Small Game 2017-2018

[Ketchup]

coming from a fairly poor family,  we ate what us kids "3 boys" killed.  Dove, rabbit, squirrels, fish, etc.  My mom didnt cook much, but when her and my step dad werent at the bar fighting, he was a pretty good cook. The stuff he could do with wild game to make it taste great, was amazing. Im not a fish eater, just dont care for it. I eat it when i have to "fish frys", and not a big venison guy unless its ground in chili, or roast in crock pot. But gimme squirrel de-boned rolled in flour and salt/pepper and fried in bacon grease just until browned to hold in flavor, then add a can of cream of mushroom and cover/simmer for 2 hours, and i will eat like a king.  As far as how poor wrench, i didnt own a new piece of clothing or shoes until i moved with my dad when i was 10. With alcoholic mom and step dad, us kids had to fend for ourselves. That meant lots of peanut butter on a spoon. Glad those days are over.  

[fishinwrench]

Ketchup,  my wife had a similar upbringing.  Her parents are all straightened out now but there was a 10-12 year period of her childhood where she had to fend for herself for the same reasons you mentioned.  As a result she is very independent, and one hell of a good cook. 

My folks were quite the high class partiers too, but they were pretty well to do so me and my siblings never were deprived of anything until we got out on our own and had to learn how to scratch out a living for ourselves.  Once we left the nest we were pretty much cut off.

[Johnsfolly]

I wont say that we were well off, but we never realy wanted as kids. My dad came from a poor family and an abusive alcoholic father. So he worked hard so his family wouldn't have to live under those conditions. I did have issues with my mom and because of that learned to fend for myself at an early age including learning to cook. My dad hunted before he married my mom but gave it up soon after. He wasnt much of a fisherman either though we did fish together. I have always loved to fish and didn't begin hunting until in my late 20's. The idea of being self sufficient started that drive. Then I found out how to cook wild game and I try where possible to treat game meat as a special meal. My step mother who never lived outside of New York city until after she married my dad will only eat venison if I prepare it.

We are now out of small game. So I will have to get back after them critters after a couple more deer hunts☺.

[Johnsfolly]

Yesterday met up with my friend Jon, his dad Pete and friend Johnny and we headed out to a local conservation area with a pack of beagles . Armed with the beagles and shotguns we had rabbits on the mind. Personally I have not shot at a running (or flying) target with my shotgun at all this season. Another friend of mine had hunted this property last Feb and they bagged 21 rabbits. We thought we could get a few ourselves this year. As soon as we crossed the fence and headed down to a small pond with lots of brush, the beagles began their hunt. I have not hunted with dogs too often. I was amazed how the dogs could just walk along and then in an instant begin hoovering scent along the ground. It wasn't more that twenty minutes that Clyde started bawling and the others picked up the scent as well and the whole pack started after the rabbit barking all the way. That is except Jr the pup in training. The rabbit was stuck in the CRP grasses as we stationed in the short grass trails criss-crossing the area. The rabbit popped out of the tall grass on my left and continued past me. I go the gun up and followd the rabbit, then BOOM! I shot behind the rabbit and off he ran. It took the dogs a couple of minutes to come out and a few minutes more until they picked up the scent and got back on the rabbit's trail. He circled down below us to the right and with the beagles in tow. The rabbit got past Pete and circled one more time before Johnny's 12 ga barked and he called in his dogs to share in the dead rabbit.  One down. We went a little further into the CA land and the dogs picked up another rabbit. This one started with a small loop, followed by a larger one. We saw it a couple of times and Johnny shot twice, but didn't put it down. One last loop and again it came out in front of Johnny and this time it didn't get away. Two rabibits and we are still in sight of the trucks.  

Can you tell me that you would not expect to find a rabbit in this area. Nope no rabbits, but lots of rubs and deer trails throughout the brush.

 We did find a few more spots and a couple more rabbits. I missed another, but it got into an area about 150 by 60 feet of thick brush in a draw. We surrounded this draw, This rabbit was not getting away. It popped out again in front of me, but between me and Jon leaving me not safe shot. Johnny was able to shoot safely and we had our third rabbit.

