RABBIT HUNTS IN COLORADO. 



63 



Partial List of Idaho llahhit Drives and Runts — Continued. 



* Drives. 



t Hunts hiive been reported from I^ewisville for February 14 and 26 (?), 1895. which are probably the 

 same as those given in this list. Graut, Lfwi.svillc, and Kigby are all witliiu a lew miles of one 

 another; the same hunt may be rei)orted Irom dillerenl places .ind thus lead to confiisiou, particularly 

 if no dates are giveu. 



COLORADO. 



During tbe last three years a scries of rabbit hunts have taken 

 place in eastern Colorado, resulting in the destruction of nearly 20,000 

 rabbits. As is the case with the hunts in Utah, no inclosures are built 

 and shotguns are the only weapons used. The hunters are usually dis- 

 tributed over the ranches iu the neighborhood and hunt singly or in 

 small parties. The success of these hunts has led to the celebration 

 each winter of a ' Eabbit Day,' which is set apart for the destruction 

 of the pests. In reply to an inquiry concerning the origin of the cus- 

 tom at Lamar, Mr. J . T. Lawless, (editor of the Lamar Sparks, wrote on 

 March 4, 1895: 



This portion of Colorado was first settled in 1886, and in 1889 farming l)y irrigation 

 was begun on an extensive scale. Tbe territory nnder dii;cb is abont 18 miles wide. 

 North and south of this striji of irrigated land there is little vegetation, and the land 

 is valuable chielly as a stock range. After the first year of farming by irrigation, 

 rabbits increased rapidly, and the farmers were greatly annoj^ed. The rabbits came 

 from the rainbelt region for miles around and made their headquarters in the alfalfa 

 and grain fields and the growing orchards of Prowers County. * * * The great 

 increase in the number of rabbits caused much concern, and linally a big hunt was 

 arranged to reduce their numbers. This hunt was confined to people of Lamar and 

 the county. About fifty-five men ])articipated, and thoy killed over 1,201) rabbits in 

 one day. The ftdlowiug winter another liutit was arranged on similar lines, and the 

 same number of men lirought in about 2,000 rabbits. This hunt was followed by the 

 first annual hunt, in which gitnners from all parts of the State participated. That 

 was the inauguration of Rabbit Day. Over 1,000 rabbits wore killed, and these were 

 drawn and shipped to Denv(>r and Pueblo for distribution among the poor, to whom 

 the meat was very acceptable. 



One of the largest and most successful hunts was that of December 

 22, 189-4, in which 101 gunners took ])art and secured 5,142 rabbits as 

 the result of a day and a half of steady work (see Plate VI). When 

 dressed, these jack rabbits usually average about 6A pounds each, and 



