The American Beagler Forum

If you can't see your beagle how do you know it is on a rabbit, or how do you determine if your dog is running deer.

For me I watch my alpha when I hear one jump. If he runs a straight line for .5 mile it's probably not a cottontail.

If if has antlers and stands 3 to 4 feet tall it is a deer. If it is small with a fluffy stubby tail it is a rabbit. Sorry I had to.

I watch my GPS too. I also take into account the habitat; wide open woods, most likely a deer or squirrel. I also look for fresh deer tracks in the direction dogs went. To me, dogs on deer just seem more excited.

Ole mule been wanting to say how-dee for a little while. Got a daughter across the river in Camden along with some grands. To answer your question its comes with knowing your hounds and their tongues. If it sounds strange and is covering a lot of ground quickly could be trash. Most deer races are head up winding races covering lots of ground. If you are new to beagles its worth the money to get some e collars to save a lot of time and fustration along the way. I grew up down the road a little piece around the Hopkins, Eastover area. There are some good beaglers around that area and if you needs some help or knowledge maybe I can point you in the right direction. Tally-ho.

that's the beauty of having tattle tales .

If Jill aint opening with mine its not a rabbit!

If you don't have a broke hound in your pack, then you really have to know your dogs and stay on top of them. Most of the time you can use common sense to determine if they're on a rabbit or trash. For example, if scenting is bad and you hear a dog burning up a track without any checks... it's most likely trash. Although, when scenting is good and a dog is latched on. They will take the rabbit out of hearing and not waste any time doing it. By this time you may be getting worried but rest assured you will hear them coming back (as long as it hasn't holed). As they've turned the rabbit and it's heading your way.

If you have any doubts you can set up your dogs. Say you see an open field with deer in it. Drop the dogs and see if they go. If they do... well you know what to do! Turn your shocker all the way up and let them have it. However, I would never set up a pup you're just starting. I would feed them as many rabbit tracks as possible and shy away from deer. However, you may not be able to control the circumstances and have an unexpected encounter with a deer. If so, you hope the pup doesn't offer at it, but if it does you correct it. If you have to correct the pup. I would try my best to get it back on a rabbit as soon as possible.

If you feel pretty good about your dogs also give them the benefit of the doubt. Some rabbits will make a big circle and run a straight line that dogs can really fly with. I used to worry about shocking them immediately, but then I realized you have range with the collars.

Always gotta have that 1 dog that your 100% confident that its trash free.
If there young enough I usually stay within seeing distance away while there running.
I trash break all my dogs off fox and deer when they are young weather they need it or not.

Experience is best teacher in any thing you get involved in. You have some learning experiences to look forward to, some will be very pleasant some not so nice. A good experienced friend to go with can help you more than anything you can be told here.

I like to get a pup started and running rabbits in as safe (deer free) area as I can. Then after they're running for a month or two I intentionally walk them over fresh deer scent. If they run the deer I correct pretty harshly with the e collar. Even if they show interest in the scent I tap them a little with e collar. I repeat this whole process every few months during the first year or so after the pup starts. Am ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
Tim Broadwell
www.gundogmagic.com