Enjoyed the music yesterday, Beagle music that is

[Steelbanger]

Rabbit season ends on Saturday so with bad weather in the forecast so we got out for a few hours yesterday. My son-in-law Ron, me, and Bailey, my beagle. Conditions were perfect with about 4" on snow on the ground, clear blue sky, temp around 30 and no wind. Sunglass weather.

Some days rabbits will run & run and other days when disturbed they run to the nearest chuck hole. Yesterday was a day they ran. Ah, the music one dog can produce. Its sound is even sweeter when the sound is approaching you. The baying always brings back memories of my dad and my wife. Both loved to listen to our dogs on the chase. We only had two longer chases yesterday and both rabbits were bagged and are currently residents of my crock pot. And Bailey is a resident of my favorite recliner. He is so stiff this morning that he can barely climb stairs. He sure gives 100% when he hunts, comes home with hundreds of multiflora rose thorns embedded all over his body because he fights his way under these thickets of thorns.

This year I am using a 20 ga. due to my being tired of lugging my old 12 ga. Remington 1100. The 20 is a CZ double and is very light and easy to carry.

A most pleasant end to another season. Now to start loading ammo for the "Silhouette Season".

Much deer & coyote sign was observed everywhere.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Steel, it is nice to know there are spots with bunnies still to be found in Pa..Didn't see much sign this fall during different hunts and snow covered the area much of the time..what section of the state are you located in??? I mostly hunted the Clearfield area, and eastern Indiana Co....

[Steelbanger]

Wyo. Coyote Hunter,

I'm in Northumberland County, the old Anthracite Coal mining area. Never hunted near Clearfield but drove through there many times on the way to shoots at Bradford. Shot a few times in Indiana County too, the Burrell Twp. range near Blairsville.

My son-in-law shot one of the rabbits yesterday, his first bunny in over 25 years. I think he shot in self defense as the rabbit was "charging" him. On the drive home he told me that he hasn't seen even a rabbit track at his place where my daughter tends to a herd of squirrels. A resident flock of turkeys are the beneficiaries of her kindness too plus an assortment of other critters. In many ways she's like my late wife, eating any and all game animals but could never pull the trigger on one.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  good to hear you are having some good small game hunting..haven't hunted with beagles for a few years, but there is nothing quite so much fun...

[bobg]

  Sure wish i could hunt rabbits again. At one time i run seven beagles. Loved to hear the music.
   Right now i have two beagles sleeping on my bed.  They think the bed is theirs. Never had them out. Shortly after i got them arthritis got the best of me and i gave up hunting.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  bobg, that is sad news..in June I will be 64..best of luck to you, and hope there are better days ahead...