The American Beagler Forum

All right, I am a lurker and this is my first post. I had beagles and sold them 10 years ago when my daughter was born. This fall I picked up two that I am really happy with.

We have had about 9" of fresh snow, and are expecting about 2-6" more tonite. It is cold so the snow is light and fluffy.

Would I be wasting my time going out tomorrow with all of the light snow? Or should I wait for the snow to settle a bit. I am would be taking a vacation day to do this, and any day in the field is worth it, but I would at least like to get a few runs in.

Thanks

well u will see what kind of stanima and desire to hunt your new dogs have.

If it snows all nite everything in the woods will be laid up some where..........including rabbits/hares. It makes it tough to find them, however if you do lift one up out of bed it will be the only one making tracks in fresh new snow..........initially anyway. Personally speaking I usually wait and give them another nite to start moving and making some runways.

I agree with NorWester, I'd give it a day or two after the snow. But if if you go Have fun and good hunting to ya!

I agree with the last two posts, but last saturday we got 3 inches of snow and sunday I went out and it started raining and we ran 6 in 2 hours so you may as well just go out and see whats happening and enjoy the out doors.

totally diffrent pat with the snow we got and 9 inches of freash powder. u ran after the ran came through. fluff like he said takes a few days.

Yeah, I went out up north where deer season is closed. They got more lake effect than at home. The dogs were snorkeling where it was open and no trees to thin down the snow under them. I was watching a dog 15 yards from me. I would see the tip of a nose then nothing, then the tip again, then nothing. It was so light and fluffy that the dogs sunk right down. I am not even sure the snowshoes helped me at all. I packed up and went home.

I know bill I wasn,t saying it was the same just that you never know whats going to happen, and if you stay inside you never will so to put as short as possible a bad day hunting is still better than anything else.

My experiance running on snow which isn't much would be to wait if the snow is like powder. Don't get much snow in MO

Powder snow = bad running

Wet snow = good running

in some areas u can not wait until the snow hardens up or u will wait until april! We run powder its not as productive but its running!

Joeyman wrote:My experiance running on snow which isn't much would be to wait if the snow is like powder. Don't get much snow in MO

Powder snow = bad running

Wet snow = good running

The more your dogs run in snow the less that becomes a major factor. If you run in a lot of snow I think the dogs tend to look for tracks and runs in the snow to find the hare and once the hare gets up and running they can run it on powder fairly well.

I'd go anyway. Might not be the best running, and for sure you'll have to jump them, but your dogs won't get any experience sittin in their pens.

coolbrze wrote:I'd go anyway. Might not be the best running, and for sure you'll have to jump them, but your dogs won't get any experience sittin in their pens.

Agree, I say if you can go,-GO!

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Spencer wrote:All right, I am a lurker and this is my first post. I had beagles and sold them 10 years ago when my daughter was born. This fall I picked up two that I am really happy with.
We have had about 9" of fresh snow, and are expecting about 2-6" more tonite. It is cold so the snow is light and fluffy.
Would I be wasting my time going out tomorrow with all of the light snow? Or should I wait for the snow to settle a bit. I am would be taking a vacation day to do this, and any day in the field is worth it, but I would at least like to get a few runs in.
Thanks

With only two hounds you should have a better chance. We drove into 2' of dry snow up on the Island. The hounds swam & bunny hopped through the mess all week. Hares went under as much as over the flood of white. We'd get a partial run when a couple older hounds would get away from the group, but when the younger hounds would join up, the disturbance and tracking up would bust the chase (or should I say, attempt to follow.. ). The hare were only sinking in maybe a few inches but the hounds were up to their chins. When young hounds would get on the plowed roads, they would race up and down the roads and when they'd hear a older hound speaking on scent, they dive in and swim to them to try and get some of the rabbit. It was funny to see their desire but also their fustration at trying to deal with the new experience of deep snow...
We enjoyed the beautiful weather, the high was low to mid twenties, with nights going into the low teens. Each day the sun's glow would break the eastern sky and the light would awaken the shadows of the Islands to the northwest. The wind only came out at night and after first light, would lay itself down to rest for the remaining day. It was perfect! If only the snow had settled or the warm sunrays would have melted enough for a crust to form & held the hounds weight.
Deep snow= fewer hounds the better... ... 2 in the morning/another 2 fresh ones in the evening or next day. Young hounds get lots of exercise but it is fustrating to them and they cause the older hounds much grief...