A general forum for the discussion of hunting with beagles, guns, clothing and other equipment and just talking dawgs! (Tall tales on hunting allowed, but remember, first liar doesn't stand a chance)
I was just wondering as i have talked with several people that do both but my question is this~~~!!
What is the point of jump shooting a rabbit if you have dogs??? Why does one feed dogs if you are just going to jump shot the bunny??? If YOU are hunting in front of the dogs and you shoot the bunny why keep dogs??? A hunting dogs purpose is to HUNT and TRACK not to walk around in the woods and do NOTHING!!!
this is just one of my pet peeve's as why take the risk of shooting 1 of your dogs for a single rabbit!!!
Love to hear them run,now I hunt with a 22 pistol so you know about how many I`m gonna kill. Although I like rabbit meat a dead bunny don`t leave any sent.
Sat is opening day will be in the Beaver Pond Swamp for Swamper`s.
Tsa
I really enjoy running dogs and watching them circle a rabbit but when rabbit season comes in I go hunting and like to put some meat on the table. I do not jump shoot but I REALLY REALLY appreciate a great jump dog. I hear a lot of people talk about jump dogs but have only seen a few in my life that I call a true jump dog.
I've done both on a day to day basis but I mainly wait for a full circle most always. However, I am in this for the meat and enjoyment of it probably wouldn't have ever owned a dog if there was never any meat involved in the process. There are some who say they are in this for the meat and they have dogs for the ones they miss. Good ole U.S.A. - to each his own.
I voted for jump shooting but I don't actually shoot at a rabbit as soon as it comes out of the brush pile or wherever it was sitting. But due to some of the places I hunt a full circle is not an option so I shoot when I see the rabbit and it is safe for all dogs and hunters that are with me. An example would be this one place I hunt. It is made up of about 6 square shaped fields that are roughly 10 acres each. Each field is seperated by a strip of brush on all 4 sides about 10-15 yards wide. Now we jump alot of rabbits here but they do not run a circle this time of year because the fields which are either planted in corn or soybeans are bare. The dogs jump the rabbit and it usually runs out on the field edge one time. Whether you shoot or don't shoot it usually goes to a hole very quickly. These edges are covered with holes! So this is one instance where if my dogs jump the rabbit and are not sight chasing and the rabbit comes out to the field edge I will throw some lead. Now I should also say that we have alot of shooting in this situation and it could be dangerous if you werent careful. But I only hunt here with my brother so we have one gunner on each side of the strip of brush. We also limit the number of dogs we hunt here so we can more easily keep track of where they are at. But this is a very fun place to gun hunt. You don't have the long runs but the action is quick and really keeps you on your toes!
I think John Lear said it best to each his own.My dad keeps a few dogs he is in his seventies.He is a meat hunter only.He obeys all game laws buys a license every year.He will jump shoot rabbits when he can.The rest of the time the dogs do the work.He does not run in the off season.I like to pack run in the off season.Killing huge numbers is not as important to me now.When I was younger I killed all I could.My son has started hunting pretty heavy.He loves to shoot.I have a better time when he gets to shoot alot.I have friends that gun hunt heavy usually kill about 250-300 rabbits a year.All legal and obey game laws.They jump shoot .They also own dogs that are very solid.To each his own.I can do it either way.I went opening day with my son and a buddy.We killed 7 jumped 16.On the other hand my hunting buddies killed 25 on opening day. They shot off the jump when they could.I went with my buddies the next day.The group killed 23 and the dogs caught 3.My friends have access to some very good places.Where I live huge numbers killed daily are not the norm.We have to own dogs that will take heavy shooting right over their head.Many disagree with that.My friends won't keep a dog young or old that can't take heavy shooting..
i don't like to jump shoot,i think it is dangerous to the dogs and i think the dogs don't learn nothin from it.don't get me wrong i'm out there to kill rabbit's but i'm also out there to make my dog's all they can be,they learn from runnin not jump shootin,not to mention the fact that i always got a young dog out there that has never been shot over..I have run this young dog all spring and summer with no gun shots ,and now all the sudden rabbit season is in and were kickin bushes and packin shot guns,i think a good way to gun shy a nice young hound is to jump shoot and scare the $$$$ out of him or her and some people will empty a shotgun at the rabbit just makin the matter worse,i like to here the dogs run and when i get the chance to shoot i do.we try to kill are limit ever time we go even though sometimes we don't.but we normally kill several by the time season is over all over the dog's.ever now and then we get a person that comes with us that got invited by somebody and we all say ok,will tell all new guy's no jump shootin and when they jump a rabbit they all the sudden forgot,that's when i put my dog's in the truck and say alright boy's let's try this without the dog's since we don't listen,i don't want to be a a$$hole to new guys or old rabbit hunters that have always jump shot and killed anything that moves but if they shoot or gunshy my dog i'm the one that is out not them....just my opinion don't have nothin agains't anybody that does it,just probally won't never get to hunt with ya..
cpucket.I have no problem with the way you hunt.Thats up to you.One thing I do assure you is that the guys I do hunt with that jump shoot.They have tough dogs in shape from hard summer and fall running that no how to drive a rabbit When the season is open time to take off the gloves and go to shooting in a safe legal way.You ease a young dog into the gun thats your style and I understand that. In 35 years of rabbit hunting I have never shot a dog or a person when I have jump shot.Now with that being said I could kill one the next time out.LOL.When I hunt with different people I follow the rules of the group.I have no problem with letting them run. Your right we probably won't hunt together ever but if we did I have been on enough rabbit hunts to follow the wishes of the group.Very few rules with us.Be safe legal and have a good time.Everybody does things a little different.In my eyes no right or wrong way.You have to suit yourself...
I wont jump shoot a rabbit because I'm more interested in testing the dogs ability rather than my shooting skills, but I wont turn down some rabbits that someone else jump shot if they are giving them away.
The rule when I go hunting is: If you want to jump shoot, Ill take my dogs and go somewhere else. Too easy to shoot a dog.......
Mybeagles
Rob’s Ranger Rabbit Hunter (Lefty)
Rose City Quad King’s
DogPatch Fly
mud,when i read this thread wrote by johns03272008 it said what is your opinion on GUN HUNTIN.and i gave mine it was never to critisize the way you or anybody else hunts,i'm not saying that it will gunshy ever young dog out there but i have seen it gunshy a few.and i was never sayin that you or anybody else that likes to jump shoot has shot one of the dogs yall are huntin over,but i do know there has been several shot by jump shootin.like you said "TO EACH HIS OWN"not tryin to bash nobody's way of life,just gave my opinion everbody's got one..happy and safe huntin to ya
cpuckett~~ You are right you gave your opinion you dont need to justify anything to anyone each person has their own way of hunting and we just choose to do what we think is best!!
I believe it "Turns" the dogs on. 
The main thing is to be able to "Listen to the Music' 
