ISSUE "DOOMS DAY"

 

NOVEMBER 2020      VOLUME 35 NO. 3

Cover photo by: Capt. Dave Bitters

The article "DOOMS DAY" appeared in the November 2020 issue of THE RABBIT HUNTER magazine.

It is republished here for your reading pleasure by authority of the writer.

This article contains critical information important to all rabbit hunters.

Please read carefully and help out by informing other rabbit hunters of this potentially deadly situation.

“The outlook right now is so unbelievably bleak,” says Hayley Lanier, a mammologist at the University of Oklahoma. “We’re simply left to watch the wave spread out and worry about imperiled species in its path.”

Direct from the world headquarters of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny

DOOMS DAY

Writing by Joe Ewing, High HareMan of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny

Photography by Brenda Ewing

The author with “A” team and puppy, Dessie.

It’s happened again! A hound returns with those nasty quills. Judging from the entry points she must have picked up the quills as she raced through the briars and brambles during this early morning training run. This is my forensic opinion and I’m sticking to it. I never suspected anything out of the ordinary. It was a routine rabbit chase if there is such a thing. Music came right to me as soon as the rabbit holed.

Author pulling porcupine quills from the hide of Music.

I know these nasty things hurt. I’m talking about porcupine quills. The young female beagle quietly sat there and let me pull them out. The quills undoubtedly hurt much worse coming out than they did going in. She squealed a time or two but she was exceedingly brave. Some people promote cutting the quill to "let the air out". This doesn’t work and slows down the process. The objective here is to remove the quills and get back to hunting. The beagle won’t remember once you get them out, but we sort a hope they do, for next time. Oh, I’ve read all the advice on how and why the veterinarian should pull them out under sedation to avoid infection and how they can work their way in if broken off.

Porcupine quills come equipped with one-way barb on the end at no extra charge. It’s the barb that inflicts the pain coming out. Just ask me how I know. I’ve personally felt the barb. After pulling hundreds of quills in the woods I’ve invariably ended up with a few stuck in me.

Those nasty porcupine quills.

I’ve hated porcupines for a long time because I’ve pulled thousands of quills from countless hounds. I’ve forever considered porcupines my hound’s chief hazard in the woods; however, I’ve just learned of a new menace, one I may grow to hate a thousand times more.

I thought I’d seen and heard just about everything, especially in 2020. That is until I opened my bi-weekly sporting newspaper and read the following headline, “Deadly virus is threatening Pennsylvania’s rabbits”. I reported a blurb about a rabbit virus going around out west in an earlier THE RABBIT HUNTER issue, but, the words, “Pennsylvania’s rabbits” made it hit home, my home, my woods, my rabbits. The more I read the sicker I feel. This new virus, right now, is making me nauseous and I can’t be infected, the experts claim, but it is affecting me. Are we facing a catastrophic ecological disaster? West Nile Virus eliminated an immense share of ruffed grouse in Pennsylvania and across the continent. Now I know how grouse hunters feel.

“Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus2” or RHDV2 is what this newest menace is called and has reportedly killed thousands of wild rabbits in several southwestern states in the past few months. This virus is not related to coronavirus; it is a calicivirus, a different viral family. A Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) official called RHDV2, “a nasty bug, and extremely contagious”. This same official went on to say, “the majority of rabbits who contract the disease die.”

“The outlook right now is so unbelievably bleak,” says Hayley Lanier, a mammologist at the University of Oklahoma. “We’re simply left to watch the wave spread out and worry about imperiled species in its path.”

RHDV2 causes rapid death in rabbits with a death rate reported at 70 to 90 or even 100 percent. The virus can live in the environment for years and is strong enough to survive extreme cold and freezes according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The only signs of the disease are sudden death and possibly blood-stained noses caused by internal bleeding the experts point out. 

