60 JACK RABBITS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



RABBIT HUNTS. 



It may be of interest to consider the methods of destruction, which 

 have been used in other States. Two of the jack rabbits which, occur 

 in California {Lepus texianus and L. campestris) are common also in 

 Utah, Idaho, and Colorado, and in some sections are excessively abun- 

 dant. An entirely different method of extermination, however, is prac- 

 ticed from that adopted in California. Large numbers are killed with 

 shotguns in regularly organized hunts, but rabbit drives, properly 

 speaking, are now rarely made, except in Idaho. 



According to Mr. M. Richards, jr., of Parowan. Utah, the club was 

 formerlyused in some of the rabbit hunts on the brushlands bordering 

 Little Salt Lake, and as many as 2,000 rabbits have been killed in a 

 drive, but this method has now been abandoned and shooting has been 

 adopted instead. 



Eabbit hunts have taken place since the earliest settlement of the 

 State — nearly half a century ago — but when they were first held by 

 the Indians is unknown. The Piutes, Goshutes, and Pah van Indians 

 were accustomed to resort to a large valley near Cedar City during the 

 month of November, for the purpose of having a grand hunt, and thou 

 sands of rabbits were annually slaughtered.' Strangely enough, the 

 first hunt among the whites of which we have any record probably 

 occurred very near this place, and was participated in by a party of 

 emigrants on their way from Salt Lake City to CaliOnnia in 184!». It 

 was a portion of the same company which soon after ex]>erienced such 

 hardshii>s on the desert, and on account of whose sufferings the now 

 celebrated Death Valley in California received its name. This early 

 rabbit hunt probably took place in tlie month of October, 1849, some- 

 where in the region north of Little Salt Lake, either in Iron or Beaver 

 County. Mr. W. L. Manly.- one of the members of the inirty, describes 

 the hunt as follows: 



''We came into a long, narrow valley well covered with sage brush, 

 and before we had gone very far wo discovered that this was a great 

 place for long-eared rabbits — we would call them jack rabbits now. 

 Everyone who had a gun put it into service on this occasion, and there 

 was much popping and shooting on every side. Great clouds of smoke 

 rolled up as the hunters advanced, and the rabbits ran in every direc- 

 tion to get away. ^Liny ran right among the horses, and under the 

 feet of the cattle and under the wagons, so that tlie teamsters even 

 killed some with a whip. At tlie end of the valley we went into camp, 

 and on counting up the game found we had over ."iOO, or about one for 



> Cones it Yarrow, Kept. Geog. Snrv. W. lOOtli MerM.. V. Zool., 1875. p. 127. 

 •Death Valley in '49, 18lt4, pp. 110-111. 



