Appalachian cottontails are similar in appearance to the eastern cottontail, but have smaller round, black-edged ears and a black spot between their ears. From head to tail, adults measure 15 to 17 inches and weigh 2 to 3 pounds.

Primarily nocturnal, these rabbits never move far from dense cover. Their home range is two acres or less.

Although rabbits of he other species are extremely common, recent surveys show that only 13 percent of Georgia hunters take to the field in pursuit of them. In the 1960s, rabbit hunting was very popular, with 117,000 hunters harvesting 1.27 million animals annually. However, due to large-scale habitat changes, rabbit populations have declined -- and so have the number of rabbit hunters.

In the 2005-06 survey, 29,164 hunters spent 180,275 days afield, harvesting 177,208 rabbits. Rabbits rank third in small-game hunting popularity behind doves and squirrels. Rabbit season typically lasts longer than three months, and the daily limit is 12 animals per day.

Which is the best public hunting land for rabbits?

The answer is relatively simple. For starters, the closest WMA probably offers some opportunity.

Rabbits prefer early-succession habitat, and nearly all WMAs have maintained food plots and wildlife openings that rabbits find attractive. Areas dominated by mature stands of timber are going to be lower on the list, while areas that have been recently cut offer good hunting.

For a really good day afield, contact your regional Game Management office and ask which WMAs in your area they recommend, based on current management strategies.

In northwest Georgia, Berry College WMA is always a good bet. Clybel in Middle Georgia has good hunting, and in South Georgia any of the swampy river-bottom WMAs are a good choices for cane cutters.

SQUIRRELS
After doves, squirrels are the most popular small-game species in Georgia, with 22 percent of all hunters spending at least some time each year in the squirrel woods. Bushytails also are probably the most common game species in Georgia.

If you reach down, pick up a stick, and throw it, chances are it will land in squirrel country. There are squirrels anywhere there are trees, whether that's in a downtown park or on the highest mountain in Georgia.

Two tree squirrel species are of interest to hunters in the Peach State. The eastern gray squirrel, the most common species in Georgia, is found statewide in both rural and urban areas. Adult gray squirrels weigh from 12 ounces to 1 1/2 pounds.

Though there is some color variation among gray squirrels, most are very similar in appearance.

The slightly larger and more variably colored fox squirrel is also found statewide, but is less common, more habitat-specific and has more of a sporadic, patchy distribution. Adult fox squirrels range in weight from 1 pound to nearly 3 pounds. Their coats can range from pure black to pure blond, with all sorts of intermediate color schemes.

Gray and fox squirrels are closely associated with wooded habitats. Although they're often found together, they habitat preferences do differ. Gray squirrels are most common in mature hardwood forests with a mix of mast-bearing oaks and hickories. They can also be found in mixed pine/hardwood stands.

In Georgia, fox squirrels tend to be most closely associated with mature pine and mixed pine/hardwood stands. Mature Piedmont and Coastal Plain pine stands with open understories are dominated by fox squirrels, with few gray squirrels.

Acorns and hickory nuts are favorite foods of gray squirrels. They also eat a variety of other foods, including the buds and flowers of other trees, the fruits of dogwood and black gum, mulberries and grasses.

Fox squirrels eat many of the same foods as gray squirrels, but pine seeds are a favorite food item.

Any observant person who has spent many winter days in the woods has an idea about squirrel nesting behavior. Gray and fox squirrels use both leaf and cavity nests. Using cavities for nests likely depends on availability. Lacking good cavities, squirrels will construct a nest of leaves high in the trees.