4 Winter Rabbit Hunting Tips

Small game hunters know that hunting rabbits is an excellent learning experience and a great way to get novice hunters in the field, especially in a season that offers few hunting options.

Rabbit bodies are designed for hopping and running. Their strong legs and well-sprung muscles allow these small creatures to outrun cars in more extreme cases.

In many ways, rabbit hunting introduces a new and exciting challenge to all types of hunters. You can head out on a solo hunt, leaving your dogs behind, taking a single shot and some shells for a successful rabbit hunt.

You're sure to bring home a few rabbits by studying a rabbit's defensive strategies, learning where they hide, and being patient.

Here's what to know for a more successful winter rabbit hunt this year!

1. Understand Rabbit Habits and Habitats

A wary and timid herbivore, the rabbit is a quintessential small game animal.

As with all prey animals, rabbits have specific defensive tactics. In the winter, these creatures tend to hide by burrowing into thick piles of leaves, brush, or shrubs for cover. When faced head-on with a predator, a rabbit's first instinct is to freeze to blend in with the surrounding vegetation.

If a rabbit comes out of hiding to run away from you or another predator, it will zig-zag in leaps to throw you off its trail. This is one of the rabbits' primary defensive measures.

Since rabbits are always on alert, locating them by finding their favorite foods, such as clover, alfalfa, and blackberry bushes can be easier.

In the winter, if it's sunny, rabbits tend to be more active. On the ground, rabbits are drawn to overgrown brush piles, thick tangles of briars, or brushy fence rows bordering an ag field. However, overlooked and unusual locations, such as abandoned barns, junkyards, or powerline cuts, can often be goldmines for rabbit habitats.

Additionally, find deteriorating structures. Rabbits like digging dens around the foundation or what's left.

2. Gear Up For Success

Dawn or dusk are the best times to find rabbit habitats. Look for where you see rabbits disappear into the brush – there's a good chance that spot is a den. However, getting out at these times of day can be especially chilly in the winter.

When planning a winter rabbit hunt, bringing the proper equipment is key.

In many public land areas, a blaze orange vest is a must. Many vests feature game pouches that can provide additional storage for your gear, keeping your hands free to hold your firearm.

In the winter, thick clothing and boots are crucial. You'll also want a pair of heavy-duty gloves.

Don't Forget the Right Firearm

A firearm is the most essential item on your shortlist for a rabbit hunt.

For many lifelong hunters, the 12-gauge is a go-to. However, sometimes you'll find the 12-gauge is a little too much gun for smaller game. The power and velocity of shotshells can do a number on a rabbit, even if you're using smaller shot sizes.

A .22 long rifle or .410 shotgun are lighter options. However, when it comes to shooting rabbits, hunters aren't limited to firearms. Bowhunting is an option – but be prepared for a test of your aim and accuracy when using a bow.

Rabbits are small, less than a foot long, and are frequently on the move. Use a broadhead designed for small game, as larger broadheads can destroy the meat.

3.Understand the Weather

Many hunters go out for rabbits during the winter months after deer season ends.

As with any animal, a rabbit's habits change as the seasons change. So, if you're out on a really cold day, you'll likely need to flush your prey from their hiding holes where they try to stay warm.

However, if it's sunny and slightly warmer, you may be able to find more rabbits active during the day, instead of just at dawn or dusk.

Rabbits, like humans, don't like being cold and wet. Because their fur doesn't serve as a great source of insulation when the temperatures drop below freezing, you can likely find them taking shelter under bushes or in heavily wooded areas.

You can also check south- or southwestern-facing slopes on a warmer day for rabbits sunning themselves. They do this to raise their internal temperatures.

Use the Wind

Wind can have a dramatic effect on the movement of rabbits. While not ideal for rabbit hunting, strong winds force rabbits to seek shelter in ditches or under shrubs and bushes, making their location more predictable.

As you go through your day in the field, walk into the wind. Working through a field upwind carries your scent and noises away from those hidden rabbits. You can also weave a long pause into your walk to try and trick rabbits and keep them from identifying your approach.

Rabbits are incredible listeners and may uncover and hear hunters from long distances. As you zig-zag through a potential rabbit habitat, pause every so often. Wait and be still and silent for up to 30 seconds to encourage rabbits to stop listening for your footfalls.

Also, during that pause, rabbits might think you've spotted them. Wait long enough, and they may flush out of their hiding spots on their own, thinking they are escaping a perceived threat.

Remember: you don't have to guess about the weather or potential rabbit activity! HuntWise equips rabbit hunters with hour-by-hour weather forecasts and provides species-specific predictions based on wind, weather, barometric pressure, and more.

4. Be Observant

When walking through the low-lying brushy areas, keep your eyes open. Look for rabbit droppings, which are small, about the size of blueberries, and round. You'll see them grouped in small piles.

Rabbit droppings are a good sign that rabbits are nearby, so get quiet and wait to see if a bunny emerges from hiding.

Use HuntWise (and These Tips) for Winter Rabbit Hunting Success

Many hunters love rabbit hunting as a favorite off-season pursuit. Chasing rabbits helps hunters hone their skills while enjoying a day out in the field on a solo adventure or with friends or young hunters.

The HuntWise toolset can help take your hunting experience to the next level. With multiple topographic map options, the latest satellite imagery, a range of base layers, and species-specific forecasts, you can increase your chances of success for a winter rabbit hunt.

If you don't yet have HuntWise, a rabbit hunt is an excellent time to explore every feature – free – for your first week in the app!

Content reviewed and updated July 16, 2024.