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)
Well my dog has been getting alot of rabbit running in. Been going every weekend. Ive been taking him out in all kinds of weather. Its not too often that he circles a rabbit real solidly. Usually there are lots of long checks.
One thing though, no matter what the weather he will have one up within 5 to 10 minutes. I guess that is what most people classify as a jump dog?
I dont understand how a dog that is really good at finding a rabbit in the first place can lose it so much during the chase. Also he seems to lose it whenever I or my freinds get close by. Should I solo him mostly by myself or is it okay to have a couple of other people with me?
Here is another thing that I think he does. When I start calling him or getting close to him he will bark and take off like he is on a hot trail. I am coming to the conclusion that it is all a ruse and he just does it so I will let him run some more.
Your dog might just be tight mouthed and when you call him he let's you know he's still working a rabbit. I would suggest you solo him with little distraction as possible. How old is the dog? He sounds young.
Heres my opinion for what it's worth Matt, When your weather takes a change for the better, I would take him out and solo him until he is wore out, let him rest a day and do it again the next.
Id say for his age and not having anything to help him along and with the terrain and weather the way it is up there, he will come on better after your weather straightens up.
I'd like to get to run him for a month or so down here and then send him back to you and see what you think then.
I think thats all he needs but I have been known to be wrong before.
good luck.
You might be right about the weather thing swing. I remember that he did really well circling them the begining of the year. Plus maybe I am really not running him enough. I really only have him out for about 3 hours each time I go. Granted he is running and hunting hard the whole time out. He almost always is running, checking and jumping rabbits.
Today it was cloudy, 31 degrees, snow was mealy and dry. Last weekend it was 10 degrees, sunny and icy snow. I got two that day also in 2-3 hours.
Maybe when it looks like were gonna have a few days of good hunting weather Ill come down with the beagle flu and go hunt him hard. my job is pretty demanding and often I only have sundays to hunt.
Also everyone has to remember I am only 1 of three beagle owners up here that I know of. 1 guy has a dog that has not yet started (she has been coming with us every sunday, maybe she is the hinderence?) I dont want to tell my buddy not to bring her though. The only other guy I saw didnt seem interested in hunting with me. too bad his dogs were sounding really good in the woods. So I really dont have a clue about anything. I feel very fortunate to have this dog that has lots of drive and determination.
hopefully I will be able to hunt him harder soon and I am gonna try it with just me in the woods.
Im just making assumptions now what my dog is gonna turn into.
do you guys think that he will turn into a really good ( I mean rabbit running machine good) dog because he is gonna have to learn everything on his own? It might take him awhile (maybe) but this could be a blessing. He is gonna have to really use his brain, plus by him figuring it out he will retain the knowledge better.
Last edited by rimfirematt on Sun Jan 23, 2005 11:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
A little over a year and first season hunting, he's still learning alot. I'd solo him so he can figure things out, but I'd mix in a real good check dog every once in awhile to move him along on the figuring out the checks.
Heres my guess: The fact you have a hound that can get a hare going in five or ten minutes each time out despite the weather speaks well for both your hounds ability and the quantity of game in your area. I think being only his first season and a little over a year old he is doing REAL good. I can't help but think with time his tracking will only get better and would not worry one bit. As far as bolting off like he is hot on a hare we you get close or he comes in to you when called may be because he IS on a HOT trail. You and your friends may be turning the hare as you try to get on the line to get a shot which causes a check for him and then once he figures it out he is off again to the races. When you call him in and he takes off, he may be crossing the path of yet another hare and does not want to stop running so takes chase. Sounds like young, inexperienced with lots of desire and promise to me. GOOD DOG!!
Peace,
NYH
When my life on earth is ended....this is all I'm gonna say...Lord I've been a hard working pilgrim on the way!
Thats what I was thinking NYH! I guess when you have 3 guys that are all over 6 ft tall and weighing 200 -300 lbs we make alot of noise moving to the line and probly make lots of checks by sending that rabit off course. I was also thinking that my buddies beagle creates alot of checks when she runs over to check things out.
Im definitly gonna try it next time with just me and my dog only. I wont be suprised if he does better.
The first day he started I got 3 and it was just me and him
Im not sure about sending him to you swing. You have beem asking about him alot latey. I am afraid if I send him down to you, you will send me a different dog and keep mine
rimfire, I have a dog about the same age and he also started in September, I run hare on deep snow just like you do, it sounds like your dog is doing good for the time he has had to learn. Desire is a trait you can't teach, give him lots of time to develope, soloing is very important but he needs to be packed some as they sometimes won't want to pack if soloed all the time. Good luck. Hope this helps. Hare
It sounds like you have alot of Hare in your area maybe too many. You need to get that dog in an area where he really has to work to get a rabbit going. I believe that in his way of thinking he probably figures it is just as easy to go find another hare as it is to keep the one going he is running. I have seen this before in young dogs that have been started and run in areas of abundant game. When they are running and come to a very hard loose theyt will just give up cause they know they can easily get another one going. If your dog is jumping hare in 5-10 minutes everytime out then this could be the cause. Too many hare! What a problem to have!!!!!
Take that dog to an area with a low population and run him off and on for awhile when he learns he has to work the one he is running if want to run then you will start to see him stick and not have as many breakdowns. You have a smart dog there but you can make him a quitter. He is already showing you signs that he is smart and since he is smart if you take him elsewhere where there are lees rabbits he will learn quickly to carefully run and stick with the rabbit he is currently chasing.
It sounds like you have alot of Hare in your area maybe too many. You need to get that dog in an area where he really has to work to get a rabbit going. I believe that in his way of thinking he probably figures it is just as easy to go find another hare as it is to keep the one going he is running. I have seen this before in young dogs that have been started and run in areas of abundant game. When they are running and come to a very hard loose theyt will just give up cause they know they can easily get another one going. If your dog is jumping hare in 5-10 minutes everytime out then this could be the cause. Too many hare! What a problem to have!!!!!
Take that dog to an area with a low population and run him off and on for awhile when he learns he has to work the one he is running if want to run then you will start to see him stick and not have as many breakdowns. You have a smart dog there but you can make him a quitter. He is already showing you signs that he is smart and since he is smart if you take him elsewhere where there are lees rabbits he will learn quickly to carefully run and stick with the rabbit he is currently chasing.
