Rabbit Hunting

[CharlieNY]

After the long and extreme cold spell, got out yesterday with the beagles. Weather was perfect and ground conditions were good with a light coat of fresh snow. Dogs ran 7 bunnies by me in 3 hours and I intentionally only shot 2 of them, leaving some for another day. It was good to get out and get some fresh air and exercise, both for me and the dogs. I owe my success to the dogs in the attached photo. My male beagle is on the right in the photo. He is 10 yrs. old and still thinks and runs like he is 2. The female is on the left. She is 5 yrs. old and pairs up with him perfectly. I plan on retiring in 2 yrs. and will be looking to get another started beagle as my male will be 12 yrs. old then.

Edited February 2, 2014 by CharlieNY

[Paula]

I was out yesterday, amazing how the rabbits had pounded a couple paths. It was a good day!

[genesee_mohican]

Nice looking pair of beagles there. As a child growing up we always had a beagle or 2 and my Dad would take me out every weekend (unless deer season was open). It sure was a lot of fun and a great learning experience.

[hunter49]

    Good looking dogs, we always had 3-4 beagles running at once lots of fun & had rabbits running everywhere. 

[Terry]

Awesome! I would love a good rabbit dog. Did you train them yourself?

[CharlieNY]

I got the male when he was a 9 month old pup and he was a "natural." He came from hunting stock and all I had to do was take him out to an area that had rabbits, and he would run them. I got the female when she was 2 yrs. old. She was a started dog, meaning she was already running rabbits, and was also from hunting stock.. She learned a lot from hunting with my male, who was 7 yrs. old at the time, and they run perfectly together. When I retire my male, I will train his replacement with her. I have been doing it like this for over 45 years now.

[HOUNDS77]

Nice dogs