PA Rabbit Season

[evgb127]

Pennsylvania’s rabbit season opens this Saturday.  Is anyone else excited to get out there and pester some? 

[Bowguy67]

I run em all year long. In NJ we’ve been open bout a month and NY a few weeks. I’ll be honest if I’d rather chase em than shoot too many. The numbers aren’t what they once were. What part of Pa you in?

[Bowguy67]

Part of the team after a warm morn.  Dee, Cash, Country. Besides Bowhunting one of my fav things to do is chase rabbits. Combining the two is awesome

[hawkeye n pa]

Man you guys bring back memories!  Dad and I had beagles for twenty some years. Was a annual Thanksgiving tradition for many years with my cousin and uncle.  Have arrowed quite a few also. Sadly the rabbits just disappeared.  We have few around now but nothing like the good ole days, when the group could limit out by noon.

[evgb127]

What part of Pa you in?

I’m in the Susquehanna Valley area near Hershey.  I went out hunting yesterday and flushed out two foxes. One had dark grey fur. It was cool to see but it’s definitely not a good sign for my rabbit season. 

[JonCagle]

This is my dog duke, I’m hoping to get him out after some rabbits this season, he keeps the rabbits moving a bit fast for me shooting a longbow but it’s still a good time

[T Sunstone]

Lost my best friend about 3 months ago and it was hard.  Have a new friend I got from the humane society and have named him Tucker.  Seems to be gun shy and even bow shy but should get over that. 

[Bowguy67]

Lost my best friend about 3 months ago and it was hard.  Have a new friend I got from the humane society and have named him Tucker.  Seems to be gun shy and even bow shy but should get over that.

No such thing per se as a gun shy dog. It’s all association and chances are they won’t just get over it. You need to teach new associations. If you need ideas pm me, I’ll give you my number and we can figure a way that’ll work.
Now “rescue” dogs are a sore subject w me. I’m not saying this to curse your dog it’s to educate others. You have zero idea what happened, where it came from, health issues and I’m not just talking about that dog alone but you couldn’t possibly breed it without knowing anything about it. This all involves recessive, dominant genes. Stacking them, etc. Too much to go into here. If anyone wants a good place to start, start with a good back yard breeder. You want a proven cross if possible.
Guys I know someone will say best dog they’ve ever had was a rescue. No rescue to my knowledge ever won a field trial and the certainly didn’t produce ones that did. Never once in 40 plus years of actively being very involved w dogs has a rescue ever been even good unless it was coming from a guy that had hunt dogs and say died, got divorced. In those situations if any good they’d be spoken for most likely.
I judge dog’s and compete with them. I’ve seen lots more than many. Not saying I’ve seen it all but the avg from a rescue is way down the mediocrity scale.
Even house pets have way too many health issues from rescues. Some hidden for a few years perhaps. Keep that in mind.
Op please don’t take anything incorrectly. Not cursing you or tucker. Only info for others

[GCook]

Amen.  So many folks choose on their feelings and not on good information.
Unfortunately they inherit issues that can't be fixed.
But backyard puppy farms are a big part of the problem as well.

[Bowguy67]

Amen.  So many folks choose on their feelings and not on good information.
Unfortunately they inherit issues that can't be fixed.
But backyard puppy farms are a big part of the problem as well.

I didn’t say puppy farms. Backyard breeder. Allow me to explain. If I breed a dog it’s sound. I breed to a dog that’s similar bloodlines and try to make better dogs than I had before. Often the stud dog owner and certainly myself as I keep all bitches keep pups. I’d keep every gyp. The males of any unspoken for would be offered up for sale.
Now being I bred carefully and intend on keeping some with only a few offered up, do you think that’s better or by some “reputable breeder” as many like to say who’s motive was money? Where do you believe the better pups come from? Where do you think more care are to issues or standards was applied?
Think about that. Backyard breeders have been smeared by people who don’t know what they don’t know. Anyone breeding strictly for money I’d not buy a dog from.
Beagles commonly fetch 100-200 puppy price from a back yard guy. Big breeders charge big money for junk. The small guys just want some and if the rest get good homes so be it. They aren’t interested in financial gain. If the fellow who wants one hunts or trials they’re often gifted especially when we’re talking a kids first. There’s not dogs pumped out all over mind you.  Don’t discount any of what I’m saying cause all this should be strongly considered.

