Rabbit trapping has always been a popular sport in most of the Western Hemisphere. Since they are small and skittish herbivores, the critters present little danger to the novice hunter or trapper. This low risk coupled with their nearly limitless potential to breed makes them ideal for the neophyte. Not to mention the fact that their meat is quite palatable and their fur quite soft.
The icing on the cake is that while they are low risk prey, they are also quite quick and provide the perfect amount of challenge as well.
This article will focus more on the trapping (as opposed to the hunting) aspect of rabbit game. So without further ado, here are the top 6 ways to catch rabbits, in no particular order.
Catching Rabbits by Snaring:
A snare is, in essence, a trap that subdues a small animal by tightening a noose of rope, cord, wire or string around some part of its body. Snares appear more complicated than other kinds of traps at first glance, but if you take it step by step they are much simpler than you might think.
They do take a good deal of setup and legwork though, so give yourself a decent amount of time to deploy them. Also note that snaring requires a licence and some types of snares are illegal in certain countries. For a more detailed look at snaring techniques be sure to read our [How to Snare a Rabbit], [How to Make a Rabbit Snare] and [Rabbit Snare Traps] articles.
Catching Rabbits using a Pit Trap:
Pit traps are brilliant in their simplicity; just dig a deep enough hole near a rabbit trail and disguise it so that it blends in with the rest of the trail. The real trick when it comes to these traps is the selection of the twigs and sticks you must use to form the base of the trap. Their length and width are crucial to ensuring that the rabbit actually triggers the trap with its weight.
There is a slight concern when it comes to removing the creature from the pit, not to mention the fact that other unintended prey might trigger the trap instead. But when all is said and done, the pit trap is a solid option for trapping rabbits. For more information head over to our [Top Rabbit Traps] article.
Catching Rabbits with the aid of Beagles (aka Beagling):
Beagles are almost synonymous with rabbit hunting, owing to their extensive use for the same. If you happen to own a beagle (or a pack of them), then it won’t take much training for you to turn it into a rabbit trapper instead. Just place netted traps around a suspected burrowing region and use the dog to flush the rabbit out and chase them back into your trap.
Catching Rabbits with the aid of Ferrets (aka Ferreting):
Similar to beagling, ferreting is essentially the same concept. But instead of man’s best friend, we use a rabbit’s natural enemy. Ferrets are expert burrowers themselves and utilizing them to flush out rabbits will rob the poor critters of the only real advantage they had left. Male and female ferrets are referred to as “hobs” and “jills” respectively.
The jills are preferred to the hobs for rabbit trapping because they are less likely to fall asleep after killing and eating the rabbit in its burrow, a process referred to as “laying up”. Locator devices can easily be used to counter this problem, however. Ferret care is also good deal more complicated than caring for a beagle, so keep that in mind if you ever decide to get one. All things considered, however, the ferret is the most efficient partner for the enterprising rabbit seeker.
Catching Rabbits using a Live Cage Trap:
A live trap, as the name would imply, is a humane trap that serves to catch a small animal or bird without injuring or killing it. They have become popular as mice traps over the last couple of decades and the same concept can easily be extended to rabbit trapping.
The contraption resembles a small cage that has a trap door and a system of pulleys to ensure that whatever gets in, stay in. They also come in models that have trap doors at both ends, effectively doubling your chances of catching your critter.
The last ingredient is appropriate bait and you have a simple yet efficient mechanism for trapping yourself a rabbit. The best thing about these traps is that they are readily available from most hunting stores, so the effort involved is minimal. For more information on how to build your own Live Cage Trap, visit our article on [Homemade Rabbit Traps].
Catching Rabbits with a Box Trap:
While they are technically live traps themselves, box traps are different in that they are made of wood or cardboard and are closed off with the exception of one face. This does present the disadvantage of not being able to see what creature has actually triggered the trap, but some might argue that this surprise offers a charm all its own. The trap usually employs a lever system to toggle the trapdoor once the rabbit reaches the bait. Since these traps usually employ gravity as the powering mechanism, they are unsuited for uneven surfaces.
They are relatively easy to make and cheap to purchase, however, so they’re ideal for those trappers with limited budgets. And the best thing about them is that they are versatile; simply switching the bait will allow you to trap pretty much any small critter, like squirrels and mice. To learn how to make a simple rabbit box trap, be sure to visit our page on [Homemade Rabbit Traps].
Conclusion:
And there you have it, our top 6 ways to catch and trap rabbits. If you can pull off even one of the methods mentioned above, you’re already well on your way to becoming an expert trapper. All it takes is a little bit of dedication and a whole lot of patience.
