Hunting For Rabbits

By Jeff Berti
Stomping through brush is not a lot of fun. First you have sticker bushes or vines that grow throughout the year for one main purpose: to impale humans. Then, you have obstacles that seem almost impossible to conquer. These may include fallen trees or swinging branches that slap extremely hard across a cold, chapped face.
So why would anyone subject themselves to walking in the thickest woodland cover? Why, for rabbits of course! Rabbit is by far one of the best tasting wild meats. Some compare it to a sweet chicken, but I think it is even better. Rabbit is chewy, but not tough (unless you shoot an old “grandpa”, which is a good choice for stew). However, a young fried rabbit would be star billing in any gourmet restaurant.
Recently, I had a person ask me, “Why are all the rabbits gone?” Rabbits are not gone. There are less in some spots and more in others. Let me explain:
Rabbit numbers suffer when habitat is wiped out. Bulldozers push out ditches and timber strips for more tillable grounds. I can’t disagree with farmers for this. They are trying to make a living in a difficult job. More tillable acreage means more money to feed their families. However, wildlife suffers when thick cover disappears.
Predation is the second part of diminishing rabbit numbers. Low fur prices means less trapping. Numbers of coyotes, foxes, bobcats and other predators are at an all-time high. This group loves to eat rabbit.
Rabbit populations that retain good numbers enjoy good habitat in the form of brushpiles or thick cover for escape. Chances are they will also have a good food supply nearby. Look for rabbits in thick grasses or timber where ground cover seems almost impossible to walk through. Rabbits may survive with stealth that would amaze a Navy Seal, but they also rely on living in areas most creatures wouldn’t go.
Rabbits stay alive by disappearing at the first hint of danger. Approach a hunting area quietly and you might have a chance. Make a lot of noise and you will be lucky to see a rabbit’s tail disappearing over the distant ridge.
The best way to hunt rabbits is behind a good dog, preferably a beagle. When hunting with a dog, you must let the dog do all the work. If you try to keep up with the dog, you will probably not get a shot at the rabbit. When the dog “jumps” a rabbit, stand still and wait. More than likely, the rabbit will circle back to the area where the chase started.
If you don’t own a beagle, try hunting with a group of hunters. Space hunters about 10 yards apart and step on every clump of grass or brush.Rabbits will try to hide from hunters, if not pushed by oncoming sounds of danger.
Make sure each hunter is aware that rabbits are fast and may run in almost any direction. This is a safety factor that, if not followed, can get hunters shot. It is imperative to know each hunter’s location before shooting. Always remember to keep a safe “zone of fire.” One good rule to live by is, never turn and shoot behind you. You don’t have eyes in the back of your head, so you don’t know what’s back there. If you lose track of your hunting partners, stop all hunting until everyone is accounted for. It only takes one mistake to ruin a good hunt, not to mention the possibility of ruining a life. Although it is not required, hunter orange is a must when rabbit hunting. Nothing shows up better in thick brush than bright orange.
Rabbit hunting on public areas is usually pretty good. Most people don’t hunt rabbits, and the Missouri Department of Conservation has purposely developed habitat suitable for rabbit survival. Light pressure and good populations make for some fast, exciting hunting.
On private land, look for thick grass, brush or brushpiles. Other features to look for are: old, fallen in barns, “junk” or abandoned vehicles or machinery, and brushy fence rows. The more multi-flora rose bushes, the more rabbits.
Many hunters use shotguns for rabbit because they are small, fast moving targets. But a .22 rifle has its place in the rabbit woods, too. I prefer a .22 because it tears up less meat and you occasionally find a rabbit sitting near a brushpile. Old timers used a .410 shotgun. My dad started me out with this small, light-weight gun when I was a child. Now that I’m older, and buy my own shells, I’ve noticed that .410 shells are expensive compared to .22 rifle bullets.
So, why not try rabbit hunting for the sport and a fine meal. Some people soak rabbit in buttermilk overnight to eliminate any wild taste, but it’s not necessary. However, I do soak rabbits in salt water to eliminate any impurities. Then, I simply dip in milk, flour and fry like chicken. Ohhh, how sweet it is!