Small game hunting

[Talkinghalls]

Thinking about getting into small game hunting (rabbit). And possibly farm meat rabbits in the spring.
I have not hunted before, let alone hunted rabbits. Any suggestions on time of day, and general tips?

Figured I’d use a Ruger 10/22 Rifle. And if I get into farming them next year, maybe grab a .22 pistol/revolver.

 

[Michigan Slim]

I'd use a shotgun. Runners with a 22 might not be the safest option for a beginner.
I hit the fields about nine or so and start kicking brush piles and heavy fence rows. Lots of walking.

 

[Leadeye]

I use a 22 if hunting with dogs, a shotgun if just kicking brush. I've had pen raised rabbits for dinner several times in deer camps and they were delicious. I've been told that they are easier to raise than about any other meat animal.

 

[Titanium_Frost]

My kids raise rabbits, we ate a few. I prefer wild rabbits 10 to 1 over domestic ones. Wild ones are easier to clean and taste better with a better texture, but I know several people that say the opposite.

 

[thunderchicken]

I've been hunting rabbits for 36 years and this would be my thoughts and advice for a beginner.
First of all it kind of depends what kind of land you have access to. If it's a private farm, you might be able to get away with catching a sitting rabbit you can take with a .22. If you are hunting public land, you can bet it's going to be thick and I highly doubt you will get much of any chance at catching one sitting. Shaking the brush and hunting with a shotgun is your best bet. The key there is to use the right kind of ammo and don't over choke the gun. I use a 12g with 1 oz #6 shot Winchester rabbit & squirrel loads with either Imp Cylinder or Mod choke.
I usually hit the brush on public land just about day break as they can become somewhat nocturnal since every predator animal will also be after rabbits. But, I've also had good success hunting after lunch when it warms up a bit too. So try different times
It's personal preference, but I like to wear a pair of chaps while hunting rabbits because they do tend to hunker down in briar thickets that can scratch you up faster than an angry cat.
Plan to walk a lot, but walk short distances and stop for a few minutes and make some kind of zig zag pattern. This makes you a little less predictable and can make a rabbit get up and run.
It's not rocket science so just get out and start kicking the brush.

 

[Huzrjim]

All good advice. I love hunting rabbits and on several occasions, I would take both a shotgun and a .22 pistol for the occasional sighting of a sitting rabbit. When the snow is on the ground, I've also found spotting a sitting rabbit is easier.

 

[Jsomerset]

We had access to great hunting but most was scrub land with much hated briars at their thickest. We were our own dogs when I was a kid and we took turns being the dog ripping our way through those briars, one brother busting brush and one on either side in case the bunny decided to make a break for it across open ground. Our guns were always full of #4 or 5 shot. Amazing how much more success we had with those brush cutting loads then we took up using slug barrels when they came out to hunt the briars as it made it easier to swing. We raised rabbit and as Frost mentioned wild is much more tasty.

Hey Grandpa what’s for supper ?

We’re have’n bunny fried with lard, a 5 pound bag of squashed taters with 2 sticks of butter and a pint of cream, 5 sliced tomadders, a 6 quart bowl of beans of green boiled with back of hog and don’t worry there will be the gravy of god infused with the brown bits from the skillet of iron to cover the hoppers and bed of spuds and don’t forget the pie of pumpkin and a large ice cold glass from Elsie straight from the tap with a Happy Thanks Giving given to one and all!

 

[Expat]

My kids raise rabbits, we ate a few. I prefer wild rabbits 10 to 1 over domestic ones. Wild ones are easier to clean and taste better with a better texture, but I know several people that say the opposite.

Wild rabbit was one thing the wife really enjoyed out of the stuff I would bring home.

 

[cosermann]

…. And if I get into farming them next year, maybe grab a .22 pistol/revolver.

Far be it from me to discourage anyone from buying a gun, but if you’re farming/raising rabbits you just break their necks. Super simple, and free.

