Cabin Fever Or Rabbit In The Freezer?

Archery season is winding down in the Grand Canyon State but that doesn’t mean your bow has to sit in the closet until next hunting season. Southern Arizona has some prime rabbit and varmint hunting opportunities.

After a successful Javelina Hunt I was ready to put my bow away. I started looking around in my shed for other hobbies to keep me from finishing the chores around house. I started fly-fishing Parker Canyon Lake looking for the elusive Northern Pike that are far and few between and the numerous Rainbow Trout that saturate the water. Unfortunately, the weather isn’t always on the side of fly-fishermen so instead of sitting around pouting I called my hunting buddy Terry and asked him for ideas. He told me about hundreds of rabbits on the King Anvil Ranch in Unit 36C. It wasn’t long before we were loading our trucks for a 30-minute drive south of Tucson on the Sasabe Hwy to the King Anvil Ranch.

After we signed in at the ranch headquarters we drove no more than 30 yards and the cottontail and jackrabbits started running every 10 feet in front of the truck. I couldn’t believe my eyes. It has been 10 years since I have witnessed cottontail rabbits in large numbers. I couldn’t stop shaking, I wanted to get out of my truck and start launching arrows but I knew it was important to move further away from the ranch. It is the Archers Code to be a steward of the land and environment while protecting the livestock and honoring the rancher’s privacy.

About a quarter mile down the road I found three cottontail rabbits sitting underneath a large mesquite tree. I reached into my bow case and pulled out my PSE Firestorm. I put on a stock within 30 yards and knocked down a little critter with my Carbon Force Arrows and 100-grain judo tip. The arrow passed clean through leaving behind a succulent rabbit morsel since Arizona cottontails aren’t as large as those in the Midwest but just as tasty. It had been 10 years since I have eaten rabbit and I was certain I wouldn’t let that much time pass before the next meal.

Our hunt continued the rest of the overcast and rainy morning and by noon we had our limit. In addition to the abundance of rabbits on the ranch there were several coyotes spotted out in the flats. We tried once to lure them in with an electronic call but didn’t have any luck. Rest assured the next rainy cloud covered day we will test our luck with the elusive coyote again. I just couldn’t stop hunting rabbits, I had rabbit tunnel vision.

Archery hunting is definitely fun and there is no reason why our season has to end until the next big game hunt. Predator, Varmint and Rabbit hunting provide an excellent opportunity to polish our hunting skills and keep accurate with our bows. It is also rewarding. Now that we are receiving the wonderful rain don’t sit inside with cabin fever fill your freezer with rabbit and try your skill hunting predators.

Chris Bonn

Team AZOD