The American Beagler Forum

It has been about 20 to 25 degrees here in West Michigan. The rabbits are just held up so tight the dogs have to step on them to get them up. Is that normal in this weather? It is so bad that my buddy's 7 month old pup has had 2 rabbits in his mouth in the last week. We ran for 6 hours today and did not get one run!!! Please someone tell me that this is normal, because the more it happens the more disgusted we get.

Thanks

Here in Ohio it has been like that many days. Previously from all the wet conditions and now from the cold. It has been awhile since I seen rabbits out sunning. You have to step on them to get them to move. We have got some good runs once jumped but if you have track dogs and not jump dogs you will be in trouble or you will be jumping the rabbits for your pack in many cases. Nothing wrong with a strong driving track dog but you will also need at least one or two good jump dogs in your pack. Females usually make the best jump dogs in my experience.
I ran today for a few hour in 23 degree weather, windy conditions with frozen and powdered snow on top. It was real difficult and the rabbits didn't run far or out of the briar patches. The last rabbit ran I saw at least three times where it was jumped. Shot at it but couldn't get through the brush to make a kill. I only had a 20 month old female and a 6.5 month old male and they ran it pretty good for the conditions but struggled a bit at times.
Seems like here in the Great Buckeye State the rabbits sit pretty tight many days of winter. That's why I always look at desire, hunt and jump in my dogs. It is a must around these parts.

this is common in this typ of weather in michigan
it took me an hour to find a rabbit to run to day
last week in the i was able to 5 in no time in the same spot
i think the best thing to do in this wearther is slowdown your hunt
give the dogs a chance to realy search the area

If western michigan is anything like northern michigan, the rabbit populations are pretty bad....again this weekend there were truck loads of hunters arguing over who was going to hunt the last couple sections of public land with any game. I counted over 20 trucks in 3 square mile area, its getting crazy.

Same here... realy bad when it is early in the morning or the wind is up. Some runs go 50 yards and pops into the hole... Hard on young hounds or pups training but it is part of what makes hunting hunting. If it was easy every dog would be great

mybeagles wrote:If western michigan is anything like northern michigan, the rabbit populations are pretty bad....again this weekend there were truck loads of hunters arguing over who was going to hunt the last couple sections of public land with any game. I counted over 20 trucks in 3 square mile area, its getting crazy.

Man, that must really suck. In Ohio we don't have many good lakes other than Erie but we are loaded with great hunting spots with little pressure. If I had to fight over hunting ground then I would get a bunch of beaglers together and buy a section of land to at least run your dogs in. Many times I hunt on public land and don't see another hunter all day. I love it! That's the beauty of strip mined land. Seems like your back in time 150 years. Many places you don't even see a house all day.

if you can go to the upper
weather dont seem to bother snowshoe hair
i will be there this week end

Here in central mi rabbitts have been sitting tight for the last month now we have 8 inches of snow so when the dogs do jump one they usually head for the first jam pile they can find. Jumped 3 yesterday 2 went into pipes 1 into a junk pile

we jump about 7 to day not 1 stayed on top of the ground for more than 15 min. we had about 8 in. of fluffy snow
be glad when this weather breaks

We were out today with my five month pup today dispite the blizzard. She ran two for a ways but lost both. In to holes I bet. I missed when I shot at the first one . It did seem the rabbits were holding tight or holed up. The two we ran were sitting real tight to bushes. Where about in West Michigan were you hunting? We have been trying out the Muskegon SGA with some success finding a few rabbits but none died yet.

Bill

Give me a pm or call, I haven't had very much trouble finding rabbits to run this year at all, just the contrary...I've had rabbits that ran for a LONG time this year, even in the blowing snow....I live in Greenville and can steer you towards some other hunting spots if you want to....Tony

Don't feel too bad Briarback, here in southeast Ky rabbits been tough to find. Hunted 5 hrs. today on about 1 inch of snow jumped 3, went to hole within 30seconds of jump. Stood 5 feet from one in briar patch talkin to buddy,callin dogs and rabbit wouldn't move until dog had its mouth on it.Been horrible year for the workin man only getting a couple days a week to hunt.