Run Bunny Run!

[bear catcher]

Is anyone getting like me with my beagles?
I'm to the point I don't shoot anymore. I love to just watch my beagles and listen to the bark.
In the past 2 days I've let 6 rabbits just run by and watch my two buddies go flying by in hot pursuit!
I shot at 1 rabbit today to turn him from going into a brushpile fortress and it worked. They chased him around again but this time I let him get away.
I've killed enough bunnys over the years to be labeled a " bunny serial killer" and I'll probably shoot one again when I start getting hungry for bugs meat but for now me and my gun will let them go!

[timberdoodle528]

Yeah, I hear ya! It truely is an addiction for me. I love to hear my hounds hammering a rabbit...there's nothing like it - for me nothing can replace the sound of a great rabbit race.

I don't shoot that many rabbits a year. 60% of the time I run my dogs, I don't even take a gun. But I do enjoy shooting rabbits over the dogs it's their reward more than mine.

I love being out in the dead silence of the woods then all of a sudden Danny (who's got an extremely loud bawl mouth) is firing off on a sight chase... The intensity of his voice hot after a rabbit's butt almost makes you jump out of your skin for a second and it ALWAYS brings a big smile to my face.

It's nice to see someone share the same passion!

[bear catcher]

Two of the rabbits they were chasing yesterday I don't think could have been shot at 'cause Zeke was so close behind I thought he had a hold of the bunnys tail!

[Happy Jack]

I have killed 0 this year and have only shot at 2 runners with my 22. Just enjoy listening and watching so much I don't really want to end it. State land around me gets hit hard and we don't run half the rabbits we did early Dec. so lately my weapon of choice is a walking stick. I like to think of it as QRM.

[FREEPOP]

Went to a honey hole last night. Had 4 rabbits running around this acre thorn patch. The boys would get one out and run em through the woods and back again. I finally shot one (on it's second circle) with the 22 so they could have heart and lungs for a treat when we got home.

I keep a record and so far we have shot 25 rabbits, and ran 68. I haven't counted the ones we run during the week, as I rarely have a gun.

[fulldraw]

I may get out today to run my beagle for the first time this year. He is 3 yrs. old and have not had time to work with him much busy with work and moving this year, so we will see what happens. I know he has a noise on him can smell a rabbit or a squirrel three yards away.

fulldraw

[jackbob42]

I quit carrying a gun a long time ago. I finished a young dog out one year and shot every rabbit that he circled by himself. Got tired of killing and cleaning and hung up the gun. Now I just let the grandson , or the newbies do the shootin'.

Bob Brooks

[FREEPOP]

jackbob42, you ever go over to the state land near the Maple River?

[Gobblerman]

I only have one beagle and her and I love to get out. Our problem is we have a hard time findiing rabbits. Just need to find some hotspots. We've been doing this for the past 3 years and it's been alot of fun. Normally we get 5 to 6 bunnies a year, this year only 1 so far. It is great to hear the her on the trail.

[Joe Havenor]

I am at the same point now run 2 dogs the other day seen 3 rabbits and never fired a shot.I havent killed a rabbit in 3 weeks been busy guiding in the U.P for hares and the hunters have been doing well.But i just handle the dogs and get them in and out of the box not a bad way to go nothing like 11 hounds fired up on a rabbit.Hope you all ahave a good month of running looks like i be busy back and forth to the U.P.

[jackbob42]

jackbob42, you ever go over to the state land near the Maple River?

Nope , never been there. I got some Christmas tree farms that I run in. TONS OF BUNNIES ! LOL
The shootin' is fast , but the grandson don't hurt the population any ! LOL
Course I'd be willin' to go if you wanna show me one of your hotspots ! LOL

Bob Brooks

[FREEPOP]

Course I'd be willin' to go if you wanna show me one of your hotspots ! LOL

Bob Brooks

Never been there but drive by there heading to my parents near Farwell. I'm thinking of heading that way, one of these weekends.

[Brandon]

If you run beagle enough hunting as well as training, you quickly discover that you can easely put a dent in the rabbit population in your running areas. I still like to hunt but now I bring my tc encore pistol in 45/410. That way I can give the rabbit at least a little chance to service. This encore is very fun and challenging on rabbits.

[jackbob42]

Never been there but drive by there heading to my parents near Farwell. I'm thinking of heading that way, one of these weekends.

Which way do you go up? Right up 27? I'm only about 15 or 20 minutes from 27. Come on up and we'll run some.
Took out 2 , 4 month old pups this morning. They made 2 full circles with their Mamma before a buddy shot the rabbit. ( we seen 6 or 7 ) Was back home in an hour. Didn't want the pups gettin' bored and hangin' around me. I'll be putting them in the woods about every day. So just let me know.

Bob Brooks

[FREEPOP]

jackbob, no we take the back roads cause I like the country and hate the highway. We go through Grand Ledge, Fowler and up thata way. Hit 52 on Bliss road.

We'll have to pick a date. I run my dogs daily too. I work till 5 everyday, so wekends are gonna be the ticket. It's about 1 hour for me.

[jackbob42]

........ Hit 52 on Bliss road.




I assume you mean 57 & Bliss road.
I'm only about 3 miles west & 6 miles north of that corner.
Pick a day and let's go ! LOL

That goes for anybody else too !

[FREEPOP]

Yeah, just off the top off my head :dizzy: W ehop on Warner after that.

I'll get with the Secretary of War and see what she's got planned ;)

[bear catcher]

Hey, you two bunny chasers wouldn't like to let another bunny chaser[I just shoot ta scare] get in on this fun sounding time? I've got 2 young tri-colors that never seem to get enough chasing in!

[jackbob42]

Give me a call and we'll set something up.
989-235-3723

[jackbob42]

Took the pups out again for a couple good runs. Ran one across a road and had to catch them up and take them back. Got another one going and seen him 4 times.
Where you guys at? Your missin' all the fun ! LOL

[rlandhc]

You guys are bringing back memories from the mid 70s's early 80's. We would hunt w/ our grampa/dad/uncles/brothers (14 total, 3 beagles) during the Christmas break..... tons of snowshoes, not many cottontails. I've been yearning to get back into rabbit hunting... always loved listening to them tounge... each had their own sound/style. My wife never appreciated the baying and wouldn't allow a beagle.... now I have 2 english setters.... still would love to hear the sounds of beagles in a michigan swamp!

[richard harker]

this has been the best year i have ever had
started out getting 18 hairs one weekend on beaver island (with the legened Dave Roop)
i usully hunt 3 days a week around Peck and Yale
between me and the my hunting buddys we harvested 70 to 80 conton tails
next year i am thinking about getting a 28 gage single shot normaly i use a 11-87 remington 20 gage
never took more than 4 - 5 any time out
yester day i past on 2 and shot only i
what a year man i am done taking a gun this year :p

[Joe Havenor]

Sounds like you had a great season, good job and give em hell next year.