WAR Hunting Jackrabbits

Sometime has gone by since this hunting trip had taken place but has always been one of my most memorable Airgunning trips. I had acquired a cabin in the high desert for a week so planned to spend some of it with a good long time friend of mine. Matt and I have been hunting buddies in the powder burning world so I was excited to finally get him out to try for some Jackrabbits with Airguns. Matt had never really shot a PCP before, yet is a very accomplished big game hunter. He is used to long hunts for game such as Elk, Bear, Deer and a variety of exotic animal hunts. This morning we got out to the location early with the .22 Benjamin Marauder and the Wicked Air Rifles FLEX .30 prototype that I had acquired for about a week. I went over a few things with Matt such as how to load the magazines and how to fill the gun, zero range etc,

I too brought a buddy bottle with us to fill with and I think Matt was very impressed with the simplicity of being able to fill the guns in the field. These small bottles have made my hunting adventures much more pleasurable and make venturing into the desert much more long-lasting. This particular bottle is a carbon fiber 90CI 4500 psi that I picked up from Mac1 Airguns that is perfect being its lightweight and fits into a backpack fairly easily.

We set out and almost immediately saw quit a few Jackrabbits, that .30 was making some long shots out past 150 yards. We both ended up spotting a Jackrabbit at around 90 yards and both moved in on it. The Jack started running and we both ended up connecting hits at the same time,very heart pumping and exciting. Not sure who’s shot took it down so we shared some pics with both rifles.

For me it was just about being out hunting with my life long friend and showing him what Airguns are capable of in hunting. This was such a memorable day and can only say it was one of my favorite hunts in a long time. After Matt bagging his first Jackrabbit with my Marauder I think he may have gotten the Airgun bug, I hope. After spending a little more time shooting and having lunch Matt was on his way and left with a great memory of his first Airgun hunt. I hope that Matt will join me again very soon and possibly even invest in something Air powered for some future hunts.

Today was nearing my last day of the trip so I got up super early around 5:15 am and drove several miles down the mountain and into the Desert Jungle. The morning was cool and had almost a beach breeze going on,very beautiful sunrise it was.

The area I was hiking into was a place I had found days before, it was one of very few places that offered a good field of view and had a very good overlook to hunt from.

The area I was looking down on was fairly flat with short bushes and some larger Joshua trees near the outer area. I used a laser link to find 200 yards where I sat and waited for a Jackrabbit to get into that range, really was hoping to make a long range kill today. By this time the sun was bringing them out from cover and soon the amber ears everywhere in the distance. The first Jackrabbit I encountered into my range was moving along a trail, stopping frequently, usually behind something. Hunting Jackrabbits gets frustrating because they move directions so quickly and are sometimes impossible to see, especially at 200 yards.

I sat for over an hour waiting until one finally stopped and sat coincidentally right under the Joshua Tree that marked 200 yards. Very slowly I aimed right at the top of his head at 4 1/2 mill-dot holdover and slightly to the right for the breeze over my right shoulder. I fired and could see the pellet arch down and right into his head, couldn’t hear any hit. The Jackrabbit flopped down, kicked a few times and was out like a light.

I cant tell you how happy I was, so amazing what these modern PCPs are capable of. Being that I have been using Airguns for over 30 years to hunt with I would have never imagined how far they have come in just the past several years. Days like this make me grateful to be in the “Golden Age Of Airgunning”

Day three I had arrived just before the sun came up and decided to hike out to another area that I know to be busy with Jackrabbits. Both my packs were full as I wasn’t sure how long I would be out, brought my buddy bottle, water, snacks and plenty of JSBs. The area was very sandy with rolling hills that made for good spots to hunt them from a distance. I knew the gun would shoot 100+yards easy, problem was the wind was gusting over 35 mph. My first kill was sitting at 50 yards downhill from me between two Joshua trees. The entry was right below his neck and he fell over like a sack of potato’s.

I was very pleased with my first kill of the day, the Jackrabbit was quite large too at near “11 lbs.” Kept moving towards the South where I planned to explore a different area and as I was walking could see a few juveniles running about. By this time it was getting warmer with still plenty of wind, although wind makes stalking much easier. I even shot at a few ground squirrels that were climbing through some of the fallen Joshua Trees. The desert was very beautiful and made me grateful for such a wonderful place to visit and hunt. After shooting through my magazine I decided to stop for a break and refill the gun in a big open field.

As I sat and had a smoke I could see a Jackrabbits ears moving along the grass in the next field over. “Excitedly” I grabbed the gun and slowly headed over trying to stay low to the ground as not to spook it. I was able to get within 60 yards where I felt comfortable to make the shot, it stood up on it’s hind legs and THWAPP,right trough his leg and into his chest.

At this point I was getting tired and started my loop back to where I had parked my tuck, about 4 miles away. While hiking a mile into it I came to a large field surrounded by Joshua trees with a few scattered knee high bushes in the middle, great prime spot to sit. I knew that several Jackrabbits may be hiding in this area as it was looking almost to good to pass up.

After several minutes, sure enough I spotted one and was able to use the bipod to take aim at 70 yards. I took a heart/lung shot that allowed the Jackrabbit to run for several feet before collapsing.

Over the past week I have spent some much needed time in the high desert, a place full of great hunting opportunities. I had the opportunity to be the first to shoot a great American Made gun as well as the shared memories with a great friend. Airgunning is a passion and can only hope that through some writing that I may share with others as I have been so freely given. Keep on shooting and remember, “The best gun is the one your shooting”

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