[brockpreston123]

Between me and a buddy we have 8. They run great together. we are going to a place that’s loaded with rabbits that the guy wants them killed. Is it better to run two or three dogs at a time to make the day last longer or run full pack of 8 and hope they last all day.

I want the day to last as long as we possible with as many rabbits.

 

[Fredgempurdy]

In my opinion if you can't kill them with 3 you won't with 8 I would run a pack of 4 for half the day and a fresh pack of 4 in the afternoon. I wish I had 8 dogs to run . I can guarantee that 3 good ones is all the power you will ever need and less likely to have issues in the pack that way.. jmo wish I could come for the hunt ! Good luck

 

[TJRANGER]

I would break them up in two packs, run 4 in am and 4 after lunch. Fresh dogs

 

[Grizzly creek beagles]

In my opinion if you can't kill them with 3 you won't with 8 I would run a pack of 4 for half the day and a fresh pack of 4 in the afternoon. I wish I had 8 dogs to run . I can guarantee that 3 good ones is all the power you will ever need and less likely to have issues in the pack that way.. jmo wish I could come for the hunt ! Good luck

X’s 2

 

[Grizzly creek beagles]

I would break them up in two packs, run 4 in am and 4 after lunch. Fresh dogs

X’s 2 that’s how I would do it also sounds like it would be a fun time

 

[Foxxy]

Breaking up into 2 packs of 4 are good ideas. On some days you better put 7 dogs up and only run with 1 dog because the conditions are so bad, that a small pack can and will not run well.
I been hare hunting with 7-8 dogs, couldn't run a hare if tied to it. Put up all dogs and kept one down, that dog ran good, added one more just to have 2 down. Ran hare the rest of the day. Granted it was in cold weather in snow.
Some times too much is not good! It is more frustrating.
The guys I hunt with understand the conditions and have no problems with putting dogs in the dog box. Whose ever dog it is we run and have fun. Sometimes we will switch it up putting in a new dog to run and putting the dog that was running in the box. JMO

 

[5 Solas]

8 dogs might could put more pressure on the rabbits and make them run huge. Might even break them up into 3 packs: Two trios and a brace. Match them up by speed and how hard they run. If you have any pups or dogs that need help, pair them with your more experienced dogs. If you know the place is loaded and you won’t have a hard time filling your game bag, I would take the opportunity to try out some combos of dogs. Sounds like a blast man!

 

[mitch huguet]

You can do it any way you like. Some great suggestions on here that work really well.

But

Actually

If you have 8 quality hounds that keep their mind on the rabbit an not beating each other well...……an 8 dog pack of good hounds doing good hound work is a beautiful treat to watch and wonderful sound of music to go along with it. That is some fine running to see and hear. It puts electricity in the atmosphere. Every ones adrenalin gets pumping and the roar of the hounds and the atmosphere gets electric and intense. All involved get into it. It's a spiritual experience where time almost stands still and things almost seem to be moving in slow-motion.


On several of the last big good hunts of the season in late January and February...... I put together a few 12-14 dog winners packs 13" females to gun over and What A Treat!

We always save the best spots for last with each hunt of the year building in expectation and outcome.

Beautiful to witness and more wonderful to hear 12-14 dogs lined up and taking turns driving, twisting and turning even swimming all day long constant, steady roar!! Many a rabbit get jumped, run and shot without a check. That is fine right there now! Talk about a show.

A few if not shot in 30 minutes are caught. The hounds and the hunters love it can I tell you!.... Excitement is in the air, the terrain gets shook up and the game begins to start moving. The longer the hounds are pounding in a 100-200 acre briar thicket the more the game starts sneaking out of it headed for the hills just from the sound and motion.

Sometimes the hounds break up on three different rabbits in three different packs in the same area an man things get pumping and the shooting starts. Everything comes sneaking and running out.

We call it shaking a place up.

I am partial to the larger packs.....If the hounds are smooth and steady as a clock quality.

If they can do it like you say....Man....Go with the (8) pack and don't look back!!!

If you get some problems see who's causing it and pick em up and put them in the truck and enjoy the rest. Then on the way home get rid of the ones you picked up asap and boom you just did a good thing and had a blast doing it!

