Rabbit Hunting

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footprint

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Hello everyone (first post here!)

My wife and I just got started with hunting last year, despite pushing 40....late to the game, so to speak. So far, so good....I took a nice Turkey in the Spring, and two deer just a few weeks ago. So of course, now we're hooked :)

As a result, we went out for some rabbits on our property (close to Haliburton in Ontario) this past weekend. Not that I thought it would be easy, but wow..every time.......tracks leading under trees...then nothing! We were kicking brush piles etc, as I've done a bit of reading, but to absolutely no avail.

Any advice? We don't have a dog, which would clearly be an asset. The land is mixed...bush, swamp, meadow....pretty good variety of terrain and we saw piles of tracks. Right now there is about 6 inches of snow, just to give some more insight. I'm wondering about time of day/key locations/general hunting stragies etc.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Footprint.
 
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I prefer to snare rabbits. Very efficient way of gathering them. I just carry a 10/22 when I check them the next day. Mmmmm... Rabbit stew!
 
Yummy....shake and bake chicken flavour ..oven baked....The rabbits do bury themselves under the snow and brush piles...and are extremely hard to flush out. They know they are vulnerable to hunters ( owls, coyotes and the like) during daylight.
 
The best is when the weather is cold for awhile with no snow, the rabbits turn white and the bush is still brown...... easy pickin's. Since you have snow already, you will have to keep up at what you are doing. You will eventually scare one up. Do you have a shotgun to get them on the run, or are you hoping for a .22 head shot?
 
remember one rabbit makes alot of tracks in the snow. And they mostly are seen at dawn and dusk.

find an area with an abundance and have fun. close to home, me and my buddy have a spot of about 20 acres and its nothing to each shoot ten (bag limit) in an afternoon. We hit that spot 3 or 4 times a year and cant seem to even slow the population. but if you go across the road, you'll be lucky to shoot 2 or 3.

around here, they like planted over areas with lots of low young pine and pucker brush.

I use a .22 for mine, some guys like shotguns. I also snare when the conditions are good.
 
I've also found that just before dusk to be the best time. They seem to be most active then. Good luck!
 
Wow, thanks for all of the quick (and really helpful) responses! I'm so glad I stopped merely reading, and decided to post.

Curt...yep, I have a 12 ga, 20 ga and a .22 This weekend I had the .20 with me to try to flush the wascals and hit them on the run. Do you think that's the best approach?

Again, thanks for all the help, and please keep the advice rolling in!

Footprint.
 
Footprint - My wife and i only live about an hour and a half north from you and hunt rabbits alot. She uses a 20 gauge and i usually use a .22 mag henry golden boy. She uses a heavy shot and tries for head shots. I will only make head shots if possible. Watch for cedar swamps and the edges of fields or old fields that are grown in. They are especially active just before a change in weather. We hunt all day but find late afternoon probably the best time. Last Sunday she came within 4 feet of one that was under a brush pile and it wouldn't move. I believe they are more prone to staying still because of the high populations of fox and wolves. When you are hunting watch for the rabbits eye as that is what you will probably notice first even if you don't realize it. When you flush one out it usually will run along the slope and usually will come back to the general area if it gets away. Also try using a loud whistle if it is running and they quite often stop running. Once you get used to cleaning the rabbit you can honestly do it in under 2 minutes. In your area and mine we have varying hares not rabbits. It's possible you may be followiung the tracks backwards ! the front feet are behind the backfeet when it leaves a track and i've seen people follow them the wrong way !
 
leadslinger said:
Get yourself a nice beagle, they also make very good pets.
They live to find bunny's.
Don't set snares, illegal in most parts of Ont.
Click to expand...

Snares are legal in Ontario anywhere north of the french and mattawa rivers under your small games license, as long as wire (copper or brass) is between 22 & 24 gauge. and the opening of the snare loop is 10cm (4") or less.
 
Excellent, you guys (and girls?) have been so helpful. I'm really greatful for all of the various tips and tricks. And great picture of the rabbit!!

We already have a much greater idea of where on our property to try to locate the little buggers. My wife is German, so she really wants to eat some rabbit!! (Hasenpfeffer) :) I'll be sure to let you all know how we make out.

Footprint.
 
Hey footprint, rabbits are a whole lot of fun to shoot and eat.
Cottontails and snow shoes are two different rabbits and need different tactics to get.
Cottontails like higher ground and bed in areas with overhead cover and thicker cover.
Snows like more open cover but definitely near swampy wetland type cover. The snowshoes also depend on their white coat to help camouflage themselves against the back drop of snow and sit still thinking the hunter cant see them? and you could easily walk right by one 10 feet away and never know it.

You've really got to watch for the dark eyes and dark ear tops while they are sitting, very often in the open.:)
 
7mmlefty, thanks for stating the differences in animals, and tactics. You guys have me pretty pumped for the weekend!

Footprint.
 
Stangerqc,

Where was that picture taken? Judging by the sandy road and the vegetation I'm going to say Lanaudiere...
 
I'm a cottontail hunting fanatic. The tools of the trade are a light 20 gauge semi auto, improved choke, cheap #6 shot, and a mature beagle.
Rabbit hunting with a good beagle in the snow.....doesn't get any better.
 
Thanks Mountsweetness. For now....I don't have a beagle.....any suggestions with two people? For example, should the two of us walk 20-30 yards apart to assist in a flush (much like grouse hunting?)

Cheers,

Footprint.
 
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