The American Beagler Forum

Over teh weekend, we hunted a place where rabbits were plentiful. We kicked out a few while walking to the hounds. When we got the hounds to the place the rabbit was jumped, it took them a long time to find scent that they could run. On a couple of occasions, they couldn't find the rabbit at all. I know my hounds aren't that bad, because we had a bunch of hard hammering races, in the briars and out into the timber, the kind of stuff that makes you want to "yahoo" at. Anyone else experience this, and any explanations? By the way, I got to see my 2 year old Buzzsaw female perform in a place where I could see her well. She led my Northway pack 90 percent of the time. Thanks, Lynn. She is seasoning out nicely now that I'm getting to put her in the brush.

Ramey ,you need some dogs,lol.we had the same problem this weekend.

I wish we could find out the problem! Happen to me also,the only difference is my hounds could run fine the briars and thicker stuff, but soon as the rabbit hit some open areas and bigger woods it was like you turned a light switch off they just acted like they have never ran a rabbit before. I now my hounds are not the best but i know they can run a rabbit back to the gun. I even have 2 males that have colder noses and they have trouble. I hope it gets better!

Talked to some hard hunting coyote hunters this weekend and they were having the same problems with their dogs runing tracks.

We had the same problem in Tennesse last week. We saw a rabbit sitting in the edge of the woods a few feet from us. We called the dogs and they haven't run it yet, none period. It was like there was no rabbit. I had a son of Jackpot, a daughter of Jackpot, a son of Jasper, a son of Turbo Powered by Turbo and another powerhouse Branko bloodline dog. I couldn't ask for better dogs. My buddy also had 3 dogs.They will jump every rabbit in a neighborhood and then try their best to catch it. Not that time. They had already jumped a couple and run them under a barn when we saw that one sitting in the woods. It was windy and rough so we quit and went in. I have been rabbit hunting most of my 64 years and It seems that some rabbits are harder to run than they use to be. I guess it's survivors producing better survivors over the years.

I ran my dog and another guys 2 dogs at the club Sat. and they were rough. The friend I was with figured it was because a front was moving in (wind picked up, temp dropped a little, and clouds moved in.) On Sunday, after it rained the night before, the front was through, and the temp was in low 40's I went out hunting for an hour and the dog ran pretty darn good. We had 2 chases with 1 kill. So maybe there's something to the weather front idea?????????

I think its just easier for the dog to jump the rabbit as well. I've had the problem in the past. You take him over to a different area and he has to start searching again. You also might have jumped a doe rabbit, they don't give off a lot of scent.

Thanks for all the replies. Shotgunner, you know my hounds. Like DJ, they aren't the best, but when they drive one in the thick stuff, out of it, into the timber, and back into the briars without hardly a breakdown and then I nearly step on one and they act like there wasn't one there. I have also heard about females not having much scent but I thought it was only during the time they were nursing, but I only know what I have heard. Anyway, it makes me feel better that others have had the same problem, I guess my hounds aren't for sale cheap after all. Sorry I didn't call back, Paul, but I had some family come to town and had Christmas again. I would like to hunt with you at least once before season ends, call me or I will call you.

The last two times we have been out we had the same type running. The dogs even ran hit and miss on the ones they jumped and then would jump another and run it good. I just talked to my cousin who went today and the same thing happened. He said he jumped one and got them on it and they couldn't run it at all. Jumped another one and they ran it for short distance. He said the third one they ran pretty good for about 3/4 circle and it just blew up.

My dogs have always ran better when they get up their own rabbit. I don't know exactly why, but I think accountability comes into play. They want to catch what they just jumped up.

I also feel better! we hunted saturday in a really good area,and the dogsdid not look so good at all.we had 2 ok runs,but i was not impressed.same thing wind picked up and the air seemed really dry.I`m going to blame it on the weather.

I notice that you guys are from all over. the terrain we hunt in is different and the weather conditions are different except for the possibility of strong wind. Here's a question. Anyone have hounds that can run every rabbit that is kicked out? Also I have often been frustrated when running in the summer and see a rabbit in the road and put the hounds on it. Seems they have to move quite a distance sometimes to get rolling. Other times they grab it quickly. I am interested in hearing some more.

Every since I was old enough to keep up with my dad in the wild I have rabbit hunted with beagles. I have seen this over and over again that for some unknown reason the dogs can't seem to get a the track going. We just always say the they just can't smell them. I'm of the opinion that this happens whether the rabbit is jumped from it's squat by the dogs or the hunter. The only difference is when the hunter jumps one they have to call the dogs into them which may take a little time instead of the dog jumping or working up a jump righ in front of their own nose. The last time we hunted we had two dogs with good noses and my cousin jumped a rabbit that my male and I were only about 20 yards from. When he got my male over there he acted as if he couldn't even smell the track at all. After he had smelled around a bit my cousin walked further down the line and then his tail started to whip to which we knew he was getting some scent. His female came in and her tail was going as well and they went further down the line until my male opened and then she did. They ran that rabbit pretty good about 3/4 circle and when it was coming back to the jump area it blew up as if someone turned the scent switch off.

Don't want to still the thread but has anyone had a certain area where the dogs struggled like you guys are talking about. I mean we can be pounding a rabbit and he hits this one area about the size of a football field they really struggle with it. They eventually get it going and get it out of there and get it rolling again. We can see the rabbit and call the dogs over and they have trouble with it until they get it out of there. Do you think it is something in the ground? It is like the rabbit loses sent all of a sudden and then gets it back.

All i know is that running on this mountain has been bad for a while almost every where. my son's and i got permission to run on private property this last weekend in the valley and it was none stop running, race after race. We ran about 10 or 12 rabbits and circle all of them and some twice. It didn't matter if they was in the woods, open fields, Briars,ect. they laid right with the rabbits.
We took only 1 and shot alot
I told the boys we were out of practice cause we haven't had any to shoot at.(every beagler has his own excuse don't they)

I guess what i was wondering does the valleys hold scent better that the mountains another words elevation have anything to do with it or did we just hit it at the right time?

When i have more time i will test this out to see if it makes a difference.