Author Topic: Newbie hunter needs tips  (Read 1299 times)

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Offline azmark

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Newbie hunter needs tips
« on: March 11, 2012, 01:42:18 PM »
I have decided to take up hunting.  I just bought a rifle for big game, but I want to do some rabbit hunting to get some experience; OJT, if you will.

I am in SE Arizona and I need advice on where to look, how to take them,etc.  I have my new .270, a 12 ga., a .45 auto, and a .357 revolver.  I would like to use the .270 for practice but I don't know if it's appropriate.  I want to eat the rabbits.
Mark Dickinson
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Offline kynardsj

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Re: Newbie hunter needs tips
« Reply #1 on: March 11, 2012, 02:30:55 PM »
Unless you're stuck with making head shots at long distances a 270 is a lot of overkill with a rabbit. If you're jumping them up and a running shot is taken use the 12 guage and some #6 shot. A 22 rifle would be a nice addition to what you already have. Better for still shots on rabbits and such.
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Offline azmark

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Re: Newbie hunter needs tips
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2012, 03:20:56 PM »
I'm fine with taking head shots, but will the opportunity present itself?  Can you hunt cottontails by waiting, or do you have to flush them and then shoot them after they run?
Mark Dickinson
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Offline kynardsj

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Re: Newbie hunter needs tips
« Reply #3 on: March 11, 2012, 03:44:02 PM »
In my part of the world, Alabama, most rabbit hunting is done with a shotgun, with dogs jumping and chasing them. Most times if one gets away it will run a big circle and come back by you. Only still shots were many years ago, with a spot light when we would be out coon hunting at night. Used to shoot a few then for my Dad when I was a teenager. I'd be scared to death now to shoot one at night because of our game laws. Not sure what kind of game laws you have in Arizona.
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Offline azmark

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Re: Newbie hunter needs tips
« Reply #4 on: March 11, 2012, 03:51:37 PM »
We can't hunt at night.

Do shotguns tear up a lot of meat?
Mark Dickinson
USAF, Retired

Offline kynardsj

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Re: Newbie hunter needs tips
« Reply #5 on: March 11, 2012, 03:57:55 PM »
Depends on the size shot and the range. A load of #6's on a running rabbit at 20-30 yards isn't gonna tear up much at all. Probably have to pick some shot out when you clean them but that's all part of hunting critters with a scattergun.
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Offline tacklebury

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Re: Newbie hunter needs tips
« Reply #6 on: March 13, 2012, 05:10:43 PM »
We can't hunt at night.

Do shotguns tear up a lot of meat?
I have a pal that I hate to hunt rabbits with.  He's a great guy and we have good times shooting, but he shoots EVERY single rabbit in the A$$ end.  I don't know how many times I've tried to emphasize the fact of leading a rabbit, he just cannot do it.  So here's a tip.  Just because a 12 ga. shoots a lotta pellets in a big circle, that circle doesn't have to be centered on your target.  Practice shooting at small objects like a can or tennis ball and try to get just a few pellets from the edge of the pattern onto the target.  When I shoot a rabbit, my bead is about 1/2 a barrel width in front of the rabbits head and he runs right into the edge of the pattern.  So basically, using a shotgun with some practice, SHOULD get you rabbits with very few pellets in the best eatin parts, if you have an understanding of this principle, but IF you're a hard headed ......  Then you might have a lotta torn up meat.  I just refuse to even eat his rabbits, lol. 
Tacklebury --}>>>>>    Multi-Barrel: .223 Superlite, 7mm-08 22", .30-40 Krag M158, .357 Maximum 16-1/4 HB, .45 Colt, .45-70 22" irons, 32" .45-70 Peeps, 12 Ga. 3-1/2 w/ Chokes, .410 Smooth slugger, .45 Cal Muzzy, .50 Cal Muzzy, .58 Cal Muzzy

also classics: M903 9-shot Target .22 Revolver, 1926 .410 Single, 1915 38 S&W Break top Revolver and 7-shot H&R Trapper .22 6" bbl.


Offline 1django1

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Re: Newbie hunter needs tips
« Reply #7 on: March 15, 2012, 07:13:51 AM »
I've been lurking on these forums for a while but saw this question and decided it was time to weigh in. So hello, everyone.

Mark,

Hunting rabbits is a lot of fun and pretty simple. In southeast Arizona, depending on elevation, you'll be chasing either eastern cottontails or desert cottontails. I currently live in Oklahoma where we hunt eastern cottontails, but I grew up in Southern California chasing desert bunnies. The main difference that I've seen is that desert rabbits tend to use burrows more. Once they go down the hole you're not likely to see them again, and they spend most of the day down there out of the heat.

