Kill Shots

[Mud Creek]

http://youtu.be/WDQr83QVJlw


Some kill shots ive been able to catch on film so far. thanks for watching hope you enjoy!

chris

 

[tailchaser]

Good job,I can't hit worth a hoot at the first of season forget to lead so it sounds likes WW3, and little bunny foo foo is still hopping down the bunny trail.

 

[Mud Creek]

Haha Ive only missed twice so far this season. One i missed but my buddies son got him about 10 minutes later so I didnt mind. The other is on this video,my nephew shoots one with the .410 and wounded him, i saw him flipping and running to me(rabbit not my nephew)so I had to bat clean up for him. Took me 2 shots to kill a wounded rabbit haha.Really liking my buddies new male dog also. Young dog with lots of potential, hes the black and tan leading my pack at start of the video.

 

[Mike Belt]

Great! Keep them coming. I love rabbit hunting but no dogs anymore means no hunting. I wish you could get right on top of the rabbits so we could see them roll.

The shot that I'd miss more than any other was a rabbit going dead away. I'd over shoot them trying to connect with the back of the head trying to save the hams.

 

[Mud Creek]

Appreciate it Mike! Usually when a rabbit is running away from me Ive already missed it 3 times and hes getting away lol. If you ever get the bug to go this season gimme a holler Im hoping by dec.or january i have a little more time to hunt. By this time last year we were hammering. So far this year Ive been 3 times I think and doubt ill get to this weekend unless i get to sneak in a afternoon hunt.

 

[SilverFox]

From the sounds of it you have a good little pack. There's nothing that gets the heart going like waiting on one to hit the road or field. I miss it 10 times more than deer hunting. I watched several of your videos. The swamp hunts were great.

 

[Mud Creek]

Thanks Silverfox, i appreciate it! The swamp runs and hunts are some of my favorite. Lots.of.rabbit huntijg memories there. I love hearing the dogs go screaming out after a jump, pounding the rabbit while he tries unsuccessfully to shake them,then as you said the moment when their driving him toward you and before you know it there he is. I wish I had a dog to give to someone everytime they tell me how much they miss it and such. I remember a time when people would look at you funny if you didnt have at least 1 dog, now when someone asks if I hunt and I start talking dogs and rabbit hunting they pretty much look at me like they forgot the sport even exists, or im crazy for not chasing a buck..its sad.But it never fails, they always follow with "man i remember when..." . Would love to see more people get back into it!

 

[SilverFox]

I grew up in SC. Had beagles all my life until I hit my early 30's. I did some big pack field trials... but enjoyed judging them more. Always liked scratching the cheerleaders and wide receivers some thought were awesome dogs. Field trials were not for me. Too many bad habits for your dogs to learn.

i flat wore out a mossberg 12 gauge shooting bunnies down on the river as a kid. If I had a dollar for everyone we missed as a kid.

 

[Mud Creek]

Just getting into trialing the last 2-3 years I love the trial atmosphere. Im partial to the SPO/UBGF style houjds myself the faster rougher dogs canbe a little too much for me personally. I like to see a pack lock on and do it right with as few mistakes as possible. A lot of whats winning in SPO/UBGF right now has a step or 2 more than what most of mine have, that said some of it aint nearly as clean as mine..lots of head bangers in the mix. Im hoping to get certified for judging soon Ive helped marshall and I really love it. Im probably going to put my black and tan Sugar in Volunteer Beagle Clubs trial in December, and hopefully the brace trial in January.Its definitly something I want to be more involved in. I agree with bad habits, its funny how many 1 1/2 - 2 year old dogs get sold too much pressure too quick. I wouldnt trial one unless I knew it could hold their own.

 

[Mike Belt]

I always had the bigger blue tick beagles. They were hearty fast trackers and really pushed a rabbit. I never cared for the field trial dogs because they were generally a lot slower paced. It seemed that the trial dogs would make a couple of steps, stop and raise their heads and bay, then move forward a few feet, and repeat. My dogs opened their mouths with their heads down and never stopped running. Being that fast they occasionally beat the rabbit to where he was going, lol, but most of the time they were true.

