Releasing rabbits in the wild.

[Buckeye Bob]

I am thinking of buying wild rabbits and releasing them in my running ground behind the house.There were always plenty there and I have never shot one there but it has been heavily hunted this season and its been really hard to get one up.There is plenty of thick brush with water and crop fields surrounding it for nesting in the spring.I have seen very few fox or coyote tracks.There may be owls but I have not seen a hawk in over a year.Would this be a waste of time and money?And how much does one pay for wild cottentails?

[Hunt6]

If you have other hunting spots or people with land you know that also have rabbits try trapping some.

Now is a good time to try.Lot of rabbits can be found in the burbs - small land holdings and around barns etc.Many live in briars - brushy spots close to houses.Not as much predator pressure there.Make yourself some pyramid traps and try it.
Hunt6 David P.

[Hatfield]

I trap and bring them to my farm . I can run after work and that works out great. I use a simple box trap with apple for bait. Yesterday, I caught my third rabbit off of a one acre lot! I was afraid to buy and turn loose because of disease.

[Bluehound76]

Where in the world can you buy wild rabbits? I have never heard of anybody selling wild rabbits. If any of you know someone who sells them let me know.

Thanks
Jeremy

[MIKE]

BUCKEYE BOB, SOUNDS TO ME AS IF YOU'RE BEATING A DEAD HORSE.
YOU SAY YOU NEVER SHOT ONE ON YOUR RUNNING GROUND BUT IT WAS HUNTED HEAVY. WHY BUY RABBITS FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO KILL & YOU GET NO BENEFIT FROM. SEEMS SILLY TO ME. FIND SOMEWHERE YOU CAN HUNT THAT'S NOT HUNTED HEAVY & RELEASE THEM THERE.
J.M.O.
BUNNYBUSTER

[Jaz]

Jeremy- My husband and I talked to the local pet stores and you can special oder wild rabbits (here anyway) and it didn't cost any extra. (I live in VT.) Hope this helps. Good Luck!!!

[kjohns]

Bob, Its illegal in Ohio to buy wild rabbits. I don't care, but thought I'd let you know, before you got into trouble. I'd just trap and move them. That might be pushing it w/ the law too. Check it out.

[S.R.Patch]

A rabbit out of it home range is a lost rabbit, easy prey. Time and money is better spent improving habitat so those home grown can better survive. We all hate those rock piles/ old sheds/ groundhog holes/ root wad piles the rabbit go to that end our races, but they are the places we go to next year and are assured of finding rabbits to run.
Good luck with your project ...Patch

[Buckeye Bob]

I was going to wait until after season to release any.Ken,I did not know it was illegal to buy them but it makes sense with the concern of spreading disease.Maybe I will try to trap them close by and relocate,sounds like a lot of time which I do not have right now.Patch,I was thinking this was the ideal place to release because there are a coupla patches of inpassable brush,a bunch of chuck holes and a trash pile,altogether about 40 acres of prime cover.I can't tell the Amish kids to stay out because their family owns it!