Anyone notice this

coolbrze · Post by **coolbrze** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 8:55 pm

This happened again the other day, the dogs were stroking a rabbit, been running him for about 20 min. w/ a check here and there, but not too often. They brought him around several times then the 3rd time they bring him around, he comes w/i 10' of me and sees me. I wasn't shooting, so I didn't really care that he stopped there. I watched him for about 15 sec. then he took off again. The dogs got to the spot where he had seen me and couldn't run much after that, maybe ran him another 50 yds. but it was spotty at best. Do rabbits give off some sort of cover scent when they're really spooked/surprised, this happens too often to be a coincidence and it's something I've been pondering for years.

Daniel · Post by **Daniel** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 9:14 pm

I've had that happen to me a few times. I have wondered about it and have no clue either.

JUDE · Post by **JUDE** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 11:32 pm

I've heard of people having the same problem after taking a shot . I figured that they run faster when spooked thus leaving less scent but it was just a guess . I'd like to hear from someone who knows as well .

Buddy

bondsbeagles · Post by **bondsbeagles** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 11:34 pm

Thought it was just me lol. Ive noticed on the strip job i run if the rabbit crosses the road or 4 wheeler path out of your site or you dont light it up the dogs will cross wide open and keep hammering BUT shine a light on the rabbit and watch where it goes back in at THEN the dogs will break down right there and you can even call em put them in right where you saw the rabbit go and they look up at ya like what aint nothing here and cannot pick it back up. Same as you said in daylight if the bunny see's ya race over if not race goes on

wvduece · Post by **wvduece** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:43 am

ya ever try to put your dogs on a rabbit that crossed the road i have done this several times matter of fact me n another was watching our dogs running a few days ago the rabbit crossed this road several times n almost every time right in front of both of us the dogs would breakl down n pick it up way over in the brush or way over the hill sometimes its almost impossible to put my dogs on a frseh track where a rabbit crossed the road in front of me jb

dave5050 · Post by **dave5050** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:23 am

i've had it happen to me .at times when i took a shot and missed.they totally lost it for about 20yds.we always thought it it was the gunpowder.but i have had it happen too me with no shot crossing roads or in a hayfield.weird!

allniter · Post by **allniter** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:38 am

I think it is the smell of gunpowder and the smell of BODY scent ---If you can smell some one just think what it smells like to a dog --shaving lotion--ect. after they get by you 20yds.they can run again --the road --gasoline --oils --fumes ------I have seen this while trying to get a pup in on the race even on coon hound also

Post by **Pike Ridge Beagles** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:59 am

Crossing roads is where the brains come in. Dogs figure that out pretty quick in my experiences.
I agree with the comment about once you shoot the shot powder can mess up scent for a bit.
I never noticed a problem with scent once the rabbit sees me. I will have to pay attention to see if this happens in the future. Why wouldn't scent get screwed up when the rabbit sees the dogs if this theory is true?

mike crabtree · Post by **mike crabtree** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 12:02 pm

Try putting a Mask on

. Then you wont scare the scent out of them. When a rabbit sees me it dont effect the race at all. I guess it is where Im so perty!!!!!!!!

JUDE · Post by **JUDE** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:18 pm

lowell robertson · Post by **lowell robertson** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 2:28 pm

In my experience, there is a thing called scent cone that animals leave as they move. Winds, temp.s, barometric pressures and density of cover all affect this scent cone. When a rabbit comes out on open ground the scent disapates very quickly thus the difficulty in running a track on roads, paths, etc. Beagles run scent two ways. Ground scent left by the actual rabbit track itself, dogs that sniff the ground and keep there heads down are usually running this scent and move slower on the track. The other scent, cone scent gets larger and harded to track the further the dog is behind the rabbit, dogs that mostly run cone scent run with their heads up and at a faster pace. An experienced dog with a good nose learns to use both scents thus the speed of hounds are determined. This is how it has been explained to me by the old houndsmen, I have discussed it with during my 50+ yrs. of running hounds.

Chaffin Crank · Post by **Chaffin Crank** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 3:52 pm

I had this happen the other day...We pounded a few rabbits...were hit an miss on a few and then we saw a rabbit jump out of the brush as the dogs went in and they couldn't smell it at all. Then about 20 mins later they went right to a big pile of grassy brush and another rabbit jumped out and they couldn't smell it either. I just thought that with the weather being the way it has been lately that they might be breeding or something but I haven't seen any signs of breeding either. Wonder what caused that?

Post by **Pike Ridge Beagles** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 4:56 pm

Chaffin Crank wrote:I had this happen the other day...We pounded a few rabbits...were hit an miss on a few and then we saw a rabbit jump out of the brush as the dogs went in and they couldn't smell it at all. Then about 20 mins later they went right to a big pile of grassy brush and another rabbit jumped out and they couldn't smell it either. I just thought that with the weather being the way it has been lately that they might be breeding or something but I haven't seen any signs of breeding either. Wonder what caused that?

Lack of humidity and the barometric pressure was rising most likely.

Danny G · Post by **Danny G** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 8:50 am

I have 2 rabbits that stay in my yard and got real tame. Several times I have walked up to them and they would jump and kick back with thier hind legs as they ran off a little ways. I saw wet spots on my shoes afterwards. I think that they urinate and kick at the same time to cover a small area with the urin which has a lot of amonia in it. This could explain the scenting problem when they see you and when they are shot at.
Danny

patsmichbeagler · Post by **patsmichbeagler** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 10:19 am

I was told that rabbit can cover up their scent for a short distance espiecally when they are pressured alot.I don't know if this is true but I noticed on state land that my hounds would not always pick up the scent I would walk the track for 50 yrds and call the dogs over and they picked it up and ran it fine.