Small game hunting!

Well done Walley! I thought I was the only one that hunted rabbits WITHOUT dogs. I hunted today for 2 hours pushing the brush piles, saw nada. 3 guys hunted my spots just yesterday! Felt good just to be out though.

Thats always a good time.  Was out monday trying to push my buddy a deer, and took the shotgun for a stroll.  Stomped lots of thickets, and there was loads of fresh bunny tracks in the snow, but I never spotted one.  Gonna try and grouse hunt this weekend.  Jumped loads of birds in the fall, but the little bastids are hard to see.  The white background should make it a little easier.

Went out this saturday for 7 hours and only saw one rabbit. Spooked a big fox and pheasant tho. Soo many tracks but no critters. Really need a new spot to hunt small game. If anyone has any please share as i am new to the sport and have only been out once so far

In this kind of weather those busytails like to stay close to holes. Several of the ones I jumped went right into holes within ten feet of where I jumped them.

I'm getting back into beagles,I'm not hunting but running my 8 month old Bella pup.A lot of tail shaking around holes and where they been feeding(chewed bark) in early morning but no cold trailing.Every bunny she puts out makes a bee line to the hole. She has not had a chase longer than 50 yards to the hole most have been less. It's been hard getting her on bunnies that run to the hole.This warm up should help.I'm thinking about running her after dark.

I use to love working with beagles. My dad and I had them along with two of my brothers. Many times I'd put my gun up on a rounding rabbit only to say todays your lucky day and let it go. In recent years I've hunted bushy tails on some of the ugliest, snowy, bitter cold days only to find them moving aroung the brushy fields feeding during the day. I'd hunt them almost like stalking deer, a step or two then watch and look. Often I would see them slowing moving around in search of food and staying active and warm while being relatively easy targets. No dog just me. To bad I don't have the enegy or stamina to do that today.

Took little Bella to the bunny woods,hunted 1 till 4:30. She ran two buck rabbits,first one made 6 loops by me and my son,great run for a pup my son sent it to bunny heaven,first shot over her.Second one made two passes and bang,he joined his buddy. She is a smooth little hound very few checks,steady pressure on the rabbit.I'm ready for another pup and looking forward to running these little hounds again. Trying to get in a couple more hunts friday and sat. Then hit Ohio for a couple.

Yes, you can kill rabbits without a dogs,but its all about the dog for me.Yes you need a beagle! I'd rather kill one bunny off my dog then a 100 off the jump. I think there more bunnies than people think,I glad I'm getting back into the game. Congrats on your bunny kills,I forgot how great they are to eat. I cut them up and soaked in salt water overnight in the fridge,pan fried in olive oil,then add two large sliced onions,4 cloves of garlic,salt ,black pepper a couple of cups dry white wine,and a cup of water and let simmer on low heat till tender,then add a jar of my canned sheephead mushrooms the last 20 minutes,and served on a bed on fluffy white rice. The only thing I need is more bunnies,to bad BELLA didn't start a little earlier( my fault to much deer hunting) Oh well next year.

What I'm saying,is yes a train dog will be the way to go. I've ran beagle since I've been 10 years old and went with my Uncle,Grandfather and Dad. I'm saying I get my enjoyment from the dog work,and killing a bunny on the jump is not my thing. I'm not saying anything agaist it to a guy that hunts dogless,because that that only way he's going to kill a bunny. I've shot pleny of bunnies off the jump in my younger days. Most guys that run beagles don't shoot off the jump,but like there dogs to circle the rabbit before they shoot it. Lets not make something out of nothing,not fighting ,just talking bunny hunting.

Thanx for the tips on the bunny huntin. Looking forward to next season. Got a friend of a friend who is workin on training a couple of dogs. Should be exciting!
 
BH