Best hunting for cottontail rabbits in 10 years, DWR says

Best hunting for cottontail rabbits in 10 years, DWR says

(Brent Stettler, Division of Wildlife Resources)


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THE GREAT OUTDOORS — The cottontail rabbit hunting season is underway in Utah, and Division of Wildlife Resources officials said the number of rabbits is the highest it's been in 10 years.

The hunt runs until Sunday, Feb. 28 and is a great opportunity for experienced and beginning hunters this season due to the high number of cottontail rabbits, DWR said.

The numbers of cottontail rabbits are especially high in eastern Utah this year, particularly in Duchesne and Uintah counties, according to DWR upland game coordinator Jason Robinson. The number of rabbits is well above average in those areas, but no matter where you hunt in Utah, you will find more rabbits than last fall, he said.

"Rabbit numbers are through the roof in both counties," Robinson said. "Cottontails are fun to hunt, and you don't need a lot of equipment to hunt them."

Along with Duchesne and Uintah counties, Robinson said areas covered with sagebrush in Box Elder, Tooele, Juab and Millard counties are also popular areas to hunt cottontail rabbits.

"These areas are fairly close to the Wasatch Front and they can provide good hunting," he said.

Photo credit: Ron Stewart , Division of Wildlife Resources
Photo credit: Ron Stewart , Division of Wildlife Resources

The best areas to find the animals have brushy, dry washes with a lot of tall sagebrush or rabbit brush or areas with lots of rocks and rocky outcroppings, Robinson said. While jackrabbits try to outrun their predators, cottontail rabbits typically try to stay hidden so areas with a lot of coverage are popular habitats.

Hunting for cottontails is typically best in the early morning and late afternoon, Robinson said. Between those times, you'll usually find them resting and sunning themselves near or under brush. If they're using rocks to hide in, they'll often sun themselves on a flat piece of rock.

"That's when the rabbits are the most active and are away from their resting areas," he said. "Early morning and late in the afternoon are prime times for rabbits to feed."

Robinson recommends having several people with you and spacing out while walking through brush to flush the rabbits out. Cottontail rabbits have excellent hearing, so make sure you move slowly and quietly and as you walk, pay close attention to areas where rabbits might be feeding or resting, such as near sagebrush plants and rocky outcroppings.

Shotguns and small-caliber rifles, like a .22, are good firearms to hunt rabbits with.

"Rifles are best if you plan on stalking rabbits and then shooting them before they move," Robinson said. "If most of the rabbits you see will be flushing and running away from you, shotguns are a better choice."

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