My first stalk

[Slackbunny]

The other day on my way in to work (building a log cabin on top of a big hill), I spotted a rabbit munching away in the middle of the woods road I was driving on. I stopped the truck about 40 yards away, and snuck out real quite with my bow which I already had strung in preparation for this very situation. I nocked my arrow and started sneaking up real slow on the rabbit. When I was within 25 yards I was only moving when he put his head down to eat, and I froze every time he lifted his head to look around. I got to about 15 yards, drew my bow, released, and hit the dirt about ten feet short. He skittered off into the woods never to be seen again. But I havn't had that much fun since I was a kid. Who would have thought that rabbit hunting could be so intense?

Anyway missing that rabbit has really sent home the fact that I better get practicing if I expect deer season to be productive this fall. Better get to it.

[Little John]

It is amasing how badly we can miss live game, large or small, aim small and good luck with the deer.       Kenneth

[JW_Halverson]

Stalking rabbits is no different than stalking deer.  It's a great excercise for the hunter's mind. 

BevanR claims the same for stalking carp in the shallows with a bow.  Teaches you to move your feet softly and quietly, as well as opening up your eyesight and using your whole field of vision at once. 

[bowtarist]

amen Jdub, sounds like a blast slackbunny.  also sounds like you'll get another chance where you're working.  keep it up,  dpg

[johnston]

I missed 1748 shots at squirrels til I realized you have to pick a spot even on a small target.

The next 437 misses were a lot closer.

Lane

[hedgeapple]

Slack, rabbit hunting with bow is way fun.  I have yet to hit one of those rackley rabbits but that does not demenish the enjoyment.  I let about 25 acres grow up in cedars, weeds, blackberries and whatever else mother nature decided to plan.  I have about 4 total acres in 6 tracks of food plot (well sometimes they're food plots, but at least they do get mowed).  And I have about 3 1/2 mile of mowed trails zigzagging through the tangles.  Apparently, this has created ideal rabbit habitat, because there are tons of them. 

In the fall and winter I try stalking them during the last couple hours of daylight.  They seem to come to the edges at that time of day.

It's about as much fun as you can have with your clothes on.  My accuracy has improved greatly this summer.  So bunnies beware. 

[JW_Halverson]

Can't tell you how many times I have spent 10 minutes easing up on a bunny in the brush only to have it magically turn into a clump of grass, weeds, or a stump.  Sneaky, really sneaky them rabbits are, making decoys to draw me off!

Johnston, 'nuther 1200 or so and you'll get something in the pot yet! 

[gstoneberg]

Rabbit hunting is easy.  I just watch for them on the way out to the shop.  When I spot one I grab the bow and an arrow and sneak back out.  Once the bunny is away from the swimming pool I take the shot.    If I miss I walk over and pick up the arrow.  By now the bunny has hopped 15' or so away.  I shoot again, repeating as many times as necessary.  City rabbits are stupid...but they taste the same.

George

[ratshooter]

The stalk is an amazing part of hunting, its kind of that primal man versus beast that hunters lust for.

If you want to make it an almost religous experence fast for a day before hunting. It's an unexplainable feeling.

[JW_Halverson]

Fasting?  On purpose?  Oh, I get it....you aren't a very good hunter, yet!   

[ratshooter]

Fasting?  On purpose?  Oh, I get it....you aren't a very good hunter, yet!   

great at the big stuff with a smoke pole or bow but the small stuff gives me a hard time.

[crooketarrow]

  When I started stump shooting is when I really found out how bad I was. Standing shotting across the lawn I sould hammer 2 ich groups a 25. You teaching yourself (hand -eye) that know distance. Start stumping (the only way I practice for years and years) you'll soon find out how bad you really are.  STUMPING I SHOOT ONE ARROW THEN MOVE ON. YOU NEVER SHOOT THE SAME SHOT TWICE. I shot from different angles in stead of that prefect stand up fourm your shooting across the lawn.
  Shoot across the lawn to get your bacic form then go and shoot the ways that come natural to you. Stump shooting will teach you that. I love to shoot but suck as far as hitting the ten ring. But stick and kill gobblers and bucks every year.
 I contrube this to learning to shoot my natural way.

[JW_Halverson]

Fasting?  On purpose?  Oh, I get it....you aren't a very good hunter, yet!   

great at the big stuff with a smoke pole or bow but the small stuff gives me a hard time.

I love the flinchrock style smokepoles bestest.  I missed four fat doe mulies in a row one year muzzleloading.  And because I didn't draw a hair or blood on any of 'em I was called Mr Clean.  (as in, "Didja hit her?  Nope, missed 'er clean!)

[Slackbunny]

  When I started stump shooting is when I really found out how bad I was. Standing shotting across the lawn I sould hammer 2 ich groups a 25. You teaching yourself (hand -eye) that know distance. Start stumping (the only way I practice for years and years) you'll soon find out how bad you really are.  STUMPING I SHOOT ONE ARROW THEN MOVE ON. YOU NEVER SHOOT THE SAME SHOT TWICE. I shot from different angles in stead of that prefect stand up fourm your shooting across the lawn.
  Shoot across the lawn to get your bacic form then go and shoot the ways that come natural to you. Stump shooting will teach you that. I love to shoot but suck as far as hitting the ten ring. But stick and kill gobblers and bucks every year.
 I contrube this to learning to shoot my natural way.

I don't really stump shoot, but I do something similar. I fill a plastic bottle with damp sawdust to give it some weight, then I'll toss it out a ways and take a shot at it. Then I move to a different spot and take another shot. I'll do this several times, then toss the bottle somewhere else and repeat. My accuracy has improved greatly. I just grazed a rabbit the other day. The broadhead went right below his belly, and the shaft actually smacked him. He took off into the woods , and I never found him. Probably just knocked the wind out of him.

[JW_Halverson]

Another trick to add to your bag...shoot with a good natured buddy!  Play a game of H.O.R.S.E. with your shots.  The competition and the tendency to try setting up tougher and tougher shots will draw out your best efforts.  Not to mention after a while it starts to mimic natural hunting conditions when the deer will only allow you challenging shots!