Much land, both public and private, was used for cutting firewood. In many locales the tops of the trees were piled up as the firewood was cut.

These brushpiles make nearly perfect homes for rabbits. Over time, the brushpiles drop and become overgrown with weeds, briars and all manner of vegetation. This offers the quick and nimble rabbits protection from foxes, cats, dogs and other four-legged predators. They also offer protection from hawks, owls and numerous other predators that hunt from above.

Our experts suggest that hunters wanting to be successful in the late season never pass by one of these brushpiles. They take a lot of work to properly hunt. Nevertheless, it is worth the effort.

In some cases you will need to climb on top of them and jump up and down to make the rabbit move. (Editor's Note: this is yet another reason to take young people hunting.) Keep a sharp eye out for the rabbit. He may try to escape from any direction - almost always the one behind you.

Cut stumps also attract rabbits. They typically sprout after they are cut and offer bunnies something to eat, especially when a winter chill is in the air.

Multiflora rose is a very dense, green shrub that was first introduced into the United States as an erosion control measure by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service back in the 1930s. Its planting was encouraged to control erosion and to offer wind and snow breaks. It will do all of those things and more.

It grows to a height of 15 feet under ideal conditions and can grow so thick that it takes a large bulldozer to move through it. Bunnies like it because it does what you might expect: offer protection from above and below. The young, tender sprouts offer forage in a pinch. What could be better for our nimble quarry, the eastern cottontail?

Both honeysuckle and multiflora rose can be difficult to hunt. Because it is a vine, honeysuckle will grab at your legs as you walk through it. Multiflora rose can be impossible to walk through, especially in large patches of a quarter-acre or more. Not only is it thick, but it also has extremely sharp thorns to boot.

Yet, they are both worth the effort. Late-season rabbits will be found in them.

And, because honeysuckle and multiflora rose are so difficult to work, many hunters will pass them by for easier habitat. That offers fresh territory for those hunters tough enough to hunt in either. Fresh territory is hard to find in late season. Smart hunters do not pass it by, not if they want rabbits.

They are at their best during cold and wet weather or under extremely windy conditions. It may be that the bunnies use them as umbrellas and windbreaks or for some other reason they have yet to share with us. Why doesn't matter, only where.

The best ones are big, thick and have boughs that drop all the way to the ground. Lift the limbs up and roust the rabbits that are hiding under the tree. Shake the limbs, yell and beat on the tree with a stick. Do whatever it takes to jump the rabbit.

Put your gun down before you attempt this. Let your partner have the shot or wait for the beagles to bring the rabbit back to you.

The ambient air temperature is of no consequence. The air feels cold to the rabbit and that is what counts.

When it gets cold, the bunnies tend to sit tight and won't move unless forced to do so. It is common for them to sit so tight that hunters moving along at a pretty good clip will walk right over the top of them. The rabbit never moves. He sits there while you go on your merry way complaining about the lack of game.

At other times, he will stay put until you are in front of him and then sneak out the back door. You'll never know he was there.

To avoid this, slow down. Take one step at a time. Pause between steps. The slower you move, the better. If the brush is heavy, carry a stick and beat on top of it as you walk along. Make as much noise as possible.

Even at this slow pace, pay attention to what's going on behind you.

They also seem to be able to smell better in the cold. Maybe it sharpens their senses, maybe it's the lack of other smells or maybe it's because of things humans do not understand. It happens. That's what we need to know.

If you use beagles, keep a few things in mind, however. Winter rabbits do not run in the same kind of loops that spring and summer rabbits do.

The does tend to shorten up their loops and will typically return very close to where they were jumped. Buck rabbits, on the other hand, will run in much larger loops during the late winter and do not always return to the place of the jump.

Some hunters think this is due to them being chased all winter long by predators. Others think it comes from the rut. Either way it happens. Savvy hunters keep it in mind. Soon after the chase is on, try to make a determination as to how the bunny is running. Then select your stand accordingly.