 

[marshall dillon]

Welcome Brock . If they have run together before and work good together and it is not going to be hot , I would put on a show with all 8 .

If it is going to be above average temperature and they have never run together before I would run one pack in the morning and the other mid day .

 

[Circle4p]

Man we usually put down anywhere from 8 - 12 at a time and you talk about music I love it

 

[Ken's Kennels]

I'd run the full pack and enjoy.

 

[J.B.]

I’d run em all. I agree with Mitch, if you have 8 good ones that aren’t in competition run em all. Put enough heat behind to make their circles quick so you can all the landowner wants you to kill. Jmo

 

[Aubbietiger]

Yep drop the gate with 8 and let the good times roll. I feel naked with 5 or less on the grown.

 

[LtELmer]

lol good one Aubbie !

 

[Hippy]

I would much rather have 4 guys and 2 good dogs than 8 dogs with only two shooters a whole lot less chance of rabbits gettin by you especially if U don't know the terrain.

With just 2 of you 4 dogs @ a time

Jim

 

[Gpen08]

I would run 4. I like to hear a big pack too but if there is that many rabbits you might give yourself a headache running 8. I would bet you would have alot of splits. Which with 2 guys will be a pain the arse. You will have a hard time keeping 8 dogs together with alot of rabbits. Whatever way you decide to go it sounds like your going to have a great hunt.

 

[Fredgempurdy]

Breaking up into 2 packs of 4 are good ideas. On some days you better put 7 dogs up and only run with 1 dog because the conditions are so bad, that a small pack can and will not run well.
I been hare hunting with 7-8 dogs, couldn't run a hare if tied to it. Put up all dogs and kept one down, that dog ran good, added one more just to have 2 done. Ran hare the rest of the day. Granted it was in cold weather in snow.
Some times too much is not good! It is more frustrating.
The guys I hunt with understand the conditions and have no problems with putting dogs in the dog box. Whose ever dog it is we run and have fun. Sometimes we will switch it up putting in a new dog to run and putting the dog that was running in the box. JMO

Foxxythis dog you are talking about is a dog that barks on feeder tracks on a good day but usually accounts for the rabbit takes some time .... I know that dog and many write them off but in a bad day may be the only dog that can hold onto one and these days they make you proud... cold big nosed dogs we have all had one but I can see why guys let them gk I have... jmo

 

[Fredgempurdy]

I have sold 2 of them and the guys I have sold them to love them for snowshoe hares up north of me I want a dog that barks on a hot track . The ones I sold would nearly always produce a rabbit but personally always drove me nuts until they finally jumped then u would know

 

[Foxxy]

I have sold 2 of them and the guys I have sold them to love them for snowshoe hares up north of me I want a dog that barks on a hot track . The ones I sold would nearly always produce a rabbit but personally always drove me nuts until they finally jumped then u would know

I love having a cold nose dog when running cottontail, the hotter nose dog and cold nose dog can run cottontail and both run hare. Hare are usually up and about, I find them easier to jump, they smell a little stronger and different than a cotton tail. Any way you look at it both types have their place, I like having at least one colder nose dog to run with my hotter nosed dogs JMHO

 

[Foxxy]

8 dogs might could put more pressure on the rabbits and make them run huge. Might even break them up into 3 packs: Two trios and a brace. Match them up by speed and how hard they run. If you have any pups or dogs that need help, pair them with your more experienced dogs. If you know the place is loaded and you won’t have a hard time filling your game bag, I would take the opportunity to try out some combos of dogs. Sounds like a blast man!

To much pressure Solas will put them in a rock pile, hole or tree. I have been there and done that on cottontail here in Michigan. Some guys get a little perturbed because all ot the dogs are down and they cannot run a rabbit. Put most of them up or match dogs 1 for sure with 2 maximum to run good in the swamp/woods. Need to match the dogs to the conditions you are running in.
We were up north hunting hare and had 11 dogs down they all ran well, didn’t need to put dogs up.
Funny how the weather, humidity, amount of snow, wind, affects how the dogs can run.
Have you ever thought what the dogs have to go through to run a rabbit based on the things just mentioned.
My sinuses would be exploding, eyes red, face scratched with sore muscles if I was running a rabbit. LOL-JMHO