not an anti-shooter, but

[dirtypondbeagles]

You are right

[dirtypondbeagles]

Andre Any real houndsmen NEVER kille's 29 rabbits
andy p

[Bellmorekennels]

Hey guys, I am gona be honest here, when I was younger like 12 to 15 years ago, I would shoot my limit every time out, BUT was going to places that held an unreal amount of rabbits, if I shot 6 seen another 8 to 10. It didnt matter to me how long the runs were or not, just the numbers. I believe as hunters we go through stages, first quantity then quality. Now I find that I will only shoot at a rabbit that is circled at least once by the dogs, and try to take shots that will not destroy the rabbit, so again a rabbit too close, I either aim high for the head or miss. I no longer go to those areas that held those numbers, as starting a family put a dent in hunt time, and driving close to 5 hours each way is hard to do. So now I try to stay local, within 90 minutes, I do go more often, and consider a real good hunt if both my dog teams have at least 2 good runs each, and I will try to harvest 2 to 4 rabbits on an average day, could I shoot more, I guess. But if you hunt 30 times per season and average 3 per hunt, that is 90 rabbits, which is more than enough for me and my family.
That being said I also believe to each his own, would not be typing this 12 years ago. Also would like to add I usually hunt solo, and cleaning rabbits when you get home from an all day hunt is a tough job,as must feed dogs, clean kennel,play with kids ,eat dinner, etc.. so sometimes I am just as happy when dogs run, and I come with 1 rabbit. That is just me, I do like to bang a way once in a while though, just do not have the urge or the spots to do all the time any more.
www.bellmorekennels.com

[lebro]

by dog » Fri Dec 09, 2011 8:56 pm

i know what his point is , just because he has changed the way he does things , he thinks everyone else should also , just because he cant eat that many rabbits dont mean the next guy cant , we eat out of our freezer all year , its nice to have some fried rabbit or squirrel in june , so i pile it in there and eat all year , and with the comment you made about " what would happen if the rabbits had the guns " i now know where you stand , sounds like a true ANTI HUNTER comment to me !
exactly.

[rbinford1]

Some of us gets to the point where we,d rather see the rabbit go around afew more times , and then we forget to shoot thats what i do somtimes ,somtimes i forget to take the gun... rbinford1

[APFII]

As I said last year when this topic came up,they need a separate section for the meat hunters to have. They could show pics and videos of rabbits stacked like cord wood They could talk of the number of rabbits they kill on the last hunt and the number they need to beat or match last years kill.
Me ,I am an old fart that thinks that a shotgun is just too much to lug around most days. LOL I Never did shoot very many rabbits or raccoon . Guess I am not much of a hunter ,just always enjoyed the dog work. I must be one of those "ANTI Hunters " lebro talks about.

[bucks better beagles]

APFII: Agree completely and put very well. I am also an old hunter. I also know people have a legal right to kill, kill, kill rabbits. But, perhaps, a separate forum would be nice for them.

[bucks better beagles]

Dog said, .." what would happen if the rabbits had the guns " i now know where you stand , sounds like a true ANTI HUNTER comment to me

Since you were referring to me, no. You do not understand sarcasm, figurative speech or, for that matter, the meaning of 'ANTI HUNTER'.
Au contraire. I think people like Jerwane and others are true hunters who hunt for the joy of the journey and not necessarily "the kill". Of course, you have a legal right to kill all the rabbits you want and to eat them or throw them away. Not contesting that. Just taking the conversation to perhaps, a higher place.

[warddog]

Never saw the need to kill 29 rabbits even back when I was a kid hunting with my dad, his brother(s), my cousins and I. We hunted to suppliment the grocery bill BUT never filled the freezer as we didn't eat wild game every night. We hunted rabbits, squirrel, frogs, turtles and mushrooms when in season and took enough for a meal or two and split up amoung those hunting what we all got. If there were 6 of us hunting ALL of us getting the limit would have been 30 rabbits and I don't ever remember that happening. There were plenty of rabbits back then but we always respected mother nature and never took advantage of her even though WE COULD! I've learned over the years that there is much, much more to hunting than the kill as the kill is the end to it not the beginning. Even though I've been hunting and taking game for over 50 years, I just learned that "I may be an anti"!

[likeemfast]

guys, enough is enough, joeyman isnt shooting your rabbits so what it matter, you guys who would just rather watch the rabbit run are more of a anti hunter and a detrement to the hunting community than joeyman wuld ever be. who cares if he shoots a thousand a year, if he gets a thousand a year he walked by 2500 more that him and his dogs never even jumped. 2500 other rabbits that are there for the fox, owls, hawks, coyotes and whatever other predator that takes a rabbit 7 days a week 365 days a year. if your so worries about the rabbit population get off your duff and go shoot yourself some predators. i for one joeyman enjoy your posts, keep bangin and runnin and post some more hunts. i say joeyman cuz its obvious who this post is directed at. you anti hunters who say meat hunters should have a different forum should have your own forum that reads, "WE GOT DOGS BUT EAT CARROTS"

[mybeagles]

Can any hunter/non-hunter honestly say they will reduce/increase the amount of game they kill because someone on here "wouldn't do it" or dissaproves?

