RABBIT HUNTING

Buckeye Bob · Post by **Buckeye Bob** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 12:06 pm

I would not own a beagle if I couldn't kill rabbits over them.
That is why I own them...to help me limit out as often and as quickly as possible.I enjoy running them in the off season but it is to get them in shape for season and to grade their performance as HUNTING dogs.

SilverZuk · Post by **SilverZuk** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 12:28 pm

I am not out there to limit out.
I only shot a handful of rabbits last season, maybe 4 or 6.
Probably a dozen or so in the previous season.
There were a lot more than that taken over my dogs while hunting with others.

I already know what my dogs can do, and I enjoy showing others. Nothing does that like bringing a rabbit back full circle.
The main thing that I am emphasizing is that my first dog, and every beagle I have is a hunting dog first. Rabbit hunting is the game, and the week between Christmas and New Years is the Super Bowl.

Everything up to that point is training, conditioning, and evaluation.

Buckeye Bob · Post by **Buckeye Bob** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 12:40 pm

My Super Bowl is next Friday.Opening day is always the first Friday of November in Ohio and I am ready....I take it personal if I dont limit out (4) on opening day.

Big Dog · Post by **Big Dog** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 12:41 pm

I will always own a pack of hounds, but my dogs are first and foremost gun dogs, everything else comes 2nd. I run for pleasure in the summer and off season, but during the gun season, I come to kill. I give 90% of my rabbits away and I always have a waiting list, but I like to break out the smoke pole and smoke some cottontails. I do not hunt on my running spots, and I don't hunt the same place more than once a year.

uplander44 · Post by **uplander44** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 1:23 pm

I shot 60 last year and I dont ever plan on stopping.Not a one of them went to waste,I like them fried,in chili,in spagetti sauce ETC.and I belong to several hunting clubs and I supply the rabbits for the game dinners.I love to run my hounds in the offseason but when I can hunt I do.I dont think anything is better for a young hound than when you harvest the rabbits then letting them see the rabbits over and over again and by smelling plenty of them I believe it helps the pup understand that were out here to run rabbits.Also another complaint I hear constantly from my nonhunting run hounds only buddies is I never seem to get a good jump dog,well its no wonder usually the oldest best jump dog that they have jumps the rabbit and then usually a 1 or 2 hour run follows then you pick the dogs up and go home.Also on these long runs especially when there is a breakdown for more than one or two minutes are the dogs really running the same rabbit?Dont get me wrong each to his own,I never jump shoot rabbits and if anyone hunting with me does I ask them not to and let the hounds at least bring the rabbit one circle and if they insist on jump shooting then the opportunity of hunting with me and my hounds is no longer afforded them.And last but not least I work third shift so I can hunt any or all days of the week,and I usually hunt 3 to 4 days a week trying to skip a day in between hunts and I believe hunting and harvesting rabbits and making the dogs hunt for more rabbits 5 to 6 hrs. a day makes them a tougher hound.Vic

gus · Post by **gus** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 2:01 pm

Buckeye Bob wrote:I would not own a beagle if I couldn't kill rabbits over them.
That is why I own them...to help me limit out as often and as quickly as possible.I enjoy running them in the off season but it is to get them in shape for season and to grade their performance as HUNTING dogs.

I wouldn't either.
Just because I leave the rabbits for another day doesn't mean I couldn't. Well, that's assuming I could shoot straight. As Roy P said, when I was younger me and a couple of friends went out every chance and tried our best to limit out. Now, many years later, the places to hunt have shrunk due to suburban sprawl. I have permission to run in a couple areas close by but the land owner doesn't want any shooting. If a land owner wants to go hunting then I take my beagles and my gun..

Joeyman · Post by **Joeyman** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 2:08 pm

I would have to say that I enjoy going out and harvesting a few bunnies because that is what rabbit hunting is all about. If I were to go deer hunting I would not just sit up in a tree stand and freeze my a-- off just to watch a few deer go by. Now on the off season is when I enjoy just hearing the dogs run and improve their skills in the field.

L.J. McKenzie · Post by **L.J. McKenzie** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 2:58 pm

sounds like most of us think the same way.i enjoy killing a few a year just enough for a couple good rabbit frys. i also think its good for your dogs to have a few rabbits shot off of them.kinda like a reward for the dogs. there are many days i take a gun and never put it to my shoulder.

Randy Phipps · Post by **Randy Phipps** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 3:39 pm

I'm still in agreement with the majority on here. I love the sound of pack in full cry, but all of my dogs are gundogs. I keep as many gun shy dogs as I do trash runners, exactly none!!!!! There is nothing ruins a hunt or makes me sicker me than seeing one cowering under the truck or running 3 counties over.