Rabbit Hunting: Shotgun or Rifle?

So what do you use to hunt rabbits, a shotgun or a rifle?

Around here everyone I know uses a shotgun as they're either hunting with beagles or are in a small group (typically 3-4) working a fence row or RR tracks. I know rabbit hunting with a rimfire rifle or even a 22 Hornet or .25-20 used to be quite popular so I'm just curious if folks in other regions still hunt with rifles or if shotgunning has taken over everywhere.

I've primarily hunted them with a shotgun over the years, but if there's a fresh inch or so of snow on the ground I love to venture into the woods with my trusty 22LR to bag a few. Fresh snow helps them stand out and you'll know all the tracks are fresh from that night/morning.

Bow. ;-) (Seriously, bunnies holding under the brambles with blunts is a hoot).

Though I frequently use a rimfire pistol or rifle. I also pester them with a flintlock shotgun.

One of my best bunnie-guns is a S&W M-14 Target Masterpiece with .38 wadcutters. I used to shot PPC and in the winter it was good sport to head shoot sitting bunnies.

One of my favorites, Stevens 311 410. Cant count how many I dispatched with that shotgun.

May be over kill but 16", 5.56 ar is what I will carry for out and about walks looking for something to eat.

Shotgunning behind beagles seems to be the preferred method here in the south.

I like a semi-auto 22LR a good dog and fresh snow. Best time ever!!

I don't really hunt much at all and prefer to fish more than hunt. But, most around here to my knowledge hunt with shotguns and either use beagles or walk them up and shoot'em on the run. I went with a coworker 3 years ago and that is how we did it, just walking and looking. Unless one is a dedicated rabbit hunter, I would be willing to bet many just jump them without a dog. Probably very few dog hunters now compared to years ago, and probably very few rabbit hunters of any kind as well if I had to guess.

Never have hunted rabbits but not sure I would have thought of using a shotgun! Shoulder the .22 and give them a sporting chance!

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Originally Posted by celltech

Never have hunted rabbits but not sure I would have thought of using a shotgun! Shoulder the .22 and give them a sporting chance!

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You better be a helluva shot when they go shooting out of cover and running through cover.:smile-new: Them little buggers are fast and agile.

You might be a super good shot for all I know. I know I'm not. Shotguns can be a bit safer under some circumstances as well.

Definitely don't see as many rabbit hunters as you used to, that's for sure. Couple reasons for that I think....

First, the railroads made all the rail beds off-limits which in many areas (like mine) were the best places to go rabbit hunting as they generally had a good thick row of brush/thicket on either side of the tracks that three guys could easily hunt (one on the tracks and one on the outside of the brush on either side.

Secondly, the ever increasing numbers of coyotes in areas where they didn't used to be so prevalent has really affected the rabbit populations.

Third, farmers continue to tear out and plow under every inch of habitat they can to get that extra few rows of crops in. I know of three really good sized woods, each easily 100+ acres in size that were clear cut, bull dozed and plowed under in the last 5-10 years. I grew up hunting two of the three and was utterly speechless when I drove through that area and saw that they were gone the first time. Lots of good memories deer, rabbit and squirrel hunting with my dad in those woods when I was growing up.

As for hunting bunnies with a pistol or rifle, it's poor form (and usually a waste of ammo) to shoot at them on the run. The smart hunter kicks them up then stands perfectly still and watches them as they run off. More often than not they will only run 20-30 yards and then stop right at the edge of another brush pile or thicket giving you a perfect shot at them.

All of the above plus pistols. The 38 Watcutter was particularly effective, as was the Lyman 215 ge Keith style bullet loaded to 44 Special velocities.

The choice depends on one’s interests and safety constraints. E. g. hunting where there are a lot of buildings or farm animals might suggest teh shotgun while in the boonies one could go with whatever has the reach to get them!

BTW, the AR is not overkill when properly used. I neatly removed heads from cottontails using a 222 Rem mag on my younger days. The meat was all there and undamaged,

Always used a 22 rifle. May be different up north, but around here they always stop, might not be long, but usually long enough to get a good head Shot.

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Originally Posted by 12bhunting

Always used a 22 rifle. May be different up north, but around here they always stop, might not be long, but usually long enough to get a good head Shot.

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Might help the rest of us know where "around here" is if you put your location in your profile. :thumb:

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Originally Posted by J.Baker

Might help the rest of us know where "around here" is if you put your location in your profile. :thumb:

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Thought it was listed... Monticello Florida

Fireants have all but eliminated the rabbits in Texas. I remeber walking fields in my younger days and hearing all of the rabbit an field mice babies squeeking(screaming) in agony as they were being bitten by the ants. Sad sight when you pulled the brush back to see ants all over a screaming baby animal.

