Picking out rabbit spots

[catman529]

While deer hunting I've come across one or two spots where I've bumped a rabbit. One spot in particular I've bumped him 3 or 4 times in the same area. It's a mix of thick stuff and cedars. Last time I bumped him he wasn't more than 10 feet in front of me and I didn't even see him till he took off running.

Since I don't have or hunt with dogs, it's going to be a challenge. It will be good shotgun practice at least. When I run out of places where I have seen a rabbit, I may just find an overgrown field and start walking or kicking piles of dead wood or flood debris. I bet they are hard to hit. I'm thinking I should use a mod choke and 8 shot field/dove loads.

 

[Trapper John]

Modified may even be too tight for close flushing rabbits. I usually use an improved cylinder and 6 shot in both 20 and 12 gauge. If I take the double barrel it's improved in the top and modified on bottom.

I've never hunted rabbits with dogs. Can't stand the sound of a bunch of hounds howling. Field edges, brush piles, ditches and anything that stands out in an open area are good places to check. One of our best spots used to be an old abandoned combine that set out in the middle of a field. Two or three would flush from under it nearly every time.

Last season I got down to it and actually scouted for rabbits. I found droppings, paw prints, fur, and holes while looking for them. In spots that are too tight to hunt I set traps.

 

[catman529]

Thanks for the advice. Maybe I should look into getting another choke. Lots of good looking potential habitat on Yanahli where I hunt so I should be able to find a few more.

 

[cojax]

let me know if you want to hunt behind dogs and i will hook up with ya I am down there alot running my hounds......there are some good areas. you better be ready to shoot the patch hounds i run will make them move.....its fun....thanks cojax

 

[3006hollowpoint]

Both the places I found, the TWRA says are commonly hunted for small game, and I found a quicker way to my back-up spot :D

 

[timberjack86]

sometimes that rabbit will run out and stop when you kick him up. So aim for his head or youll have what my grandpa refered to as a soup rabbit :D

 

[Crosshairy]

I had the same experience with kicking up rabbits this season.

Yesterday, I decided to bring my shotgun instead of the rifle. As soon as I loaded my gun, I walked about 50 yards and kicked a big rabbit up. He flushed to my left, and started running through the trees out in front of me. I picked a spot between two saplings and fired, and the rabbit crumpled up.

That was the first rabbit I've killed while deliberately hunting for rabbits in years. It felt pretty special. To make things een better - yesterday was my birthday!

FYI, I was hunting with a 12-gauge pump with 6-shot heavy loads and an improved cylinder. I would encourage you to use a more open choke on rabbits when you are not hunting with dogs, because you are much more likely to have close shots. Mine was about 15-20 yards. I also jumped a rabbit later on at about 10 feet away, but it was too thick to get a shot.

 

[catman529]

I had the same experience with kicking up rabbits this season.

Yesterday, I decided to bring my shotgun instead of the rifle. As soon as I loaded my gun, I walked about 50 yards and kicked a big rabbit up. He flushed to my left, and started running through the trees out in front of me. I picked a spot between two saplings and fired, and the rabbit crumpled up.

That was the first rabbit I've killed while deliberately hunting for rabbits in years. It felt pretty special. To make things een better - yesterday was my birthday!

FYI, I was hunting with a 12-gauge pump with 6-shot heavy loads and an improved cylinder. I would encourage you to use a more open choke on rabbits when you are not hunting with dogs, because you are much more likely to have close shots. Mine was about 15-20 yards. I also jumped a rabbit later on at about 10 feet away, but it was too thick to get a shot.

Cool, that is encouraging, and congrats on the success. I have a modified and an XX and obviously will use the modified, unless I decide to pick up an IC sometime which I doubt, because I won't go rabbit hunting that much. Are the 6 or 8 shot dove loads too light in your opinion? They got such thin skin, I'd think anything would kill them. the dove loads work well on squirrels..

 

[cecil30-30]

I use low brass #6's

 

[PcDeer]

Nothing like listening to a pack of hounds pushing a rabbit! I carry my 16 ga or my 12 ga improved cylinder and 6 shot it never fails. We've hunted all across middle and west tn, a lot of good thickets hid away across our great state.