The American Beagler Forum

Well the summer heat has officially arrived in NC, I hate this time of year. It's just too hot to run dogs, the ticks, skeeters, may flies and chiggers are out in full force, snakes are out everywhere and it is just flat out hot as hell. You guys up North catch it in the winter with the snow and extreme cold, and folks in the south catch it in the summer with the extreme heat and humidity. Todays temp was 93 degrees with 90% humidity. The current temp here at 8:30 pm. is 85 Degrees, its dark and it is still too hot.(LOL) In the summer I only run 1 - 2 hrs at a time and once or twice a week, because I just will not chance stroking one out or messing up ones kidneys just for the sake of training . I work at night, and temps are too rough during the day so the dogs don't do much this time of year. I have been known to drop the on the ground at 1130pm when I get off work though.(LOL) What do some of you other folks do in the heat?

I here ya Big Dog. It's 9:30 here and it feels just as hot and humid as it did at 4:30. This morning I was out the door at 6:30 and there was'nt a drop of dew on the grass and It all ready felt sticky. This really bites!

I ran my dogs Thursday evening for a few hours and thought I had killed my male. He looked pretty bad. Guess I'll lay off for awhile.
I worried about rattlesnakes the whole time.

I get 2 feet of snow in winter but its hot up here in Ohio today in the 90s and humid but......it doesnt last long at all,plus no ticks,chiggers or copperheads.I feel for you guys,this yankee hates heat.

we're just getting into the 90's the last couple days . but at least we still have a bit of dew in the mornings and we DONT have snakes .

92 down here in south MS yesterday. Have to take the dogs swimming not hunting.

I take my dogs out about an hour before dark and let them run for about an hour down by the creek. So when there done I just let them swim for awhile before I take them back. The dogs have never had a problom with this.

HEY BIG DOG IAM WITH YOU . JUST TO MANY TICKS AND TO HOT AND DRAY. AND TO MANY YOUNG RABBIT RUNNING AROUND THAT DONT LEAVE A GOOD TRACK. THE HOUNDS CAN DRIVE YOU NUTS ON THEM TRYING TO GET THEM YOUNG THANGS UP AND RUNNING AND WHEN YOU SEE THEM THEY ARE NO BIGER THAN YOUR HAND.. SEE YA STEVE

This time of year, I just wait for a cool snap to come through or for a rainy day. Its pretty miserable trying to run an anything over 80 degrees and humitity.
-Pete

We ran Sunday morning for about 4 hrs. The dew seem to keep the dogs somewhat cool as it was very heavy weeds. The thing i hate is that the eyes will be closed for about 2 or 3 days. I usually have to tend to them for at least a week after a good run. I dont run them again untill its cleared.

I ran mine yesterday night for about 10mins because of the heat. They ran one around the house the whole time. It was an ok run but the heat was killin the dogs. They were pantin so bad after that, that i never took them out in the briars.

When is it too hot to run the dogs?
And how long should you run them?

I just came in at 2 pm from letting a pup run a 1/2 grown rabbit.Sweat yea boy :) My home sits back off the road on my farm and the yard is surrounded with briar bed and nicely grown up pasture and wood lines.Won't bushog for at least another month.Allows enough time for regrowth before winter to hold rabbits.

I turn out in the late morning and mid afternoos at times.If I see a rabbit out and about any time of the day in the edges I run it into the briar bed or heavy weeds and go get a pup or two and put on it.I just don't let em run to long in this heat.Gotta learn to handle all scent conditions.

But yes I worry like everyone about snakes.No rattlers here but they are in hollows up the road 5 - 10-miles.Never know.Copperheads yea a few but knock on wood I have not had any trouble since I retired on this farm.
Hunt6 David P.

I just came in at 2 pm from letting a pup run a 1/2 grown rabbit.Sweat yea boy :) My home sits back off the road on my farm and the yard is surrounded with briar bed and nicely grown up pasture and wood lines.Won't bushog for at least another month.Allows enough time for regrowth before winter to hold rabbits.

I turn out in the late morning and mid afternoos at times.If I see a rabbit out and about any time of the day in the edges I run it into the briar bed or heavy weeds and go get a pup or two and put on it.I just don't let em run to long in this heat.Gotta learn to handle all scent conditions.

But yes I worry like everyone about snakes.No rattlers here but they are in hollows up the road 5 - 10-miles.Never know.Copperheads yea a few but knock on wood I have not had any trouble since I retired on this farm.
Hunt6 David P.

Its been hot here in the north too Kim, we havent been spared yet...I wont run my hounds when it gets over 80. I do have a couple of those plastic pools for my hounds to get in and cool off...they seem to like it a lot. Dont even need encouragement, they just jump right in...Tony

Well here on the rock guys it's 58 degrees and wet with no snakes.