The American Beagler Forum

It is the first week of the season here in Pa. The first day was a beutiful day and my pup ran great, but the past two evenings I took him out and it seemed like he was struggling to line the rabbit out. The past two nights have been extremely windy.

So do you think the wind will affect how a dog runs?? Also do you think a rabbit will hole up faster on a windy night.

A lot of things go into what makes a good day of running vs a bad day. Temp, humidity, ground moisture, wind......... Wind can affect running, however that being said, I have had some of my best running days when it was blowing 30 MPH. Swing and I ran together for the first time when it was blowing 30 MPH all day. We limited out.

Emery

I don't really think it matters i had 2 of my dogs out last night and it was pretty windy they were running that rabbit like i had never seen before. Just non stop pounding for about 45min's then i had to catch them so i could finish my homework.

Skeeter41, What part of Pa are you in??

Wind will make dogs that run air scent look like idiots. The wind blows the scent and the dog follows it off the line. It's just part of the game.

I think we can all agree that it's always nicer on calm days vs. windy days. That being said, our dog pounded some rabbits today in the wind. We had a blast. But, an inexperienced dog might have a tough time keeping things going. I think it's harder scent conditions if you're on dry ground. That's just my opinion - for what it's worth.

Naturally wind will dry or drift the scent faster and make it more difficult for faster running dogs to track. I have had windy days where it was difficult to get a rabbit going and I think rabbits take deep cover during the windy cold days. I am not saying that it can't be done but makes it more difficult.

Windy and dry can be bad. Windy and damp can be good running. That said the real drawback to the wind is not the scenting but the inability to hear the rabbit coming, spot his movement, or even hear the pack if it is really windy. Move to a protected bottom and you might still get in a decent hunt!

i took a couple of hound's out yesterday i thought it was to wind they had a hard time keeping on a track they seemed to be struggling most of the time, they ran a couple decent tracks. i have seen better days.

Shoot 2 of the best days we had last year the wind was howling!!! But all other conditions were right. Down here running up under all these briars and what not I don't think the wind really is that much of a factor . The only problem is you have to be a bit sharper cause it makes it easier for ole Bugs to get by you.

Huntin54. I am about an hour north of Harrisburg.

I don't know if it was the wind that was messing him up or if it was somthing going on that they were holing up right away. I talked to a buddy of mine last night that hunted Monday and Tuesday and he said most of the rabbits he jumped went straight to the holes. He said yesterday he went to the same spot and his dogs chased all day long.

Had my dogs out running in the wind every day since monday. It didnt seem to bother them a bit. My fastest basset even caught a rabbit tues early evening. They ran one past me 3 times in 20mins last evening in ankle high mowed grass in an orchard with rotting apples on the ground. Of course the line they were running downwind of the actual line the rabbit ran...but it was fun to watch. I'm thinking maybe I should start taking the gun with me ....

Looks like several good dogs will be tested tomorrow. Myself, Rneil and sanfordssj are running tomorrow morning and it is suppose to have gusts up to 30 mph. I just hope it does not rain.

Hey johnny ringo--I think its gonna rain--but tells us how they did anyway
Lar

Wind is blowing like sam hill here today. I just got in from running for 6 hours and had some of the best running this year. I think that the rabbits like wind because its harder for the airborne preditors to hunt. They seem less willing to hole up also. I had to drag my dogs out of the box they were so tired.

We ran for a couple hours - with three good runs. All the dogs contributed and I witnessed a lot of nice hounds. My Branko bitch actually packed up this time. It is only her second time she has ran in a pack and the first time was in Coshocton area with dogs and beaglers I had just met and I think those dogs were more intersted in deer than rabbits, LOL.
A new male (Yogi) I recently aquired did awesome and Rneils new bitch (Jaws) and sanfords new male (super sport) ran very nice and were clean running hounds. Overall, I had a blast. Not bad for a wet, rainy windy day (40 mph wind gusts) and it was nice to meet some of the guys on this forum.
I stopped by my friends place of Rt. 13 and ran Yogi and Belle (two of my dogs) and they ran a rabbit for about 40 minutes before it went into a hole. This rabbit ran about 40 yards then backtracked to where they jumped him. When I saw my two dogs I thought - oh no they are backtracking - but they worked through that check and ran the rabbit for another 30 minutes. It was sweet. For as windy as it was and figuring out that wise bunny I was impressed.