Michigan rabbit hunters

Eva's Beagles · Post by **Eva's Beagles** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 7:43 am

Those of us living in the mid-Michigan area have all been talking about getting together and running, but no one is stepping up. I say we pick a spot, meet up, and run what ya brung. What do you say Derrek[Chapkosbeagles], Bob'sbeagles, want to get in on this? Any and all please respond. I'm ready for this Saturday. Brian.

chapkosbeagles · Post by **chapkosbeagles** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 8:45 am

sounds good brian i have been invited people out all the time i am willing to meat anywhere just pick a spot

bluegrass · Post by **bluegrass** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 10:05 am

We have a group of four to five meeting this Saturday in the Haymarsh...should have 3-5 hounds between us...I never have a problem meeting other hunters, it just gets to be a hassle when you get 10-15 beagles on the ground and one or two is a trash runner...if you guys wanna go with us though, you are welcome...we will be at the Haymarsh about 8 am...

Tony

Skip · Post by **Skip** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 10:17 am

If I don't go hare hunting, I'd like to throw a few hounds in with you guys.

75% chance of hunting though

bluegrass · Post by **bluegrass** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 10:28 am

Skip, you are more than welcome to come with us...its state land up there, but there is a LOT of area to run and the rabbits run nice, BIG circles...really stretches out the hounds. Where are you going hare hunting though? I was actually thinking about another trip to Drummond this weekend just to get to run in less snow than 20 inches!! Tough walking for us in 20 inches of snow!

Tony

Eva's Beagles · Post by **Eva's Beagles** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 11:11 am

Appreciate the invite, where and what is the Haymarsh?

bluegrass · Post by **bluegrass** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 11:17 am

The Haymarsh is east of Big Rapids just a few miles...if you look at an atlas, you won't have any trouble finding it. Just look towards Chippewa Lake area east of Big Rapids and you will see it...we like to hunt hard then go to the Bay restaurant for some good biscuits and gravy...good running up there...if you wanna go, let me know and I can give you directions from where you are. The Haymarsh is a state game area, tons of state land there.

Tony

jt&z's dad · Post by **jt&z's dad** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 11:18 am

Brian what day are you thinking of running? I would love to get my Sport male over there to run with his littermate.

My son has a wrestling meet on Saturday in Goodrich. I'll keep checking on this post and if we can't get togeather this weekend maybe we can hook up later in the season. Jim

Ron Conroe · Post by **Ron Conroe** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 11:45 am

chap i'am coming down by you this weekend and run with buddy, he has a really nice spot. let me know we will get together.

Eva's Beagles · Post by **Eva's Beagles** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 11:50 am

Derrek, Ron, Jim, anyone else ? How about Simple Pleasures Kennels, haven't heard from you yet? What do you think Derrek, Sleepy Hollow or some private land?

Bluegrass, that's a tad farther than I want to drive this Saturday, but still appreciate it. Brian.

S.R.Patch · Post by **S.R.Patch** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 12:27 pm

bluegrass wrote:Skip, you are more than welcome to come with us...its state land up there, but there is a LOT of area to run and the rabbits run nice, BIG circles...really stretches out the hounds. Where are you going hare hunting though? I was actually thinking about another trip to Drummond this weekend just to get to run in less snow than 20 inches!! Tough walking for us in 20 inches of snow!
Tony

Tony, If you go to the rock, stop in at WaWen and talk to Lenean, her husband can put you on hare. I didn't know they were open for buisness again untill Birchtree refered us a cabin there. Not big log cabins, but you will want for nothing there, they offered us everything but toothpaste...

We had both good & poor running. Some hare acted like baby rabbits and wouldn't leave one corner of the swamp, while others ran big.
Sunday evening at 2:30 we got on a good one, Buddy came out about 10pm, Lucy stayed the night. Monty went in through the darkness to try and get her out but the hare never brought her the same way twice and wore him out plus getting him lost and turned around (next purchase is GPS, Pete Marra convinced me of that...

)
Good luck to you if you go...

birmi1nr · Post by **birmi1nr** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 1:20 pm

I would be interested in getting togethor and doing some running with everyone. This Saturday doesn't work for me though as I plan on running the Otsego trial that day.

J.B.M. · Post by **J.B.M.** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 1:28 pm

S.R., I'm with you on the GPS. Doug , Keith and I cast our hounds on Sheep Ranch Rd last trip. They took one deep and ended up in a big swamp across the main highway. Doug and I followed them and Keith brought the truck around once we let him know where we were.

Doug and I caught the hounds back in that swamp and it was super thick. There we were, two guys with nine hounds leashed and a hike through heavy cover in front of us.

I had crossed too many roads and lost track of my original compass reading and Doug was depending on me because he had lost his compass earlier in the week. I got on the radio and told Keith to hit the horn so I could get a direction, only we were to far away to hear it.

I led us off in what I thought was the right direction. We went a good distance before we decided we were going the wrong way. We turned around, backtracked to where we caught the hounds and continued in the same direction. Finally we got within hearing of Keith's horn and made it out.

It turned out alright but a GPS could have saved us a lot of work. I hope to have one next trip. Just the peace of mind would be nice.

TallPaul · Post by **TallPaul** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 2:06 pm

Sounds like fun.
Hope they run long and hard for you guys.
Paul

Ron Conroe · Post by **Ron Conroe** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 2:09 pm

brian i think i have been to sleepy hollow once, thats a nice place. what time you thinking.