Anyone here ever trap rabbits? I have a rabbit that seems to be calling the area under my deck home. I'm surprised my mini Doxie hasn't squeezed through one of the small openings to investigate. The deck is about 10" off the ground, and in the morning I'll see the rabbit run back under the deck. I have a live trap, but have no idea what to use for bait. Don't suggest carrots. They don't work. I've thought about a head shot from a .22, but would rather relocate her. I'm also unsure if there might be baby rabbits under there. Is there a certain time of year that they have litters? Or is it true they breed all year? Any suggestions as to bait would be appreciated.

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Misty

This is an old-timey rabbit box. The trigger and trip mechanism are missing. We used to set these when I was a young'un on my Granddaddy's farm. We baited them with a piece of sliced apple. Some folks said that they did as well with no bait. Rabbits are naturally curious and will explore dark places, especially if the box is set close to a run.

I know this isn't what you asked about, but I had the picture and just couldn't stop myself.

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Georgia On My Mind

I've tried a live trap on the ones I have for a few months. It has been a total fail. I've tried baiting with carrots, lettuce, celery, apple and even put a bunch of stuff they had been feeding on in the yard. Maybe these cityfied rabbits are just too smart for the Hav-a-hart trap. A pellet gun of even moderate power will do the job. I did find (or rather my dog) a nest of newborn rabbits by a fence a couple of weeks ago. I disposed of them. Good luck!

I've had luck with sliced apples, and I also sprayed the trap down with apple cider. When I put the trap on the grass outside of the bottom of my deck I caught robbins. When I put the trap underneath the deck I caught rabbits.

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Cheers -Jeff

I don't understand your logic. Not use the 22 because there might be baby bunnies involved - But relocating the rabbit is OK?

My vote is for the 22.
Heart, lung shot though.

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In dog years I'm dead.

You misunderstood me. I didn't say the possibility of babies was the reason I didn't use a .22. I simply said I would rather relocate the rabbit, and asked if there might be babies under the deck. Whether there is or isn't makes no difference. The one I see will either be trapped and relocated or buried in the back yard. And if there's babies under the deck and they hang around, they'll meet the same fate.

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Misty

Not rabbits-but I do enjoy the challenge of stalking the wily beaver.

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Forum consigliere

Are you going to have rabbit stew? If so PM me when it's ready. Don

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"Don't worry be happy"

You,ve gotta be weally weally quiet, & weally weally sneaky.

E. Fudd

My favorite way to treat the little creatures. Being a card carrying member of P.E.T.A.F.ed I prefer mine rolled in flour and fried crisp

If your critter under the porch is a cottontail, don't even think of burying the carcass. Fry that baby up and enjoy a good tasting meal.

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Fried Wappit2.jpg (159.0 KB, 19 views)

Rabbits will eat whatever tender new flowers or vegetables you plant out in your garden. My Sister up North is a true Botanist and has a home and garden like what you would see in Better Homes and Gardens. She tried trapping them in live traps (she has lots of them) and maybe got 1 or 2.

If you still want to trap them try a package of the bagged spring green salad mixes, the real tender types of lettuce. But I am afraid it's not much use.

A 22 or pellet gun is your best bet. If there are young babies, they will die without mom. Sad but true. They are cute but if they destroy your garden or plantings, they gotta go.

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Still Running Against the Wind

When I was in kindergarten my buddies and I caught one using a cardboard box, a stick to prop it up, and a looooooong string to yank the stick away. Forget what we used for bait.

(Hmm. Then again, mebbe it was a tame bunny? This happened quite a ways back so the details have faded a tad in the mists of time...)

Misty. Sounds like a unique rabbit. You know how to catch a unique rabbit don't you? Unique up on him! Good luck with your capture...

rags

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RIP Shipmate

Title made me think of how times have changed:

On our grade 5 school camp (age around 10 or 11 I guess) the whole group went old walking with the farmer one night to "check his traps".
(The nasty spring ones that I think are banned in Australia now)

I got picked to carry the bunny back to camp where we were allowed to watch the farmer skin it.

Can't quite picture that happening these days....

How big is the rabbit? Sometimes rat traps will work on rabbits - they are basically just big fluffy rats with funny ears and a bushy tail. That hop. Anyway, you can get rabbit food treats at a pet store. They sometimes go for these, particularly when out with lettuce and such things.

Snares are another inexpensive trap option. The more traps you have, the more likely you are to catch something.

I used to have a pet rabbit. Wife gave him away before I had him fattened up. A shame. Rabbit is good eating.

Here abouts what you're most likely to catch is someone's cat.
Live trap = Maybe a bunny, mostly cats, the occasional skunk.
.22 - YOUR choice

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In dog years I'm dead.

Rent-a-ferret

You might be surprised what you catch. My sister and bro-in-law have been trying to catch the raccoon who was getting into their trash. They caught and released the same possum three times before they caught the coon. They released the coon 20 miles away. Incidentally, their trash was raided again. I tried to tell them it was the possum.

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Insert short witty words here

Rabbits are shock ovulators. The bumping of sex causes their eggs to drop and as such are fertile all year long. The only one I ever trapped was not a live trap, so no relocation.
You might try a Hav-a-heart rental and use sticks to guide it to the door. Most animals like most of us will walk the easiest way possible and do as directed.

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Front sight and squeeze