Rabbit Hunting Tips

[Rugerman]

Yeah, im going to Boron, CA near Edwards Airforce Base and need tips on getting some rabbits.

[VeryCoolCat]

Don't forget to be "vewwy vewwy qwuiet" when your hunting wabbits!

I don't think theres anything you need to know... except don't the eat meat of one with a spotted stomach... means it has parasites.

You need shotshell cartridges to be legal. .22 shotshell cartridges are ok.

Hell if you walk around you eventually see one and they either stay there for a splint second going "Wha?" or take off runnin.

[M. Sage]

You need shotshell cartridges to be legal. .22 shotshell cartridges are ok.

Dude, effective range on those .22 shotshells is what, 5 feet? Even then, I wouldn't bet on one taking down a rabbit.

Aren't rimfires legal to hunt bunnies with in the PRK?

[VeryCoolCat]

Dude, effective range on those .22 shotshells is what, 5 feet? Even then, I wouldn't bet on one taking down a rabbit.

Aren't rimfires legal to hunt bunnies with in the PRK?

They are legal to hunt bunnies with... but they must be shotshell... you have to use a buckshot load.

Don't ask me why...

oh and jackrabits are all year round whereas cotton tail are seasonal.

[moulton]

do they make .22 slugs?

[Spiggy]

IIRC; in Orange County, you can do it with box traps during the appropriate seasons and hours.

[anotherone]

I believe you can also use air rifles, crossbows, and bows to hunt rabbits but don't quote me on that.

I personally just use shot number 8 with a 12 guage to hunt rabbits during the early fall. However, because the air is likely to be a bit heavier in the winter I'd use shot number 6 or 7. Remember to keep your shotgun swinging and aim a bit in front of the head if they take off running. Rabbits are FAST! In my opinion it's harder to shoot rabbits when they take off then it is to kill ducks and doves in the air.

[xYourLocalAR15x]

i've got with my OLL and a benelli 12 gauge.



go with a 12 gauge. All i did was walk around and when they ran off i just pointed and pulled the trigger. BOOM tumble, tumble, tumble.

[jmlivingston]

You need shotshell cartridges to be legal. .22 shotshell cartridges are ok.

Are you sure? I think rifle and pistol are OK except if you're in L.A. county.... At least, that's how I read part "f" below.

CA Fish & Game Regulations

and firearm rifles and pistols for taking rabbits and squirrels, except in Los Angeles County, in addition to the methods listed in (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) above;

(g) In San Diego and Orange counties only, rabbits may be taken at any time during the open season by means of box traps. Such traps shall not exceed 24 inches in any dimension, shall be tended at least once every 24 hours, and shall show the name and address of the trap owner. All rabbits taken under this section shall be immediately killed and become a part of the daily bag limit;

(h) Electronic or mechanically-operated calling or sound-reproducing devices are prohibited when attempting to take resident game birds;

(i) Coursing dogs may be used to take rabbits;

(j) Archers hunting during any archery season may not possess a firearm while in the field engaged in archery hunting during an archery season;

(k) The use of live decoys is prohibited when attempting to take resident game birds;

(l) Pistols and revolvers may be used to take blue and ruffed grouse in those counties only and for the season described in Section 300(a)(1)(E).

(m) Crossbows, except for provisions of Section 354(d) and (g).

(n) Dogs may be used to take and retrieve resident small game.

Am I mis-interpreting this? I've been wanting a .22lr or a .17hmr just for this purpose, to hunt cottontails.

John

[M. Sage]

Looks like you're right to me. I haven't really read up on hunting regs here yet, but I have trouble imagining that .22 wouldn't be kosher for squirrels and rabbits and such.

Getting them to sit still long enough to hit 'em with the .22... now that's a different story. My preferred bunny gun in MI was a shotgun.

[Hunter]

I believe those initial post here are tongue in cheek posts If not, some people really need to understand the hunting regs before posting .

Bottomline is that one can hunt rabbits with ANY firearm. The only restrictions one might find is on general firearm restrictions for a particular area or local. But that would apply to all hunting, not just rabbits.

So who wants to go after jackrabbits at 500 yrds with a 50 bmg?

[jmlivingston]

Well, I hope it's tongue-n-cheek... Uusually there's some sort of smiley and VeryCoolCat is correct for L.A. county which is where he is; at least in regards to shotshell's being required for firearms. It's just not a statewide rule yet comes across that way.

When I was a teenager and hunted rabbits after school, I used both a .22 and a 12-gauge with a dove & quail load. That 12-gauge with the fine shot was the way to go! I was always amazed how tough it was to hit a rabbit with that Marlin-Glenfield model 25. Darn, I want to go rabbit hunting again!

John

[M. Sage]

So who wants to go after jackrabbits at 500 yrds with a 50 bmg?

Hahahaha. "Did I hit him? Did I hit him?" How would you be able to tell? :P

[anotherone]

When I was a teenager and hunted rabbits after school, I used both a .22 and a 12-gauge with a dove & quail load. That 12-gauge with the fine shot was the way to go! I was always amazed how tough it was to hit a rabbit with that Marlin-Glenfield model 25. Darn, I want to go rabbit hunting again!

I've found that even with an M-1 carbine semi-auto rifle they're still hard to hit if they start running. Shotgun will stop them no problem, especially when they pop their head up out of the grass to see what's up. What's up doc? 12 gauge that's what !

[moulton]

I have gone hunting twice for rabits and one time Me and me cousin were walking back to the truck because we hadnt seen a thing and a rabiit busts out running he shots it in the head with a 12 guage and it keeps running so I shoot it 2 times and it roled end over end dying