For many (including myself), rabbit hunting is a formative introduction to hunting. The experience usually forms a lifelong appreciation and development of the sport. The opportunities are plentiful; you can work with both rifles and shotguns, and many states offer year-round hunting.
While the opportunity is there, that doesn't necessarily mean that the hunting will be easy. Rabbits are fast and are happy to hang tight in deep camouflage. Let's explore some of the best strategies for how to hunt rabbits, including essential gear, scouting, and everything else you need to know before a bunny hunt.
What Is The Best Way to Hunt Rabbits?
Before hunting rabbits, you must familiarize yourself with all the legal requirements. Rabbit hunting season dates, regulations, and bag limits vary significantly by state and season. Always check your local and seasonal rules before hunting.
Though you may take varied approaches—including deciding whether to hunt with dogs—a couple of key tips will put you onto some bunnies. The first is to focus on areas where rabbits like to hang out: usually dense cover, such as brush piles, briars, and thickets. Try field edges near agricultural zones, where they can find some of their favorite foods, such as soybeans.
If you don't know where to begin or even where public and private land divisions are, start by exploring the mapping overlays in the HuntWise app and lining up a few potential zones.
Keep your firearm choice simple with a .22, a light shotgun, or a 12-gauge loaded with light shells (#5 or #6) to minimize meat damage while ensuring an ethical kill.
As you move through your hunting terrain, take it nice and slow to avoid spooking the rabbits. If you're onto a rabbit or think you're nearing a hot spot, let the rabbit hold instead of flushing too soon. Take frequent pauses to trigger movement.
Rabbits have a highly developed sense of smell, so staying downwind to reduce the chance of being scented during a hunt is essential. Get into HuntCast in the HuntWise app for insights on wind and weather to plan your hunt at precisely the right moment.
Best Strategies For How To Hunt Rabbits
Still hunting is an accessible, tried-and-tested strategy for how to hunt rabbits. It involves walking slowly through cover and pausing frequently. When still hunting, thoroughly cover areas with high concentration and be ready to shoulder your shotgun or rifle quickly.
Still hunting can be especially effective after fresh snow, as the snowfall makes the tracks to bedding and feeding zones more visible. During cooler weather, rabbits target buds and young saplings, and any edges with this green growth will be high-potential zones for still hunting.
If the going is a little slow, consider brush pushing, gently kicking or tapping brush piles, or kicking fallen logs to flush rabbits and get them moving. Stand hunting can also be highly successful. I've had plenty of luck with a pal hunting warrens and feeding areas around dusk with a .22, a handful of shells, and a beanbag rifle rest.
Hunting rabbits with dogs is a classic approach. Typically, beagles search for cover and flush the bunnies out. This method allows hunters to either take a shot when the rabbit is flushed or wait in the same zone until the rabbit doubles back to cover.
Techniques
After hunting rabbits for a little while, you'll start to notice their behaviors. Then, you'll be able to shift your approach to how to hunt rabbits accordingly.
When moving through cover, practice stop-and-start walking, as sudden movements and loud noises can make bunnies bolt. Maintain a low profile, crouching or kneeling to reduce visibility. Camouflage will also help, so wear earth-toned clothing that blends into your environment.
When scouting, scan the edges of vegetation rather than going deep into the cover. When you're onto a shot, aim slightly ahead of a running rabbit, as they tend to zig and zag unpredictably.
Before you even step foot into the field, use the HuntWise mapping features and satellite imagery to unlock edge zones between fields and timber. Mark feeding zones, such as grassy clearings, clover patches, orchards, then head out into the field and confirm rabbit presence with tracks, droppings, or tunnels.
When you're ready to hunt and start finding rabbits, keep two critical factors in mind. First, watch wind movement and forecasts on your map, and use WindCast to plan low-scent approaches. Second, follow HuntCast to track barometric pressure; rabbits move more after mild weather.
Your Rabbit Hunting Gear List
One of the great things about rabbit hunting is accessibility: you don't need much gear to get started. Whether you use a rifle or a shotgun, keep your firearm light to avoid meat damage. A 20-gauge or .410 shotgun, or a .22 LR rifle for precision, works fine.
For extra protection against thick cover, wear gloves, brush pants, and a good set of boots that guard your ankles. A game vest with a breathable pouch will allow you to store rabbits and continue working a zone without stopping.
Must-have items include a small hunting knife for field dressing and other tasks, blaze orange (which will likely be legally required), binoculars to help scout edge zones and keep an eye on your dogs, and a hunting app with GPS. If you're hunting in the colder months, hand warmers are essential, and keeping a rabbit call in your game pouch can be handy for finding rabbits. Pack plastic gloves to reduce the risk of tularemia when handling rabbits.
