I am new to hunting and need some advise on rabbit hunting near western washington. I have a 20 gauge 870 and need some tips on going after them.

I like to walk them up. Figure out what they feed on in your area and kick clumps of brush around that. In TN, I had my best luck near blackberry brambles and field edges. Honeysuckle thickets were also a good spot. Finally, I liked to work along creeks, kicking any lump of cover bigger than a basketball. You'd be surprised how little cover can hold a bunny. It's actually alot like bass fishing in that regard.

PS - You can also stalk these same areas, but I found that easier with some snow as a backdrop and a .22 LR to hunt with.

Only thing I can add to that is if you do jump one up and don't get a shot off just back up a little bit and hold really still and keep quiet for 10 or 20 minutes. A lot of times rabbits will circle around and come back to almost the same spot you just jumped them out of.

get a beagle

thanks will do

Only thing I can add to that is if you do jump one up and don't get a shot off just back up a little bit and hold really still and keep quiet for 10 or 20 minutes. A lot of times rabbits will circle around and come back to almost the same spot you just jumped them out of.

I've seen this with almost all cotton tails, but cane cutters didnt read the right book I've never seen them do the same. If you can get in with some folks with beagles you'll have a great time. Rabbit hunters I've met have been real happy to have someone tag along. Just be careful around the dogs, I've had to let several run to avoid an over zealous dog.

NGaHB

if legal in your state, spot lightning is also a lot of fun.... we drive in my jeep, 2 friends with rifles, one with the spotlight, and i drive and have another rifle just in case.... we could end up with 25-30 rabbits in about 3 hours.... sometimes to make it more fun we just use air guns, or if the rabbit are holding very far, we bring the 22 mag...

get a beagle

Only thing I can add to that is if you do jump one up and don't get a shot off just back up a little bit and hold really still and keep quiet for 10 or 20 minutes. A lot of times rabbits will circle around and come back to almost the same spot you just jumped them out of.

This. If you run a dog on a rabbit the rabbit will usually circle pretty tight. If you just stand in one spot he will eventually come back to you.