The American Beagler Forum

This is just a couple simple questions for AKC, UKC, ARHA, PKC, etc. etc. judges only. Thanks in advance for viewing, however if you're not a judge in any particular registry then please do not reply.

Question 1: What's your real name?

Question 2: Do you rabbit hunt?

Question 3: How many days during your particular rabbit season do you hunt?

1. Kelly Bonnette

2. Yes I rabbit hunt....I do not kill many though because I can't justify killing off my "training" rabbits because they are not plentiful where I live and I have limited spots to run on. A dead rabbit rarely ever runs another circle.

3. I run or "hunt" as often as I can (sometimes 40+ hrs per week, sometimes 20 depending on family life and bowseason conflicts)....most times if running in the daylight I will carry a gun and shoot "off", missing on purpose, to get the dogs use to the gun. I don't care to eat rabbits and my older dogs don't pay much attention to them after they are dead so what is the purpose in killing them.

Having said that, I can't wait to get my daughter her first shot at a rabbit....I use to kill several rabbits but found they were going to waste and it wasn't much fun to hunt/kill by myself anyhow. Now I just run dogs and kill a few for the pups to chew up. I did guide a local rabbit hunt last year and warned them from the begining that jumpshooting would not be tolerated...those folks couldn't help themselves from jumpshooting and shooting sitting rabbits so I just removed myself and my dogs from the situation....they killed 19 that day, congrats to them I guess. They were happy with themselves and stopped by to show me their bounty for the day and I asked them how many their dogs circled...they said none because one dog wouldn't hunt and the other headed to the truck after a guy shot 5 times in a row at a jumped rabbit. I feed my dogs to do what I want to do with them and they feed theirs to do as they wish but I did have to laugh when they asked me how to break a dog from being gunshy. I told the one guy..."try not shooting across the dogs nose for starters"

I understand your post and what conclusions you might or hope to draw from honest responses however, IMO, it is all about what you are happy with and your own personal satisfaction. My satisfaction on deer hunting leaves firearms as a last resort for killing a deer, my dad loves killing deer with firearms and thinks bowhunting and passing on 10+ deer a night is a waste of time. I just choose to hunt my way and he chooses to hunt his way. Same goes with rabbit hunting...he loves to kill rabbits, I don't see the enjoyment of it because it ends the race....different strokes for different folks.

Long response for a simple question....

Frank Miller Yes I rabbit hunt and I run 25 to30 hours a week and run my hounds year round.

Jeff Martin

Every chance I get. Taking off the whole first week off work to hunt. But, like Kelly I don't kill as many as I did years ago. Need to leave some for seed. Lol As long as the kids we take get to kill some I'm happy.

I can't remember when the last day I didn't run a dog was, sometime back in the summer. Run twice a day on the weekends when not at a trial. Doesn't leave much time to sleep though. Makes the stresses of work quite a bit easier to deal with.

John McKnight

I do rabbit hunt.

I hunt 15 to 20 days a season,maybe a couple more if I get out of state guest.

Jim McGuire
Yes I rabbit hunt, but as said by Kelly and others, I don't kill rabbits like I used to.
I run constantly, hunt throughout the season and never get enough running.

Bryan Bush and I am a beagle aholic. Run all year and gun hunt some. I am like the others and don't kill as many as I used to. But the dogs get plenty of running, sometimes 2 shifts a day for 4-6 hours.

yes i hunt aint got enough to kill just afew 4 young dogs run 20 to 40 hrs a week almost year round

ricky taylor

yes i hunt....

as many days as possible ,,,probably at least 20 hopefully more . usually kill about 10 rabbits a year ,myself . but have alot more killed over my dogs ,i letem run by me alot lol ..prefer to hear the race,.

Andy Purnell I don't judge a whole lot anymore but the wife does. AKC SPO
I hunt 4-5 days a week, somedays may only be 2-3 hours before work. Saturdays, a few vacation days and holidays are all day hunts. Our PA season came in Saturday and goes till the end of February. I also get a NY license and hunt Sundays quite a bit since we cannot hunt on Sunday in PA. When it is over we go to Maine and do a week long Hare hunt.

Tracy Crewse

yes

As many Days as Chores, health and Work will allow. dont kill a lot But thats Why they call me sirmissalot!!

1. David VonDoloski

2. Yes, rabbit hunt every year. Don't shoot any the dogs don't circle twice. I'm a poor shot so 20-25 kills for me is an average season. Tried for 100 one season and came up a few short.

3. During the season I try to take 1 week vacation to hunt, most Saturdays, and a couple evenings a week after work. My two boys took hunters safety this fall so I will let them do all the shooting while I handle dogs and make sure nobody gets hurt...

Like others have stated, rabbits are scarce in some areas I run so I don't harvest any in those areas. I plan a rabbit dinner for Saturday hunts and the pressure is on to get enough to feed our family of 6.

Mybeagles

1. Steven Bailey

2. Yes I hunt

3. Love to hunt as much as possible when season comes in. Like others I am guilty of not killing many because a dead rabbit never runs again. I am also guilty of running only during rabbit season which to me makes sense if I like to trial. It is proven in any competition the more practice and preparation you provide for an athlete the chances are (if they have the ability/gentics) they will compete at a high level. I love to hunt and love to trial.

4. What is the real answer you are looking for?

First off thank you to those that responded so far. Expected way more, but then again perhaps my gut feeling was right.

Yes I hunt. If I didn't I would not keep a hunting breed of dogs. Usually every Saturday and Sunday of season as well as two straight weeks in December. I don't carry a gun to just play the part, nor am I someone that gloats about killing a hundred a year either. I kill only what is to be eaten.

Bailey, the only answers Im looking for is just to the questions I ask.

Many don't use this board and many will not post because if you don't make a 3 page post and fully explain yourself someone twists it into what they want to hear. Then here goes the arguements! Not this post but general discussion on this board.