17 replies to this topic

[TheRoman1]

Perhaps this is a lost cause, but I really want to learn about how to really find rabbits, not just the random stray that you happen to see once in a two-hour span. I went to a friend's ranch yesterday. The owner told me they see droves of hares in the early morning along their dirt driveway. I walked into the large, brushy field next to the road and saw a flat openning totally covered in rabbit poop. I felt I had across a bigtime gathering ground for these guys. But I stalked through the field and saw nothing! This was around evening, maybe 6pm. Is there really any technique for hunting rabbits, or is the only surefire way to be at the sopt where you hear they are way early in the morning? I'm tired of kicking through brush for hours in the evening, seeing piles of rabbit poop, but never seeing any bunnies. How do you all experience rabbit populations? Do you even bother hunting on public land or do you simply pop 'em when you're on a ranch or something? Do you find them way more in the morning or in the evening? And when you're near, say, a road where you know they rove at night, how do you find them when you're hunting them during the daylight and in the field next to the road?

[Brant]

We cheat and use beagles here a lot of the time. With 22s you may get many shots as the rabbits tend to circle back.

[Old timer]

its realy easy just lay on the ground and make a noise like a carrot!!!!

[Brant]

Be wary wary quiet  CJ018_1_.jpg   21.52K   38 downloads

[ShooterJohn]

The owner told me they see droves of hares in the early morning along their dirt driveway.

On that property I think the owner gave you the secret. Depends on the area and what's hunting them when they come out. Morning is always good.

[Bozsik]

Here is the way I see it. When I talk to someone about animals on their property, I weigh out the probability factor of what the owner views as a lot of animals vs. what I may think is a load of animals. They could be quite different. The other thing is a landowner doesn't necessarily mark each day they observe the animal, they only mentally record the event. It appears to the land owner that he or she is seeing them all of the time, when they really are not. Rabbit populations, as well as rodent populations are in a constant flux. Areas where there are hundreds of rabbit/acre can change to one or two/acre in a season or two. So ask them to be specific as to where and when they saw the last bunny.Secondly, rabbit dropping will last a very long time in areas that don't receive a large amount of moisture. I have spots in NV where the droppings are years old, but you would think there would have to be thousands of rabbits to produce the number of visible sign.Thirdly, Shooter is right on the mark when he stated that mornings are probably the best times of the day. Just remember, the populations cycle, the info may be as old as the sign you are finding, and just keep looking for new spots. Brushy spots for cottontails, and more open terrain for Hares.Another helpful piece of advice for this site is that you should include where you are from in your info. Members from your area can provide you with more accurate information pertaining to your specific location. I am not far from Sacramento, CA, but the members are all over the State, nation, and a few from other countries.db

[Jeff]

I kill a lot or rabbit on the properties I hunt, and 99% of kills are in the evening in that area. I usually just walk roads and they pop out, not much of a technique except to be stealthy.

[Thumper Dunker]

What kind of place are you hunting ?

[PredatorMaster]

I usually find the walking dirt roads and trails. They seem to like the prickly pear cactus plants as well. It just sucks trying to fish them out after you shoot them. Kicking brush only works if you have a shotgun handy. Early Morings are great after about 0900 they are all hiding. Found 1/2 before dusk is a good time too.

[TheRoman1]

Alright, in regards to location I was generally around Warner Springs. I think Bozsik'a comments sound right on the mark. The layman tends to say, "Aw shucks, they's rabbits all over the place!" when there are fifty billion factors that might make that statement true or not. To raise my spirits I visited a small private spot near Lake Mathews last night to find some bunnies and quickly came upon a cottontail that I chased from bush to bush for an hour until it got dark. I came home with a near asthma attack from all the brush and dust! I can see why people use dogs or teams to hunts rabbits; they always have the upper hand on you! Question: for hares, people always say look for them in open terrain. But wouldn't that make them hard to find given that they could see you so easily?

[woodog]

Hares, the California Blacktail Jackrabbit around here, will usually sit tight in cover and allow you to walk right past them as their first line of defense. If they feel that you are getting too close they will run at speeds just under 40 mph and appear to believe that nothing can catch them. Sometimes, if not being chased, you can stop them with a whistle. If being pursued they will start out at something less than full speed and turn an ear behind them to monitor the pursuer. When they realize that the situation is serious both ears go flat against the back and they hit the after burners. Other times they will get up 100 yards in front of you and just keep going. The next day they may be sitting and waiting again.I've been involved in Open Field Coursing of jacks with greyhounds, whippets and salukis for the past 12 years and never cease to be amazed by those little hares. Open terrain with scattered cover is where you usually fine them, but they will run for cover to escape while in the open field. Woo

[crazyhorse]

I've had two occasions to go on someones property to deal with rabbits(cottontails)...both properties had a canyon loaded with brush below and both owners stated they were "over run" with rabbits...in both cases I set up early in the morning and waited...I was able to pick off the rabbits as they migrated up to eat...on one evening I shot 7 rabbits in the owners back yard....we dubbed that "the patio" ambush and the owner used one of my air rilfes and got one himself...I also have been out hunting jacks in our east county on BLM land and have seen very few jacks this year...so most rabbits I get are near rural ranch properties....speaking of which,here are some taken on a friends horse ranch...Beeman R9 DG .22 This year(season) I have only got one rabbit out in BLM/Nat'l Forrest lands...think the coyotes are getting them big time,as I see coyote sign everywhere...

[PredatorMaster]

Hey Crazy I hope you had a friend with you because the Legal limit is 5 per day FYI.

[crazyhorse]

Yep...5 per day limit on cottontails...The owner was with me on the "patio" deal...but at my friends ranch, working alone,I was getting only two or three cottontails a morning in between taking out ground squirrels which was his main concern...rabbits were "fill in".....LOL...(it took me two weeks to make a big dent in his squirrel population)....and I have a license as well...Point is..since the fires, it has been a bit lean out in the boonies as coyotes are more numerous in areas not affected by the fires...

[PredatorMaster]

Good to go.

[TheRoman1]

Man, great photos! What a score for those jacks! I have been starting to wonder if the way to hunt rabbits was truly to stick to private properties. For the one I've been frequenting, I don't think evening would work as the jacks reportedly come onto the driveway, and during the evening there's just too much commotion around there for me to believe jacks would have the balls to appear. So maybe early morning...

[fastdog]

I've been involved in Open Field Coursing of jacks with greyhounds, whippets and salukis for the past 12 years and never cease to be amazed by those little hares. Open terrain with scattered cover is where you usually fine them, but they will run for cover to escape while in the open field. Woo

Hey Steve, is that you? I have a neighbor who recently acquired Cucuy's brothers and would love to meet you. When are coming out ofc'ing again - we need you.Chris L.

[ShooterJohn]

Man, great photos! What a score for those jacks! I have been starting to wonder if the way to hunt rabbits was truly to stick to private properties. For the one I've been frequenting, I don't think evening would work as the jacks reportedly come onto the driveway, and during the evening there's just too much commotion around there for me to believe jacks would have the balls to appear. So maybe early morning...

Those are cottontails not jack rabbits in that post.