Be taught three rabbit searching strategies and put extra rabbit meat on the dinner desk all season lengthy
Few issues can soothe the sting of closed chicken seasons as a great cottontail rabbit hunt. Cottontails are usually considerable, could be difficult to hunt, and are scrumptious on the desk. Rabbit seasons typically prolong nicely past the shut of most upland chicken seasons and a few states haven’t any closed season on bunnies. Bag limits are all the time greater than anybody individual can eat so a day of profitable rabbit searching could make meals for a number of folks. There are numerous methods to hunt cottontails, however three varieties stand out: nonetheless searching, rabbit drives, and searching with hounds. Let’s check out these strategies, specializing in methods that can assist you put extra cottontails within the bag.
The three greatest methods to hunt cottontail rabbits are:
Nonetheless searching
Rabbit drives
Looking rabbits with hounds
Learn how to Hunt Rabbits by Nonetheless Looking
We would as nicely pull off the bandage and begin with what I think about essentially the most difficult technique to harvest rabbits: nonetheless searching. Large sport hunters will acknowledge this technique of searching many species whereby one strikes about very slowly in pretty dense cowl, glassing fastidiously to identify their quarry earlier than it spots them. The identical applies to rabbits, however binoculars or recognizing scopes are usually not used. The concept is to stroll extraordinarily slowly by way of cowl searching for rabbits sunning of their varieties, or daytime beds. Chilly, sunny days are sometimes greatest for such a searching as rabbits usually tend to be out of their holes, sunning themselves.
Why do I say that is the toughest technique of rabbit searching? It’s as a result of rabbits are keen-eyed critters. They may almost all the time spot you earlier than you see them. The important thing to upping your odds on this sport is to creep alongside, searching for rabbit-shaped objects, maybe the black dot of the attention. I’d say search for their upright ears, however bunnies typically sit with their ears laid again, particularly in the event that they sense hazard.
The very best time for nonetheless searching rabbits is just a few days after a snowstorm when the bottom is roofed with white, fluffy snow. The day of a storm and even someday later is normally no good as rabbits are of their holes ready out the climate. However two to a few days after a storm, and so long as the snow stays on the bottom, could be wonderful circumstances for nonetheless searching. The reason being easy. You may spot bunnies a lot simpler in opposition to a white background. Moreover, the chilly climate previous a snowstorm will pull extra bunnies out of their holes to feed and absorb worthwhile sunshine to assist preserve them heat. Additionally, tracks are extra seen in recent snow. Tracks is likely to be of no extra assist than confirming rabbits are shut by, however that’s alright. It no less than lets you already know if you’re even in rabbit habitat or not.
One other tip when nonetheless searching is to ensure and stomp or kick each brush pile, tree high, or overgrown brushy thicket. Rabbits routinely use these areas for overhead cowl and a great stomp or two will typically put them on the run.
Irrespective of whether or not you favor a shotgun or a .22 rifle, count on difficult looking for rabbits who typically get the higher hand. As an example this, let me relay a narrative. As soon as, just a few days after a snowstorm, I used to be watching the outdated subject behind my home from the sliding glass door. Quickly, I noticed a gray fox strolling down the path out on a late afternoon hunt. Simply then, I noticed a rabbit over bust from cowl over 30 yards away from the fox. The rabbit took off up one other path in the direction of my home. The fox had no thought the rabbit was round, however the rabbit understood the hazard and fled nicely forward of any probability of getting eaten. Anticipate conditions like this to happen when you find yourself rabbit searching.
Learn how to Use Rabbit Drives to Hunt Cottontails
The as soon as tree-lined prairie ditch on a bit of public land close to my home was affectionately known as the Rabbit Ditch. Years prior, Division of Conservation workers had dropped all the bushes alongside the ditch as a approach of controlling woody encroachment on the encompassing prairie. The ditch grew up in a mixture of weeds and shrubby cowl. It was good for rabbits. The issue was the duvet was so thick, nonetheless searching was almost unattainable. Our solely choice to hunt that ditch was to implement rabbit drives, and boy, had been they profitable.
Relying on the width of the ditch, one to 2 hunters looped forward 100 yards and took a stand the place we might simply see something slipping by way of the ditch. Subsequent, one to 2 others would stroll slowly down the ditch to push rabbits forward to the standers. Strolling slowly was key. We wished the rabbits to only casually hop down the ditch to the ready standers as an alternative of hurrying alongside at a run. Whoever was standing would watch for the unsuspecting critters to emerge and shoot when it was secure.
