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Hunting cottontails

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Black Moshannon:
Well deer season is over here in Pennsylvania and I did not score. One of my strategies to become successful in selfbow hunting is to continue hunting every possible season and now is rabbit season. I have gone out the past couple days at dawn and kicked up a couple rabbits but could not get a shot at either one. I do not plan on ever hunting with a dog and so my only strategy right now is to walk quietly past a bush and hope when the rabbit flees out it stops for a moment in the characteristic manner of cottontails and gives me a clear shot. Does anyone have any ideas or experiences to share? Can I call cottontails with a predator call?  I have a farm field which is covered in autumn olive and honeysuckle shrubs to hunt, and another area which has a lot of brush along the woodline. I am going to ask a couple other farmers to hunt as well.

JW_Halverson:
Well, in my experience, hunting cottontails teaches you to pay attention to your subconscious. At first, the only fuzzbutts you see are the ones disappearing into the brush ahead of you. Eventually, you start to see one or two here and there. You keep it up and get your eye calibrated by enough time in the field and you'll pick an eye out of a cover so thick a tick would struggle to climb through. Then the edge of an ear, here and there the curve of their back, etc.

You are seeing them, you just aren't "seeing" them. Stick to it! Spend a little more time standing still and scanning. Plus the standing still sometimes makes 'em jumpy, pun intended, and they'll scoot a hop or two.

Hawkdancer:
Sounds like bunny land!  As JW said move slowly, stop, look, and see!  I have had them sitting right at my foot, just swung my gun down and shot.  Bow is a bit harder, but the principle is the same - they may spook a bit when you stop moving!  Have fun!
Hawkdancer

Tradslinger:
Rabbits can hide very well nearly in open sight as they tend to blend in easily. As a kid, we would stomp on brushpiles to run them out for a shot. My grandfather back then told me how to do a better job of spotting them in cover. He told me to quit looking for a body but to look mainly for an eye. They have big eyes and once you begin actually seeing them, they become easier to spot. We did this in the briars, blackberries and honey suckle but they really show up when there is snow. We would check all of the overhangs of snow and all shadows for an eye. ususally once you spotted the eye, the rest of the body or head would begin to be seen. a lot of fun with a stick and string. I used everything under the sun for arrow tips on rabbits but liked large blunt types. I also took 38 Special brass, drilled out the primer pocket and inserted a wing nut and bolt thru it with the wing facing the rabbit. I cut the bolt down to keep it about the same height as the wing nut. Very wicked on small game and doesn't bury up for easier finding the arrow. hope this helped a little bit

Black Moshannon:
Thanks for the ideas fellas. I will try moving slower and looking closer

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