Evaluation of some cottontail rabbit management procedures as applied in Piedmont Virginia

Seasonal population fluctuations of the cottontail rabbit were measured by evening roadside counts and trapping. During the latter part of July, roadside counts showed a rather marked and drastic decline in the number of rabbits. This decline was forecast by the low number of rabbits seen in the field and the low number of rabbits the investigator was able to trap. Further confirmation of this decline came during the first week of the 1960-61 hunting season. A 42 per cent decrease in the number of rabbits killed occurred in spite of a 10 per cent increase in hunting pressure. By the end of the hunting season a 60 per cent decrease in the rabbit harvest was recorded.