There is a twisted sense of PRIDE that permeates from those who dissaprove or wouldn't do it as if to say they have reached a "higher level" of sportmanship.

Perhaps thats not the intent, but it's pretty obvious thats what coming accross to the guys that cover the tailgate with bunnies......

I almost think if would be better to have an annonymous Poll.....doubt it would change any opinions, but at least the guys who don't wouldn't be so put off by the guys who do......

Mybeagles

[bucks better beagles]

Mybeagles,

I ran a poll last summer to compare those who kill and those who do not. It turned out that those who voted were much more into it for the chase than for the kill. Now, doesn't mean they didn't shoot a few now and then. I am not an anti-shooter or anti-hunter and I really do not know how Joeyman got into the discussion. Perhaps someone could tell us. Jerwane never mentioned him and from what I know of Joeyman (from his posts), he is enthusiastic and a great promoter of the sport. I look forward to always reading his posts and don't care how many rabbits he kills in Missouri. If you have rabbits, shoot em. My point was only that where there are very few of them, it seems a shame to kill them. In my areas, there will be a few rabbits in the fall but as soon as the gunners come in, they will all be killed and then there are none. I mean none. We can go all winter and never see a track. That is why I go to running fox. Next spring I would like to buy some San Juans and bring them in just to have some puppy chases.

Seems to be a lot of interest in this thread. Hope everyone takes the chance to express themselves.

[warddog]

I highly doubt that there is any TWISTED sense of pride from folks who don't elect to stack up game like cords of wood. FACT is there is an article in last years 2009-2010 Indiana HUNTING and trapping guide on this very issue. On page two there is the featured article wriiten by the public affairs specialist for the DNR Division of Communications. The artilce is titled UNWRITTEN (until now) rules of hunting and trapping. The article is a page long but it explains such things as spreading out for adequate soacing, ride ATV's with respect, first come-first served ( if U arrive at a spot u intended to hunt/trap and someone else is there: move on), know ur neighbor for adjacent properties, respect personal property, know ur surroundings so u know who or what is beyond ur target, promote a positive image (by not driving through town with a dead deer strapped to ur vehicle or enter a public place covered in blood), HAVE CONCERNS FOR CONSERVATION ( a bag limit of 5 doesn't mean u have to kill that many, NEVER take more than YOU can use), don't hog the area, leave no trace.
The article ends by saying " Be proud of being a sportsman or sportswoman, but remember ur actions will affect how others perceive all hunters and trappers. Act accordingly.
I kept this issue as it seems to speak to all those that are posting on this thread. The above isn't my words but taken from the DNR commision,as a sportsman and hunter it is my business as the game within the state does not belong to you or I, but rather it belongs to every citizen within the state. I would imagine that Indiana isn't the only state with the above UNWRITTEN rules and I certainly don't see how the statement of people having a twisted sense of pride when they are merely following what the DNR states true sportsman and sportswomen should follow.

[mud]

I guess I will join the frey.To each his own.I understand warddog and others who don't kill everything in front of them.I used to kill all I could.Still on ocassion go with a group that kills big numbers. After 40 plus years of hunting I guess I am getting old. Went today we killed 7 rabbits the 3 of us.My 74 year old dad,me and my son.Now for me the hunts with family and friends mean more than the numbers.With getting older don't no how many more hunts my dad and I can go on.The true joy for me now is enjoy every second I have with my father and son.The rabbits we kill are just an added bonus.The time spent in the field with dogs and the risk of sounding corny, the love and fellowship with each other are so much more important to me .We laughed and ate lunch in the field.Bologna and crackers.For me it doesn't get any better than that....

[dog]

if someone chooses not to shoot rabbits that is fine , as a matter of fact its great , i dont condone them for doing that , its their choice , just like it is my choice to shoot a limit every trip out if i choose , i dont preach to people to kill rabbits but i dont expect to be preached too not to kill them either , , been hunting all my life and im sick and tired of trying to justify what i do , i do it because i choose to , thats my right , as long as im within the law , as for the Anti Hunter comment , thats the way i see it , those are the kind of comments Anti's make , so if your not an anti , i appologize and sugest you use different words in the future , ans there was a comment about , a true houndsman would never shoot 29 rabbits in a weekend , i have to agree with that one , a True Houndsman wouldnt , But a True Rabbit Hunter would , there is a huge difference , so maybe we do need seperate forums , one for rabbit hunters and one for houndsmen