Rabbit Hunting

Pursuing rabbits is a rewarding experience; all the way from the first rabbit flushed to the last bite of a good rabbit paprikash. Rabbit hunting provides an excellent opportunity to introduce youth to the sport of hunting while educating them on the importance of hunter-private landowner relationships, habitat, and hunting ethics. Hunting rabbits is simple enough that beginners can easily get involved, yet it can still offer an exciting challenge for the experienced hunter.
 

Before the Season

Rabbits use dense, woody habitat for escape cover.

There is much that can be done prior to the season to increase your odds of a successful rabbit hunt. It may sound silly, but just like deer and turkey hunting, taking time to scout for rabbits will pay off. Scouting not only helps to find rabbits, but also the time and opportunity to acquire permission to hunt private property. You can scout rabbits in one of two ways.  One way is to look for habitat and food sources that rabbits may use.  Escape cover is very important for rabbits in late fall and winter.  Look for low growing, dense woody cover such as berry patches, multi-flora rose, briars, honeysuckle, woodlot edges and fencerows.  Thick grasses, weedy forbs, and even abandoned farm equipment will also provide rabbit habitat.  Rabbits will feed on grasses, clover, wheat, garden crops, alfalfa, corn, and soybeans, but will sometimes switch to more woody foods in the winter. The second way is to simply look for the rabbits themselves. The best times to find rabbits out and about are at dusk and dawn.  Remember, a rabbit’s home range is about five to eight acres. 

The beauty in rabbit hunting is in its simplicity. Minimal gear is needed to get started.  A good pair of boots and a pair of brush pants (or thick denim jeans) can go a long way in saving your legs and feet in thick habitat. A trusted shotgun, box of shells (shot size 6 to 7-1/2), pocket knife, plastic bag, and small game vest (hunter orange is highly encouraged) is all you really need to get started.  Some hunters enjoy the challenge that is offered by using a .22 rifle or a bow.  (Please note that rifles cannot be used to hunt rabbits on wildlife areas from October 15 to January 1.)
 

In the Field

Hunting with a well-trained dog can improve your chance of success.

Rabbit hunting can be as leisurely as a walk through the woods or field or as intense as thrashing some thick habitat trying to flush a rabbit. Both methods prove successful on any given day.  Be very alert during pauses and breaks from walking. It is often during these pauses that rabbits will make their break and flush.

Some rabbit hunting enthusiasts like to use their four-legged friends, beagles and hounds, to help them locate their rabbits. Dogs can easily pick up rabbit scent and work the thicker habitat, making the hunt easier for you. Also, dogs will often run rabbits in circles offering more chances to take your shot. Watching a set of beagles working rabbits can be as enjoyable as the hunt itself.

If the hunt takes a successful turn and rabbits are harvested, the plastic bags now come in handy. Cut a slit in the skin near the backbone, but do not slice into the meat. Peel the skin in opposite directions, tearing it from the meat. Once the rabbit is dressed (innards removed), the legs can be removed, though this is not absolutely necessary in the field. Wrap the meat in plastic and head home to enjoy a tasty meal.
 

Back at the House

Nothing is more rewarding than a fresh meal from your harvest.

A fresh dinner prepared from the bounty of a good hunt rounds out an incredible hunting experience. The lean, white meat of rabbit is often compared to the taste and texture of chicken. Substitute rabbit into all of your favorite chicken recipes to create dishes that will satisfy your taste buds. Rabbit and other wild game recipes can found in our Wild Ohio Cookbook.  If the recipe calls for a period of simmering or baking, use that time wisely by cleaning your gun to ensure it will properly function on your next hunt.  As always, be safe and enjoy the hunt!