The American Beagler Forum

Anyone ever used a dog to go down in a hole and get the rabbits out? We ran 8 rabbits in 2 1/2 hrs. on Sat. p.m. and of the 8, 4 holed, 3 we shot, and 1 the dogs lost in the creek. Just thought it would be a helluva nice deal if I could get me a SMALL dog that would get the rabbit out of the hole...

i would be happy with 3 and leave some for seed or to run next trip.

Steve if you and your brothers could shot then you would have this problem. HAHA...

You could do as the Brit's for catching rabbit and use a ferret.
Ferret goes down the hole, rabbit runs out the hole...not good if hounds are waiting at the hole, for rabbit or ferret...

twist long stick around in hole works to

A word from the wise, although I am not familiar with the laws in Virginia, In Michigan and Ohio, it is illegal to flush game from a den (i.e. ferret, smoke, ect). Enjoy the chases you get, if rabbits are holing quickly, I am guessing your running some fast dogs.

run and gun is right,i was going to buy a ferret a while back at petland and the owner of the store told me the same thing that it was illegal to use a ferret for flushing rabbits.

ha ha danny maybe they can find some dyamite. that would bring one out in style

Here are some that have went to the hole. I don't mind when they go to the hole. That way there a few left.........

That is typical around here.
The best day hunting this year for me was New Years day.
The dog jumped 11 and only 4 of the 11 circled before hitting a hole (we only shot one).
Most went straight line right to the hole, We only saw 3 or 4 of them.

Its illegal in the state of indiana to use anything to flush or remove a rabbit from a hole. its in the hunting manual.

I have a DVD that shows different types of rabbit/hare hunting in England.
One segment shows them using terriers to flush the hares from a stone wall. Another segment shows them using big long legged dogs to run down the hare, catch it, and retrieve it.

Several segments showed ferrets into the holes. They had a tracking collar on the ferret, placed nets over all the openings, and turned the ferret loose. Sometimes the hare would fly out of the hole and get caught in the nets. Other times they would track the ferret until it quit moving, and then dig down to the tunnel. A couple times the pulled a dead hare out of the hole where the ferret had killed it. Other times they pulled a live one out and broke its neck. There was a lot of time spent digging and trying to coax the ferret out of the hole. Looked like more trouble than it would be worth. I couldn't imagine using a ferret in WV, because most holes are under rocks. I figure you would lose quite a few ferrets because you couldn't dig it out.

if your weather is anything like ours is they can,t get in holes to much water

I have witnessed people using long thick briars to get wounded rabbits out of holes before. You have to have a green briar with a handle on the end though.

We went out a few weeks back and only jumped 3 rabbits all day ( It was a public area ) Only one rabbit came around to the gun and I missed due to trying to get video fottage and shoot at the same time. The other 2 ran as fast as they could for about 30 yards or so stright to holes. When Blair come out to hunt with Yellowdog and I we had one run up inside a tree and Blair's Colegate dog disapeared up inside. ( What a dumb dog ) anyhow we had to coax him out with a toothbrush.