The American Beagler Forum

Well we started out around 7:30 or so. Jeff had Scooter, Shane and Blue, Jovan had Rocky, and I had Buster and Katie, My brother was also there.

Katie jumped the first rabbit and all the dogs joined in. After 2 circles it came running out into the open towards me. I let it get about 20yds then fired and missed LOL. Buster jumped the second rabbit and I got in a spot were I could see about 6 feet around me (it was really thick) well the dogs started coming my way. My brother said it had come out into the field and was heading towards me (dogs were behind the rabbit so he didn't shoot) well the rabbit came about 4 feet from me I put the gun up and as it bolted away I fired and missed again LOL made a nice hole in the ground. We ran a bunch more rabbits and I missed alot more LOL. We ran until 11:30 then took a break for lunch and went back out until 1:30. Jeff had gotten one before lunch and thats all we got at that spot. I missed 4 rabbits, Jovan missed one there, and Jeff missed one. There was a bunch we never got shots at.

At 1:30 we decided to head home and put the dogs up. Buster, Katie, Scooter and Shane were done for the day. I went back to my house and got Copper, then we went back out with Copper, Rocky, and Blue. After a few hours of runs but no shooting at another one of Jeffs spots. Jeff and my brother sat down and me and Jovan went off with the dogs. Jovan missed 2 more rabbits during that time LOL. Well we saw one cross over the railroad tracks so we put the dogs on it they took it down threw the hedge row and out came the rabbit first Jovan shot, then I shot 2 times, then Jovan fired one more hitting the rabbit. I put my gun down and about a sec. later another rabbit came running out I threw my gun up and fired down went that rabbit. So now me and Jovan also had one in the game bag. I shot a box of 25 shells today so that should tell ya how good a shot I am LOL.

Jeff got 1, Jovan got 1, and I got 1. My brother never fired a shot at a rabbit. Blue and Rocky ran for 10hours today which was very impressive.

Pic.
Jeff holding Blue(left) and I had Rocky(right) and Copper(left) with the rabbits that me and Jovan shot.

Was a great day cant wait til the cover dies a little bit it was way too thick

sounds like you all had a great day... congrats...

keep em in the brush...

jack

The thick cover makes one tend to try "spot shooting" the rabbit, instead of "swing through" on the rabbit, which usually means, you'll hit behind the critter.
Sounds like the hounds had plenty of action and you all had a good time...
ps...I love the smell of burnt gun powder also...

SR PAtch you wouldve smelled that alot if you were with us LOL

A little soreness in the shoulder feels good after a day like that, doesn't it...

hahah yea but i didnt feel like doing anything today

My shoulder isn't shore I'm used to shooting alot.

My old auto loader don't like to eject the light loads any more, but that's all I use in the early season as the shots are usually in the close brush. Being as the shots are close and through brush, I may use 7 1/2's or 8 shot, lots more bb's to scatter...
An old friend of mine always used bird shot, his reasoning was, it don't drag hair into the meat as bad, most of the lite lead shot will be found just under the skin and not into the meat, and the small shot will not break bone like the heavier shot will. Nothing worse than biting into a busted leg bone...

S.R.Patch wrote:The thick cover makes one tend to try "spot shooting" the rabbit, instead of "swing through" on the rabbit, which usually means, you'll hit behind the critter.

Boy did you ever hit the nail on the head for me. I was 0 for 5 Saturday morning, caught myself doing just that. Redeemed myself some in the afternoon 4 for 5. Went out this morning did the same thing again, not following through, shot behind one, I'm going to have to be real consciencious of it until this darn cover dies some, seems like a good way to mess up my shooting to me.

hopefully some cover can die down then we will be killing alot mroe rabbits