Many locations lend themselves to rabbit drives and, in some circumstances, this is likely to be the best tactic for accumulating a sack filled with bunnies. Conditions like lengthy woody fencerows and slim attracts are key locations to make the most of drives for rabbits. Actually any state of affairs the place you may predictably decide the place rabbits will run when flushed could be efficient for rabbit drives.
I keep in mind one quail hunt that was a rabbit hunt simply because of the sheer numbers of rabbits we noticed. My fellow biologist buddy Kyle and I had been ending up a profitable bobwhite quail hunt in an overgrown prairie once we determined that we couldn’t move up this wonderful alternative. We loaded up the canines and started to do rabbit drives in remoted sumac, American plum, and dogwood thickets. Certainly one of us would push the thicket whereas the opposite can be looking out for an escaping rabbit or two. The trick labored so nicely, we every had a restrict of six rabbits in lower than an hour. Now, this was in a spot with very excessive rabbit densities, but it surely illustrated that drives could be achieved anyplace, so long as you may pressure rabbits to go a technique or one other.
Learn how to Hunt Rabbits with Beagles or Different Hounds
The thrilling sounds of a pack of hounds in scorching pursuit of a cottontail is nearly heaven for a lot of rabbit hunters. Not solely are the sounds thrilling, searching rabbits with hounds is a really efficient technique of harvesting cottontails. Kyle Hedges has written a superb article on searching rabbits with beagles that you need to check out earlier than giving it a attempt.
The fundamentals are to run a string of beagles or different rabbit hounds by way of cowl till they soar a rabbit and start the chase. The rabbit will run a round route and usually find yourself again the place it was first jumped. The concept is to be arrange close to the place the rabbit jumped to get a shot when it comes again by way of, or to foretell the place the rabbit is travelling by maintaining with what the canines are doing and hoping to get a shot because the rabbit slinks by.
Most first timers to the rabbit/hound sport won’t exit and purchase a set of beagles and simply give it a attempt. It’s vital to discover a mentor that already has the canines and tag alongside just a few occasions to see what searching rabbits with beagles is like earlier than actually diving into it.
Rabbit Looking Habitat: The place to Discover Cottontails
Talking of habitat for nonetheless searching (and stand searching rabbits), the very best locations are overgrown fencerows, weed patches, pastures which have been allowed to return and are filled with weeds and brush, and anyplace there’s an abundance of low-growing shrubby cowl. Wherever you’ll suppose to hunt bobwhite quail are nice locations to start out your seek for rabbits.
Understanding what rabbits eat is among the greatest methods to find productive rabbit searching habitat. Lots of the crops cottontails depend on for meals additionally present the brushy cowl they use for defense from predators. Be taught extra concerning the crops that make up prime rabbit habitat on this information to rabbit habitat and what cottontails eat.
Greatest Firearms for Rabbit Looking: .22 Rifle vs Shotgun
When rabbit searching, I like to recommend utilizing a shotgun of your alternative in a great deal of No. 5 to No. 7.5. A lot of your pictures will probably be at runners that bust out at your ft or attempt to slink out forward of you with their head down.
Some nonetheless searching purists desire to do all their rabbit searching with a .22 caliber rifle and take sitting pictures at rabbits. Snowy circumstances are greatest for this technique and if that’s the way you need to hunt them, go for it. Success charges, particularly for rookies, will probably be decrease, however many hunters who’ve chased rabbits for many years desire this technique, particularly as a result of a great head shot on sitting rabbits wastes much less meat than does a shotgun.
Keep Afield Longer by Looking Rabbits
Rabbits are completely made to assist prolong your searching season, particularly while you actually don’t need to case up the shotgun for an extended off season however simply want just a few extra outings to assist scratch the itch. Their meat is scrumptious. My son and I like to devour rabbit again straps, then every seize a fried leg and go to work. Hopefully the following tips will assist shut the training hole for first timers or stir the thoughts of skilled hunters to attempt one thing new. Both approach, give rabbit searching a go through the subsequent open season.
The submit Learn how to Hunt Cottontail Rabbits: Nonetheless Looking, Rabbit Drives, and Looking with Canine appeared first on Mission Upland.