Now, I’m really in a panic. I cannot comprehend what life would be like after a 100 percent wild rabbit and snowshoe hare kill. What about my predator competitors? What will happen to our ecosystems? After the virus hammered wild populations in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal), killing 60% to 70%, two predators that depend on rabbits also declined: the Spanish imperial eagle by 45% and the Iberian lynx by 65%. It was at this point I decided to find out more about RHVD and share the facts with you.

 

Why is this important?

Many rabbit hunters hunt out of state.

Many clubs run domestic rabbits in their training pens.

 

RHVD2 is extremely contagious and is transmitted between rabbits by direct contact with live or dead rabbits, through feces, body fluids, carcasses, contaminated food and water. Flies, fleas, and mosquitoes can carry the virus between domestic and wild rabbits. Surviving rabbits may be contagious for up to 2 months. The virus can live in flies for as much as nine days, in carcasses for up to three months and for weeks in dried excretions and/or secretions. Predators and scavengers also spread the virus by casting it in their feces. The virus can persist in infected meat for months and for prolonged periods in decomposing carcasses. Some authorities claim importation of rabbit meat may be a major contributor in the spread of the virus to new geographic regions. Contaminated clothing, food, cages, bedding, feeders, and water also spread the virus. According to the agriculture department RHDV poses no risk to human health, however, you can see just how contagious this virus is.

RHDV1 was first reported in 1984 in the People's Republic of China in rabbits obtained from Europe. Since then, RHDV1 has spread to over 40 countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania, and is endemic in most parts of the world. A few isolated outbreaks of RHDV1 have occurred in the United States and Mexico, but they remained local and were eliminated. Pennsylvania had an “incidence” of RHDV1 in domesticated rabbits back in 2018 in Jefferson County.

 

HELP BUILD AWARNESS AND PREVENT ENTRY OF THIS DEADLY DISEASE!

 

It seems there are several strains or types of this deadly disease and the newest type is RHDV2. RHDV2 was detected in France 10 years ago. It has been reported either type (RHDV1 and RHDV2) can move between domesticated and wild rabbits, however, conflicting statements from state to state are confusing.

In 2020, outbreaks of RHDV2 in domestic rabbits, as well as cottontail rabbits and hares, have been reported in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Nevada, California and Utah. Affected wildlife includes mountain cottontail rabbits, desert cottontail  rabbits, antelope jackrabbits and black-tailed jackrabbits. The sources of these outbreaks are unknown.

On April 1st, 2020 Arizona Game and Fish received 2 separate reports from wildlife managers in the Douglas area of dying cottontails and jackrabbits. On April 8th, the laboratory confirmed that these animals had died from RHDV2. Mortalities in wild populations were only reported in southern and eastern New Mexico. In May 2020 Science Magazine reported, “the deadly virus is spreading quickly among wild rabbits in southwestern North America threatening populations and possibly endangered species. Last week the virus reached Southern California.”

“Hunters in infected areas should wear gloves when handling harvested rabbits and wash their hands well afterward. Meat from healthy rabbits harvested by hunters is safe to consume when cooked thoroughly,” officials said.

PLEASE HELP PREVENT SPREAD OF RHDV2.

 

Map courtesy USDA.

“Hunters will play a critical role in keeping the disease out of Pennsylvania,” said Emily Boyd, PGC’s small-game mammal biologist. “It isn’t known how many Pennsylvania hunters hunt cottontails in the infected area but hunters returning home should take precautions.”.

Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny’s in-house biologist, Mary Hosmer, made the following comment, “Viruses are hard to contain.  The most important thing is for hunters to not transport animals from one part of the country to the other, unless fully dressed and refrigerated, or frozen.  The Mississippi River will be a barrier, but only for a while, and then the virus will eventually find its way to the east.” 

EDUCATE OTHERS ABOUT THIS SERIOUS SITUATION!

