Kenny Meadors and Raymond Wethington bagged a tailgate's worth of rabbits, thanks to a good pack of dogs and some late-season strategies. Photo courtesy of Paul Moore.

Rabbit hunters and their dogs always start the season with a lot of energy. The hunters are pumped and the dogs are falling over themselves to get loaded in the truck. In years with good rabbit numbers, hunting success is usually good.

But as the season wears on, there are many changes taking place that greatly affect rabbit hunting. Rabbit numbers drop, habitat conditions change, and the weather turns nasty. These factors, along with pressure from hunting and predators, often force rabbits into the tightest cover they can find. Savvy hunters can still score, but different tactics and patience are required for late-season success.

Sammie Dukes has been rabbit hunting for the better part of his 60 years of life. He took a short hiatus when he got married, but otherwise has been chasing rabbits through every condition imaginable since he was just a boy.

For the late season, Dukes said there are two things that hunters must do. First, they have to take along some good dogs. That is imperative. Next, they must be prepared to hit areas with the thickest cover.

Dukes said most tall grass and other cover will be knocked down by the late season and rabbits will seek out the best hiding areas they can find. Although they might be found close to fields with any leftover food sources remaining, they usually will be in some of the thickest cover around.

Kenny Meadors concurs with Dukes. Although not in the age group with Dukes, Meadors has still logged countless days pursuing rabbits throughout the past 20 years.

"You have to hunt slower and give the dogs time to hunt," Meadors said. "You have to get in the really thick stuff and have to have dogs that are willing to get in there, too. The rabbits will be holding really tight in the late season and the dogs literally have to 'bump' the rabbit to get it to move," he said.

Dukes also believes that good dogs are an absolute "must-have" for late-season success.

"A dog has to be able to run a rabbit first and foremost. But you also must have at least one dog that is actually a jump dog to get in there and get the rabbit moving," he said.

Dukes added that hunters can actually do quite well with only two dogs, but both must be good at their jobs. At least one must be a good jump dog and the other must be a good track dog. Of course, if the dogs can do both well, there's going to be plenty of action for the hunters following them.

Meadors believes he has seen a change in rabbit patterns in the last several years. He believes rabbits are found more in areas outside of traditional rabbit habitat and that they are harder to get moving than in the past. There are several contributing factors, according to Meadors.

"We are finding rabbits more in the woods and thickets than we did years ago," Meadors said. He believes one reason is because of the clean farming practices used today. There simply aren't as many grown-up fencerows, ditch banks and field edges as in the past.

Predators are another major factor affecting rabbit behavior, according to Meadors.