what strategic lesson did Malcolm learn from his rabbit-hunting expedition?

Malcom figured out that if he repositioned himself in the path of the rabbits before they got back to where the old men were hiding, he could get the rabbits before they did.

I got to thinking about it, and finally I thought of a plan. I would separate from them and Big Boy and I would go to a point where I figured that the rabbit, returning, would have to pass me first.