[GCook]

First I didn't say you were a puppy farm.  If you read it that way I apologize.
Second, I understand what you are saying.  My lab came from parents that were bred out of very reputable kennels and bloodlines but was from two friends who wanted make sure of the same thing for their duck hunting friends and their future dogs.
She is the smartest and most well behaved lab I've ever owned.  I had dreams of field trials but when I started a business they faded away.
But there are plenty of them breeding labs with the hip dysplasia traits, epilepsy and eye issues, etc. 
Finding the right back yard litters takes some research unless they are lucky enough to know a guy like you.

[Bowguy67]

First I didn't say you were a puppy farm.  If you read it that way I apologize.
Second, I understand what you are saying.  My lab came from parents that were bred out of very reputable kennels and bloodlines but was from two friends who wanted make sure of the same thing for their duck hunting friends and their future dogs.
She is the smartest and most well behaved lab I've ever owned.  I had dreams of field trials but when I started a business they faded away.
But there are plenty of them breeding labs with the hip dysplasia traits, epilepsy and eye issues, etc. 
Finding the right back yard litters takes some research unless they are lucky enough to know a guy like you.

I wasn’t assuming you were. If I came across incorrectly forgive me. I’m only trying to help someone considering things. There is so much misinformation out there. There’s a fellow by me. He’s from a “reputable” place. His champion bloodlines were my buddy’s FC. He kept brood birches in vari kennels stacked on his porch holding them til next heat cycle. They didn’t even get regular exercise. When my buddy bred his FC to another one of his FC, people would call and inquire why so cheap when so n so down the road is twice the money. His must be better. Remember my buddy’s dog was the stud used and it was bred to a FC. The reputable guy had not proven brood bitches. Terrible stuff.
 Most really great dogs come from small what I call back yard operations. Doesn’t mean they don’t have the knowledge or desire to improve the breed. Doesn’t mean they aren’t better. To be clear it doesn’t guarantee they are either. Perspective buyers need to consider everything. Not just what so n so said. So imo often a way I tell folks to buy is look at the litters most or some are being kept with the rest for sale. Make sure the guy is good and if he is and is keeping a bunch try that litter. If they’re all for sale start questioning.
Remember now always done nut can’t breed or doesn’t know joe wants free pups and figures he can do it too so ask those questions.

I don’t want to hijak this thread but health issues were mentioned. Often crooked breeders offer guarantees. That sounds good til you go to collect. You’ve got a big vet bill. The breeder says bring em back instead we’ll put him down and give you another. Many folks won’t stand for that. Question what guarantee means. One more thing you mention bad hips. An old school vet once told me dogs prone to hip problems are usually big dogs. They’re often fed large breed puppy food. The vet told me that’s basically adult food just marketed to up the price. Straight adult food he said is the same. The lower nutrition is important to allow the ball and socket in the hips to grow slow and together. Quick spurts can throw things off kilter so he said. Just FYI

[GCook]

Labs get hips, elbows and eyes checked after certain ages.  With xrays and proven tests. That's when dogs get certified.  All certified pedigrees do is allow the breeders to offer a guarentee but it's still possible for a throw back genetic trait to rear it's head. 
I'm not familiar with the beagle pitfalls but our beagle, though a cherished family pet with AKC papers, is clearly not a pure Beagle.  She wasn't bought to hunt or breed though so we didn't pass it on.
Folks do have to use due diligence.  But as I said earlier, the rescue crowd leads with their heart.
Me bbn personally I wanna see some archery killed bunny pics!  I miss rabbit hunting.

[evgb127]

I was out this morning with no success.  I did manage to flush a pheasant, which I was not expecting. If anyone is in the Hershey area and wants to chase small game, please send me a message.