Yessirree, I went out today. Figured today was going to be better than tomorrow. Winds were predicted to pick up in the afternoon and so instead of waiting to warm up more, I went out around 10:15am. I think it was around 10 degrees and windchills were a little below zero. It was cold. Got one bunny up and moving in the pasture. I got one quick shot at it and missed and then watched it disappear into a groundhog hole. The dogs searched several other areas, but nothing moving. So we moved over to the woodlot across the way which was a little more tolerable as it was somewhat sheltered from the wind. It had started snowing by then. The dogs spent about 5-10 mins working a bulldozed pile of brush and finally a rabbit popped out. They chased it down a slope toward the creek. I saw a glimpse of it once. I was sure they were going to bring it around so I stayed put. The dogs just kept circling it down by the creek (were they on a different rabbit???). A few times I could barely hear them but they always came back around closer. Then my female decided she wanted to take a trip to the far end of the woodlot after her own rabbit. Had to go chase her down and bring her back. At least the walk warmed me up because I was freezing. I got her back with my male who was still going round and round by the creek. After a little bit more of that I was getting cold so I called the dogs and went home. We were out nearly 3 hours.
Then after lunch I noticed my male was squinting so I looked at his eye and he had a splinter of wood right in the middle of his cornea. So up to the clinic to work on him. Ended up having to sedate him and had mr. bluedog along to be my assistant. I had a HARD time getting that splinter out as it was embedded deeply and had broken off with no edge sticking out. Was worried that I was going to rupture the eye, but I got it out finally. The eye looks OK except for the gouge from where the stick went in. Poor dog's eye has to hurt like heck. Guess I won't be running him tomorrow on my day off. Weather is bad anyway.
So that was my excitement for the day. Here's hoping for better weather next weekend!!!!!!