A Hunting Story for Mike
Ok Mike, and everyone else. A funny thing happend yesterday while taking the beagle pups on a training run behind the house. First of all they had a blast, instead of me or Bonnie (the lab) kicking up the bunnies, the managed two on their own. They figured out what their noses are for, and they found their voices too. I still haven’t fired a shot over them, but have been working a couple of times a week in this little scrub wooded patch.
Nothing like the sound of two happy pups baying on the heels of a cottontail. I let them have their fun and called them in. Guage is the best so far on coming when called, so I latched the snap from the lead rope onto her collar.
Here is the fun part, while I am kneeling holding Guage, Belle is three feet away standing in some downed brown grass. I am calling her, and calling her and calling her. Ok, here I am thinking she is having a “hound momment”, so I take my glove and toss it next to her head to catch her attention. I must have hit that rabbit square in the back, because off she ran, with Belle right behind her, Bonnie behind Belle, and me trying to get the latch undone on Guage.
Its amazing how tight the rabbit held with me, and three dogs practically right on top of it. I pity the computer game/video generation because they miss out on so many amazing stories like that one because they never leave the house.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:04 am
Nuge has always said, “Hunt with your kids, not for them”. No one ever took me hunting so I have zero experience in that area. But whenever a trusted friend or family member offers to take my kids hunting, it’s not a problem for me whatsoever.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:28 am
That is a great experience! I had a similar one involving a rooster pheasant hunkered under the snow. One of these blogs, when I get talking about bird dogs I’ll share it. Beagles are great dogs, and it sounds like you may have “started” something here. Nice read, and thanks for thinking about me.
January 22nd, 2008 at 4:43 pm
LPC, Thats all you can ask of a parent, just give them the opportunity.
Mike, really makes your heart jump when a bird takes off at your feet.