Hunters turn a small pack of beagles of up to 10 dogs loose in a cutover, pasture or thicket and wait for the fun to begin. The short-legged and enthusiastic hounds search for a fresh scent and then the chase begins. Once one dog hits the trail, all the dogs pile on. Hunters spread out, armed with shotguns and wait for the dogs to run the rabbit within range. Most of the time the rabbit is far ahead of the dogs and will at times pause, giving the hunter a better shot. However, this is not always the case and running shots are not uncommon.

Rabbits chased by hounds tend to make a loop and sometimes a miss by one hunter means an opportunity for the next hunter in the loop. Fast reflexes, a well-patterned 20-gauge scattergun loaded with No. 6 or No. 7 1/2 shot, and the desire to have fun will be all that is needed to have a great day afield chasing rabbits.

Virginia hunter Frank Spuchesi enjoys turning his beagles loose in a rabbit field and hearing them run. Spuchesi commented that first-time rabbit hunters should remember to dress for the occasion. Brush pants that will ward off briars, an upland game vest and a thick pair of leather gloves to deal with briars and thorns are a good idea. Heavy boots that are waterproof are also something to consider.

Spuchesi also advised hunters new to the sport of rabbit hunting with hounds to locate a clear position that has some high ground relatively close to where the dog jumped a rabbit rather than chasing or following the pack as they trail the long-eared quarry. The rabbit will almost always return to the area where it was jumped.

Even though blaze orange is not required of rabbit hunters who are hunting outside of firearms deer season, it certainly would be wise to wear such safety gear. Running dogs and thick cover make it easy to lose track of where everyone is. Blaze orange will help you quickly identify the location of your hunting buddies.

The second and more passive way to hunt winter cottontails is to stand-hunt along hedgerows, fields and in orchards. The northern portion of the state is dotted with a number of orchards, which in turn attract many rabbits. Hunters can slowly walk through the bare orchards stopping regularly to sit and watch. This technique is very effective in areas where there are good numbers of rabbits. The orchards are still productive hunting grounds even though the apples have been picked because many apples are in various states of decomposition on the ground, and there is plenty of grass for the rabbits to feed on in the open areas between trees.

Hunters moving along hedgerows and field edges will find that a stalk-and-sit approach works very well in the late afternoon right up until dusk. Rabbits will venture out near dusk to feed. In such locations, a shotgun can be used, but in open areas where it is safe to do so, a .22 rifle can increase the range and cut down on the stalking distance a hunter must cover to bag dinner. Hunters without dogs may also get together and roust rabbits by stomping on brushpiles.