Cottontails by yourself

[Kopper1013]

Hey guys what's the best/most successful way you've found to hunt cottontails by yourself?

I've got a couple out back that I'd really really love to eat but they see me coming every time an book when I'm still 30 yards away. The stuff they're in is typical for cottontails, thick! So even when I see them I still gotta find the whole to slip an arrow in.

[Tom]

I've always just eased along grown up fence rows or brush piles and looked for the eye as it stands out while the rest of the rabbit has wonderful camo. Snow is a fun way to track them and sometimes am able to jump them from beds. Anyway you go-they are a fun venture.

[Terry Lightle]

What Tom said
Terry

[Cyclic-Rivers]

What tom said, X 2.  I have tried busting through brush and getting running shots but it is tough and not as enjoyable.

Usually in your rush in the thick brush, I couldn't get shots off anyway because I would be caught in multiflora rose.

[John Malone]

What Tom said x3. You can also bait them and still hunt them like deer on a corn pile if you see them in the same area on a regular basis. Put out some deer apples, they love apples. I used to do that as a kid no telling what will show up at a pile of apples! Killed a ton of them that way.

[Gdpolk]

My success rate for rabbit with bow is low.  Most of my kills on rabbits have been shots of opportunity that I wasn't really hunting for rabbit specifically.  If I head out the door for rabbit, I usually grab my pellet rifle to be completely honest.

[Tajue17]

I haven't hunted them much but if I remember after they run if you stop and draw back they sometimes stop to double check the threat and then you let it fly... snow was the best time cause once you saw tracks your heart sped up a little,,,, kinda  the same as when your bird dog starts acting birdy.

[the rifleman]

I remember rabbits---in our part of Ohio there are none.  Hawks, owls, coyotes, and cats have done them in.  Rabbit hunting with my flintlock fowler and my beagle was my favorite thing to do in the past---I'd hurry to fill my deer tags so I could focus on rabbits the rest of the year.

A farmer watched me go in small covers one day and later told me that as I entered the brush the rabbit ran out the other side (100 yards ahead of me).  When we were kids theyd be everywhere in ankle and knee high grass and you would have to step on them to roust them.  I do believe that those rabbits that held tight, and passed on the genetic disposition to hold tight, were soon eliminated by coyotes.  So all that were left were the early runners--the ones that you don't see without a dog.

The only places that I have been able to locate a rabbit or two are brushy areas that are laced with woven wire fences---I believe these give the rabbits a chance to escape coyotes.  One way to hunt them with your trad bow is to find an area like this with an old farm dump---lots of wire, lumber and stuff that they can get under.  Just about sundown they will start to come out and can present some good shots.  We had a farm that used to be full of rabbits until the coyotes moved in and after that the only chance we had of finding one was in a spot as big as a house that was full of stacks of wire fencing.  The rabbits stayed in there because they could get away from anything in that mess.  One day the local idiot came by and threw all of that wire in his truck and hauled it off for beer money.  And that was that for my rabbit hunting.

[Roadkill]

I hunt them like deer-slow movement, look for eyes and ears.  The ears are pinkish when they sit warming in the sun.  Binos help.  They are usually near the same place daily.  Never walk directly at them.  Cut a diagonal line to close thr distance.  Do not look directly at them-they see two eyes and think predator!  Blunts do not make it they sage brush-judo’s twice as bad, so often use a target point for that shot thru brush. I carry three or 4 different points on my arrows-got some pink carbons just for bunnies as they are easier to find.  I have a yarn “ponytail” hanging on my quiver-use it to wipe arrows clean to save my rests from sand and grit and use individual strands to hang in brush near i last saw my arrow-helps in recovery of my arrows.  Really cold days they sit in the sun with backs to the wind.  I do not hunt urban rabbits as they are exposed to lawn and shrub chemicals.  I hunt horse ranches about 30 miles out of town. I am a passionate rabbit hunter and go most every weekend.  We have 4 different rabbits here in Nevada-cottontails, Pygmy cottontail, white and black tailed jacks.  Jacks take some killing as i have several depart the scene with my $16 arrow.  I have one ranch where the ranch dogs find my arrows and bring them to the porch to gnaw off the feathers.  I love to hunt rabbits!

