Thread: How to hunt rabbits?

Pick up the dead rabbits within about 5 minutes of shooting them or they will be real smelly and sometimes the stomach bursts when you gut them out.

I'm not a real expert on spotlighting rabbits so others here will have better advice but ...
If you're on foot you won't have the spotlight on all the time. I like to walk a bit using a dim torch or moonlight then turn on the light.
I try to start with the best part of the place first, usually right in the middle of a clearing and quickly scan around it then finish up on the edges.
I shoot whatever I see first, don't wait around looking for more. Best chance is when you first turn on the light (unlike searching with binos).

If theres a walkway, be extra careful. Nowdays, some will be moving around with night vision gear and often theres enough light that people can be out for a stroll without any light, while you are night blind using the spotlight. Don't shine the spotlight on the ground near your feet or use it as a torch. Dayllght is safest (you can properly see your firing zone) and much more enjoyable. Spotlighting is dark, cold, wet (windy in Wellington) and a thoroughly second rate way of hunting.

Good on you for asking advice. Have fun and good eating !