It was now close to noon and we hunted back to the trucks. The dogs got some water and we got a drink our selves. One of the dogs picked a rabbit just off of the parking area. Four of the dogs headed off to the left and Jr off to the right. A rabbit kicked out from the right with Jr following. It ran across the road and Jr followed until it go to a fence. The dog followed the fence and then headed across the street and began bawling when it picked up the rabbit's scent on the other side of the road. that got the pack's attention and they all ran across the road and got into the chase. Jon and I went across the street. The dogs really chased after this rabbit through some thick stuff. It popped out and ran up the trail away from me but with the trucks behind it I did not pull the trigger. It crossed the road and didn't make it too far past Pete's 410.

Not as many rabbits as I would have hoped for, I shot poorly, but had a great time. Johnny gifted me his three rabbits and it's what's for dinner !

[BilletHead]

11 minutes ago, Johnsfolly said:

Yesterday met up with my friend Jon, his dad Pete and friend Johnny and we headed out to a local conservation area with a pack of beagles . Armed with the beagles and shotguns we had rabbits on the mind. Personally I have not shot at a running (or flying) target with my shotgun at all this season. Another friend of mine had hunted this property last Feb and they bagged 21 rabbits. We thought we could get a few ourselves this year. As soon as we crossed the fence and headed down to a small pond with lots of brush, the beagles began their hunt. I have not hunted with dogs too often. I was amazed how the dogs could just walk along and then in an instant begin hoovering scent along the ground. It wasn't more that twenty minutes that Clyde started bawling and the others picked up the scent as well and the whole pack started after the rabbit barking all the way. That is except Jr the pup in training. The rabbit was stuck in the CRP grasses as we stationed in the short grass trails criss-crossing the area. The rabbit popped out of the tall grass on my left and continued past me. I go the gun up and followd the rabbit, then BOOM! I shot behind the rabbit and off he ran. It took the dogs a couple of minutes to come out and a few minutes more until they picked up the scent and got back on the rabbit's trail. He circled down below us to the right and with the beagles in tow. The rabbit got past Pete and circled one more time before Johnny's 12 ga barked and he called in his dogs to share in the dead rabbit.  One down. We went a little further into the CA land and the dogs picked up another rabbit. This one started with a small loop, followed by a larger one. We saw it a couple of times and Johnny shot twice, but didn't put it down. One last loop and again it came out in front of Johnny and this time it didn't get away. Two rabibits and we are still in sight of the trucks.  

Can you tell me that you would not expect to find a rabbit in this area. Nope no rabbits, but lots of rubs and deer trails throughout the brush.

 We did find a few more spots and a couple more rabbits. I missed another, but it got into an area about 150 by 60 feet of thick brush in a draw. We surrounded this draw, This rabbit was not getting away. It popped out again in front of me, but between me and Jon leaving me not safe shot. Johnny was able to shoot safely and we had our third rabbit.

It was now close to noon and we hunted back to the trucks. The dogs got some water and we got a drink our selves. One of the dogs picked a rabbit just off of the parking area. Four of the dogs headed off to the left and Jr off to the right. A rabbit kicked out from the right with Jr following. It ran across the road and Jr followed until it go to a fence. The dog followed the fence and then headed across the street and began bawling when it picked up the rabbit's scent on the other side of the road. that got the pack's attention and they all ran across the road and got into the chase. Jon and I went across the street. The dogs really chased after this rabbit through some thick stuff. It popped out and ran up the trail away from me but with the trucks behind it I did not pull the trigger. It crossed the road and didn't make it too far past Pete's 410.

Not as many rabbits as I would have hoped for, I shot poorly, but had a great time. Johnny gifted me his three rabbits and it's what's for dinner !

        Good deal John, Jon, Johnny and Pete. So when someone hollered to Peter, Rabbit is coming he knew it was he one of you were hollering to but when someone hollered hey John, Jon or Johnny there is a bunny coming it could of been real confusing right? .  Nice hunt and nice story,

   BilletHead

[Johnsfolly]

Actually Pete and Johnny call Jon by his first name - Richard☺. So we were all good.

[JestersHK]

Looks like a blast!  Hunting rabbits with dogs is awesome.  Miss my old beagle... Glad you guys had a successful hunt!