In the limited experiences I've had hunting for rabbits, the weapon of choice has always been a 12 gauge shotgun. The times I've shot rabbits were usually done in the midst of hunting pheasant. Every now and then a rabbit would pop out and we'd take a shot at a running rabbit.

David

Sent from my moto g(6) play using Tapatalk

Here are a couple images from a two-day pay-to-play rabbit hunt that benefited St. Jude's Childrens' Hospital. Traditional bows only.

What a hoot. We'd take turns pushing the brush or waiting for "runners". I think for 18 shooters maybe two rabbits were hurt that weekend. ;-) I can tell you on the second day my hip joints felt like they were going to implode.

https://i.imgur.com/IahEiIj.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/t1SeDrR.jpg

Looks like a great - but exhausting time there Stumpkiller

Ya that looks fun. Using blunt heads? I carrry one in my quiver but with wheel bow. I lose lots of arrows and they cost a lot.

Years back, Game Preserve (Northern California) was opened up for Rabbit hunting just after Pheasant season. Rabbits were over running the place.
Shot guns only. Think there were 5 of us? Shot maybe 20/25? Traded them at the gate for shot gun shells.:cool:

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Originally Posted by DesertDug

Ya that looks fun. Using blunt heads? I carrry one in my quiver but with wheel bow. I lose lots of arrows and they cost a lot.

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Definitely blunts with the groups like that. Broadheads strictly forbidden even in quivers.

I loose or break about two dozen shafts a year pestering small game and stumps.

My camp name - Stumpkiller - I got because I had more fun at camp stump shooting than the deer hunting. ;-

I've been using a PCP air rifle to good effect out to 40 or so yards.

If there's a better rabbit gun than the Marlin model 60 I can't think of what it would be!

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Originally Posted by mattri

If there's a better rabbit gun than the Marlin model 60 I can't think of what it would be!

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Maybe not better (my first "bought just for me" .22LR was a Marlin M60) but as good might be a Rossi M62. Pump .22LR copied from a Winchester M62 - Kudos if you rock an original M62. Both are an updated version of the Winchester 1890 pump .22 . . . the quintessential "shooting gallery gun".

I use mine around the hobby farm and it is quite the varmint tool.

https://i.imgur.com/u8nxkSP.jpg

.22 here and just wait for them to stop and look back.

Used both .
Always thought the Marlin lever action 410 would be a blast rabbit hunting.
Henry makes a 410

Model 24 22/410, and decide on the fly! That was years ago in lower Michigan.

Last few times I've been out rabbit hunting were with a recurve bow and blunts.

Attachment 7295


Fun with muzzleloading shotguns as well.
Attachment 7296

Years ago my older brother and I would hunt with his dog or his FIL's dog and shotguns. I remember one of the last times we went I had his pump .410 and he had his single shot .410. His FIL's dog brought one up and it stopped on the other side of a draw from me, between 10 and 15 yards from me. I drew a bead and my bro said you'll never hit it. I took a shot and the rabbit rolled down into the draw. When he picked it up we saw that one pellet hit it in the eye and killed it. Luckiest shot I ever made. I wish we had a place to hunt now cause I'd love to go with him again and use our 22's. (My 10/22 for me)

For many years I used a .22 rifle, in particular a Remington Model 33 single shot. I think squirrels have to be close to triple digits with this gun, along with them its taken rabbit and even woodchucks. Sadly after getting hurt a while back, my left arm isn't as steady as it used to be so I have switched to shotguns because I am better and don't want to either miss or wound game only for them to wander off and die. So now I have started in the last two years of running with either an old Marlin 410 lever action, I also have a really handy Husqvarna Model 20 double in 12 gauge that I handload with light 7/8 ounce loads and just recently I found a very nice Browning Auto-5 Sweet 16 to use this year.

The Remington 33

https://i.imgur.com/yunLUxo.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/8YVnZxY.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/QN0XEf6.jpg?1

The Husqvarna Model 20

https://i.imgur.com/J7GRrpq.jpg?1

Marlin 410

https://i.imgur.com/XIVuKAe.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/Ia9gEnl.jpg?1

OK
Rabbit hunting here up north on the open the prairie Is difficult and is more of a long range operation.
There are a lot of cottontail in the AG lands and around ranch houses and buildings and such.
BUT most people won't give permission to strangers to come in to there yards and start shooting with any kind of gun.
Jack rabbits are a scope and shoot thing, 22/250 6mm's and a like. It is a lot of fun when they turn white and the snow has all blown off the prairie. Cottontail we try to get on a higher spot and scope the sage flats often you see them Sitting beside a sage plant getting some sun, This can be the best in big snow on a sunny day. There again center fire for sure.
About the only shot gun bunnies' we get are ones that jump when we are hunting birds.
No dogs just blind walking, you never want to shoot a rabbit that has jumped on a bird dog then they think that is what there looking for.