[JBHarpole]

First off, I am a first time poster here but have been lurking and looking around for a while.
I have had beagles for about 15 years, but they were for running deer. This is my 3rd year with just rabbits beagles and have had a blast with them.

Anyways, I have been running a good bit the past 3 years and have a good many checks during the run when the rabbit makes a turn. I have 6 dogs, and have run them in different packs, all 6 packed together, 2 at a time, and even solo.
Sometimes they come out of the check with the rabbit fine, and sometimes its like the rabbit had magically disappeared.
I have had runs 2 hours long, and I have had runs that were 10 minutes long.
Is this just the nature of the beast when running rabbits, or is there something I can do to help with this??

I have just been accustomed to hearing my old beagles jump a deer and never not hear them until they are out of hearing, and dont want to be too frustrated with the rabbit hounds.

 

[Spini Boys]

Welcome!
Its the nature of the beast. Rabbits dont put down the scent that deer do. Just depends on the day and many factors as to how they will run. What you described is just running rabbit hounds.

 

[Grizzly creek beagles]

Welcome to the site and I agree with Spini that’s rabbit hounds but be sure they’re working the checks out honestly and not just giving up to go find another rabbit. Get in there and watch them work close up if you’re not with them it’s hard to say what’s really going on. Time to wear out some boot’s

 

[Marshall Rowley]

Maybe the rabbits are jumpin in a hole some of the times of loss????

 

[KyBrushBuster]

I've never run deer with hounds so can't say for certain but I assume along with putting out alot more scent on the ground deer also don't backtrack or zigzag nearly as much. They run straighter lines with less hard 90-180° turns which makes the dogs job alot easier.

Now the question is, how often are they loosing rabbits? If most runs end in a loss there is a problem, atleast for me. What type of dogs (fast, medium, slow) would you consider them? When they loose the track do they work close to the point of loss or do they swing out looking for it? Are you running cotton tails, swampers, or hare?

 

[Marshall Rowley]

Deer dont escape to holes in the ground ...

 

[Marshall Rowley]

Deer dont escape to holes in the ground ...

 

[Marshall Rowley]

I have seen deer do the craziest things to elude a pack of hounds... and they can cover miles when the heat is on..

 

[jmyers8]

If you can see where they lose the rabbit and the general direction it was heading try to encourage them that way alot if times the rabbit is in the next brush pile and they just want to work back from it

 

[marshall dillon]

Welcome to rabbit dogs JB .

If they have more 2 hour runs than 10 minute runs , I think your dogs are good to go .

 

[Bowguy 1]

Welcome

 

[JBHarpole]

I've never run deer with hounds so can't say for certain but I assume along with putting out alot more scent on the ground deer also don't backtrack or zigzag nearly as much. They run straighter lines with less hard 90-180° turns which makes the dogs job alot easier.

Now the question is, how often are they loosing rabbits? If most runs end in a loss there is a problem, atleast for me. What type of dogs (fast, medium, slow) would you consider them? When they loose the track do they work close to the point of loss or do they swing out looking for it? Are you running cotton tails, swampers, or hare?

They seem to have their break downs when the rabbit makes a turn or sharp cut. When he is running a straight line, they are hammering him. Im not sure about their speed. They run anywhere from 3.2-3.5 on the alpha. It is extremely thick where I run, so I can’t see the dogs all the time. I am confident that they are staying in the check area for the most part.
the majority of the rabbits we run are swampers with the occasional cottontail every so often. Where I run, is a lot of old cut overs (north Mississippi) so there are an abundance of old log piles. Last year, we killed over 125 rabbits in front of them, so I know they can circle one. Just wanted some expert opinions from you guys.

 

[Foxxy]

Deer running I guess is fast and furious, beagles run fast at times, rabbits runs circles and pull a lot of tricks that a pack has to figure out on their own. When there is a check don't go to them, let them do the work. At the check look at your watch and time to see how long it takes to figure out the check. As the dogs gain experience the time will diminish. Spini is right, weather conditions have a lot to do on how the beagles run. If you can go with someone who has an established pack and take your dogs, watch and learn, running rabbits is a little like running fox, small circles and a lot of tricks, ie, walking down railroad tracks, running in creeks, etc. JMO

 

[jake hunter]

welcome

 

[TJRANGER]

Sounds like they might be overrunning their nose( going to fast and overrunning track) Sometimes this will happen if they are competing for the front.

 

[Fredgempurdy]

I have had dogs in the past that were doing exactly what you are talking about ...... to me you are having line control issues although I have a dog that hu to a bit loose ... he is rabbit smart and always finds an easier way to catch the line (if a rabbit runs i to a pile he checks the other side before going in ... to me that is as great as bringing the dead ones back . You can't teach that though to me I call that rabbit smart ... if you are having multiple breakdowns I would look at leaving the fastest one at home and see how they do and second fastest etc not every dog can handle the front but want it all the time and lead packs off course sounds to me like there is a bad apple in your pack jmo keith

 

[Mossy Creek Beagles]

Welcome!
Its the nature of the beast. Rabbits dont put down the scent that deer do. Just depends on the day and many factors as to how they will run. What you described is just running rabbit hounds.

This is the best true life answer you will get !
Some will say they have 3 hr lockdown no check races ...that is BS ..I've ran rabbit dogs for years and yet to hear a 1-3 hr nonstop rabbit race without a check ..

 

[Deadeye410]

Welcome to rabbit dogs JB .

If they have more 2 hour runs than 10 minute runs , I think your dogs are good to go .

X2

 

[Deadeye410]

Welcome!
Its the nature of the beast. Rabbits dont put down the scent that deer do. Just depends on the day and many factors as to how they will run. What you described is just running rabbit hounds.

X2

 

[Curnel]

You may not be having any more than normal checks that come with rabbit hunting in my opinion you’ll not find many if any dogs that can run a rabbit track like a deer track as others have mentioned you don’t deal with the twisting turning and doubling back like a rabbit does and also deer dogs can usually run head up and rock and roll.
I might be totally wrong but that’s been my experience with deer dogs and I’ve had a few lol but never on purpose.
You said this is your 3rd year and your having a blast so I say keep doing what your doing.
I’m sure if were all honest with ourselves we would wish for fewer checks. I’m like mossy I’ve miss out on those check free runs . Be careful watching all them check free videos on here too most get edited and you don’t get to see the checks lol wish I knew how to edit .