Learning Path · Rabbit
Hunt the Piedmont, one ridge at a time.
Run the brushy edges of the Piedmont — cottontails behind beagles or jumped on foot, the friendliest small game upstate.
All modules by tier
Stage 1 of 3
Foundations
Before the woods: the mindset, the law, staying safe, and the biology and senses that drive everything else.
2 modules · 11 lessons
- Module 1 Foundations
Cottontails: ID & Biology
Identify the eastern cottontail and distinguish it from SC's other wild rabbits, and understand the breeding, lifespan, and behavior that drive how and when you hunt it.
6 lessons - Module 2 Foundations
Seasons, Limits & Legal Hunting
Hunt rabbits inside SC law — the split gun-and-dog versus dogs-only running seasons, bag limits, license requirements, and the legal lines around firearms during the running period.
5 lessons
Stage 2 of 3
Core Skills
The field craft — reading sign, scouting, weapons and gear, the shot, recovery, and care of the animal.
4 modules · 18 lessons
- Module 3 Core
Reading Cover & Sign
Find rabbits by reading Piedmont cover and sign — brushy fencerows, old fields, cutovers, and the forms, runs, and droppings that reveal where cottontails live.
4 lessons - Module 4 Core
Shotgun Fundamentals & Group-Hunt Safety
Make safe, effective shots on a fast-moving low target while hunting alongside dogs and other people — the safety core of every rabbit hunt.
5 lessons - Module 5 Core
The Two Styles: Beagles & Walk-Up
Execute the two dominant Piedmont rabbit methods — running cottontails behind beagles and jump-shooting on foot — and make the shot and recovery on each.
5 lessons - Module 6 Core
After the Shot: Tularemia, Field Care & Table
Handle, field-dress, and cook a rabbit safely — including the real tularemia precautions that make rabbit one of the few small game animals with a genuine handling hazard.
4 lessons
Stage 3 of 3
Advanced
Once the fundamentals hold: seasonal tactics and the long game of managing land, habitat, and population.
2 modules · 6 lessons
- Module 7 Advanced
Intro to Beagles & Dog Handling
Understand the rabbit beagle — selecting, starting, and handling a hound — so you can hunt your own dog or run effectively with a packed group.
3 lessons - Module 8 Advanced
Late Season, Weather & Habitat
Adapt to changing conditions across the season and take a first step into managing land for more rabbits.
3 lessons