Hunting Desert Jack Rabbits

[jackie]

As you all mostly know, I have been working my dales on the most abundant prey around here, the desert jack rabbits. They are fairly abundant and pretty cagey, tricky little beasts. Airedales can't usually run them down, they are too fast, you have to shoot them to slow them up. They act a lot like a bird, sometimes they will sit quiet under a greasewood bush or other cover and you can walk right by them, and other times they will take flight, and fast, out a head of you.
For me, it works best if your dog will work in close, just like with birds, otherwise they scare them up out of gun range.
I have two Airedales, one is a 2 year-old bitch named Patty and the other is a 6 month-old pup named Duke.
Today, I first worked them on some basic training, then took them out with the gun to see if we might scare up a rabbit. I work Patty with a whistle back and forth out front, she is my rabbit flusher, the pup stays with me for now.
Anyway, today Patty was doing real good, staying in close without too much reprimand. We had went about a mile and I could tell by her and the pup's body language that a rabbit was near us somewhere, they were scenting the air and tails were working, so I slowed down and sure enough one jumped from cover just ahead and off to my left, between Patty and I, and it came back towards me, not a good idea even though I'm a rotten shot. I turned with it as it went by and got a shot off, winging it, and then I sent Duke & Patty off after it, Patty came flying by like a rocket. Duke was dragging his lead but doing pretty good because the rabbit couldn't get up too much steam and Duke had a head start on Patty. Anyway, Duke got to get to it first and he grabbed it, his first rabbit, Patty came up and crashed into him and both of them were proud as could be, Duke held the rabbit but wouldn't bring it back to me, he did release it nicely to my hand when I got to him. It was still twitching a bit, so I dispatched it.
We came on home and my husband took a couple pics for me. In the first I'm making the dogs "hup" while I hold the rabbit, next is just a brag shot of me and my dogs. I love those Airedales. I know rabbits are no big deal but...I sure have fun and do get to hunt and train at the same time. Anyone else into rabbit hunting with their dales?

[http://s373.photobucket.com/albums/oo173/desertholm/Patty/?action=view¤t=HolmgrenRawhideRanch_1004.jpg]

[http://s373.photobucket.com/albums/oo173/desertholm/Patty/?action=view¤t=HolmgrenRawhideRanch_1009.jpg]

[jackie]

Sorry, pasted the wrong links, here are the pics:

[charlie]

Jackie, I think that's awesome that you get your dogs out like you do. It doesn't matter what the game is, you're getting them out on the ground after something that challenges them. You just know that they're loving every minute of it and that's what makes it worth the time and effort you put into it. Keep it up.

I must say.......that's one big healthy looking 6 month old pup. I doubt you'll have any problem with coyotes with those two around.

[hicntry]

I have been computer challenged as of late but I have to second what Charlie said Jackie. Nothing can replace actually seeing the dogs work. Keep it up and post the pictures.

[markbaldassarre]

very cool!

[jackie]

Thanks guys, from Airedale history Airedales were used in England and the US for jumping rabbits for the dinner table. I feed the few I actually get shot to the dogs, but I don't give them to them right away, I feed them with their food. I have ate quite a bit of rabbit, but the kind you raise, they are a lot meatier and real good. These are pretty stringy Jacks, but if the enconomy keeps going the way it is???, they might start looking pretty good...after we eat all the cows of course. These Airedales could come in real, real handy for just about everything.
The pup is getting big, he goes back to the Quachita's, I'm hoping he won't get too much bigger. I can see he likes being the kill dog...Ha-ha.
Jackie

[jackie]

Oh, about the coyotes, we used to have a real problem with them coming right up by our house, eatting the chickens, etc., not anymore, once we got the dales, no more coyotes, very, very seldom even hear them cry off in the distance now. I saw Patty really get after one, she took him what looked like about 3 miles out, I couldn't see what was going on, just the dust trail, it looked like a little mix-up at the end. Patty came back, trotting in looking like she just took care of business. I was worried she might be beat up a bit, but nothing to much to show for it, I don't know if she caught him or not, but they don't bother us at all anymore. These dogs are ranch dogs for sure. Jackie

[Undercover Cowboy]

Looks good .. like charlie said getting them out and working them thats what its all about... just be careful feeding them the Jacks it can sure make them wormy...

[charlie]

Brett, the point you brought up about the worms from eating jack rabbits is something I was wondering about also. About a decade ago when I had Airdales that actually picked one off every once in awhile due to some mistake the rabbit made I suspect, and before I got to them, I'd have the worm issue and have to get something from the vet to clear them up. Is it all rabbits or just Jacks? Anyone really know what the story is?

[Wolfer]

Warm weather Jacks carry alot of stuff ya dont want your dogs gettin into...... If your gonna let your dogs eat them take some time and boil them first.

Hey DON the Pics she Posted are within 15-20 Miles of where Your boys desided to GO for a run and within a couple Miles of where Curt tossed geronimo outta the Beast

[antonyniall]

Nice to see a bit of hare hunting - ever try the British recipe for jugged hare ?
If you're into dog work, rather than use a gun, you could flush them to a lurcher or greyhound.

[jackie]

As for the worms, yes, rabbits and everything else can have worms out here, including our cattle/horses and their dung. The pup hasn't been wormed yet, but Patty has, and so far she has stayed looking pretty good and sure isn't sick or displaying any worm induced behaviors. I just wormed her last about 2 weeks ago. Ring worm, which really isn't a true worm, is also easy to get from the soil.

Also, looks like Wolfer knows just where I am in the geography of things so he will enjoy the pictures below.

I've never tried "jugged hare" British or otherwise. I've been reading up a bit on the "harriers," they still use them a lot in Austrailia. They work well with horses. And, there is thought that there were "harriers" in the Airedales' heritage. Airedales just love hare ;D that we all know.

Here is a picture of Patty at the Stinson Place, Wolfer will know where that is.



I had shot a rabbit just before dusk, you can just make out the blood on Patty's lip if you look close, this picture was taken in 2007. The rabbits there can get pretty thick and they get in our hay, eat it and make a mess.



Here is some typical rabbit hunting country too, Patty is working the brush for me. This was taken fairly recently, I took the camera along for a change.



And this is of Patty, same day, working an old cover to a well house of ours, I'm sure there was a rabbit hiding in there somewhere but it wouldn't come out.



And, a water break, ...I carry my own... ;D

Jackie

[jackie]

Sorry , pics were a little small, here they are again:

[overstreet]

Hey ,you know when we moved from Southern Calif in 1939 we moved into Fresno County and my Dad would kill Jack Rabbits and we had them cooked . Of course just as soon as he killed them he would dress them out A niebhbor told us that a couple of years ago they found TULEMANIA in the Jacks and to leave them alone...We did.....TRAPPER

[jackie]

Yea, I know about tularemia, but I don't care!, the chances are pretty slim (1 in 1,000,000 these days) and I am willing to take the risk, I'm not eating them but I do touch them and could, just possibly, contract it. Rabbits can carry it and squirrels too, and it is spread by ticks and deer flys...so everybody watch out! It sounds like you ate quite a few and survived...and my odds are way below your father's because I'm sure I'm a worse shot. I just want to have some fun, I don't care about worms, or disease, or anything, O.K. I just wanted to talk about rabbit hunting, dogs and rabbit hunting, shooting rabbits, training dogs on rabbits, etc. I think we have just about covered now all the dangers involved in hunting rabbits, and I very much appreciate everyones concerns, but we are not scared! I have a gun and me and my dogs are happy with the rabbits. Just a little joke. ;D Jackie