All hunters should be concerned as to what will happen to Pennsylvania’s limited snowshoe hare and critical Appalachian cottontail populations if RHDV2 takes hold in our region not to mention eastern cottontail rabbits. The spread of RHDV2 could possibly destroy these species for generations to come. If all rabbits and hares are gone it would upset the balance in the ecosystem. Losing them would have a catastrophic impact to say the least. If RHDV2 should invade our wild rabbit and hare populations, we will never need to worry about climate change again.

Here are a few things hunters should do to help stop the spread of RHDV: if you find more than one dead rabbit in a location, do not come into contact, call your local PGC office or your state’s officials. If you hunt out-of-state do not transport flies in your vehicle, launder clothing, clean and disinfect boot treads, knives and other gear. Wear gloves and bury rabbit carcasses before leaving out-of-state hunting areas. Do not allow your hunting hounds to feed on found carcasses. RHDV2 is said not to be a risk to dogs, however, a number of other pathogens and parasites from carcasses can affect hounds.

If your club buys tame rabbits, buy only from reputable breeders. Do not introduce new rabbits from unknown or untrusted sources. Do not add rabbits to your training pens from animal shelters or other types of rescue operations. Do not release domestic rabbits into the wild. Do not allow domestic or feral rabbits to have contact with your wild rabbits or gain entry to the training facility. Do not allow visitors in rabbitries or let them handle pet rabbits without protective clothing (including coveralls, shoe covers, hair covering, and gloves). Educate others about this serious situation.

“Like any other ‘invasive’ that arrives here, there will be ecological ramifications,” said Mary Hosmer. “For example, who knew the damage being done to small game in the north woods of PA when the deer ate all the understory and kept the understory bare for decades…. small game suffered because of lack of cover and food. Ground-nesting birds suffered increased predation and shrub-nesting birds were forced into less favorable habitats, which leads to poorer nest success and increased predation. My guess is that we would suffer a similar effect here with the loss of rabbits and hares in the north woods. Those two preys are key foods for predators. Hawks and owls will have to rely more on small rodents, snakes, etc. Coyotes and fox will shift their food supply to birds, particularly ground-nesting birds, and likely increased predation on fawns.”

Thanks for reading and please, please pass the word along by informing club members and other hunters, even big game hunters traveling to the west. I can think of no greater threat to our sport.

 Once the barn door is open and the virus takes hold in the wild population, it will be nearly impossible to close the door again.

 

BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS OF THE ALLEGHENY INVADE THE WESTERN MOUNTAINS OF MAINE. 10-26-2020

 

BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS OF THE ALLEGHENY INVADE THE WESTERN MOUNTAINS OF MAINE.

10-26-2020

Three members of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny invaded the western mountains of Maine, chased snowshoe hare and enjoyed a great time at the Pine Grove Lodge in Pleasant Ridge, Maine.

click on box in lower righthand corner to enlarge.

Big Woods Hare Hunter, Andy Hoover, with Maine snowshoe hare taken in front of Little Toby Creek Teagan and James Creek Beagles Emma.

Snow on the mountains of western Maine.

Three members of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny enjoy a special meal presented at the Pine Grove Lodge.

We hunted hare for six straight days high above the Kennebec River.

The area has a rich history dating back thousands of years.

The fir makes thick cover in Maine.

I was surprised to see corn until I remembered baiting is allowed in Maine.

We followed all the rules and watched for log trucks. We even picked up other peoples (hunters, maybe) trash. We have had trouble with our dog tracking equipment in the past and never noticed the last statement on this sign.

Again, the hare cover was thick and lush.

The APPALACHIAN COTTONTAIL Story as told in THE RABBIT HUNTER.

Conservation, healthy forests, sustainable game.

The Appalachian Cottontail Story

Appeared in the October 2020 issue of

THE RABBIT HUNTER magazine

and is presented here for the reading

pleasure of the members of the

Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny

and all other interested parties.

