2-17-13 Sun

2-17-2013 Sun 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Weather:
SE 12, clear, 29 ˚, 29.97 falling, 4” crusty snow with some bare spots
Location:
North Bend, WI
Bagged:
Me: 3 - cottontails, Ty – 2, and Jake - 2
Partners:
Ty and Jake / Roxy and De De (dogs)

Comments:

Today I was once again rabbit hunting with Ty and his dog De De, Jake and my dog Roxy. We were hitting some farm ditches up by North Bend, and Jake had promised me that the ditches held lots of rabbits. Jake was right, there was rabbit sign everywhere.
I have not hunted Roxy much the last couple of years on account of I now longer believed she would ever have the ability to run a rabbit. It is really strange, when she was less than one year old I would take her and Abby out and together they both ran great, but then when I stopped taking Abby, Roxy never seemed to do much. And, if another dog was along, you almost might as well forget about her hunting at all. Besides not having the trailing down very good, she also did not have much of a search desire. But now the past couple of weeks I have been taking her behind the house to look for some of the rabbits that have been hanging out around a brush pile and she has shown renewed interest and promise.
Jake and I started hunting a little bit before Ty and De De arrived and Roxy was not showing us much. I did shoot a rabbit that she had jumped, but there was no chase involved with the run. After about twenty minutes we met up with Ty and De De and a rabbit was soon jumped. Roxy and De De were put on the track and they ran and circled it back to me, where it met its demise with one well place shot to the head at a distance of about fifteen feet. It was a great run to start, but there was one problem, they did not open up on it (bark).
Things definitely improved as the day wore on. The dogs started searching and opening on the rabbits that were jumped. We had some great runs! The dogs did really well, and it was the best I had ever seen Roxy run. I was definitely proud!
Rating the dogs I would have to say De De had more desire and search, but Roxy was usually in the lead on the runs, and definitely the faster or the two. I would also have to say I think Roxy has the better nose. De De definitely showed she has more desire and stamina at the end of the day, Roxy was pretty much shot, but De De wanted more. Roxy has a deep bawl voice and De De has more of a high pitched chop.

Observations:

The dogs did an outstanding job for the limited amount of hunting time each has under their collar. The area we hunted today had outstanding cover and an ample supply of rabbits. I think Jake enjoyed himself and I am hoping I can get both him and Dick to get a beagle!