Many other arrow points are used for rabbits, including blunts and bludgeons. A field point with an adder behind it also functions exceptionally well. Some companies are even manufacturing other special small-game points, which are combinations of the blunt and judo point designs.

Capps sometimes uses a setup similar to the adder point. He uses a standard field point with a flat metal washer placed between the point and the arrow shaft. The point gives penetration while the washer slows pass-through and creates more shock.

DOG TACTICS
Rabbits can be hunted with bows in the same traditional manner as do shotgun hunters. Archers don't typically have the range and flexibility with shots as with shotguns, so positioning oneself for a circling rabbit is of utmost importance.

Capps prefers another method of using dogs that is somewhat similar to a deer drive. He likes to position either one or two bowhunters to function as standers at the end of a particular section of cover. Another person handling a jump dog will start at the other end of the cover. He'll slowly work the dog toward the standers. Any rabbits jumped will be pushed toward the waiting hunters.

Safety must be highly stressed with this method. Because the dog and handler are working directly toward the hunters, all shots must be in a safe direction. Missed shots resulting in deflected arrows are possible.

Yet another method of using dogs is similar to traditional hunting, only shots are taken when the rabbit jumps rather than waiting for the rabbit to be circled by the dogs. This method uses only one jump dog, but it has to work slowly. Both Capps and Goatee prefer slow, methodically working dogs. They say there is no such thing as a dog that hunts "too" slow.

The idea is to take one dog and up to as many as three bowhunters. The dog slowly works the cover as the hunters spread out and move through the cover in a line. "When the rabbit is jumped by the dog, it will usually only run a short distance and stop to look around. With two or three hunters there, it will stop briefly to see which direction the pressure is coming from. Usually one of the hunters will have a shot when the rabbit stops," Capps said.

SANS DOGS TACTICS
Many bowhunters are somewhat reclusive. The thought of dogs and noise is not attractive to many archery hunters. They prefer to move silently and pit their skills against the animal's natural defense mechanisms.

Most bowhunters will use a combination of still-hunting and spot-and- stalk to bag their rabbits. This involves many attributes, including patience, a keen eye and good shooting. The key element may be patience.

Capps found out about patience many years ago, but it took a while before it took effect. As a teenager, he began bowhunting rabbits with an older more experienced hunter. The seasoned bowhunter tried to instill patient, methodical still-hunting skills to his young apprentice, but the exuberance of youth was too much.

"He told me to take a step or two and then stop and be still," Capps said. "He would stop and stand in the same spot for maybe 15 to 20 minutes without moving. He would tell me to not only look for rabbits, but also look for parts of rabbits.