The most humane way of hunting for rabbit is with a high powered air rifle. A shotgun should ideally not be used as the shot pellets can ruin the meat, and the noise of the first shot will scare the rest of the rabbit population back into their burrows. With an air rifle, a rabbit can be dispatched almost silently with an accurate shot "just behind the shoulder bringing instant death." The hunter can then continue to pick off more rabbits from his or her upwind hiding place. i found this on a web site on self sufficiency now we have wanna be "hugh fernely whitting whatsits" out there shoot