[Roadkill]

One other thing about rabbit hunting-your skills will increase-moving targets, long shots and stalking skills all get a workout.  I was moving up a firebreak last week-all the rabbits were going on another person’s property.  I saw one about 50 yards sitting. I thought I could hit it and/or make it run back on our ranch.  Pinwheeled it.  My son in law said it was the best shot he had seen-course i acted as if i did that on a regular basis.  Missed the next 5 in a row-all Under 20 yards.  I would. Be out now but i have a half inch cut on the middle finger of my drawing hand-squirts blood every time i draw.   Go get em, boys—\0most fun you can have with your pants on

[myshootinstinks]

What Roadkill says. Bunny hunting in the open areas of the west is a different game than in the east with all the cover and vegetation.Jacks in particular will flush and lope along for 40-50 yards then stop. Jacks are usually a BIG target and have a fairly even gate, they can be killed on a run or offer some challenging long shots.

[monterey]

31 yard shots?  

[Trenton G.]

Every winter they start coming in to get the seeds the squirrels knock out of the birdfeeder. They are a real pain around here when they kill all the young trees by eating the bark so it's more pest control then hunting. I set up a big back stop behind where I expect the rabbits to be sitting to catch arrows, then check under the feeder periodically. Then if I'm able to get the sliding door open without spooking them, it's usually about a 14 yard shot. Not sure if that counts or not.

[Hopewell Tom]

Our "rabbit" is the Snowshoe Hare, which turns white for the winter. The best and it would seem totally unfair method is to be sure to go hunting on any day that there is no snow.

Doesn't matter much, it's still tough. Up here it's the young softwood thickets on sunny cold days, slowly hunt along any sunny side.
I've never shot one with the bow. It's fun though.

[TooManyHobbies]

When I was younger and hunted them with shotgun alone, I would fill my pockets with stones. Try to toss a stone into the briars so the rabbit would run towards me. They usually stopped before breaking cover...if they ran my way at all. I'd see them squirt out the back more often, which still allowed for a shot sometimes. I've only shot one with a bow and that was before going trad.

I had a cocker spaniel and for a while a basset hound, they knew more about rabbits than me.  The cocker also knew more about Canadian canoe tripping than most canoe trippers.  The cocker was a pro at circling and sniffing them out. The basset was a fearless dog, that retrieved out of water and pointed pheasants, but was a master at finding and slow pushing rabbits.  My dog now has no hunt in her.  When hunting without the dog I walk very slowly sit where ever I can for a few minutes here and there and circle my way across farm groves.  Walk softly, rabbits pick up on the thump of a heavy foot.

[Roadkill]

The stones work.  You can aim for head shots and be aware an arrow over them will sometimes make them move towards you.  Sound on the other side or swishing arrow resembling a hawk-who cares, it does work. Get ready for a followup

[Charlie Lamb]

Since they are found just about everywhere. You need to be flexible in your habits when hunting rabbits.
     
 
For the most part moving slowly through cover is the best way to catch them sitting. When in their "form" they are very confident of their camo and may let you walk right up on them before they spook. Loud noises and ground vibration will spook them. Tread lightly.
   
 
On real cold days hunt with the sun to your back. You'll more likely find them on the sunny side of whatever cover they are using.
A partner can help a lot. Just spread out 10 or 12 yards apart and follow above instructions.
   

Any kind of heavy cover should be checked very carefully. Down trees, brush piles, blackberry patches all should be checked carefully.Don't overlook junk piles, auto junk yards or farm equipment.
If you can the "rough" around golf courses is often a gold mine for small game.  
     
     

Of course a fresh snow helps with spotting and with tracking. You'll find they really move around. The track looks like this... --: When hopping they plant their front feet and then the rear feet are brought around and planted in front.
   
 
You'll get a lot of opinions about what makes the best arrowhead for rabbits. I prefer plain old steel blunts. They will anchor the rabbit pretty well, won't break the bank and negotiate brush pretty well... always be prepared to follow up your shot.

Don't forget your rabbit arrows when you are away from home. Javelina country usually has great rabbit populations.
     

The same can be said for antelope country. Some of the best rabbit hunting I've had was in eastern Wyoming and Montana. I've heard really good things about New York state.

[degabe]

When we were kids we tracked them on a fresh snow and watched for them sitting in their form. We shot them with the old bows we had or if Dad went with us we got to take our 22. The tricks are be quiet and keep your eyes open. If you look past a Rabbit and not see him he will run because he knows you are there. As soon as you look away he is gone. Try it, you will only miss a shot at that one bunny.

[Bowguy67]

Haven't done it in a long time as I run beagles but before I had them I'd wait til a fresh snow and walk up and shoot in hedgerows em as they thought they were hidden in the brush.
Tried the same without snow and shot a few but it's harder to see em.
Trad bows are for most guys about challenge right? Leave the bait at the store. Just my .02