Hiked 5 Miles Rabbit Hunting Only Saw 1?

[UTGrad]

I just started rabbit hunting as something to do with the boys after deer season and before baseball starts. I'm on a lease with crop fields, fence rows, thickets, logging roads, mowed fields, etc. I have seen rabbits in the past but never paid much attention to them.

Is it unusual to hike 5 miles for almost 4 hours stomping on brush piles, tall grass, thickets and briars to only see one rabbit? Is it possible we don't have many on the property or are there just slow days rabbit hunting?

Thank you!

 

[TheLBLman]

Yes, anything is possible.
But I suspect so few rabbits seen may have been more an issue of not yet refining your rabbit hunting techniques. IMO, it is truly an art to regularly kill rabbits WITHOUT the aid of dogs.

It is also an art to regularly kill a limit of squirrels.

And very different techniques in squirrel hunting vs. rabbit hunting (when not using dogs).

I bet you still had a great outing with the boys?

IMO, taking them on a variety of small-game hunting more than big-game hunting will do more to teach them "how to hunt" and develop a lifetime passion for hunting, than say, just sitting on a deer stand during a "juvenile" deer hunt.

 

[UTGrad]

Yes, anything is possible.
But I suspect so few rabbits seen may have been more an issue of not yet refining your rabbit hunting techniques. IMO, it is truly an art to regularly kill rabbits WITHOUT the aid of dogs.

It is also an art to regularly kill a limit of squirrels.

And very different techniques in squirrel hunting vs. rabbit hunting (when not using dogs).

I bet you still had a great outing with the boys?

IMO, taking them on a variety of small-game hunting more than big-game hunting will do more to teach them "how to hunt" and develop a lifetime passion for hunting, than say, just sitting on a deer stand during a "juvenile" deer hunt.

The boys love small game hunting. Especially squirrel and dove. Turkey season is going to be a blast (no pun intended but it does fit lol).

I've been doing some research on where to find the bunnies and I was trying to flush them out by walking around the thick stuff and kicking brush piles. More to learn for sure.

 

[MickThompson]

Yes, anything is possible.
But I suspect so few rabbits seen may have been more an issue of not yet refining your rabbit hunting techniques. IMO, it is truly an art to regularly kill rabbits WITHOUT the aid of dogs.

It is also an art to regularly kill a limit of squirrels.

And very different techniques in squirrel hunting vs. rabbit hunting (when not using dogs).

I bet you still had a great outing with the boys?

IMO, taking them on a variety of small-game hunting more than big-game hunting will do more to teach them "how to hunt" and develop a lifetime passion for hunting, than say, just sitting on a deer stand during a "juvenile" deer hunt.

Exactly. 2 different skill sets here- stalking for squirrels and habitat identification for rabbits. Unlike squirrels, rabbits hold incredibly tight if they think they are hidden. Rabbits will often sit until the dog was under the same briar clump with them. A trick for hunting rabbits without a dog is to freeze when you're near really good cover. That will be hard to do with kids, but a couple moments' silence after hearing you nearby will often make rabbits nervous enough to break cover and run.

Time of day is big with rabbits too. Morning and evening are by far their most active times and your best chance to catch them away from a hole.

 

[MickThompson]

The boys love small game hunting. Especially squirrel and dove. Turkey season is going to be a blast (no pun intended but it does fit lol).

I've been doing some research on where to find the bunnies and I was trying to flush them out by walking around the thick stuff and kicking brush piles. More to learn for sure.

Our blackberry brambles are all flattened after the recent winter weather. Upright clumps, especially those with grass or honeysuckle draped over the top for cover or food, are spots to key in on.

Also look for saplings with the bark stripped. This will show you where the rabbits have been feeding.

 

[TheLBLman]

Also, if you have a small dog, such as a fiest, a little dog that can tag alone with you may help find & flush some bunnies.

Rarely an opportunity in most of TN, but you can also track rabbits after a fresh snow.

A trick for hunting rabbits without a dog is to freeze when you're near really good cover.

To expand on that a bit, you can move kinda fast walking (short distances), then suddenly stop with a step that shakes some cover (such as into honeysuckle & briars).

Fast walk 10-20 yds, sudden stop, repeat,
as opposed to just a steady trudging forward.
More or less "run" 3 or 4 steps into or onto the cover,
then stop for a minute.

 

[TheLBLman]

Rabbits are not as easy to just go out and kill as many might think.

Even coyotes are not as good as it as we give them credit, unless they catch one way out in the open.

I have one trail cam right now that picks up 2 or 3 rabbits in front of it about every night. Funny thing is, there is a coyote or two that also comes by about every night. Often the rabbits will be there, five minutes later, along comes Wile Coyote, then a few minutes later, there are the rabbits back again. This has been going on for months, and I've never seen any evidence a coyote has caught one of those rabbits living near that particular trail cam.