Even with a foot of snow on the ground and drifts much higher we (Oldskool and I) couldn't skip the last day of rabbit season. Being true hunters of "The North" we were undaunted by the lack of sign and rediculously difficult walking conditions. We even joked about needing snow shoes several times.
The morning hunt was uneventful as far as rabbits, but we still found some stumps begging to be shot. They were the perfect kind- falling apart and soft- not arrow breakers. After a few practice shots at stumps we were surely ready for some rabbits later.
We finished up the mornig tired and hungry. We stopped at the gas station for some sandwiches and a drink. With our stomaches full, we headed for a new spot to find some rabbits.
As luck would have it, Rob's neighbor was home and he let us use two of his beagles. Their names were Lucy and Skip. Lucy is a beautiful, young, green eyed beagle and Skip is a seasoned veteran of 11 years. Let me tell you, those dogs can flat out hunt rabbits. We put them on the leash and headed for the fields. I thought those dogs were going to drag me all the way out to the fields. It wouldn't have been the 1st time I had to pick myself up that day. Actually, it would have been the fourth I think!
We let them off the leash and the dogs immediately began to work the closest brush. They ran out two rabbits, one my way and the other to Rob. I had no shot as the rabbit went to hole about 80 yds away. Rob missed on his rabbit, but hey the brush was thick - right? Still, it was great to see rabbits so quickly after a quiet morning.
The dogs worked the brush and field without picking up any more trails so we moved on. Eventually, we worked into this ravine that had a creek and plenty of brush. Great cover for rabbits! Sure enough the dogs started sounding off and chased one off to our left and worked it back around in front of us. It was fun to watch because we could see most of the loop the rabbit made from where we were. He would get out in front of the dogs about 75 yds and stop to watch. Then when Lucy and Skip started catching up he would move out andother 75 yards, then stop sit up and look. Finally he repeated that scenario just 20 yards in front of us, but on the other side of an akward bush. As I was trying to find a shooting lane through the brush, Rob let an arrow loose. The flight of the arrow looked good, but the rabbit heard it coming through the brush and took off running. After it's Matrix like escape from Rob's arrow it was my turn. I came to full draw and followed the rabbit through the brush and woods. I gave him about a 2 foot lead and let my arrow fly. It looked perfect, but alas I just shaved a bit of hair off his butt. I was still happy because, at that point, it was a 30yd shot on a runing rabbit! Oh well.... I was able to get one more shot off at a running rabbit, but at 50-60 yds no luck. After running 6-7 rabbits everything settled down and we moved on again.
I then watched the dogs cross a field and start working the brush on the far side. Soon Lucy and Skip started baying and sounding off. I made my way across the field as quickly as I could given the snow on the ground. By the time I got over to the far side of the field, Rob was already in the brush and yelling the dogs had a racoon or something. By the time I got in there Rob had put an arrow in the oppossums head. Turns out, he had picked a fight with the dogs and Rob had to arrow him. When I walk up, I see an oppossum laying legs straight up and an arrow sticking out of his head. Jokingly, Rob says he is playing possum figuring he is dead. I pick up the arrow with opossum still attached, but as it turns out.... IT IS NOT STINKING DEAD! I drop him and shoot him in the head again from about 6 inches away. We retrieve our arrows and then figure it might just be time to call it a day.
Below is a picture of the unfortunate opossum.
WARNING*****GRAPHIC
Topic: Rabbits with lots of luck and an opossum with none (Read 239 times)
