Shuuting Off Scent

[gwyoung]

And a very Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[S.R.Patch]

Well guys Ive talked to a old vet about this and I think Ive got it figured out! When the rabbit gets a sudden scare it sends its body into shock! For a few seconds its adrenaline kicks in and everything else except its legs shuts down! Scent glands stop producing scent to conserve energy for the escape!

I think this would be most plausible, except,...we know the footprint scent is the strongest and longest lasting, so even if the rabbit "shut off" it's scent or the oil glands stop production, the oils that exist on the foot would still leave some decreasing indication in the rabbits direction and not end abruptly as it does, it would still be discernible for some distance.
The only thing I can think of that makes sense to the abrupt ending of the hunted scent is that the adrenalin effect upon the emitted oil from the gland is "changed" for that instant and hounds do not recognize it as the "hunted scent" till it regains it's normal composition some distance down the trail...
Nature's design for the protection of the lowliest on the food chain... jmho

[likeemfast]

Well guys Ive talked to a old vet about this and I think Ive got it figured out! When the rabbit gets a sudden scare it sends its body into shock! For a few seconds its adrenaline kicks in and everything else except its legs shuts down! Scent glands stop producing scent to conserve energy for the escape!

I think this would be most plausible, except,...we know the footprint scent is the strongest and longest lasting, so even if the rabbit "shut off" it's scent or the oil glands stop production, the oils that exist on the foot would still leave some decreasing indication in the rabbits direction and not end abruptly as it does, it would still be discernible for some distance.
The only thing I can think of that makes sense to the abrupt ending of the hunted scent is that the adrenalin effect upon the emitted oil from the gland is "changed" for that instant and hounds do not recognize it as the "hunted scent" till it regains it's normal composition some distance down the trail...
Nature's design for the protection of the lowliest on the food chain... jmho

Sounds good to me ........ It's a wrap. ........ Game over! Merry christmas

[S.R.Patch]

Nothing original to add?
As was told to me, change the channel if nothing of interest here. Some hounds desire to finish the track...most say, they despise a quitter, maybe some have a double standard for themselves and their hounds...
When your hounds come to a hard check, does your praise go to the hound that comes in to your feet first?
My little jump dawg Fannie used to make me mad when I was ready to go home. Sure as anything, she'd jump another rabbit on the way out. I was only upset for a moment tho... how could one stay mad at such desire to hunt...

[cris axtell/coal hill ken]

As a true houndsman I have this all figured out. Just send me $20 and I'll send you a pm with all the answers. I do think that gunpowder residue in a shot pattern can mess up the dogs on a track and when a rabbit is spooked or shot at they pick up speed leaving less scent.

[gwyoung]

chris, You had me all ready to send you $20, until I saw some of your answers!!

[cris axtell/coal hill ken]

Good reply GW I got a chuckle out of that.

[Alabama John]

Noone would agrue a dog creates more scent when in heat to attract a male.
If nature can create it for special occasions, nature can shut it off the whole body to protect it and the young from discovery and being trailed and caught.
Seen too many does not being able to be tracked to not believe they can shut it off.
Late in hunting season here in Alabama when weather gets up in the high 60's and 70's toward the end of hunting season does will breed and have babies before hunting season goes out.
Sudden change in dogs running rabbits and easy to tell which are does and which are bucks by how they are run or cannot be run. Many times killed 7-10 rabbits and all after a good run and all would be bucks. All does bedded up with young ones. Jumped does myself, called dogs and dogs you can easily put on a rabbit track could not smell anything or sometimes just a bark or two and that's it.
You can put a rabbit up to your own nose and see the difference.
nature is fascinating in many ways, its wonder to behold!
30-30 (The end)

[S.R.Patch]

John, I figured you among all people would know how to slip away or get close. We do not become invisible, but mask ourselves to be invisible.
If our disguise betray us, we are lunch.

If the hounds were after you, how would you become invisible?
They've got your scent, ready, set, go...