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Rabbit Hunters

iamcorey

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Joined
Oct 24, 2018
Messages
2,716
Any rabbit hunters out there? Got a beagle I’m about to put in a starter pen. This will be my first. Wondering if anyone has any advice for a new guy? Mainly interested in how to keep her from running off on trash and not losing her the first outing.


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1 by itself is tough. Starting pen is good for just that, starting a pup on rabbits, but after that you need to get the pup with dogs that know what they’re doing.

As for running off game, the shock collar is your friend. The dog is going to run a deer eventually, just accept it. When they do you’ll want the collar turned on and the transmitter in your hand.....that’s how you break them from running deer.

While you’re at it with the dog in the starting pen go ahead and put the collar on it now. Get the dog used to having the collar on every time it hits the ground to hunt. Also, use this time to train the dog to come to you using the tone feature on the collar. Call the dog and hit the tone button. If the dog is on the ground have the collar on it and use the tone every time you call the dog, period. Eventually you’ll get the pup coming to when simply by hitting the tone button and calling for it. You’ll thank me when you need to call the dog in at the end of a hunt.
 
Beagles were my passion for many years. First and foremost is the pedigree of hound. Does the beagle come from a lineage that is not prone to run off game. Second use caution to isolate from off game until the hound knows it's quarry. Third, do not pack up with any dog that runs trash. Forth buy a good pair of running shoes. You will need the shoes to head them off at the pass.
 
Beagles were my passion for many years. First and foremost is the pedigree of hound. Does the beagle come from a lineage that is not prone to run off game. Second use caution to isolate from off game until the hound knows it's quarry. Third, do no pack up with any dog that runs trash. Forth buy a good pair of running shoes. You will need them to head them off at the pass.

No idea about lineage. Full blooded but inherited from someone that had her as a house dog. I’ve worked with hounds before and she has a pretty high drive and seems to learn quick.

I’m taking her to someone with a pen this week. He works beagles and I’m going to let him assess her and lmk if it’s worth pursuing. At the least she will get a 2 week stay at rabbit camp.


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Been raising and hunting Beagles for rabbit for years. A lot of good tips above. My tips for a lot of new comers is 1-be patient let the dog learn to figure out the track. 2- Minimize your commands, I use Come, No, and tally ho(which means I saw a rabbit and come and track), lastly kennel. 3- I make sure I don't track deer and check out all the deer sign when he is present - don't want the dog thinking we are tracking deer.
 
I currently have three hunting beagles. If I have any advice for you save your money and by gps collars and shock system worth every penny.


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I ran trash breakers for years then switched to the Garmin Alpha. Not cheap, but dang they’re nice.
 
These are all good points. The only thing I can add is if you wear a baseball cap or any hat in general and notice your pup sniffing around any signs of deer they really don't like to by wacked with the hat. It doesn't have to be hard. Bells are awesome when you are running in the wild to keep coyotes away from your dogs.
 
Took her to the starting pen yesterday. It was pretty amazing how fast she took to it being it was her first exposure to a rabbit.

Trying to prepare for when she comes home. I’d like to take her out and see if she’ll jump a rabbit on her own. My only hesitation is losing her. Is there anything in terms of keeping track of her that doesn’t require $500 like a gps system?
Bells? Beepers? Radio collars?


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Bite the bullet Spend the money and Get you an Alpha I have 8 collars and they are great Really became a believer with a pup hung in a fence.That pup was definitely worth more than the cost of the collar.Good Luck and have fun
 
I was looking at the Astro the other day. Still have some research to do.


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Any rabbit hunters out there? Got a beagle I’m about to put in a starter pen. This will be my first. Wondering if anyone has any advice for a new guy? Mainly interested in how to keep her from running off on trash and not losing her the first outing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Any updates on the hounds progress, hope it is going well.
 
Any updates on the hounds progress, hope it is going well.

She failed rabbit school. She did well in the 1 acre starting pen but when she went to the 11 acre pen she didn’t pursue. She would sight chase but when it came to pursuing into the think she would just come back to the trainer while the other dogs ran the track.

Guy trying to start her said she probably be best kept a pet and put any additional money towards a sure fire rabbit dog.




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She failed rabbit school. She did well in the 1 acre starting pen but when she went to the 11 acre pen she didn’t pursue. She would sight chase but when it came to pursuing into the think she would just come back to the trainer while the other dogs ran the track.

Guy trying to start her said she probably be best kept a pet and put any additional money towards a sure fire rabbit dog.




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Thanks for letting us know. Better luck next time. I know she will be your best friend.
 
I have had beagles Coon hounds an Cur dogs for Squirrels an coon. Garmin Alpha 1000 is the best investment I have made for dogs.
 
Beagles were my passion for many years. First and foremost is the pedigree of hound. Does the beagle come from a lineage that is not prone to run off game. Second use caution to isolate from off game until the hound knows it's quarry. Third, do not pack up with any dog that runs trash. Forth buy a good pair of running shoes. You will need the shoes to head them off at the pass.
I'll start of by saying I don't know anything about beagles......
I lived next to a dog breeders that raised catch dogs. They were bulldog's coming out of the game dog bloodlines. He was big on the pedigrees and line breeding..... But his better dogs always seemed to come out of breeding of different bloodlines into his line. It's true that line bred are consistent but you shouldn't get too caught up in pedigrees when you want working dogs..... Some of the hardest hitting dogs he had were from accidental breeding with the neighbors black lab
 
You are correct in your comments. In a big picture all dogs come from some sort of hunting stock. Your neighbors black lab for example started out with particular type of objective. This is also where we get the Cur or Mountain Cur that was not adopted to be a breed until the late 50s. I like to cross breed at times it will bring a little sanity back into the linage. It is possible to come up with one of the best rabbit dogs around with an off breed. If you are training one hound, I better my chances getting a hound with a pedigree for that purpose.
 
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