So step one is to grab your 12-gauge and some #6 or #7.5 shotshells. Use an improved cylinder or modified choke. Your rifle is way too much firepower for bunnies; look at them hard and they fall over dead (unlike squirrels, for instance). Step two is to find some land with plenty of brushy cover. Out here a sure bet is an old overgrown pasture choked with blackberry brambles - the more miserable it is to walk through, the better it is for hunting bunnies. I'm guessing that you'd do well to look for sagebrush and cactus. Desert rabbits don't need water but they do need fresh green vegetation to eat so keep that in mind. If you can get permission to hunt a farm, look for weedy edges near crops. Rabbits love that stuff.

Rabbits use the same paths repeatedly and beat down paths into the thick cover, so look for these trails and rabbit pellets along the edges of brush. Also look for large rocks with gaps underneath that they can squeeze into. South-facing hillsides seem to produce more bunnies than north-facing.

After you've identified some likely cover or have actually seen some rabbits while scouting, it's time to go hunting. All rabbits are most active at dawn and dusk and you're best off hunting the first and last couple of hours of light. Walk along brushy edges and stop to kick likely cover - often rabbits will freeze in place as you're approaching and will seemingly materialize between your feet, tearing off for the nearest patch of brush. You have to be quick on the draw - if there's a hole nearby they'll head right for it and you have to hit them before they disappear. On the other hand, if a rabbit doesn't have a hole to duck into it will often run about 10-15 yards away and then freeze, hoping you can't see it against the brush. So sometimes you get two chances.

Good luck and have fun. You'll figure out what works best for you - I have a buddy who moves quickly in an effort to cover as much ground as possible, while I prefer to stop frequently to make any nearby rabbits nervous that I'm onto them. Both methods work well. I enjoy hunting rabbits because the season is long (year-round in AZ, I think), they're very tasty, and you don't need a bunch of expensive gear to be successful. Just a shotgun and a good pair of boots.
Justin

Offline tacklebury

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Re: Newbie hunter needs tips
« Reply #8 on: March 15, 2012, 02:08:40 PM »
Good info there Django.  ;)   Welcome aboard.
Tacklebury --}>>>>>    Multi-Barrel: .223 Superlite, 7mm-08 22", .30-40 Krag M158, .357 Maximum 16-1/4 HB, .45 Colt, .45-70 22" irons, 32" .45-70 Peeps, 12 Ga. 3-1/2 w/ Chokes, .410 Smooth slugger, .45 Cal Muzzy, .50 Cal Muzzy, .58 Cal Muzzy

also classics: M903 9-shot Target .22 Revolver, 1926 .410 Single, 1915 38 S&W Break top Revolver and 7-shot H&R Trapper .22 6" bbl.


Offline mcwoodduck

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Re: Newbie hunter needs tips
« Reply #9 on: March 15, 2012, 03:31:47 PM »
Get a 22LR.  use 40 grain solid bullets.  They do not tear up a lot of meat.
With a little pracitce a running shot is not hard.
The first rabbit I shot was with a 12 ga from about 10 yards and I found the wad in him when I cleaned him.
 

Offline alleyyooper

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Re: Newbie hunter needs tips
« Reply #10 on: March 27, 2012, 09:50:23 AM »
If you walk slow and easy you can stalk rabbits with a 22. I have done it that way for many years. Of course we also get snow inMichigan that helps too.
the bigger snow shoe hare here in Michigan many years back when clear cutting was being done was fun shooting at the end of march when th snow melted with our varmit 22's (22-250, 220 swifts)  on hill sides void of snow.
 
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: Newbie hunter needs tips
« Reply #11 on: March 27, 2012, 10:30:37 AM »
We can't hunt at night.

Do shotguns tear up a lot of meat?

Depends on shot size and choke along with range. Try a mod or IC choke with plain lead #6's ot plated #7 1/2's first . If the range is farther then go to a tighter choke or plated 6's or unplated 5's . Rabbits are not hard to kill I have killed most with #8's while bird hunting. . Also if the rabbit is sitting still aim at the nose or a bit in front no need to hit him with the whole load in the body. If running lead a bit and don't stop your swing while pulling the trigger.
 
If ya can see it ya can hit it !

Offline tatonka

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Re: Newbie hunter needs tips
« Reply #12 on: April 02, 2012, 07:37:00 AM »
Get a good 22 lr bolt, pump, or semi auto. You'll end up with one sooner or later. Enjoy the fun!