Rabbit Hunting without dogs

[mstr2175]

Hello everyone, I am a little new to rabbit hunting and do not own any dogs period. Trying to get a little help and advice on rabbit hunting solo...no partner, no dogs. Also, if anyone here has been to Kingsbury FWA in Northern IN, let me know of some good spots. I have been out there twice now with no luck, hitting area 8. Not sure if the 12-15 inches of constant snow on the ground lately has anything to do with it, but maybe some tips on hunting in that as well. Thanks!

[dbd870]

Used do a lot of it as a teen. Occasionally we'd have a dog or more people but most of the time it was just 2 of us. We'd walk the fields and edges/cover and kick them up. No reason a single hunter couldn't do the same. Cold weather/wind they'd hold tight and you'd have to get close to kick them up. One time they were holding so tight I stepped on one in a field. As far as IN, I've never rabbit hunted; none of my places have the habitat to hold them and I don't know anything about Kingsbury, sorry.

[mstr2175]

Yea I have been walking the edges and kicking through some brush, but haven't kicked one up yet. Funny that you mention stepping on one because I swear that's what I am doing sometimes. Like I said, the 12 inches of snow up here doesn't help either. Hard to even see what you're walking in. Kingsbury is supposed to be great rabbit hunting...around 800 harvested each year, but I haven't had much luck. I'm just hoping most of this snow melts before the season ends so I can get out there.

[trapperdave]

use that snow to your advantage. dont take long to find where they are if any are around. look for tracks n droppings. remember their back feet land in front of their front feet when youre tracking one...otherwise youll be backtracking

[drs]

I've never used a dog for hunting rabbits. Just walked the field edges next to woodlots, did fairly well bagging bunnies this way.

[squirrelhunter]

Don't just kick around brush piles and bushes,you'd be surprised at how small of little clumps of weeds they hide in too. When I walk a fence row I just kick every few steps at whatever little groups of weeds and stuff are there. There's been lots of times after 1 took off I'd look at where he was sitting and wonder how I couldn't have seen him sitting there.

[trapperdave]

Look for their eyes, thats all you will see when they are hunkered down not moving and pause frequently near thick brush...sometimes that gets em running more than kicking

[drs]

Feb 13, 2015 17:08:43 GMT -5 squirrelhunter said:

Don't just kick around brush piles and bushes,you'd be surprised at how small of little clumps of weeds they hide in too. When I walk a fence row I just kick every few steps at whatever little groups of weeds and stuff are there. There's been lots of times after 1 took off I'd look at where he was sitting and wonder how i couldn't have seen him sitting there.

That's correct.  Once Rabbits find and hide in a pile of brush, they will stay put, as they know they are safe there.  I've bagged most of my Rabbits in fence rows and the edges of grain fields, with some in small patches of woods.

[featherduster]

Ask to speak with Scott over at Kingsbury he know Rabbits.

[nfalls116]

You could also try to find someone to go with who has dogs if you've never hunted with dogs then don't even take your gun the first couple times learn the ropes before you try to shoot rabbits many beaglers will take you as a ride along especially if you let them know you want to observe their hunting style and how they hunt with dogs before you start shooting no one wants there dog shot.
P.s. If they don't treat their dogs right there's no excuse for it and don't run with em anymore.

[mstr2175]

Feb 14, 2015 6:35:35 GMT -5 featherduster said:

Ask to speak with Scott over at Kingsbury he know Rabbits.

I think I spoke with him briefly the first time I visited there. Is he a middle aged man, slender build? He mentioned if there wasn't so much snow on the ground, he would have taken some dogs out there and joined me.