Thunderhead
12-07-2002, 09:22 AM
I had the pleasure of meeting and hunting with Robert W. McCoy Jr. and his friend Steve this Friday. After a 2 1/2 hour drive up they got to the house around 8am followed shortly after by my good friend Ronnie. Introductions all around, a spot of coffee and we were off. Expectations were running high and we were all pumped !!
I was really hoping to get these guys into some rabbits as Rob said that he wasn't having the best of luck down home.
Our first stop set the pace for the day. Tracks everywhere !
Rob turned loose his pack of top notch beagles and the first rabbit was jumped not 10 yards from the truck. It went up at my feet but let'er go to get the dogs warmed up. The race was on !!
I'm not quite used to doing that, but no worries, after an exciting chase they brought it right back and within a few minutes the first rabbit of the day went into the gamebag. It wasn't long before the music started again and we were fast into another chase.
Now, I'm a stump jumper from way back and watching and hunting behind these well trained hounds was a rare treat.
Rob puts a TON of work into his beagles and it definatly shows.
The beagles were singing the whole time we were in the swamp and we ended up bagging 8. Rob stated that the tracking conditions were not the best, but you couldn't tell by the way his pack was working. We had rabbits running everywhere !! LOL
I for one was having the time of my life :)
The next stop wasn't as productive due to the lack of rabbits, but a couple were bagged and we did jump a nice buck. The dogs ran close, if not right over where it was bedded and never gave it a glance. Ahhhhh the joy of good dogs........
After a quick bite to eat we hit the last spot of the day. No dissappoints here either. The longest chases of the day were in this spot, some lasting at least 25 minutes and I was amazed at how well the dogs were keeping the track. Rob was running 3 and all had their strong points which complimented the others. Only a lucky few made it to the saftey of their holes to run another day :)
We finished up the day around 4pm with heavy game bags
( 15 rabbits total), tired legs and a joyfull heart.
It was definatly a pleasure meeting and enjoying the company of Rob and Steve, ( The Steetsweeper, I had to pick on him a bit as he was running a Remington 12 ga. auto, and when he started shooting, you knew it.....lolol ) and having the oppertunity to hunt behind a pack of world class rabbit dogs. Listening to their song was an experience I won't soon forget.
These are 2 great guys and I look forward to our next hunt together.
Meeting new friends, making new memories, and enjoying one heck of a hunt, what more could a guy ask for.
I've asked Trout to post a pic for me of days end, it should be up soon. Thanks in advance Kirk.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/540/6mccoyrbt3-med.jpg
I was really hoping to get these guys into some rabbits as Rob said that he wasn't having the best of luck down home.
Our first stop set the pace for the day. Tracks everywhere !
Rob turned loose his pack of top notch beagles and the first rabbit was jumped not 10 yards from the truck. It went up at my feet but let'er go to get the dogs warmed up. The race was on !!
I'm not quite used to doing that, but no worries, after an exciting chase they brought it right back and within a few minutes the first rabbit of the day went into the gamebag. It wasn't long before the music started again and we were fast into another chase.
Now, I'm a stump jumper from way back and watching and hunting behind these well trained hounds was a rare treat.
Rob puts a TON of work into his beagles and it definatly shows.
The beagles were singing the whole time we were in the swamp and we ended up bagging 8. Rob stated that the tracking conditions were not the best, but you couldn't tell by the way his pack was working. We had rabbits running everywhere !! LOL
I for one was having the time of my life :)
The next stop wasn't as productive due to the lack of rabbits, but a couple were bagged and we did jump a nice buck. The dogs ran close, if not right over where it was bedded and never gave it a glance. Ahhhhh the joy of good dogs........
After a quick bite to eat we hit the last spot of the day. No dissappoints here either. The longest chases of the day were in this spot, some lasting at least 25 minutes and I was amazed at how well the dogs were keeping the track. Rob was running 3 and all had their strong points which complimented the others. Only a lucky few made it to the saftey of their holes to run another day :)
We finished up the day around 4pm with heavy game bags
( 15 rabbits total), tired legs and a joyfull heart.
It was definatly a pleasure meeting and enjoying the company of Rob and Steve, ( The Steetsweeper, I had to pick on him a bit as he was running a Remington 12 ga. auto, and when he started shooting, you knew it.....lolol ) and having the oppertunity to hunt behind a pack of world class rabbit dogs. Listening to their song was an experience I won't soon forget.
These are 2 great guys and I look forward to our next hunt together.
Meeting new friends, making new memories, and enjoying one heck of a hunt, what more could a guy ask for.
I've asked Trout to post a pic for me of days end, it should be up soon. Thanks in advance Kirk.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/540/6mccoyrbt3-med.jpg