The American Beagler Forum

Well I finally got it figured out.LoL.I will be able to build a running and excersize pen that is 350' by 350' for about $700.I'm using a fencing/netting used to keep deer out of flower beds and stuff.It comes as high as 14' but im gettin the 4' that comes in a 350' roll.I would recomend this to anyone who is lookin for a cheap way to build a good running pen.You can look at this product at http://www.growerssupply.com.................Isn't 350' by 350' like 1 1/4 acre...I know it's not exact but aint it close?Does anyone think that this is still too small if so let me know.If you think it's a good size,tell me how many dogs I should put in there at the time....I was thinkin no more than two grown dogs but as many pups as I want.

Well mine is over 2 1/2 acres With HEAVY Cover and if i put 2 good dogs in it over more than a couple hours they start catchin rabbits..Its great for starting pups and Exercising just started Dogs but as far as a Runnin pen I Need more so I am Going to do 2 more acres this fall!!!This ground is thick also I have 3 or 4 BIG piles and a few smaller ones along with downed trees and Blackberry, multifora Rose and whatever else will grow I can Sit out in it on a 4 wheeler this time of year and you wont be able to see me but still Experienced dogs will catch one now and again......I used the red brand apron fence 6 foot with a 1 foot apron gives me 5 foot of fence with a hotwire along the top. i used 3 strands of Barbedwire Top middle and Bottom to attach the Apron Fence to 8 foot 4x4 every 50 feet with T posts every 10 ft old telephone poles for corners and anchor posts....I Was gonna go wtih the cheaper wire but after talkin to folks who have pens and hearing how they had to keep maintaining and replacing fence over the years till they went with a good Quality Apron Fence i figured Spend it now or Do it again later i opted to do it Once.........

id think that would be a lil small for a running lot
but would make a good starting pen

350' x 350' is around 2.81 acres. Like the others said, it would make a real nice starting pen, but you probably couldn't let the more experienced hounds stay in too long.

BiL

There is a guy not too far from me that has an 18 acre pen....and it is thick. If you put a pack in there, you can tell very quickly that it "feels" small. And many will tell you that dogs start developing bad habits if ran too much in pens.

Next time your dogs get on a big running buck rabbit visualize the area the dogs are covering. I'd dare say I've had cottontails cover 50 acres if not more.

2 acres could make a nice starting pen.

-Pete

When I first started I had a couple med speed hounds. We had a 'bout a 2 acre brier patch at the end of one corn field. The rabbits would just go round and round in the stickered mess with my two hounds, so we went and got my buddies hound ole Sam. That hound was fast and we had rabbits scattering ever-which direction outa that brier patch when we turned him loose. Mine couldn't push the rabbit outa there but ole Sam shook the trees and had them running for their lives...
I've seen hounds so tied to the line and slower on foot, that a acre would be enough without putting the rabbit in danger...

I have a pen on my land 600 by 600, it is rather thick with a lot of skids under brush piles for hiding places, but if i put 1 of my big dogs in their they would catch and kill every rabbit in my pen. if you but any dog in their over 6 mounths you will lose a lot of rabbits, pups 3 mounths or younger maybe 3 , i know this from exsperance, we have bought over 25 rabbits and we now have one left, to many big dogs. useing byron fence 5ft with apron.

In one of my pens I got is a 10 ac pen and this is were I hold my Big Pack trials.This pen is thick thick ful of rabbits.The last trial I had there We had 23 dogs in it and ran for 4 hr.No rabbits catch.Come to think about it never had a rabbit catch in it.Eather we got sorry dogs down here or you fellers donot have a thick pen.This pen is a 3 year old cut over.

We are getting ready to make a starting pen. The existing fence is woven wire. I have not measured it, but guessing its 3 acres +/-. Going to skirt the bottom. Should be good for pups, hoping it will be enough to solo adults. The problem is no natural water. From what I've read, rabbits get most of their water from the veg. they eat. I'm thinking we should still supply a small water source? Any thoughts.

Just get a small pan with water in it.I ve seen rabbits drink from this. Rabbit do get alot of water off the grass in the morn.But if it gets dry dry you need some water.

Thanks. Now I just have to figure out how to live trap some bunnies.(hint rabbitearl)

Yes zander I can catch a rabbit.To have 7 pens you better know how.It took me 7 years to learnd how and I learnd on a mistake.I catch 324 last year were there not that many rabbits.Show me a rabbit track and within three days I will show you a rabbit.I will be coming out with a video in nov to show everthing about the trap and bait and were to set it.

RABBIT EARL IS A CRACKER JACK RABBIT TRAPPER.I WOULD RECOMMEND HIS VIDEO WHEN HE COMES OUT WITH IT.Steve Church ps has some really good running pens you can rent out and possible lodging-give him a hollar.

maybe you can spend the night and see if rabbitearl can send you home with some bunnies.if rabbit earl lets me know i set some boxes.i'd say we are 2 of the best in the carolina's trapping rabbits.Steve C

Thanks steve.I have to say I ve got the best all around dogs that I ve ever had in 36 years and they don t even come close to my rabbits boxes.