Shuuting Off Scent

[Redtick]

Can rabbits shut off their scent? I believe they can. I have seen many, many times where a rabbit has been frightened by being shot at where the dogs can not smell him for a ways. I have seen coon cross the road and the dogs can not smell him for a ways. I surely do not know what causes it but I have seen it happen many, many times. I think fear triggers it.

[woodsy]

I always found that when you shoot at a rabbit and miss, it'll always check imediately afterward, or take a big 8 foot jump, so the dog may loose it for a short while before picking him up again, so maybe tha's what you're refering to. But you bring up a question that I've been pondering for a little while. I know that during summer, a female rabbit produces little scent while they're pregnat, and 9 times out of 10 if your dog picks up a rabbit it'll be a buck. I also read that when there are big crashes in the rabbit population, the rabbits automatically respond by producing very little scent. Kind of a built in protection to keep them from being whipped out.
I wouldn't doubt for a minute your theory might be correct, because over the years I've developed a big respect for them. They certainly seem to have abilities to ensure their survival that other animals don't have. Personally, I think that they're the toughest aniamls in the woods. Some years they seem to be gone completly. only to reappear a few years later in such numbers that they become a problem.

[hlane]

This is a post i found on here from 2002 it didnt get many replies. ive seen the coon crossing the road deal many times where the dogs could not open. and i seen 4 rabbits
in a line go down the edge of a cut bean field and the dogs acted like they just didnt even smell them. anyone got an opinion on why this happens ?

[rabbitearl]

No I ve seen two many of these two couple pack big nose dogs run the crap out of a rabbit every time in one pen and dogs in another pen cannot keep it going a hundred yds.Saying the smelling is not good or anything to help out the dogs.Alot of people looks at there dogs on the tail gate.

[gwyoung]

Been discussed on here before. If you don't think a rabbit can tighten up and hold it's scent for a ways, you are still a beginner. This has nothing to do with the overall scenting or running on any particular day or who's dogs are running. It is about what the rabbit can or cannot do! It can withhold it's scent for a short distance. Walk the dog down the line a short distance and it will take off, most kids learn this real fast!

[rabbitearl]

Donot see Mark dogs having any trouble.

[gwyoung]

Well Earl, let's ask Mark if he is aware of the fact that rabbit's can hold their scent for a short distance ? I am aware that you worship him, ( no fault of his own) but I would guess that he knows enough to know this, be prepared my friend! I can run them below zero on hard crust all day long , but guess what, if I step on one at 60 degrees and a light rain they might not be able to pick him up for a short distance, Yea, probably no nose, Run some dogs ! ' course I guess you would have to get some first!

[rabbitearl]

GW I still say no.Now They might do it but if I was a rabbit and I could do that.Mark an a lot of other people I know would not run me long.Just saying I ve seen to many dogs like his run him day in and day out.I just think its a another good excuse for the dogs.
Far as running dogs.I don t have any.

[S.R.Patch]

I don't believe a rabbit can hold it's scent, but I do believe the adrenal glands can have an immediate effect on the scent, changing it to be made unrecognizable to hounds for a short while.
If you think about all the other scent there is out there that hounds smell that we do not, they have to really be focused on the rabbits scent while ignoring all other scent. If asked, most will tell you, "they believe the hounds can even tell the difference from one rabbit to the other by their individual scent".
I believe it is the slight change of this scent by the adrenalin, that throws the hounds off and seem to appear that the rabbit had shut off it's scent... in other words, the rabbit just "skunked" the hounds... ... jmho
Always an interesting topic.

[rabbitearl]

Look at it this way.Can anybody show that when the dogs get to a place they cannot smell the rabbit that the rabbit just hold its scent.I just don't see a rabbit holding its scent.

[gwyoung]

Earl, You seem like a nice man. At one time I am sure you owned dogs, . Turning off scent has nothing to do with the conditions on any day. It has nothing to do with the hounds not being able to pound a bunny for an hour . It has absolutely nothing to do with a dogs ability to run under any conditions! The fact that Mark's dogs or anyone's dogs run rabbits on any or every day has nothing to do with a rabbit's ability to turn off scent for a short distance. I don't know Mark, But when I see him I know who he is. I believe we both ran the same place again today( at Least I think Don's vehicle was there ) I don't personally know anyone who does not realize that rabbit's have this ability. But what I do know is there is not anyone I know who does not realize that on occasion you are going to have to walk the dogs down the line a few feet before they will be able to pick up the scent under certain circumstances as the rabbit has tightened up. Bring any dog you want up here, I will show it to you! Once again has nothing to do with the dogs, or tough conditions! It will happen to them just as often in tough conditions as it will in easy conditions.

[hlane]

You might be right S.R.PATCH . one thing i learned from a old timer coonhunter was too wait a half hour or so and then turn a dog out on the coon. my dogs ran it good that
way. but anyway this is an interesting subject

[ANTHONY KERR]

I don't believe a rabbit can hold it's scent, but I do believe the adrenal glands can have an immediate effect on the scent, changing it to be made unrecognizable to hounds for a short while.
If you think about all the other scent there is out there that hounds smell that we do not, they have to really be focused on the rabbits scent while ignoring all other scent. If asked, most will tell you, "they believe the hounds can even tell the difference from one rabbit to the other by their individual scent".
I believe it is the slight change of this scent by the adrenalin, that throws the hounds off and seem to appear that the rabbit had shut off it's scent... in other words, the rabbit just "skunked" the hounds... ... jmho
Always an interesting topic.

I tend to go along with this theory. Usually the phenomenom happens after a close call with dogs or hunters and if the dogs move out a bit they are back on again.

[S.R.Patch]

It would sometimes be a chore to decide whether is was the rabbit, the hounds or the scenting conditions of a particular spot or of the overall day that made running bad.
If you turn a rabbit or the rabbit sees you when crossing or you shoot at the rabbit or the rabbit is becoming exhausted, that would be the time I would think the adrenalin kicked in.
Loosing the rabbit on a spot that is foiled or does not hold scent well is all on the dogs, the rabbit was not threatened, the scent weakened to where the hounds couldn't detect it, or their rate of speed an unwillingness to return to point of loss caused them to gamble to a loss.
I know your trying to make the point of the necessity of having gears and patience in a hound and that's a good thing. It has always been a weakness in houndmen to lay blame on their favorite hound for messing up or even a lack of nose and brains...
That's why we mix and run hounds together, if one can do it, they all should. That's the only way we can gauge since we can't smell the rabbit, it is comparing hound against hound to know.

[rabbitearl]

Thanks Patch,sound good to me.I would be the first to say.I don t know it all>