The APPALACHIAN COTTONTAIL Story

Written

by

Joe Ewing

High HareMan

of the

Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny

Photography

By

Brenda & Joe Ewing

 

 

The tailgate dropped, the first hound hit the ground and the race was on. Getting the remaining beagles collared-up was the next challenge. Their lone kennel mate, in full cry, had their adrenalin rush spiked. The more hounds hitting the ground the wickeder it got.

My good friend Kaz killed this possible Appalachian cottontail in front of his three hounds with his new Thompson Contender deep in the forests of the Allegheny Plateau.

Snowshoe hare tracks were plainly visible as we motored into the freshly snow-covered parking lot deep in the Allegheny National Forest. The hare had been in no hurry crossing the open ground, it was obvious, but what wasn’t obvious was when were the tracks made?

“When the tailgate drops the b.s. stops,” words often spoken by houndsmen. When they don’t actually utter the words, the thoughts are bouncing around in their brain. I’d predicted tracks in the parking lot, however, with my natural recognition of negative vibes I had that feeling my hunting partners were highly skeptical.

It was obvious the hare tracks were potently fresh. Within seconds the full complement of six hounds was in hot pursuit. Hound music reverberated across the hills. Just one slip and it seemed certain it would be curtains for the elusive animal. Six hunters spread out across the landscape in full and total disarray. All had sprinted to position themselves wherever they could to witness a magnificent snowshoe hare in flight. None carried firearms so it didn’t matter where they stood. The Pennsylvania snowshoe hare season was ancient history. In Pennsylvania the snowshoe hare season lasts only six days but not for the members of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny who run beagles and chase hare in all kinds of weather all winter long.

The hare led the hounds on a quick 200-hundred-yard dash. Just as rapidly the hare was making his turn, a short circle to be sure and was on his way back. I could see Andy, only a hundred yards to my left, on heightened alert. The closer the beagles came the more my heart pounded as it always does on every hare chase. Without warning a brown rabbit bolted across the opening. WHAT? Before I could get my wits together the six hounds were crossing the trail, lined out, each one vying for the lead and only seconds behind the rabbit.

With the beagle music quickly fading into the distance I motioned to Andy with a two-handed upward motion as if to say, “what the …?” With a return of the same motion and a shrug of the shoulders, Andy relayed that same surprised posture. We were here for the magnificent snowshoe hare not the wily cottontail. Finding a cottontail rabbit deep in the big woods of the Allegheny is a rare occasion. We were miles from civilization. This was not cottontail country.

The story does not end here. Soon the hounds turned and were heading in our direction at full cry once again. With a lesser amount of anticipation, I watched and waited, and, just as suddenly as before, WHAT? A white rabbit sailed across the path in one mighty bound. The pack had changed rabbits, possibly twice and all without making a single check. Incredible!

I pray these visions and memories linger in my mind forever.

Over the years we’ve found countless cottontails in many surprising locations on the Allegheny. The cottontails show up unexpectedly in front of the dogs. I could relate a hundred such stories but I shall refrain. You’ve probably heard them all before anyway. You know how old guys are.

Cottontail on the run across a frozen beaver flowage deep in the Allegheny. Could it have been an Appalachian?

In a 2003 article for THE RABBIT HUNTER I depicted how the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny first became acquainted with the Appalachian cottontail.

In the summer of 2003, my now departed hunting buddy Jim and I were camping and hiking in the Enchanted Mountains of Western New York when, over the evening campfire and over our preferred beverage, I mentioned reading an article concerning a newly discovered rabbit. Jim was all excited and enthused and asked a host of questions which I tried to answer relying on my slightly impaired memory. From that day forward each and every time the beagles chased a cottontail on the Allegheny the question would come up as to what kind of cottontail the beagles could be running. The conversation would always go something like this, “how could a cottontail get way out here? Could it be an Appalachian cottontail?”

Nellie, Blacky and Sandy lined out and in hot pursuit while crossing a frozen beaver flowage on the Allegheny. Some of the best hounds I've ever hunted over. These talented beagles gave us days and years of hunting fun.

