im only 18 but i been huntin cottontails for bout 4 yrs. i have noticed that after ya kick up a cottontail they will only run a short distance (under 75 yards) unless being chased then they will run a circle and come back to the general area in which they were kicked out from. if u go out after a fresh snow u will notice that there r rabbit tracks around certain piles and they dont stray far away from them...typically around here they only stray about 25 yards from the brush pile as long as there is food close enough...which there usually is everywhere.

do u kickup a bunny and let your dogs track it and stay in the same spot waiting for them to return or do u follow your dogs? if hunting by yourself its best to not shoot unless u know for SURE u will get it....ortherwise a wounded or shot at rabbit will make a very large circle or go into a hole. if by yourself u just use binocs and watch where the bunny stopped or track and stalk it. if your dogs start chasing it just stay in the same spot u kicked it oiut from and if ya got well trained dogs they will follow the bunny at walking speed and make it cirlce right back to u.

jackrabbits will make a VERY large circle but even they come back to the general area.

just lettin ya know wut ive learnt


ch312

PS. id just get one of those beeper collars ive heard they can be heard 100-200 yards away if volume is maxed out.

PPS. most dogs wont trail unless they pickup the scent....a day or less old. if u have a young dog that thinks they know what they r doing it is probly just following the tracks and not the smell......