Communication in the woods

Ricko · Post by **Ricko** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 12:25 pm

I've read where some of you folks hunt with 4 or 5 friends and anywhere from 4-8 hounds or more, making for a fun Saturday. I'll assume that everyone's busy working the brush piles and such as they come to them, and that you're for the most part spread out in a line slowly working in one direction. So now, someone kicks up a rabbit and off go the dogs.
And to show a real need for good communication, lets just say everyone is using a 22. So now the dogs are off running, you've stopped to draw your mental circle from listening to the hounds in anticipation as to where the rabbit is going to pop out at. What method have you used to also place your friends, which are not always visible, in this mental picture so as not to shoot anyone? Do you all call out each others names, do you all use a whistle? What method has worked for you that is the quickest and easiest way to identify everyone's location in the woods?

PAPPY · Post by **PAPPY** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 2:56 pm

Well I hardly ever carry a gun when rabbit hunting.I have found that my beagles can't run a dead rabbit and since I go mainly to hear a good race and the work of my beagles a gun is the least of my worries.IF I did go on a hunt like your talking about and there were more than one in the group there would be no 22's allowed period.Secondly if you were in a group with me there wouldn't be any working brush piles to jump a rabbit for the beagles.If they can't work and jump their own rabbit then they can take a ride back to the house.We would sit or stand around until the dogs jumped a rabbit and then make our choices on where to take a stand for the best possible chance at the rabbit without putting man or dog in danger.And we would only shoot at what we could SEE was a rabbit.Sure there would probably be shouting back and forth to alert other hunters the direction the rabbit was taking.I had much rather be sitting on a tail gate enjoying the work of the hounds and shooting the bull with friends than I would carrying a gun and shooting a rabbit that my hounds would no longer be able to run.This is just me and not intended to tread on any toes other than my own.

tic · Post by **tic** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 3:03 pm

Ricko - I generally like to limit the number of hunters to 3 or less and the number of dogs to 4 or less. There is nothing wrong with having more of either one, it's just a personal preference and adds to the overall safety in my opinion. Also I have never rabbit hunted with a 22 or been with anyone that did. I would prefer to stay with shotguns, especially if hunting with a good size group of hunters and/or dogs. Again, there is nothing wrong with it (if done safely) but is not something that I would personally do. What we try to do in our group is to have a good handle on where everyone is visually if possible. If someone does get out of sight we will call out to one another so we know what areas are open for shooting. I would much rather take the chance of turning a rabbit away by calling out than take a chance of taking a shot where one of my buddies might be. I also am not real fond of jump shooting for a couple of reasons... (1) the biggest reason I am out there in the first place is to hear and see the dogs in action, and (2) I think that it is much safer not to take these types of shots.

Big Dog · Post by **Big Dog** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 4:12 pm

We will normally get on line and work along with or behind the dogs, but not very hard I might add. When the rabbit is jumped we spread out on a line and as we move up we will give out a yell that sounds like a high pitched HEEEEE. If one person does it everyone else will do it thus letting everyone know where everyone else is located. I don't allow any .22s around my dogs period

Big Dog

blackdirt beagles · Post by **blackdirt beagles** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 4:16 pm

we try to get a gameplan of where everyone is gonna be when we first start. but we ALL carry the cheap 2 way radios that walmart (and everyone) sells. they work great and are all compatible with each other.

Ricko · Post by **Ricko** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 6:29 pm

Pappy, thank you for your response, I just threw that comment about 22’s in the sanrio in order to elicit some comments and to enforce the idea of a need for good communication in the woods. In a way you think kind of like I fly fish, catch and release! That’s okay!
I have never hunted with, or personally been a part of a hunting group where a 22 was used. It does present a safety issue for me personally.
I also love the symphony of a hound(s) voice. I find it comparable to Itzak Perlman playing Beethoven’s violin concerto in D major, Op. 61!! If you’ve never seen a live performance, it’s a very powerful and moving experience! I also regard my dogs as an equal part of the team, and to run their hearts out chasing a rabbit during hunting season ……well I’ll take the shot as I do feel I owe them the heart and kidneys for a job well done! Again, that’s just my idea on the matter.
Tic, I like your thoughts on a limited size party.
Big Dog, you do it the way I was taught, only we don’t use the Heeee, but rather a loud “Poop-Poop” by everyone in order to give out one’s position.
Blackdirt, the two-way radios sounds like a nice way to go. I’ve thought of it, but never tried it. Which brings up another question. Do you find it’s important to hunt with the same group of folks? It certainly makes it nice if everyone is willing to invest in the same type of two-way radio and learns to walk and work at the same pace.
As dogs are trained, I believe the hunter that hunts in a group has also got to be trained. How often have you hunted with someone who insists on running ahead of the dogs or way out front thinking they’ll be in the right spot at the right time? One of my pet peeves was always with the guy who would field dress a rabbit and throw the guts over his shoulder thinking the dogs wouldn’t find it. I always thought that’s what God made small trees and thorn bushes for. Some place to hang the guts for the crows, not for someone’s dog the next weekend! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and methods, as there are some good ideas to be had.

wvrabbithunter · Post by **wvrabbithunter** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 7:03 pm

I WOULD NOT GO RABBIT HUNTING WITH SOMEONE CARRYING A 22,IT ANIT EVEN RIGHT, WE ARE ALL HILLBILLYS HERE WE KNOW WHO IS CLOSE AND WE JUST CALL OUT THEIR NAME AND WHERE ARE YOU

Bart Caudill · Post by **Bart Caudill** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:51 pm

Around here there is no working the brush piles, thats what we have dogs for. Absolutly NO 22's. I ask everyone to wear a hunter orange hat and vest. If someone comes to hunt with me and don't have one, I always keep extra hats and vests in my vehicle. I will not let someone hunt with us without wearing both. Alot of the places are thick, and it is just to dangerous. We usually call the other persons name if we want to know where they are, usually the person that is close to you. We are spread out alot, but sometimes shoulder to shoulder, shooting the bull. We shoot alot more bull than we do rabbits.

We have alot of fun, and that is what its all about. Hearing good rabbit races, and having fun.

Bart

crewchf · Post by **crewchf** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 9:22 am

Blackdirt, check your game laws on the radio issue. Here in Ga, its a nono to use electronic comunications while in pursuit of any game animal!!!

Rich Piacentine

blackdirt beagles · Post by **blackdirt beagles** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 9:24 am

thanks for the tip... i think we're ok here, but i will check it out for sure.

Emery · Post by **Emery** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 9:35 am

In Wi, you can't use them either (or at least on deer)... but I know a ton of people that do. I guess it is one of those uninforced laws. I think it was put into effect back in the 70's or something like that when personal planes were coming to be a fad and the DNR found that people were using planes to heard/drive deer and they would use the radios to communicate. I guess you don't see too much of that around now...

Emery

crewchf · Post by **crewchf** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 10:07 am

Hi Emery,,, ain't seen no game wardens either!!! Me and Donna carry two motorola gmrs's concealed right next to our snubby hand guns. Iffen you're gonna break the law might as well make it worth their while ( Ha , Ha)...

Rich Piacentine