The Appalachian cottontail (Sylvilagus obscurus) was first identified in 1982 by researchers from Wytheville Community College in Virginia. This new brand of cottontail, originally discovered on Allegheny Mountain in West Virginia is sometimes called the “Allegheny cottontail”. This brand-new species of cottontail, which is neither an eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) or a New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis), was officially recognized as a separate species in 1992. The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny may have crossed paths with the Appalachian cottontail various times long before 1982 and many times since.

Long time hare hunter and charter member of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny Andy Hoover, deep in the big woods of the Allegheny.

At one time scientist believed the New England cottontail’s range extended as far south as Georgia and Alabama. Now scientists believe the cottontails found south of New York State are Appalachian cottontails and those found north of NY are New England cottontails. Any cottontail found below NY is either an eastern or Appalachian cottontail or so they theorize.

The Appalachian cottontail is a mysterious forest dwelling cottontail which inhabits the Appalachian Mountains at higher elevations. This shadowy and secretive cottontail inhabits thicker wooded cover, shrubby areas, brush and dense evergreen conifer stands.

The author with a cottontail found deep in the big woods of the Allegheny. Could it have been an Appalachian?

The diet of the Appalachian cottontail includes a variety of grasses, ferns, shrubs and forbs (understory plants). Like the snowshoe hare the Appalachian feeds extensively on conifer needles, twigs and tree bark in winter.

Jim asked if there was any difference between eastern cottontail, Appalachian cottontail and snowshoe hare droppings. The short answer is, “no”, not to the naked eye anyway. DNA analysis is used to determine the difference in pellets. It is recognized Appalachian cottontails, eastern cottontails and snowshoe hares commonly reingest their dropping in a process called, “coprophagy”.

The Appalachian cottontail resembles the eastern cottontail very closely. It differs only in its slightly smaller size, shorter ears, a greater amount of black on the back and a narrow black patch on top of the head. Also, the rufous or rusty nap patch characteristic of eastern cottontails is missing. The only true way to tell the difference between eastern and Appalachian cottontails is by measuring the cranium after an autopsy.

In 2015 I updated my 2003 article in THE RABBIT HUNTER after the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) announced there were two cottontail species found in Pennsylvania and they were spending almost $26,000 to study the Appalachian cottontail throughout PA. It was stated, “Pennsylvania is believed to have 5% of the world’s breeding population”.

The study, led by PGC small animal biologist Emily Boyd, was to cover a time period of January 2014 through October of 2016. Various methods were proposed for collecting the data which included collecting cottontail skulls from hunters and the usual droppings (pellet) collection. Boyd conducted studies in the Northwest (NW), Northeast (NE) and Southwest (SW) regions of the state.

The white blaze of this young eastern cottontail is said to be missing on the Appalachian cottontail.

The cottontail head collection resulted in sixty-six (66) cottontail heads from twelve (12) Pennsylvania counties being submitted by hunters for analysis. The heads were delivered to the dermestid beetle colony at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, PA for final processing. “Once cleaned, the skulls will be used to identify the cottontail species. DNA samples were collected from six skulls before processing began and were confirmed to be Appalachian cottontail skulls,” Boyd reported.

Could this be an Appalachian found at high altitude on the Allegheny?

During the 2014 pellet collection State Game Lands (SGLs) with Appalachian cottontails had a majority of Appalachians compared to eastern cottontails. On SGL 111 in Somerset and Fayette Counties in the SW region over 60% of the pellets collected turned out to be from Appalachian cottontails. On SGL 48 in Harrison Township, Bedford County 25 pellet samples were from Appalachian cottontails, only one (1) sample was from an eastern cottontail. On SGL 104 in Somerset and Fayette Counties five (5) samples were from Appalachian cottontail with, again, only one (1) sample being from an eastern cottontail.

The author at a familiar spot in the Allegheny National Forest which many may recognize.

