B Movies Blog

Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping the story of the Jackalope into the ol’ VCR.

As someone who has lived in Texas my entire life, tales of the Jackalope have been shared with me since birth. 

For those who don’t know, a Jackalope is a combination of a jackrabbit and an antelope and derives its name from its appearance (it looks like a rabbit with antlers). 

Although I’ve heard tales of this mythical creature and seen countless depictions across souvenir shops, I’ve never taken the time to dive into its origin. 

Welcome back to Curated Cryptids, where I get to geek out on all of the creatures of legend. 

So, without further ado, let’s talk about the one and only Jackalope. 

According to my research, the legend of the Jackalope stems back to the tales of the Huichol (or Wixárika), an Indigenous people of Mexico, who told stories of a horned rabbit. 

There have also been sketches discovered from the 13th century that show a horned rabbit, but instead of antelope antlers, give the creature a unicorn-esque horn instead. 

Then, in 1932, a man by the name of Douglas Herrick, a taxidermist from Wyoming, had the idea to create a mounted head of the creature.

And that’s where the popularity of the Jackalope skyrocketed. 

Herrick’s hometown began issuing Jackalope hunting licenses, erected an eight-foot-tall statue of the creature, and even hosts a yearly festival in its honor. 

This newfound popularity has also led to some lore around the Jackalope that I couldn’t make up if I tried.

Some claim that the Jackalope is essentially the rabbit from Monty Python and the Holy Grail and warn hunters to wear padding/body armor to avoid injuries. 

Others warn that Jackalopes are similar to mimics and can imitate human voices to lure in hunters. 

While many regard these as tall tales (says the girl insinuating the Jackalope itself is real 🤦‍♀️), one thing is true: the Jackalope has woven itself into the culture of the South and Midwest United States and Mexico. 

(And that’s not even considering the other accounts from South American countries like Peru and European countries like Germany) 

So friends, what do you think?

Is the Jackalope a creature plucked from legends across the globe, or is it a rare species that looks harmless but lures hunters to a gristly end?

Either way, I would very much like to pet it.