Walking Up Rabbits

Hunting rabbits is a great survival strategy, and you don’t have to have rabbit dogs to be successful with rabbit hunting. With a little luck, you can bag a few cottontails all on your own, but you’ll need to be patient and alert. Before setting out on a rabbit hunt, it’s a good idea to scout a few areas to find out where the rabbits live and feed. Rabbits are usually out and about very early in the morning and late in the evening. These are the best times to observe rabbit activity from your automobile.

Once you’ve found where the rabbits are frequenting, decide on the gun you’ll use. For sport, a .22 rifle is a great choice, but if you’re hunting for survival and meat, use a shotgun loaded with #6 shot. I’ve always used a 12-gauge, but my old rabbit-hunting buddy always preferred a 16-gauge. An improved cylinder is best for short distances, like in heavy cover where you’ll likely be shooting.

Speaking of heavy cover, you’ll need to dress accordingly. Rabbits love thick, tight brush, and they seem to have an affinity for briars. If you’re planning on doing a lot of rabbit hunting, you might want to invest in a pair of hunting chaps or thorn-proof trousers. If not, wear the thickest pair of jeans you have. Rabbits are often found in swampy areas, so you’ll need a pair of waterproof boots, too. For safety reasons, wear a bright orange cap.

For rabbit hunting alone, use a walk-and-wait method. Take a few steps, then stop and remain motionless for a few seconds. Rabbits will often flush. If you have a sharp eye, you can sometimes spy a crouching bunny in dried grass or thickets. Forget about looking for the whole rabbit – their tawny fur blends in perfectly with dried vegetation. Instead, look for the small black marble that’s the rabbit’s eye.

If you get a good chance for a headshot, take it. If the rabbit is moving, you’ll need to lead it a little. You won’t usually have a lot of time to think about this, however, so always be on the ready.

Squirrel Hunting Tips: Sit-and-Wait Method

I used to really enjoy squirrel hunting, and it’s a great way to use the woods for survival. In many areas across the country, squirrels are numerous and can be found pretty easily. Before you go trekking off in the woods in search of squirrels, you might want to do a little scouting first to find out where the furry critters normally feed.

How to find the squirrel “restaurants”

You’ll find a stroll through the autumn woods relaxing and enjoyable. Before squirrel season opens, you can discover where they like to feed. You might want to do this in the middle of the day, when squirrels are usually less active. That way, you won’t have to worry about scaring them away.

First of all, you have to find an area that has something that squirrels eat. In my neck of the woods, that’s usually acorns or pine nuts. Look to the forest floor for evidence that squirrels have been feeding. When undisturbed, squirrels will usually consume any food they find on the spot. As they eat, they’ll drop bits of nut shell if they’re feeding on acorns. If they’re eating pine nuts, you’ll often find chewed-up pine cones on the forest floor.

When to hunt for squirrels

I’ve found that squirrels are most actively feeding in the early morning and in the late afternoon. These are also great times for squirrel hunting because you can use the long rays of the sun to your advantage, especially if the trees haven’t yet shed their leaves.

Find a spot

Once you know where squirrels frequent, walk to the spot with your gun and find a comfortable spot. I like the sit-and-wait technique for squirrel hunting. This usually involves a tree stump or a felled tree trunk. Face the direction of the sun. This will help you see the outline of the squirrel, even if a lot of leaves are present.

Get comfortable, with your gun ready, and watch for any movement. Use your ears, too. Listen for rustling leaves, nut shells or pine mast hitting the forest floor, and squirrel chatter or barks.

Shooting the squirrels

What gun is best for squirrel hunting? I like to use a .22 rifle without a scope because it’s a lot more challenging. If you’re hunting for survival purposes, however, you probably aren’t much interested in a challenge. You want to put food on the table! In that case, use a 12-gauge shotgun loaded with #5 shot or larger. You don’t want to use anything smaller. Squirrels are small, but they’re harder to kill than you think, and you don’t want to leave a wounded animal to suffer needlessly.

When shooting a squirrel, aim for the head or upper body, near the shoulder. That’s where the vital organs are located. If you made a good shot and the squirrel falls, go fetch it immediately. If it’s not dead, kill it. A quick blow to the head with a large stick will do the trick. Place the dead squirrel in a plastic bag or in your hunting pouch. Return to your seat, be still, and wait for the next squirrel to be spotted!