5 Tips for Hunting Small Game on a Farm

Small-game hunting on farms might be as good as it gets.

Small game abounds in these areas with a lot of edge habitat. Rabbits, squirrels and upland birds love everything your typical farm has to offer. Here are our five tips to help you find them.

Knowing where to look will undoubtedly increase your odds of success during small-game hunting seasons. And, when you do find them, it can lead to some of the most enjoyable hunting out there.

Get your hunting license and hunt your local hunter-friendly farms.

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1. Hunt edge habitat

Hunting small game along edge habitat is where the small game animals are. Hunt the edges of fields where crops go into cover. These areas will hold small game between feedings more than a center of any field will. Pheasant hunting and chasing rabbits along these zones makes for some action-filled hunts. If you're grouse hunting in locales that have them, check grape vines for berry-hungry birds.

2. Got corn?

Everything loves to eat corn. Whether you're hunting squirrels, game birds or even rabbits, corn is a great food source. This is especially true if the corn is on the ground. Hunt the edges of such fields very slowly and carefully. Watch these areas also for deer hunting spots. Deer season dates are usually either in or around the corner when chasing small game. A seasoned hunter or a young hunter is always wise to keep their eyes open for future hunting spots.

3. Stick to thick cover for midday hunting

In the middle of the day, small game may not be feeding as much as at dawn and dusk. If the field edges aren't producing at midday, head into the thick cover, especially if you're rabbit hunting. The small game may be resting in the thick stuff. If you hunt squirrels, make sure you look up into the taller trees. Squirrel hunting is especially effective if you can locate the largest tree in the area.

4. Water sources

After a healthy meal of corn or some other crop, game may seek a water source. Hunt around any farm pond with brush edges or those bordering fields. Rabbits and pheasants especially like these areas.

5. Bottomlands

No matter where you hunt, bottomlands always seem to hold more game than any other location. With cover, water and protection from high wind and other elements, bottomlands are worth the hunt. If you find a good spot, you should certainly hunt it slowly and methodically.

Do you like articles about the outdoors? Click here to view more articles by Eric Nestor. You can follow him @ericthewoodsman on Twitter, The Classic Woodsman on Facebook, and @theclassicwoodsman on Instagram.  You can view more Nestor Photography photos at Nestor Photography.  

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