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Just got back in from some new permission, the owner of the fields stated his fields were overun with rabbits so I went out with one of the Blues Brothers (Blue) and Oscar my deerhound x lurcher.
Well, saw several rabbits in a orchard, seemed quite skitty (nervous) and were quick to move back into the hedgerow.Saw a entrance with a gate open, approached very slowly , both dogs on slip leads, appeared what seemed to be a flatish field, but then the distraction begun, there were rabbits moving about in the middle of the field and along the sides I would guess 30 + maybe more, again some moved into cover, some sat up, some went into a squat. The breeze luckly was going into my face, the dogs were straining on the leash, eager for a course.
Set them off, rabbits started moving, under pressure, quickly moving into cover.I then noticed a rabbit moving slowly in the orchard, recalled both dogs and Blue came charging over at mach 5, something I,ve waited for months to see, simply breathtaking.Well he went over the rabbit after a strike not quite connecting, but then Oscar made his strike and the rabbit was caught.Called both dogs and by some sort of miracle both dogs came back straight away, maybe the boys knew this was serious business.I made sure the rabbit was quickly dispatched and noticed one of his eyes was seeping puss, a sure sign of that disgusting disease, mixy.
Now , I had gone from a real , proud moment to one of dissapointment, but then thought back to what some hunters had told me about young dogs.Either start them on young rabbits or mixyed rabbits if possible.
The dogs are now asleep infront of the TV, and you just would not know 1 hour ago they were hunters, doing something they were designed for. Hope this don,t read like a hunting advert, but for me to witness my dogs doing something they obviously enjoy was a memorable moment.
I look forward to friday night, where I have invited a friend who owns a .22 rifle to cull another place overun with white tails.
So tonight was Oscars first catch, something I,m chuffed about for both of us, but mainly for the lurcher.
Mike
Well, saw several rabbits in a orchard, seemed quite skitty (nervous) and were quick to move back into the hedgerow.Saw a entrance with a gate open, approached very slowly , both dogs on slip leads, appeared what seemed to be a flatish field, but then the distraction begun, there were rabbits moving about in the middle of the field and along the sides I would guess 30 + maybe more, again some moved into cover, some sat up, some went into a squat. The breeze luckly was going into my face, the dogs were straining on the leash, eager for a course.
Set them off, rabbits started moving, under pressure, quickly moving into cover.I then noticed a rabbit moving slowly in the orchard, recalled both dogs and Blue came charging over at mach 5, something I,ve waited for months to see, simply breathtaking.Well he went over the rabbit after a strike not quite connecting, but then Oscar made his strike and the rabbit was caught.Called both dogs and by some sort of miracle both dogs came back straight away, maybe the boys knew this was serious business.I made sure the rabbit was quickly dispatched and noticed one of his eyes was seeping puss, a sure sign of that disgusting disease, mixy.
Now , I had gone from a real , proud moment to one of dissapointment, but then thought back to what some hunters had told me about young dogs.Either start them on young rabbits or mixyed rabbits if possible.
The dogs are now asleep infront of the TV, and you just would not know 1 hour ago they were hunters, doing something they were designed for. Hope this don,t read like a hunting advert, but for me to witness my dogs doing something they obviously enjoy was a memorable moment.
I look forward to friday night, where I have invited a friend who owns a .22 rifle to cull another place overun with white tails.
So tonight was Oscars first catch, something I,m chuffed about for both of us, but mainly for the lurcher.
Mike
