Training with a wild (dead) rabbit!!!!

[jon cornett]

I did something this afternoon that i had heard a couple other guys do some years ago. I have two female beagles that i bred and raised. they will be 5 months old at the end of the month. I went and bought a dutch rabbit and my buddy bought a san juan. we let them site chase them a few times. they opened and chased them. Then we put them in the cover with those same rabbits and they tracked them and opened up on them (not site chasing as they were in cover) they tracked them quite aways giving mouth the whole way. One time they tracked the dutch rabbit out of the field up our gravel driveway about 50 yards before they rejumped him. They were 4 months old. This evening i took a wild cottontail that we had killed this morning (early season hunt) and put it on a string and let them chew around on it and play with it. then i took it into the field, dragged it about 30 feet and my son turned them loose on the track. They tracked and opened up on it as i dragged it through the cover. I walked around and around and they tracked it opening up on it then i walked up into our yard and they come out in to the mowed grass and i let them track up to it and praised them. Has anyone ever done this? Didnt know a dead rabbit would leave scent like that even though i had heard of someone doing this same thing before. Would you consider them started?? Believe you me it was a blast seeing them track and open up on this cottontail. thanks for reading, jon cornett

[Nor' Easter]

I've done it for over 20 years, all pups. After doing that awhile, go looking for fresh rabbits to jump and they should go, they will be a little close to you yet and keep returning for re-assurance, but will go longer each time.They can hunt properly by the age of 5 months old if ya start 'em early. You can freeze it in a bag and it will last for over a year easily.

[redpup]

same here Nor easter. I've done it for over 20 years. If i have pups at the house and i see a fresh road kill, that isn't smashed, i will stop get it and take it back to the house for the pups. They love tracking it and playing tug of war with it. Really gets them interested.

[jon cornett]

This was a first for me but it worked so now i will do it for all my pups, redpup thats a good idea using road kill ill have to do that. thanks. jon c.

[rubline]

I used a road kill in the backyard and it worked great. First time out 2 weeks ago my little female pup jumped her own rabbit and the deal was sealed. she ran that rabbit and openned right up. I was worried that i didn't have time to get her in a starting pen but not anymore.

[ANTHONY KERR]

You can wrap up the road kill and keep it in the freezer. When you take it out wet it with the water hose. It will last a while. I have done this to pre start pups. The ones that grab it and won't let go when you tease them have started better for me.

[Ky. Hunter]

Do you gut them before you put them in the freezer or just put them in like you pick them up? I have two 4 month old pups that I want to start working with and rabbit season here is just 10 days away so I will probably freeze one to work the pups on.

[jon cornett]

ky hunter. i field gut mine after every kill so this one had no insides.

[allniter]

I use road kill also on 10 week olds and up to 4 months by then they will run one in the wild maybe 40 yards but each time out they do a lot better --the only thing that I notice is when to train a puppy like this is they don't make a very good retriever's---when you shoot one you better get it soon or you will not have to carry it out

[ANTHONY KERR]

I have found clean "road kills" and just froze them whole without gutting them. I have an old deep frrezer in the garage and just wrap it up in a sealed trash bag inside a wally world bag. I have not seen any near the house clean enough to work this year. I guess if you were hunting and killed one about the time you are ready to go that was not shot to pieces it would be fine. I just have not wanted to use a gutted one, because it may smell different. ? Like a cow on the hoof smells different than one on the grill.

[Ky. Hunter]

Anthony,
When you take it out of the freezer, do you let it thaw out before you wet it with the water hose?

[ANTHONY KERR]

If you are going to let them chew on it let it thaw some. The more you thaw it out shortens how long it will last. My neighbors probably think I am insane running around the yard with a dead rabbit on a rope and a puppy sight chasing it.
If you want to lay down a drag line frozen is fine. Let them find it then chase.

[jar242]

Anthony is right, my friend shot one, i put it in the freezer first, then get it out and drag it around, it'll stay frozen and it won't stink, just keep in a big ziplock freezer bag, I put it on a long rope and let the pups chase it and eat on it, sometimes when I'm real lazy, I'll tie it to the back on the lawn mower and drive around.

[nb11]

sometimes when I'm real lazy, I'll tie it to the back on the lawn mower and drive around.

I'll give it to ya.....that is pretty lazy!!! LOL. And Anthony was worried what HIS neighbors would think when they saw him pulling a rabbit on a rope! just wait til your neighbors see you dragging a bunny behind the lawn mower!! They'll call PETA on you for dragging the rabbit to death!

[mspaci]

I have done it as well with young pups & so far i am 3 for 3. Mike