The 2015 pellet collection found a previously undocumented population of Appalachian cottontails in McKean County (NW) in an area that also contained snowshoe hares. Appalachian cottontails were found on SGLs in Somerset and Fayette Counties (SW) and SGLs located in Bedford and Somerset Counties (SW). No Appalachian cottontails had been previously recorded in this region of Bedford County.

“The lowest elevation with Appalachian cottontails was 2,100 ft,” the report stated. Snowshoe hares and eastern cottontails were apparently also found at the highest elevations. All Appalachian cottontail samples were from previously undocumented locations.

Jim and I chased both snowshoe hare and cottontail at this familiar spot in the Allegheny National Forest. The Game Warden came to visit on one outing claiming our hounds were running in the nearby propagation area.

One-hundred-seventy-nine (179) total pellet samples were collected and analyzed in the two years of pellet collection. Fifty-two (52) pellet samples turned out to be Appalachian cottontail droppings, 51 pellet samples originated from eastern cottontails and 52 samples were snowshoe hare pellets. Twenty-eight (28) pellet samples were not analyzed.

This cottontail found deep in the big woods of the Allegheny was harvested on his second circle.

This reporter’s personal, humble and untrained analysis of the data listed in the study leads me and probably you to believe there is apparently a larger population of Appalachian cottontails in many more locations than previously assumed. The statement in the report which really hit home was, “The 2015 pellet collection season found a previously undocumented population of Appalachian cottontails in McKean County (NW) in an area that also contained snowshoe hares”. McKean County is practically my neighboring county and may tend to loosely confirm my story from the beginning of this piece.

I’m respectfully unable to buy into the suggested theory that Appalachian cottontails are found exclusively above 2,100 feet. My beagles have run these possible/probable Appalachian cottontails at lower elevations than 2,100 feet. It’s possible the PGCs researchers have never surveyed in lower elevations which are aka, “previously undocumented locations” in the report.

Many researchers report Appalachian cottontails are “medium size” rabbits; however, most literature on Appalachian cottontails indicates they are smaller rabbits. I’m going with the smaller size. My beagles have chased countless smaller cottontails which were found in the middle of nowhere. These smaller cottontails proved to have less stamina than eastern cottontails and loads less than snowshoe hare. In other words, the beagles, on bare ground and on snow, ran the cottontails down.

The author with his pack of hounds deep in the Allegheny National Forest during a blizzard.

Recently, a professor of Conservation Biology at Warren Wilson College in North Carolina, unearthed one of the biggest surprises yet. The Warren Wilson College study revealed, “hybridization occurs between Appalachian cottontails and eastern cottontails”.

The Appalachian cottontail’s own secretive and wild nature may be harmful to its future. Crossbreeding with eastern cottontails may also put it in jeopardy. The Appalachian cottontail is threatened by the destruction, maturing and fragmentation of its habitat which is caused by urban development, over-hunting and poor timberlands management.

In Pennsylvania, especially NW PA, the deer herd has been out of control for years. Large numbers of deer lead to over-browsing of forest vegetation which leads to heavy damage to the forest understory which hurts wildlife. Escape cover, nesting cover and food sources are destroyed for species like snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse, woodcock, turkey and Appalachian cottontail.

Big Woods Hare Hunter Wayne Wilson with a cottontail taken on the Allegheny.

 The next time I find a lonesome cottontail in the northern mountains I’m going to think twice. It could be a threatened and endangered Appalachian cottontail.

My late friend and hunting buddy waits for the secretive Appalachian cottontail on the high plateau.

Jim Hanson, late, charter member of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny and Jim "Kaz" Kazmarek, Captain of the BWHH.

 

 @: https://www.facebook.com/BigWoodsHareHunters/

 @ www.bigwoodsharehuntersoftheallegheny.blogspot.com

 

Email us @: bigwoodsharehunters@gmail.com

 

 

 

CAPTAIN JIM "KAZ" KAZMAREK FEATURED ON THE COVER OF THE RABBIT HUNTER.