 

[Mud Creek]

Lol yeah mike traditonal.brace and some of those dogs are hard to watch lol "peanut rollers" lol. I reccomend attending they hit a lot harder now days, volunteer and music city beagle clubs hold trials by preist. I cant wait for the one in December.

 

[SilverFox]

In big pack the rabbit either ran as hard as he could or became supper. It got to where there was so much speed they over ran the track a lot or caught the rabbit and the hunt was over. The best dogs I ever hunted were 1/2 pepper line and 1/2 hare hound. They had speed and grit... and a nose to go along with it. Came in at 14-15 inches.

 

[tailchaser]

I don't like slow dogs, don't care how good they trail or if they run a perfect track,I've had slow and fast both I like um to be peddle to the metal as soon as ya drop the tailgate and do whatever it takes to bring the rabbit around.

 

[Mud Creek]

If a dog can make it look good speed isnt a issue for me, run em hard! But if their speed is 8/10 but style is 4/10 somethings off lol. Swinging wide,dogs racing dogs in stead of casing the rabbit, lots of breakdowns,good on good days bad on bad is unacceptable for me. Speed with control is nice.

Tailchaser if you like that black and tan of mine you would like SPO/UBGF dogs right now. Most have a liitle more power than her but shes right with them. I dont do well at triqls with my 3 older ones they dont have they foot. Their not getting left in dust ehind im usually around the nesr the front, 2-4th slot . Sammy placed 3rd once but Im usually picked up. It bugs me because they want that front dog...front dog causes the checks!! Sugar(b&t)has only been in 1. She was bred in July, had pups in Sept, never got ran once until that trial day. My buddy Cody told me he woukd handle her in 13" class while I marshalled 15". I remember telling him I thought it was a bad idea because she would be fired up I was nervous I didnt want to but ended upletting him. She was in first cast and they said she did awesome. She made it to final 3 and slipped going across road. She bobbled it and other 2 made her pay for it. They let them run just a little further other dogs did a great job they picked her up amd said handle the pack. I was still happy I figured Cody would show up in the Big class field saying you need to come get your dog she wont stop running lol. Im going to try her again at that same trial this year in Dec. Dont know how she ll do but I know shes doing really good this year.

Wish i was hunting now!

 

[SilverFox]

I don't know if guys here in East TN don't rabbit hunt or what. I've never seen anyone doing it or with beagles around here. I'd like to listen to some run. I haven't heard a chase since I moved from SC in 2009.

 

[Mike Belt]

I raised and trained beagles for a few years and was into the bigger, faster dogs but I did have 1 very small black and tan and her name was Baby too. She had a nose and was a #1 jump dog. When she opened her mouth every other dog I had made a beeline to her because they knew (just as I did) a rabbit was coming out of there. She didn't lie but once the race began my other dogs would leave her behind.

 

[SilverFox]

I had a old fluffy kitten named molly that was just like that. She looked more like a basset hound than a beagle but she was a heck of a jump dog.

 

[Mud Creek]

I like the small dogs mainly because eat less, crap less, take up less space in kennels/dog box lol. I hate lugging around big dogs my uncle has a big beagle he runs I always kid him and say he needs to throw a saddle on it. Ive seen plenty of 13'' dogs really hammer them though.


Silverfox not sure about the rabbit hunters personally Im sure theres some but theres the East TN Beagle Club somewhere around Vonore TN. Cookeville TN beagle Club, Hiwassee Beagle Club. If Im not mistaken they all trial at the Carson-Mcghee WMA(is that right name?? Ive only been once so not sure)A trial is worth checking out if only just to say you went once and nothing came of it. Good way to spend the day. All Day running, free food, and good convos!!


About to load the dogs and go on a rainy rabbit hunt

 

[SilverFox]

There was a black guy from across the river that had a pack of the 9 inch beagles that could hammer on a bunny. They were small enough to get in the thickest briars right behind them.