Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Small Game Chased beagles on Friday

I had never done it before, but some local guys with a good bunch of dogs were looking for a place to hunt. They brought 7 of these little spitfire buggers and the chase was on, all day long....




We wound up with a total of 12 and should have had about half a dozen more, but most everybody blew at least one "tater shot". It took me a while to learn how it was done, how to predict where the dogs were going, how hot they were on the rabbit, and how to cut them off and get a shot. I didn't get any photos of the thick cover areas, but it was slow going in those spots. Most everybody brought short-barreled 20ga shotguns but I made do with my old favorite, which is an A-5 Light Twenty. By the end of the day, I could see why those guys favored lightweight pumps with 20-21" barrels. Also, a couple of swamp rabbits in your game bag will start to weigh on you after a bit.




My 8yr old daughter, Kate, was out of school and was really excited about the idea of hunting with dogs. She had to learn all their names.

I thought she'd want to call it a day when noon rolled around, but she wouldn't have it, so we finished out the day running on trail mix and beef jerky. We were worn out, but are looking forward to doing it again soon.

Wow, Cool ...

Thanks for posting that!

There aint nothing better in the small game world than rabbits pushed by good/fast beagles..........If you hunt with just a couple conscientious folks you will soon evolve to semi auto .22LR hand guns, if only for sport! Larger crowds DO require shotguns!!


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We had 5-6 hunters at all times, so shotguns made the most sense. The lanes that the rabbits crossed were often fairly narrow, but an open-sighted .22LR rifle could have worked if there were fewer hunters. We plan to give it a go again tomorrow morning, as the season is winding down.

Ive hunted with beagle all my life. It's more fun than anyone deserves and nothing sounds prettier than a small pack in some tall pines. I jumped a small doe out of a grass pond one day and had 23 beagles pack together. That was 10 years ago and I can still remember the chase.

Good job.

Thanks for the story JPro. I don't have any great hunting stories, but DO love beagles. Here's mine, named Chloe. She roots out quail better than bunnies, but is mostly just a great outdoor companion.

I use a 20g SxS for hunting rabbits. Stoeger uplander 22" barrels, and it is about perfect for those type of hunts. Short enough to go anywhere, and cheap enough I don't mind banging it around some.

That is one fine looking pup!



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222, Beautiful beagle..I am a sucker for most dogs..Had beagles as a kid, but for years it has been goldens...Nothing matches the sound of a little beagle on the trail of bunny..

Good times! Hunting behind beagles is great, great fun! My earliest and some of my best hunting memories are going with dad and grandpa after rabbits with their beagles. I wouldn't hate it to live in a place where I could have some beagles. Just wish there were some more rabbits here in IN. Changes in farming + low fur prices have all but decimated rabbit populations.

Those swampers are BIG! We have some in a few places here, but they are protected.

pointer, you're absolutely right! i can shoot more rabbits in my back yard in town, than find them out in the country!


maddog

Same here. Course my yard rabbits disappeared when a new neighbor lets its cat run loose. May have to change that dynamic...