The American Beagler Forum

i've been running rabbit beagles for almost 50 years now. this year started out GREAT with 3 early trips to the adirondacks to run then 7 days of running and hunting at my camp in the adirondacks in october. we rediscovered some great hunting spots in southern ny and had a blast. killed a pile of rabbits to.
then the snow came.
it ruined everything.
not much snow in the adirondacks but 20 below most nights.
30 inches of snow in southern ny and nj.
now every thing is a block of ice.
i haven't had a decent run in 2 months.
sucks.
how did your season go?

We had a good season down here around Mason Dixon Line. We got hit with lot more snow and ice than usual. For the most part had lot of good days with good running. Mostly, enjoyed getting out with good buddies running some good dogs. We harvested enough rabbits for the freezer and left plenty for seed too.

Fantastic. Had one to remember minus one of my dogs getting an infection and nearly dying.

My hats off to yall that hunt in this bitter cold.I just cannot do it anymore. I see some on here that hunt in all that snow and cold. I get cold just looking at it.

Joe,

We had similar year here in Michigan. I refused to give in to the weather so several of my trips to the woods we didn't get a rabbit full circle and on limited occasions didn't jump one.

Dogs and I got plenty of exercise trudging through two feet of snow. I think it also turned my young female into a respectable snow dog. Last couple days I've had some decent runs and in the end I think I will appreciate spring more than most years. I gained a greater appreciation for my good health. The guys I normally run with stayed home all winter afraid their bodies wouldn't hold up in this weather.

My wive gained some leverage on retiring further south some day but by mid July all that leverage will dissolve.

SORRY AND SORRY AND SORRY FOR ME I GUESS ITS THEM SORRY DOGS I GOT

This past October spent a week in northern Maine and then the next week in northern Vermont hare hunting.Good times with old friends and some real good running and harvested some hare each day.
Had a real good weekend hunt over in middle Tn. with friends Peter Burns and Tyler Hand and 10 of our hounds.Hunted on private land leases and really got into them both days.
Over all here in east Tn. I thought the rabbit population was way down [ at least in the places I hunt ]. I was always able to get a rabbit up but the dogs had to work extra hard and we covered lots of miles this season just to jump one or two in places that should have held lots more.
I've got a couple of big farms where I'm the only beagler hunting there and the difference in rabbits last year to this season was huge.??? don't really know why.

Spent 2 weeks hunting and tent camping in the northwoods of Maine in October. My son and I had a great time. Ohio's season came in the first Friday of November and the dogs and I went out nearly everyday. Alot of good runs and very few bad days. My wife slipped on ice and broke her arm on black Friday. I missed a few days hunting as she required surgery and spent several days in the hospital. Deer season was unproductive. When the ice, snow, and cold arrived, I hunted as much as I could safely. March has been hit and missed. Alot of short runs where the rabbit holed up quickly and then some really good runs where the rabbits refused to quit.

I live in upstate NY and the weather was tuff extremely cold this year and snow just kept coming. I hunt with two other guys and we hunted Hare two or three days a wk.because we only have three day week ends. My dogs ran real well on the days we hunted just some days were to cold for man or beast.I have a female pup that was born 8/12/12 that I was really impressed with could run every time with or with out the older dogs. Hope we all get better weather next season.

TO much snow too hunt hare this winter. Had one hunt the first week of January but since too much snow can't even get over it with snowshoes. Coyote hunted the island a couple if times with snow machine but only way to get around and then you better be carefull. Locals report 6 wolves from Canada to island hopefully they will go back before ice out.

I hunted a lot this past season 4-5 days a week, started with our youth season in October and got a few groups of kids out. Had a great deer season filled a couple of freezers. I dropped a couple of coon to my big hounds and watched my young red tick English turn it on. I was very glad to see a couple of my Brothers interested in running rabbits again after long break. We hit it hard, the dogs did what they are supposed to, whenever I asked, and did it well...EXTREME cold, Deep snow and hunting on snowshoes in PA with a wicked week in Maine end of February to top it off. I am surely blessed. The hounds are hard

Larry (my father in law), Roger (a family friend), and myself (Jason) had a blast. We ended up killing 47 rabbits. Had a lot of laughs and I enjoyed every minute being out with family, friends, and the dogs! Overall, was very pleased with how the dogs performed in their first gun season. I have big expectations for them next gun season. Going to keep feeding them tracks and counting down the days until season comes in!

Season was great upto the time snow and ice came in.
Hunted hare in maine in October.
Then got sick for few weeks.
But was able get out and hunt in lower new York state and had great runs.
Nov and DEC were very good.
Jan and Feb was limited with weather.
But the biggest plus is I have been able to put 2 teams of dogs together that got it done for me.
7 dogs the oldest being 5 but mostly 2 yr olds.
I feel blessed to have the dogs I do and the time to run them.

Can checkout some my videos on my website
WWW.bellmorekennels.com
Anthony

Hi Andy. Sounds like a fun season. Always rewarding to watch all your dedication ( Lisa too ) culminate into such a fine pack of hounds. I myself had several exciting hunts. Good times with friends, family and at times alone. Always try to add a couple new spots to the list each year. Was thinking may have seen u at Eldred this past wknd. Solid Ice pack. Started in the mid teens with stiff breeze both days was there. Not very many overly successful entries. Tough going , but a few rose to the challenge. Be seeing you.

Had a great season. Didnt get out as much as i would have liked to. We got 54 between two of us. I got 34 of those. We dont jumpshoot only get em when they come back.