 

Cover Photo by Joe Ewing

October 2020 issue.

BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS of the ALLEGHENY CAPTAIN FEATURED.

Full article, The APPALACHIAN COTTONTAIL Story, will be featured here at a later date.

MEMBERSHIP LETTER 08-01-2020

September 2020 Issue.

The following article was published in the September issue of THE RABBIT HUNTER magazine and is presented here for your reading pleasure.

Conservation of the snowshoe hare on the Allegheny.

Founded 2002. 

DATE: August 2020

TO: Members of the Loyal Order of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny and Friends

FROM: The High HareMan/Founder/CEO

SUBJECT: 2019-2020 Season Update

Distinguished & Honored Members & Friends,

        Greetings to the elite members of the premier snowshoe hare conservation organization in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and possibly the only such group in the U.S. today. The Loyal Order is dedicated to preserving the elusive and magnificent snowshoe hare on the Allegheny Plateau with the goal of saving this glorious animal for future generations of Pennsylvanians to enjoy. Great pride is taken in our mission of conservation of the varying hare. The proud members of The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny are resolute in preserving the thrill of the chase. May it be our legacy.

Click on pictures to enlarge.

The main objective of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny has been and always will be beagling. It will always be about the beagles first and it will always be about the snowshoe hare. Over these many years and a generation we’ve discovered we can achieve our great ambitions which is to promote beagling and preserve the magnificent snowshoe hare.

The preeminent season of all time for the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny was the 2019-2020 season. We enjoyed many outstanding hare chases with some outstanding beagles and beaglers and we conducted colossal and historic business at the same time.

We welcomed and inducted several exceptional sportsmen and women into the Loyal Order, we kicked off a bold new conservation campaign, helped some worthy veterans, sponsored young hunters and shooters and dedicated ourselves to be bigger and better than ourselves for the future.

A concentrated effort to keep all informed through the official Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/BigWoodsHareHunters/ and the official blog @ https://bigwoodsharehuntersoftheallegheny.blogspot.com/ was continued. The goals of the blog and our Facebook page is to remain a valuable source of information covering the many activities and interests of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny. The Loyal Order was promoted in the written media and several of our members made The Rabbit Hunter magazine for their hare hunting adventures and prowess in the Adirondack Mountains of New York and Maine. Two members were featured on the cover which sparked interest far and wide. Our conservation efforts were splashed across the news and social media thanks to the awesome efforts of our newly appointed Public Relations Specialist.

Our members chased the elusive snowshoe hare in October in Maine, in November in New York State and again in Maine in March of 2020. Throughout the winter of 2019 and 2020 members pursued the elusive snowshoe hare across the Allegheny High Plateau searching for the very elusive snowshoe hare and hard to find hare habitat. Several members joined the hunt for hare along with packs of tenacious hare hunting beagles. We enjoyed an outing with the Rockton Mountain Boys, our Clearfield County chapter, in Forest County, on a rain swept day in February. 

Several new members were inducted into the Loyal Order. In no specific order they were: Mr. Matthew Baker, Lucinda, PA., Ms. Mary Hosmer, Ridgway, PA., Mr. John Zimmerman, Cranberry, PA., Mr. Roy Towner, Lucinda, PA., Mr. Jaret Zimmerman, Cranberry, PA. and Mr. Mark Baker, Cranberry, PA. We welcome these new members and are confident they will continue their conservationist spirit of the magnificent snowshoe hare.