What Is the Best Time Of Day to Hunt Rabbits?
Rabbits are crepuscular, meaning they're most active and visible as they feed at dawn and dusk. Rain and snow can trigger movement, and these may be good times to hunt rabbits, as they feel safer in these conditions.
It's not uncommon to see a rabbit sunning during midday, especially bouncing across a field during cooler weather.
What Bait Is Irresistible to Rabbits?
Rabbits are true herbivores with a preference for fresh natural foods. Anything similar to the food they are already targeting will work well, such as fresh leafy greens (kale, lettuce, and dandelion).
While not as appealing as greens, other baits such as apples or apple slices, alfalfa, clover, and carrots are also favorites of rabbits at chow time.
Be sure to check your local regulations to ensure you can bait rabbits in your area.
How to Attract Rabbits While Hunting
You can use rabbit distress sounds or squeak calls to attract bunnies, but use this strategy sparingly to prompt movement. To increase your chances of finding rabbits, stay downwind to reduce scent, hunt food sources in edged environments, keep movements slow and measured, and remove bright or shiny gear that could signal danger.
Can Rabbits Smell You When Hunting?
Rabbits can smell you while you're hunting. They have an exceptional sense of smell, thanks to a large olfactory bulb that can detect human scent. To help your hunt, always approach from downwind and check for wind updates and movements frequently to ensure optimal positioning.
Before you hunt, use scent-reducing sprays and store your clothes away from strong odors. Consider the effects of other animal scents on your gear, such as those from dogs or predator species. Avoid lotions, deodorants, and strong-smelling foods.
What Does Rabbit Meat Taste Like?
Rabbit has a slightly sweet flavor similar to chicken or turkey, but richer. It can sometimes have a gamey flavor, and wild rabbits tend to be earthy. It's a very popular meat across Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and it's adaptable for a wide range of recipes and cooking styles.
How To Prepare Rabbit Meat
Tenderizing rabbit meat in salted water, brine, buttermilk, or red wine (a classic French style) can help break down tough muscle fibers and reduce gaminess. Most recipes call for moist heat to cook the rabbit, meaning it can be braised or stewed. Younger rabbits can be pan-fried or roasted for a crispier texture and pair well with rosemary, thyme, garlic, and sage.
You can use rabbit meat in stew-based dishes, such as pot pies and casseroles, or serve it grilled with potatoes and vegetables. Always ensure meat reaches a safe cooking temperature for food safety: the USDA recommends an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Take On Your Next Rabbit Hunt With HuntWise
Whether with dogs or a group of your friends, rabbit hunting is action-packed, highly rewarding, and a fantastic way to develop your hunting skills.
To make the most of your time in the field, download HuntWise. You'll be able to master the variables of the hunt, explore edge zones, monitor barometric pressure, and watch the all-important wind movement to get out in front of the bunnies and finish the day with a meal or two.
We have answers to your top questions about how to hunt rabbits!
Q: What is the best way to hunt rabbits?
A: The best way to hunt rabbits is to move slowly and quietly along brushy edges, hedgerows, and field borders where rabbits feed and hide. Still-hunting (walking, pausing often, and scanning) or using a trained dog to flush them from cover are both effective. Stay downwind and watch for sudden movement rather than obvious shapes.
Q: What is the best time of day to hunt rabbits?
A: Early morning and late afternoon (dawn and dusk) are the best times of day to hunt rabbits. Rabbits are most active during these low-light periods when they come out to feed but still feel protected.
Q: What attracts rabbits for hunting?
A: Thick cover near food attracts rabbits for hunting. Look for areas with briars, brush piles, tall grass, and nearby clover, alfalfa, gardens, or crop fields. They prefer spots where they can eat and dive back into cover within a few hops.
Q: What is a rabbit’s worst enemy?
A: A rabbit's worst enemy is natural predators like foxes, hawks, owls, coyotes, and snakes. Rabbits survive by staying hidden and relying on speed and zig-zag escape patterns.
Q: Where should you aim when hunting rabbits?
A: When hunting rabbits, aim for the head or just behind the head for a quick, humane kill and to preserve meat. Avoid body shots when possible, as they can damage meat and increase the chance of wounding rather than cleanly harvesting.
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Small game hunting can be a fun, low-stress activity and an easy introduction to hunting for beginners. Younger hunters and those new to hunting may want to start by hunting for rabbits, which are typically abundant across a wide range of habitats. Read More
