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"J"'s 2016/17 Rabbit Adventures

"J" a lot of good times to be had running beagles.... Nothing like the sound of a beagle bringing a rabbit around. Growing up in Western Pa. my Dad had beagles and that was some of my best memories. Someone mentioned dogs having a personality all their own. I remember my Dads female Sally, when she got on a pheasant she would wag her tail a certain way and act different. You better stay right with her because any minute a rooster would explode in front of her. A lot of great memories.
 
Fletch said:
"J" a lot of good times to be had running beagles.... Nothing like the sound of a beagle bringing a rabbit around. Growing up in Western Pa. my Dad had beagles and that was some of my best memories. Someone mentioned dogs having a personality all their own. I remember my Dads female Sally, when she got on a pheasant she would wag her tail a certain way and act different. You better stay right with her because any minute a rooster would explode in front of her. A lot of great memories.
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We've had a few that would run a pheasant (rarely ever saw any) and they were definitely in a different mode while doing it....

Took the girls out for a couple hours yesterday and it had to be the worse tracking weather too date, ice everywhere and they couldn't get more then 30 yards on a hot track.... Rough afternoon that's for sure, can't remember a day like that in recent history....

Heading out again this morning, meeting up with OhioSam and hitting a few spots, hopefully have better luck then yesterday....
This ice hopefully will start melting and go away as it's tough in some areas to stay on your feet lol
 
Thanks J for one of the most memorable rabbit hunts I've ever been on. :smiley_clap:

J took me to a really hot spot today. Dogs started running bunnies almost as soon as they hit the ground. A couple of runs ended up with the bunnies holing up but we each got a bunny out of the first little field.

Moved across a gas well drive and just walked into a patch of woods when the dogs hit a hot track. We stopped and waited while the dogs did their thing. Stood there just a few minutes and heard a loud crash in a small thicket 50 feet to my right. I turned to see a bunny AND a big doe busting out of the thicket heading right at me. The doe turned a little and ran 25 feet behind me. I swung on the rabbit but I was so flustered that I missed it. lol.
 
Ohiosam said:
Thanks J for one of the most memorable rabbit hunts I've ever been on. :smiley_clap:

J took me to a really hot spot today. Dogs started running bunnies almost as soon as they hit the ground. A couple of runs ended up with the bunnies holing up but we each got a bunny out of the first little field.

Moved across a gas well drive and just walked into a patch of woods when the dogs hit a hot track. We stopped and waited while the dogs did their thing. Stood there just a few minutes and heard a loud crash in a small thicket 50 feet to my right. I turned to see a bunny AND a big doe busting out of the thicket heading right at me. The doe turned a little and ran 25 feet behind me. I swung on the rabbit but I was so flustered that I missed it. lol.
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How'd you're videos turn out Sam???

I'll echo what Sam just posted, this is the second time I've hit this spot this year, first time we had basically the same results but I think today was a little better.... Tracking conditions were way better 15 miles south of us then where I was yesterday as it really sucked and the dogs really struggled...

Today's location was less snow and definitely less ice.... This is one of my prime spots to deer hunt and I was apprehensive hunting it as it's a bedding spot earlier in the season while the corn is still standing.... Once the corn comes down they vacate it too a neighboring property with thicker cover and more food....

We moved close too 10 rabbit today and most were on the small side and we passed on most of them.... That doe was huge lol, was really shocked as the girls had already been there earlier runnin a rabbit thru there.... Just goes too show, they are a mystery lol....

Thanks again for the lunch Sam, and we'll have to do it again next week.... Lots of fun hanging out, talking and watching the girls work....

They're still a work in progress since Katie has passed, they're not working in a pack like they have all along when hey ran with her... I'll just keep at it and see if they get better, we're already contemplating looking for another female too add too the pack as three seems too work better then two lol.... Like I need a reason lmao..... I guess bottomline was, Katie was the glue that held the cracked up pack together..... We'll see what the remainder of the season shows us....


 
with the alpha female gone, they may never operate the same way again, but they will work it out. keep 'em running. sounds like fellers had a busy day.
 
lol, oh well... We'll get it figured out lol...

Jamie, that's my plan, just keep getting them out and dealing with the issues....


 
For you guys that are running dogs or just chasing bunnies, are you having any issues with fleas or ticks?
Years ago I started gutting and skinning them in the field, bagging them and into the game vest...... When I pull them out at the house all I have to do is soak and quarter them up and debone then in the freezer....
 
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I haven't had any on the dogs or squirrels, but I got into a bunch of ticks two days in a row during gun season. found one half buried on my back/shoulder next to my armpit a couple days later. one of those tiny deer ticks. I brushed them off my legs both days. still don't know where I picked them up, but the hole from the one that got me is still healing. nothing I hate worse than a tick (besides my ex wife, but she was a blood sucker, too). my dogs are taking flea/tick treatment orally now, and they take it all winter long since they are frequently in contact with the rats we kill.
 
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