cottontail hunting with beagles...

gooseslayerT · 01-10-2007, 02:07 PM

Hey guys, im actually from southern ontario and down here, me, my dad, a couple of his buddies and my buddy Mike do a lot of rabbit hunting. We own 4 field champion beagles trained only for rabbits. This season we shot about 50 rabbits between all of us. I was just wondering if you guys have any good tips for rabbit hunting, like things that attract more rabbits or where they like to hide. I was also wondering if tree lines or old train tracks were better then hunting in the bush. Let me know, thanks.

buckhunter14 · 01-10-2007, 04:15 PM

First off, welcome to the forums. It sounds like you already have a great area if you have gotten 50 this season. We have also got about 60-65 this season with some major hunting. So I think you have a good setup as it is.

Something to think about, just like deer. Rabbits need food, water, and COVER COVER COVER. If you can find a crop field nearby, with thick cover. There will likely be rabbits here. You can almost time the rabbits, early morning they will be traveling back to the cover, late night they will be heading to the fields. Find some cover, and your set.

Good luck, Good hunting.

gooseslayerT · 01-10-2007, 04:21 PM

Ya man, we hunt about 3 really thick bushes. Im tellin you, its like Africa in there hahaha.. but ya, last year we shot 35 rabbits out of one of the smallest bushes, but like you said, it has tons of cover, and is surrounded by corn and beans. I sometimes think we should rent a machine and make lane ways for easier walking and a clear shot, after the dogs circle the bunny. Whats you setup?

buckhunter14 · 01-10-2007, 06:04 PM

My setup as in guns, or dogs, or area?

gooseslayerT · 01-10-2007, 06:58 PM

Ya I mean what's your setup as in area and dogs? What's your limit in michigan?

mike. · 01-10-2007, 07:29 PM

the bushes we hunt are really bushy. lots of small trees and thorns everywhere. my bush isnt big at all like he said but every year we manage to get a ****load of rabbits out of it. I think my bush is like 5-10 acres only

fingerz42 · 01-10-2007, 07:58 PM

Just started taking the dog out a few days ago, with some successful trailing but I didnt complete thedeed. Missed shots.. shots i cant take.. and guns misfiring, nonetheless he ran about 2 or 3 to me and i couldnt finish it.. nonetheless yesterday he ran one around and the mossberg 930 put the rabbit down, his first. today he went out and got us 3 more.. Hes off to a great start..

Blueditch42 · 01-10-2007, 09:31 PM

Rabbits like clover thick fescue and sumac. If you see the bottoms of the sumac chewed on then there are rabbits close by.

buckhunter14 · 01-11-2007, 05:47 AM

I hunt very thick cover. We have alot of thorn undergrowth around here. I just try and get a setup in the farm country, which we have many. We used to have 2 amazing beagles, mother and daughter. The daughter got hit by a car though, and we haven't had time to train another. The mother is in tip=top shape and is doing excellent. We can get 5 per day in MI. It is kinda not enough in good areas, but that way we don't over hunt them.