Rabbit hunting with Beagles

[Pine]

Here I go again, just seen a program on PBS and these guys were rabbit hunting with Beagles.
One guy had a longbow and that triggered my I REMEMBER WHEN button.
Today here in Michigan, the sky is blue with almost no wind, the temperature is mid 20s° with a couple inches of snow.
Sure would like to be tramping around the woods and brush piles with the classical music of a Beagle in the air.
But alas; reality had to show up and spoil the dream. So, how about some bunny hunting picture from some of you so I can get out there vicariously.
 

[Pine]

How could you ask for a better rabbit hunting day?

[A Lex]

Love chasing Bunnies with my longbow and my sons German Shorthaired Pointer "Kronk"

We don't get that funny white stuff here though, and this time of year there are too many snakes out.

Kronk actually got nailed by a Copperhead a couple of months ago, almost lost him on the Vet's table. Not a pleasant experience I can assure you, but $4500 later and he'll be yodelling that awesome tune on a bunnies trail again this winter 

Best
Lex

[5deer]

   

[Friend]

Love my beagles.

[TSP]

Nothing more fun than chasing bunnies with hounds on a nice winter day.  When I was a kid/young teenager we went every Saturday, not with bows but lightweight single-shot .410 shotguns (easy to carry, easy to clear snow from the barrel when chasing dogs and crawling through snow-covered softwoods/swamps).  My Dad's friend (machinist) made his own gun from a bored-out .44 cal single-shot rifle, mine was a Topper break-open (stilll have it).  Sweet little weapons for deep snow/all day use.  He had an old Hillman subcompact car and we'd drive that thing out in the willywags where a 4X4 might have a tough time...but somehow we'd rarely get stuck (tough little car).  Man that was a great time, even when the dogs would disappearover the ridge for an hour or two and we'd have to go find them (our 'bunnies' are snowshoe hares not cottontails...they can run a LONG ways...like miles...especially when they pair up during March mating season).  The dogs would be crazy excited when they left the car and 'dog tired' by day's end.  Sometimes icy crust conditions would cut up their foot pads something awful, but they'd heal up by the next week and chomping to go at it again!  They worked hard and enjoyed it...as did we all.  If you don't think it's fun being in a snow-filled cedar swamp listening to the sweet sound of bawlin' dogs' on a hot trail, getting ever closer by the second...trying to guess where they'll be coming through and then suddenly having a blur (or two) blow by you at point blank range like little white missles as you try to get off a quick shot...well then then you're dead.     What great memories.  I sure I miss those times, and the people I shared them with.

[hawkeye n pa]

Rabbit hunting was a main course growing up along with ducks and deer.  We had beagles for close 30 years.  Was a Thanksgiving morning tradition with Dad, my cousin and uncle for many a year.  Thanks for the memories.

[GCook]

Varying hares, or snowshoe rabbits as we knew them, we a wonderful thing to chase as a boy with his dog.