Rabbit Hunting 101: Where They Hide and How to Hunt Them

Some resort to coyote hunting to keep predators out of their whitetail territory, and others will hide out until the winter weather settles down and spring gets a little bit closer. Although these are both excellent ways to keep your shooting skills sharp for the next deer season, one type of hunting is often forgotten and should be considered during these hard winter months: rabbit hunting. 

However, these little guys can be tricky to locate, so you first must understand where they hide. Today, we will tell you where to find rabbits and give you four tips on how to hunt rabbits successfully. 

Updated January 27, 2026. 

Where to Find Rabbits

Rabbits are mostly found where they locate food sources or cover for thermal and predator protection. This makes it crucial for hunters to locate areas with dense coverage, such as thick brush, oaks, or dense woods.  

However, rabbits have been known to tolerate human activity, causing them to hang out in brush near dwellings, barns, and small wooded areas. 

In the winter, rabbits tend to burrow into thick piles of leaves, brush, or shrubs for necessary cover.  If trees have fallen or been destroyed, you can almost bet that rabbits will most likely hang out here. However, from time to time, on a warm, sunny winter day, you can catch rabbits out soaking in the sun near south-facing slopes. 

All in all, the key areas to look for are: 

• Areas with human activity
• Sufficient coverage
• Lack of predators
• Field edges
• Groundhog holes or natural depressions (i.e., burrows)
• Old farms or overgrown properties

Now that you have a general idea of where they hide, let's talk about some strategies to help you better hunt for rabbits.

6 Rabbit Hunting Tips for Successful Hunts

Ready to test your skills and stay sharp during the off-season? Follow our six tips for hunting rabbits. 

1. Target Sunny Slopes When the Weather Allows

Although rabbits are primarily active during the early morning and late night, they can't help but move on a sunny day following a cold front. 

Therefore, watch the forecast and predictions using HuntCast in your HuntWise app to keep current on the weather that might be coming. On these sunny days, rabbits will often move at midday, especially on sun-drenched south and southwestern slopes. This can be an ideal time to hunt rabbits. 

2. Locate the Thick Covered Areas

One of the main reasons rabbits have become nocturnal is that they lack coverage to stay hidden during the day. Therefore, the best place to locate these furry animals will be within the dense vegetation of your land. 

Search for brush-filled hollows, overgrown shrubs, corners of fields, and areas with tall weeds and trees. Many of these spots offer crops, fruits, and other food sources as well, making it not only a place of coverage but also a food source.

Get a head start on locating thick cover and wooded areas by using the mapping feature in your HuntWise app. You can pre-scout indoors where it's warm before heading out for a winter rabbit hunt. 

3. Use a "Zig-Zag" Approach

When approaching rabbits, the best way to kick them out of hiding is to use the "zig-zag" approach. This will alarm the animals and allow you to bag some rabbits. 

Then, as you get them moving, you'll need to shoot quickly (so be ready, as we'll highlight in Tip 4). 

A drive method also works well if you're hunting with a buddy. One person waits up ahead while the other pushes through the thick cover to drive rabbits toward the hunter up ahead. Pause occasionally, as rabbits tend to freeze their movements periodically. This can reveal their locations. 

4. Bring the Right Firearm and Shoot Quickly

Out of all the game you can hunt, rabbits are not ones to lollygag around. You will not have the time you might have to line up your shot when hunting deer or turkey. 

Make sure you have your firearm at port arms when you are in ideal coverage and zig-zagging. You must be ready to shoot at any moment, as once you kick them up, they will zoom around quickly. 

5. Dress for Success

Safety and comfort are crucial when hunting rabbits, especially in the winter when cold temperatures can be hazardous to your health (or shorten your hunt). 

Wear gloves, boots, and thick clothing to protect yourself from thorns, brush, and the cold. You'll also want to wear blaze orange based on the requirements in your state. 

6. Choose the Best Time of Day to Hunt Rabbits

When is the best time of day to hunt rabbits? Getting out when rabbits are moving helps you find more rabbits and be more efficient during a cold, snowy hunt. 

Plan to get up early since rabbits are most active during this time for feeding. However, if you miss your early wake-up call, rabbits are also very active in the late afternoons. 

HuntWise Helps You Know Where to Find Rabbits

As with tips for hunting any type of game, the list of different strategies to use when hunting rabbits could go on and on. However, we feel these six tips are a good start! 

Understanding where they hide and the best ways to approach them will be crucial to your success. Attempting to stay alert, kick them up, and be quick on the trigger will keep your skills sharp and provide you with a nice, tasty meal.

If you're already using HuntWise to improve your deer and turkey hunts, use it for your rabbit hunts, too! You can use the mapping feature to mark where you see rabbit activity or where they hide in thick brush. You can also use the app to track the wind and plan an ideal day to get out and hunt rabbits. 

If you don't have the app yet, download HuntWise and try it free for a week! 

Content most recently reviewed and updated January 27, 2026. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How to attract a rabbit out of hiding?

A: To attract a rabbit out of hiding, move slowly and quietly, and try gentle rustling near brush or cover. In some cases, placing food, such as fresh greens, nearby and waiting patiently can draw them out.

Q: Where to shoot a rabbit when hunting?

A: When considering where to shoot a rabbit when hunting, for a quick, humane harvest, hunters typically aim for the head or upper chest. Always following local laws, safety rules, and ethical hunting practices.

Q: What is the best time of day to hunt rabbits?

A: Early morning and late afternoon are the best times of day to hunt rabbits. This is when rabbits are most active and out feeding.

Q: What bait is irresistible to rabbits?

A: The most irresistible bait for rabbits includes fresh vegetables like carrots, lettuce, apples, or clover, which are especially attractive, particularly when they’re part of the rabbit’s natural diet in that area.