rabbit hunting methods

[Lee Lobbestael]

Well deer season is over so that means its time for bunnies! How do you guys hunt them? I have not had much success. I can never find them by sneaking around the brush trying to spot them before they bolt and I am not a good enough shot to hit one on the run if I'm kicking brush. Do any of you have a secret trick you want to share?

[Nattybumppo]

beagles...

Never had any luck any other way.

[Stumpkiller]

Walk slow through thick cover and look for their little, black eyes.

 

[Roadkill]

Find a farmer's junk pile.  Old vehicles, equipment trash.  On cold mornings they will sit on the sunny side in the sun.  Use binos and stalk them.
We use hay stacks as bait stations as they assemble there to eat

Last year was a banner year, this year we have noticably fewer small game animals

[Bear Heart]

Stack branches from storms into brush piles.

My former canoe buddy, my cocker spaniel, would snuffle around and get them moving. When the rabbits move out of the way of the dog, I could get rather easy shots.  The problem I had with him was that the first thing he would do is rip all of the feathers off my arrows after I shot a rabbit or a pheasant.  My new cocker is very shy, she is not as aggressive as my first one and does not go digging into cover as much, but at least she does not try to kill every passing stranger we meet.

[Roger Norris]

Beagles. Daisy and I have killed 5 since Christmas Eve.

[stillhunter]

Sit by brush piles the last hour of light.

[larry]

there's two basic ways: hunt them with beagles-wait for the dogs to pick up the scent, and just stay in that spot quietly- rabbits will circle. Or find the thickest nastiest stuff you can, and get right in there and stomp everything, they'll bust out of there, this method is good when you have two or more guys and no dog. If you are all by yourself, follow advise above.

[degabe]

Grandkids, have them go stompin thru the thick stuff lookin for rabbits. You stand by the runways and wait for the ones the kids don't see or kill. It works for me.

[Tajue17]

and when you jump one just draw and wait for him to stop running to look back and then shoot!

[reddogge]

Enlist a few friends and put 2 down the end of the cover as posters and the other two in the cover to slowly criss cross it as they work their way towards the standers. The rabbits will try to sneak through the cover and will slow down if jumped by the time they get to the standers. Usually both flushers and standers get plenty of shots.

Safety first and make sure everyone has on flourescent orange vests and hats.

[Knawbone]

I haven't had a Beagle in years, but if you know were there are rabbits of any number, and their not to pressured by predators,you can find them on a sunny winters day. Iv' shot numerous rabbits by knowing where their holes and lairs are, and then look for them on or near these lairs on a warming winter day. Especially after a severe cold snap. As others have stated, kicking brush piles can work, but allow them to stop before dropping the string unless you shoot like Charlie Lamb. Personally, I like the challenge of a running Rabbit. I can honestly say I don't fair exceptionally well at it........but it sure is fun.

[Knawbone]

By the way Lee, GOOD THREAD!

[Matty]

A client of mine (very new to hunting) said to me one morning. "Man I sat near a hole all day on Saturday and not 1 rabbit came out!" I about split my gut ...    
And albeit. They do have holes. Out here they are mostly in brush piles and as road kill mentioned farmers junk piles.  Dogs do help immensely though.

[dhermon85]

May sound silly, but when alone I've had luck tossin a rock or small log into spots I think they're hiding. Gives a little better a view if they jump out. Twice I've done this and they stepped out and just sat tight for the shot.

[Lee Lobbestael]

Thanks guys. Yeah me and my buddies do a lot of rabbit hunting but i'm the only one who packs a bow. We stomp brush piles and shoot em on the jump but its hard to compete with guys with shotguns. So this weekend I'm going out by myself. I would love to hunt over a beagle but I don't want one at my house because it will chase deer and turkeys out of my yard.

[BAPilot2]

I too would like to get into rabbit hunting and I am intrigued with the idea of using one or more beagles.  I'm not trying to high jack the thread but can rabbit be effectively hunted using one beagle?  And if so, what information can you provide to a neophyte such as I?

I have owned Labs for 15 years but I don't want them to start tracking rabbits.  A beagle sounds like a lot of fun.

[reddogge]

Yes, one beagle will do the trick nicely if it is a nice slow beagle. Rabbit hunting I found is more fun and effective with two or more humans though.

[MikeS]

Gotta agree with Nattybumpo.  Beagles make the hunt for me.  I love to watch my dog work, especially a pup!
Mike