 

[patience0830]

Far be it from me to discourage anyone from buying a gun, but if you’re farming/raising rabbits you just break their necks. Super simple, and free.

Yup. I've killed hundreds that way. And watched my dad do it to hundreds before I was strong enough. He'd stretch a batch and we'd both skin for a while. Then when I was bigger we'd each just do 'em one at a time..

 

[Mongo59]

If you can find someone to take you out with good dogs, you will ask yourself why everyone doesn't do it.

 

[thunderchicken]

My brother and I took my son in law for his first ever small game hunt yesterday. We did see on rabbit but he he got away before I could get my gun off my shoulder. He kicked it up while I was looking up in some trees scanning for a squirrel. By the time I looked down and saw it, I didn't have time to get my gun off my shoulder.
It was good time just to get out and get him introduced to it. He had fun and has already asked today when we can go again.

He's not as big as me, so I was able to outfit him with some chaps and a hunting coat that was sitting in the bottom of my closet.

We went and shot a few clays today. So it's been a busy weekend.

 

[Mongo59]

My brother and I took my son in law for his first ever small game hunt yesterday. We did see on rabbit but he he got away before I could get my gun off my shoulder. He kicked it up while I was looking up in some trees scanning for a squirrel. By the time I looked down and saw it, I didn't have time to get my gun off my shoulder.
It was good time just to get out and get him introduced to it. He had fun and has already asked today when we can go again.

He's not as big as me, so I was able to outfit him with some chaps and a hunting coat that was sitting in the bottom of my closet.

We went and shot a few clays today. So it's been a busy weekend.

I use to take my son rabbit hunting. But he was larger, slower and much easier to hit, so where is the fun in that?

 

[huntall50]

Looking for updates on others rabbit seasons, all of our #’s are way down, any one else? What are you noticing, predation or cover problems?

 

[Mgderf]

Looking for updates on others rabbit seasons, all of our #’s are way down, any one else? What are you noticing, predation or cover problems?

I've seen one or two on my new property (3.5acres) but last week when it snowed overnight, I woke up to find my new yard simply covered in rabbit tracks.
Looked like enough tracks for a whole herd of rabbits.
Night of the Lepus!

 

[blain]

Elmer Fudd's perfect "Bunny Gun", a 10 gauge shotgun.

 

[Titanium_Frost]

Looking for updates on others rabbit seasons, all of our #’s are way down, any one else? What are you noticing, predation or cover problems?

I went out in the snow (I always try to hunt during a nice snowfall, reminds me of going when I was a kid) and saw quite a few tracks but couldn't scare anything out to shoot. I saw bunches of squirrels while deer hunting, no deer tho. A couple nice deer while squirrel hunting

 

[flyingsquirrel]

Before the deep freeze, we took 2 beagles down a fence row 3 times in a week and got 7 rabbits.

 

[Jsomerset]

I went out in the snow (I always try to hunt during a nice snowfall, reminds me of going when I was a kid) and saw quite a few tracks but couldn't scare anything out to shoot. I saw bunches of squirrels while deer hunting, no deer tho. A couple nice deer while squirrel hunting

Nothing sweeter than rabbit hunting on an overcast day around 32* with snow flakes the size of quarters melting through to the shoulders with a flannel. T-shirt and a standard blanket lined carhart unzipped because its just on the edge of being to warm.

As far as the causes. To many fox, coyotes, domestic cats, pesticides, herbicides and lack of cover.

 

[ws6duramax]

A group of us went a couple weeks ago when it was bitter cold. That Saturday was -5 and Sunday was -10!

Hunted my place Saturday and got 3. We usually take 5 on a average every year . Sunday we hunted another farm and killed 14 , probably seen/missed another dozen. This farm has been great the last few years but other years it's been about 5 .

This is all kicking brush and pushing through some of the nastiest sh!t imaginable. Always a great time and the younger kids just eat it up. When someone yells THERE HE GOES , their faces just light up. It's my favorite time with the kids for sure.