Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Small Game Last rabbits of the year.

Season is finally coming to a close. These will be the last bunnies of the year for me and my old dog Turbo.

He's starting to slow down a lot, barking and cold trailing more than he use too and while he won't win any field trials.....I still really enjoy getting him out and watching him do what he loves to do.

Great picture! Great old Beagle. Must of been a very good day afield, kind of jealous here. 👍👍

Grew up hunting rabbits with beagles. Man I miss it. I am not kinda jealous, I am really jealous. Enjoy while you can.

Keep ol Turbo warm, give him a treat snack, a scratch behind the ear, and allow a nap from the admiring Campfire crew.

That's fun, congrats to you and Turbo!

Absolutely a great pic.

Ky221, love him like he loves you. Enjoy your time together.

Nothing like hunting with dogs. Doesn't matter the game being hunted, as long as dogs are involved its a good time.

Love it!

I am 62 years old and am finally out of beagles. I have rabbit hunted with dogs over 50 years. Age, other interests, loss of hunting areas and pity for the remaining rabbits caused the decision.

There were many years we totaled over 200 rabbits only hunting on weekends. Things are different now. Even though I'm out, it's good to see others are still keeping it alive. Enjoy your dog and your hunts.

Made me smile seeing your picture.....thanks.

Beautiful. Have shot a rabbit infront of a beagle for more than 20 years. Used to love it. Still do just not practical in my area.

Not many rabbits here but we still run them. My buddy shoots maybe 5 or 6 a year. Usually 1 per hunting spot during the season and that's more of a reward for the hounds than anything.

Thank you all for the kind words.

I'll give turbo a pat on the head for y'all.

Take that picture and frame it, when you get old like me you can look at it and smile or shed a tear or two, thanks for sharing

Nice! We got two last Saturday down in Robeson County. Must have jumped six or seven but the undergrowth in the windrows between the fields was so thick you couldn't see them unless they ran between your feet. Some of the boys are going this morning but I have to work. Saturday we'll go for the last time this year.

Will enjoy that and can't wait till next January.

Truer words could not be spoken! Great picture, of great times with a true friend!! Didn’t know you were a bunny hunter KY221! Never hunted them much myself as the population in PA crashed about the time I came of age but have gotten out a few times and it is a literal blast! I hunted grouse with dogs until that population crashed - now in just getting to old to chase anything🤔😄!

PennDog

Penndog-

I'm a dog guy through and through.

Here's a couple more....

Would rather hunt behind a beagle or bird dog than anything else.

Ky221,

Awesome photos and thanks for sharing! Fine looking dogs you have - what bloodlines on the setters? Spent 35+ years hunting upland birds and some waterfowl behind all sorts of bird dogs - some of the best times ever spent a field! Nothing better than hunting with dogs to me.

Some fine choices in shotguns you have too! Have always gravitated towards the smaller gauges with the 28 being my favorite. The last few years I had my bird dog (just lost her last December and she will be my last) I carried an old H&R 1908 in 28 gauge - weighs a little under 4 lbs and choked modified - for all the more birds we would see it worked just fine and could still hit things with it😄!

Enjoy all you can - it goes far too fast……and keep sharing as it brings back those great memories!!

PennDog

Nice photos. I am nearing the close of my bird hunting. Rough ground kicks my butt.
I may try for roosters this fall. Duck and goose hunting is ruined do to an alge bloom on the local lake. I do still get after some sage grouse and blue grouse, but not like the old days. Plus grouse are far fewer in numbers than in days gone by. Cottontails have disappeared. We never hunted with beagles do to the big country. But they used to be thick. My pal did have a beagle and tried bunny hunting, but the little guy took off after a jack, and never returned. Coyotes I guess. Have a great time. It passes all too soon.

I have so few rabbits the last 5 yrs. that I dont shoot them anymore. .. I started making brush piles to no avail.. Then I read here that you need to have more salt in many places. That made sense . I used to have a salt block for the deer and there was always a rabbit there . Not realizing they were licking it. When the salt block melted over the years, the rabbits dissapeared. I decided to put a salt block down last April and sure enough, a rabbit was there on the cam.. Now there are at least 2 rabbits on my 2 ac. of brush in the back.. I see one once in a while in the brush pile but wont shoot it. This spring I am going to stack pallets and put brush over them and more salt. Salt helps them reproduce. Makes sense,, however, that does not explain why there were so many 40 yrs. ago.. Now I see them along the roads and around houses and they may be licking salt that melts the snow...

Thanks Penn. I've never owned a 28 but would like to try one some day. Should be ideal for bunnys.


I just got back in town last night after a quick 2 day trip to the mountains. Took 9 month old Sasha. I think she's gonna be a bird dog.

Great pics!

Thanks pointer!

Ky221,

That’s the ONLY way to make a grouse dog! Had an experienced grouse dog trainer once tell me it takes 500 (give or take 😄) to make a real grouse dog. Then after thirty years or so of having bird dogs he was spot on - I’d usually have a pretty decent dog after a good full season of hunting (that was back when we’d get 30-50 flushes a day).

Let me know when you want to try a 28 I have a few that I won’t be needing and would like them to go somewhere where they’ll get used - and yes they do also make a fine bunny gun!

PennDog

Nice Doggy

Rabbit season?