jump shooting

jumpmaster · Post by **jumpmaster** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 12:29 am

I just got through watching Dave fishers rabbit hunting video, and a couple things bothered me about it, and I would like to see how many people feel the way I do about them. First thing I noticed was his dogs were extremly over weight. In my opinion, if you care for your hounds you should take better care of them than that, it is hard on a dog packing around twenty extra pounds, and I'm sure it shortens thier life. Second, he jump shoots over his dogs. Why feed, and take care of your hounds year round, then go out and shoot rabbits before they have a chance to run them. If you are starving, and need the food for your family, thats one thing, but ole Dave doesnt look like he has missed many meals. Third, there is two or three dogs always following him around, right at his feet, not hunting at all, why would you make a video, and show dogs just standing around? I enjoyed Shags video much more, even though he just had a camcorder.

coolbrze · Post by **coolbrze** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 7:45 am

I agree somewhat. Personally I don't think jumpshooting is very sporty. Unless you are out by yourself w/ no dogs or like you said, really huring for food. As for the dogs, I've seen one of his videos and they didn't look to be that overweight. Not sure if you were exaggerating about 20 lbs. overweight, but if not, thats waaay too heavy in my book.

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:16 am

When I was growing up, we got the rabbits any we could. But if it was'nt for the Cottontail there would been many a meal with no meat. Today I have a stead fast rule no shooting until the second circle, but its more about the hounds than the meat. Things have changed lot in my life time . Lot of them for the worse. But mosty life is easier today.

S.R.Patch · Post by **S.R.Patch** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:32 am

I think there are those who like hounds to flush to the gun, and those who like the sport of just the chase, and, every degree inbetween.
I've hunted with those who jumpshoot, those who have the "one circle" rule, and those who never put a shell in the gun but just like being out with their hounds.
Apparently, shooting action and harvest sell tapes. We as rabbit hunters don't have alot to choose from, any at all is at least something...

Until ole Fred Money gets with ole Joe Houndsman, we take what is offered...

SilverZuk · Post by **SilverZuk** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:48 am

I have no problem with jump shooting. It is legal game and in season.
That's a personal decision and I am not going to knock someone for doing it.

No different than shooting a small buck in deer season or taking a limit of trout.
Some have higher standards than the law, but doesn't mean everyone else should live by those rules.

I generally don't jump shoot, but not going to say I won't.
I rarely ever shoot at a rabbit.

pete young · Post by **pete young** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 9:20 am

I run my hounds year round. I listen to the chase for 9 months without firing a shot. When gun season is in we are hunting every chance we can. We will not take a dangerous shot, but will take any safe shot that the rabbit gives us. I know my dogs can circle a rabbit and will if the game will run, but during gun season the object is to put rabbits in the bag and we do what we can to do that. There are days that we will let them run without firing a shot until they circle, but it is mainly to help condition the dogs. If you shoot like I do, it doesn't matter when you shoot. The dogs are still going to have to circle the rabbit if you want meat on the table. Another thing that I have talked to a few friends about is that jumpshooting over your dogs after they are used to the gun will help make them better jump dogs. We used to shoot right over thier heads when we were younger and a little dumber, but have changed our wicked ways as we have gotten older and smarter. I know that my dogs used to get tore up when you would shoot one from in front of them on the jump. It would make them hunt harder for the next one and we always had good jump dogs. Have any of you guys that jumphoot noticed the same?

jumpmaster · Post by **jumpmaster** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 9:58 am

I guess you have a point about the selection of rabbit hunting videos, I'm not trying to discourage any one from watching his tapes, because some of the footage is really good. They must have went through many hours of tape to get some of those shots. I was stretching it a little on being twenty pounds overweight, but they are fat, and dont hunt very hard. I would never let any one jump shoot while hunting with me, but to each his own. I just dont need to kill a rabbit that bad. I look at it like a bird hunter would look at shooting a bird on the ground in front of a pointing dog. I love to listen to the dogs run, and have confidence in them bringing the game back to the gun.

Briarhoppers · Post by **Briarhoppers** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:05 am

To each his own - - as long as it is legal. But, jump shooting in my book is like shooting ducks off the water or doves off the powerline. I'd prefer to give the rabbit and the dogs that first circle. I'm not hunting b/c I'm starving, Its primarily about the dogs and getting a few rabbits in the game bag is icing on the cake. Often times we agree not to shoot the first couple or decide to just shoot 3 or 4 and let the dogs run the rest of the time.
-pete

danny vansickle · Post by **danny vansickle** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:16 am

jump shooting is a goog way to get a dog shot!!!!!!!!!!!!

mo. beagler · Post by **mo. beagler** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:24 am

hey pete,

sound like we have the same style hunt, I think our % of hit on the jump might be the same to. my male turned out to be a good jump dog. coicidence? my vet told me when he xrays a bird dog for something else he always finds shot in them. not good..

thh058 · Post by **thh058** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:35 am

nothing wrong with jump shooting in my book. don't get me wrong, i love the hunt, but i also love to eat what i'm hunting. if i get a jump shot in a safe direction and the rabbit is not straight away (don't want to blow up the back legs), i'll let the lead fly!

edit: shooting doves off power lines or ducks on the water would be like shooting a rabbit sitting before it jumps. shooting a running rabbit (whether brought back around or not) is just like shooting a dove when it jumps up, or a duck when i takes off the water...

mo. beagler · Post by **mo. beagler** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:49 am

right on th.

pete young · Post by **pete young** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:54 am

Briar,
What part of shooting a running rabbit is like shooting a duck off the water or a dove off the power line? The rabbit is moving and the birds that you compared it too are sitting. I didn't say anything about shooting them sitting. I will be frank. I love to run dogs and love to trial my dogs, but I wouldn't own one if I couldn't hunt over them and hunting over them means killing the game that we are after. As long as I own dogs I will hunt them during the season that we have. I will and have always hunted them with ethics. I don't shoot more than my limit and I don't shoot them while they are sitting in thier beds. The dogs do have to be on thier trail either from a long race or a short jump. If you don't like how I hunt, then that doesn't matter to me at all. You do your thing and I'll do mine.

Danny,
It is a good way to get a dog shot if you are shooting over top of thier heads(and we used too), but it is very safe if you are aware of where your dogs and the other hunters are before you pull the trigger. I don't have a problem with shooting a rabbit when all paths are clear. It's part of the sport to me and to pretty much everyone that I hunt with. I still contend that it makes a dog a better jumpdog to shoot the rabbits on the jump. I have seen the light come on too many times when the dogs catch on to what is happening.

Joeyman · Post by **Joeyman** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:07 am

Well this is a tuff one........I think I have jump shot about 3 times this year and One time this season I shot one in the bed. I just couldn't help it.........the rabbit was sitting there while the dogs were on another rabbit and I seen him just sitting there just about ready to take off and I shot right in the head.......

I like the dogs to circle the rabbits first then take a shot but every once and awhile when a jump shot presents it self and it's safe I'll take the shot because it is fun shooting them as there taking off like a jet...........

Big Dog · Post by **Big Dog** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:17 am

I grew up rabbit hunting and jump shooting was the norm. Now that I have my own dogs I don't allow it when folks hunt with me. I don't knock anyone that does it because it is just as fair as shooting them after they circle. The reason I don't allow it is for safety reasons. Some guys get tore up when they see a rabbit and could possibly shoot me or a dog. When I hunt I normally put the one circle rule in effect, when I take new hunters out with me that is the first thing that I cover. Like I said nothing wrong with it, but I don't allow it. My dogs love the gun and will break their neck hunting after they hear a gun shot.

Big Dog