Marsh/Swamp Rabbits

[tampamatt]

This is a thread about marsh and swamp rabbits, two closely related rabbits in the cottontail genus that inhabit marshy areas of the Southeastern US. Habitat overlaps with eastern CT (we have killed both in the same field on the same day), but the swampies (as both species are slanged) will always be near water.

Here are some pics of hawks on swampies.

[Master Yarak]

Great pics.
My old girl slammed a few swampers in her time.
They were noticeably bigger than our cottontails. Found them in the same habitat with RSH and barred owls. They would hold awfully tight but they were very agile. She would fly on every one she came across.
Thanks for starting this.
Yarak

[harrishawker]

Great pics. Do the swampies give a bit more aggression than a standard cotton tail? I would imagine too being a lot around water the variety must be vast.
What else lurks in and around there?
I like the thought of surprises when you get to see what your bird has caught. ;D

[tampamatt]

I would not say more aggressive - smarter maybe, but a little slower. Very good at using cover to their advantage. CT will break cover and try to use their speed to get away. Swampies make strategic moves from cover to cover rarely being in the open for more than a few seconds. Timing is key for the bird, especially the smaller birds.

I'm not a huge fan of surprises, as many of those can be venomous around these parts. We also have nutria, which a bird could loose a whole foot to. Muscovy ducks and wild feral geese are good though, I'll take those surprises just fine.

[harrishawker]

I'm a huge fan of surprises, as many of those can be venomous around these parts. We also have nutria, which a bird could loose a whole foot to. Muscovy ducks and wild feral geese are good though, I'll take those surprises just fine.[/quote]

I guess not i guess over here it's not on the same level.
I can see your point.
Surprises are not a good idea

[harrishawker]

Slightly off topic but have you ever seen a 'Miami Florida Garfish'

They are awesom. I love em ;D

[tampamatt]

Florida gar? Oh yeah, theres plenty of them, along with longnose gar.

[harrishawker]

Oct 17, 2009 16:25:25 GMT -5 tampamatt said:

Florida gar? Oh yeah, theres plenty of them, along with longnose gar.

I love them. They look awesome.....If you are a fisherman can you catch one and put it on here ;D

[tampamatt]

I've only ever caught one, a long time ago. I see them a lot, but I'm bass fishing.

[harrishawker]

I bet there are some big bass in there. Florida and marlin fishing off the coast of portugal although i guess you have that there too.

The best i have caught in Freshwater is a 39lb Pike.
In the sea i guess a conger although i am sure i hooked a shark off the cornish coast but the wire snapped and that was thick wire!

Good luck mate i am very envious

[Tiercel78]

Yeah those marsh rabbits are funny and they stink like swamp water. Least the ones that I hunted in South Georgia did. They are a lot different than the Swamps or Cottontails from what I remember. They had short little ears and and no white on them. Guess I have to do more research on them didn't know they where that closely related. Will say my bird was pretty muddy after that hunt...lol.

[tampamatt]

LOL I think the smell depends on where you catch them. We actually find quite a few in drier areas around here mixed in with the cottontails. There has to be water nearby though. To me the marsh and swamp rabbits look about the same, I think the marsh rabbits are a little smaller on average though.

FWIW, all the rabbits in those pictures are marsh rabbits.

[harrishawker]

Is it true they can swim?

[tampamatt]

Oh yeah, I've had them bail into a pond before. Talk about a frustrated hawk!

[profalconer]

I had a bagged jack do that, no brush to dodge so in the drink it went, even though it had successfully kicked the rt off its butt... Lol I thought about trying to re-catch it when it got to shore with my hh but decided I didn't want him to drown.