We understand snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse, woodcock and many other species of small animals are in jeopardy and must be protected from extinction on the Allegheny. We believe hare, rabbit and grouse habitats must be maintained and restored. Study alone cannot protect the snowshoe hare. Action is needed before these magnificent game animals are lost from the Allegheny forever. As we begin the 21st century, the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny stand at the junction of doing everything possible to protect the species or stand idly by and be witness to the total disappearance of snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse and other species from the High Plateau. As the premier snowshoe hare conservation organization, we stand ready. Will climate change work against the snowshoe hare? Can snowshoe hare survive global warming? Can humankind survive? The answer is YES but the time has come to do something. We cannot stand idly in the briar patch. The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny is doing something impressive. We are taking action. We’ve taken up the cause. We are embroiled in combat. It is time for battle.

2020 PROJECT AREA

In November of 2019 a bold and courageous conservation project was launched on the Allegheny. The objective of the project, which was designated “The 2020 Project”, was to create nesting and escape cover for cottontail rabbits, ruffed grouse and other small animals. The goal: to duplicate as nearly as possible a naturally occurring forest disturbance. Several dedicated members worked tirelessly for several days to create nearly five acres of improved habitat. A very sincere “thank you” to those loyal members who dedicated so much of their time for the benefit of so many species of animals.

Is it time to reduce the bag limits on snowshoe hare on the Allegheny and in Pennsylvania? Should the hare season be refined, moved or both? Should we lobby the Pennsylvania Game Commission to make necessary corrections? Should we try to influence policy for the betterment of the snowshoe hare? Should the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny be a pressure group? Are these questions which need deliberating?

Seneca Resources is making a major push to sell their property where our habitat project is located. This will only present new challenges in meeting our goals should Seneca be successful. In 2020-2021, Project 2020 will continue and we’ll create more impressive habitat in cooperation with the Seneca’s insistence of liability insurance and the signing of waivers of liability. We already have several members signed up and ready to cut. We will obtain the necessary liability items and overcome whatever the challenges. We will prevail.

Future generations will never know the true enjoyment or relish the beautiful memories of hunting with beagles which our generation and past generations of beaglers have enjoyed. In an attempt to interest our youth and our veterans in the great outdoors and shooting sports of all kinds, the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny have been challenged to invest in our youth and in our veterans in the pursuit of their hopes and dreams. We must and will find creative methods of investing in our youth and our veterans no matter how modest our attempts.

The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny Foundation takes great pride in supporting several organizations. The list of groups which we support includes: Camo Cares, located in Knox, PA., a nonprofit dedicated to sending young people with life-threatening illnesses and disabilities and wounded veterans on the hunt of their lifetime. Fryburg Junior Marksmen, a non-profit competition junior rifle team, located in Fryburg which was founded with the purpose of teaching fundamentals of gun safety and rifle shooting. Other worthy non-profits which we invest in include, Clarion County Sportsmen for Youth Inc., which provides funding for the Clarion County Youth Field Days event and supports other shooting youth groups locally, Trout Unlimited provides fly tying and fishing lessons to youth as well as scholarships to qualified Clarion University students. The National Rifle Association which supplies endless programs for our country’s youth and defends our hunting heritage and the Clarion County YMCA which owns and runs Camp Coffman, giving the youth of Clarion and Venango counties a beautiful place to enjoy the great outdoors.

The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny Foundation supports the “Pine Grove Programs”, headquartered in the great state of Maine, (our beloved home away from home), a non-profit organization providing free outdoor experiences to military service members, veterans, Gold star families, and first responders.

In 2021 our goals are to increase our list of worthy groups and turn our modest investments in these meaningful projects into even more beneficial investments. We shall always support our youth, veterans and first responders for they are the beneficiaries who will inherit our legacy. We pray our youth will be the guardians of our hunting heritage.

The upcoming 2020-2021 season goals include chasing as many snowshoe hares as possible across the Allegheny. The weather will cooperate. New hare cover will be discovered. Conservation minded hare hunters and beaglers will be welcomed, the membership will support our youth and more and better habitat will be produced for the benefit of small game.

The future looks very bright for the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny!

We look forward to seeing one and all on the Allegheny!

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Thank you for the very kind words. They are appreciated more than you can ever know.