Rabbits with a bow

[Jacob Huffman]

I own only 2 acres of land and luckily it is in the township and zoned agricultural so I can bow hunt for deer or what ever.This past 2 weeks with all the snow I have tried my luck with the old recurve and went hunting for rabbits.I always see at least 6 or so but have not got any shots off.I am trying to wait for them to stop running but they never do.I guess thats why I keep seeing so many...lol.Does anyone hunt them with a bow?If so how do you do it and do you get many?Just courious to see if I need to shoot faster or something.

[Duckman Racing]

Try putting up a tree stand, and just hunt them like you would hunt for deer. Most of the time when you kick up a rabbit they are'nt going to stop running right away, unless you live in town and they are in your yard, then they only run about 5 feet, stop and look at you :bash:

[Fordfreak]

Jacob,

I have hunted rabbits with my recurve also. I always use flu flu arrows with judo points, which keeps you from losing to many arrows. Youll have to sneek through the fencerows looking for sitting rabbits and try getting off shots before they bolt. We also try jump shooting them by snap shooting at them as they flee. Its definately humbling, but sometimes you get lucky and actually hit one of them speedsters and it makes it worth the effort.



Fordfreak

[wild bill]

i used to hunt them with my bow all the time when i was younger. never shot at running rabbits though. i used to wait for the nice sunny days after a cold night and walk real slow around heavy cover on the side the sun was hitting. most of the time you will catch them just on the edge soaking up that warm sun.

[bhntr]

A buch of friends and I have been chasing rabbits with a bow for several years now. I have went once this year so far and gotten two with my recurve. Its easier with snow because you can see them better. Its hard jump shooting rabbits alone. Thats how I started and now I have a beagle. Just try to remember where you keep jumping these rabbits and aproach the area slowly looking for one setting. If you move slowly sometimes they will try to sneak away, even behind you. Its like still hunting for deer. Running shots can be made but you have to learn to lead them. Judos as someone mentioned are great to keep from loosing your arrow but can be hard to shoot through thick brush an old broadhead works well also. Good luck and have fun.

[Jacob Huffman]

Thanks for all your ideas.I will try harder to sneak instead of trying to jump them like when gun hunting them.

[Alpha Male]

Everything I know about bows-n-bunnies;

1) See them before they see you. Look for the Black Marble that is their eyeball...with a little practice, this helps to give them away.
2) If you spot one that hasn't bolted and you know it has seen you, keep walking and avoid eye contact pretending that you didn't see him. Practice launching the arrow the moment you come to a stop. They get nervous if they think they've been spotted followed by your stopping in your tracks. This method buys you about two seconds of sitting target.
3) Judo points needed, flu flus really aren't mandatory if you've got judos on the tip. Lumenocks are cool for this kind of stuff.
4) On sitting shots, aim for the big middle. When running, follow through at a point in space two feet above the eyeball. Your mileage may vary.

Have fun.