Hare

[packbasket]

no one running hare on here?

[jayrp421]

I do, although I am fairly new to it and don't know of many places to go in my (Palmer) area as of yet..Same with waterfowl, I've got a couple of jackrabbit in the freezer I bagged in VT though MachineGun

[packbasket]

Notsure
buck jackrabbits or doe? they have to be forkhorns or better here you know

[tacoma]

I used to have two beagles when I was younger. We used to get into some snowshoes in Heath, MA. They were a blast to hunt. Cottontail are everywhere at my deer hunting spot but nobody hunts them anymore.

[fisher16]

A few of my huntin buddies go after them, they have put a few down. Try Northampton fields where they stock pheasant along the CT. River. There are a ton of them there saw a half dozen the other night while scotting out some other duck spots.

[Bigbear]

There are a boat load of rabbits this year way more than I have seen a few years. ( They do go on a rise and fall cycle)


Notsure
buck jackrabbits or doe? they have to be forkhorns or better here you know

Grinning1Grinning1Grinning1

[thortum]

I use to love hunting cottontails. Smile1 That was before everyplace around here got either a shopping mall or a housing development built on it. Sad1

p.s. Just got next years calendar from NRA. It features hunting dogs, but not one is a hound? All bird dogs. Eyeball Roller Cry1

[fisher16]

That was before everyplace around here got either a shopping mall or a housing development built on it.

You nailed it Thortum, its not only happening out your way but here in WMass places I used to hunt with my Dad are no longer accessible they are BJ's wholesale, and some other large business that have taken up the woods once hunted by many. Now I go west or North, and there is not much further to go before it is all gone. I hope not, but someday someone has to say this is enough.

There is nothing like sitting in the stand, blind, or just taking a walk through the woods, and seeing, listening to what is going on out there. I do this from time to time, and wether its with a gun or not I always enjoy it.

[thortum]

Before my knees gave out, I was driving one hour or more to hunt F&G land. It sucks. Too many hunters and too little game. I resigned myself to going into these same area in spring & sumer with a handgun and trying to shoot red squirrels & chipmunks. That was fun until the ticks got so bad that I had to give that up. Sad1 Now I pretty much just fish.Cry1

[jayrp421]

Notsure
buck jackrabbits or doe? they have to be forkhorns or better here you know

I said Jackrabbit, not Jackalope Laughing1.
I also do go for cotton tail here in MA, but every place I know is quite a trip. I'm fairly new to the area and hunting in general actually, this is only my second season. Mostly I've been having pretty good luck with tree rats and cottontail that I come across in WMA7 near me, and a couple of places out in Westfield which are the only places I know to go right now. I'm also licensed in VT as a friend of mine takes me up there now and then. Am having a blast so far though Beerchug

[weedbed]

I raised and hunted over beagles for years as the land got swallowed up by development I fazed out of the sport.I really miss the sounds of the hounds on a crisp morning on the hot track .

[thortum]

...............I really miss the sounds of the hounds on a crisp morning on the hot track .

Me too!!!Thumbsup

[packbasket]

heading to the NEK friday Oh Dark thirty, you are welcome to join us, I'm not lugging all my hounds up there so I hired a pack and guide, everything included and private land hunting for $75 a person a day?

can't beat that PLUS I don't have to hang around trying to round up hounds at the end of the day, good vacation day before rifle deer season kicks in. There is plenty of room left if anyone wants to go along. he can take up to 8 there are 2 of us, I have room for three in my crew cab, four if you are not as fat as me.

few hunters got 8 hare the other day with his hounds, there are a few melanistic hare on his land, they are brownish black in summer turn jet black in winter.

here are some photos of past hunts with his dogs.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v85/GuidesForHire/hunting/gothislimit.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v85/GuidesForHire/hunting/bub2008.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v85/GuidesForHire/hunting/blackharerandytreaster.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v85/GuidesForHire/hunting/manny.jpg

and I agree, there is NOTHING like the sound of a pack of great hounds moving a hot track on a crisp new england day.

the coffee tastes better, the air is clearer, I can see farther and I feel lots better being there!

[thortum]

That looks like a great trip. Smile1 Knees won't allow it. Sad1 Nice pics'.
I can almost hear the howls. Thumbsup Grinning1
Good luck.

[packbasket]

All private roads Thor, it's perfect for older hunters like us and kids.

step 1. get out of truck or off sled when there's snow enough.
Step 2. drop dogs and smile.
step 3. stand there.
step 4. shoot the bunnies.

the bobcat and bear are knee killers though.

This will be it this week then it's deer rifle and then muzzle and mass, so the dogs won't be running again til Jan.

[thortum]

............ it's perfect for older hunters like us and kids.


Laughing1 Laughing1 Laughing1 Your 39. Your the kid. Smile1 Enjoy it while you can. Thumbsup

[weedbed]

Great pictures wish I could go. Do you have a phone number or email address of guide?

[packbasket]

Laughing1 Laughing1 Laughing1 Your 39. Your the kid. Smile1 Enjoy it while you can. Thumbsup

uh huh. We don't really go by age in our group when it comes to "ability".

its not the model year that matters, its the odometer!

guys like our friend's son Evan, who is half my age, can still hunt hare and fish, you oughta be able to go with us too!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v85/GuidesForHire/evantrainingforarace.jpg
No one is going to let you make a fool of yourself, get hurt or have a bad time, we move as fast as our slowest, I'm usually the slowest! Wink1

I don't have the fellas number handy we hired the hounds from for tomorrow, but will get it from the fella that has it.

He is over on that other forum I posted a couple times about, we all met at the VA, he lives right up the road from me but is never around, they all are retired and hunt and fish everyday, I'm retired too but not in good enough shape to go with them everyday, some days are good others are bad.

[thortum]

Are you saying that the guy in the picture is your friends son?
It's amazing what the medical community comes up with to make life easier for folks. I wish him and others that have disabilities nothing but the best.
We have a gentleman [smoothdrag] on this site that is wheelchair bound. Yet he fishes as much if not more than I do. Nothing holds him back. He and the others have my utmost respect for not sitting on their haunches and complaining. So the next time I complain I'll slap myself along the side of the head. My knees are minor problems. I guess as I get older I just don't have the drive any longer. Good luck on your hunt! Thumbsup

[packbasket]

Yep, that is Evan.

He lost both legs, right arm (that's a prostetic) and one eye was able to be saved on his second tour in Iraq, doesn't slow him down a minute. Most Marines are wussies but I cut Evan slack on that point.

got married, has a new baby daughter, building a house, I find my ability increases in direct proportion to how crappy my buddy next to me has it.

most races won't let Evan enter, they say he has an UNFAIR advantage with his bionic running springs.

You are dead on there Thortum, its all about desire. I'm so damned lazy I almost stopped typing this reply.

[thortum]

..............................
I'm so damned lazy I almost stopped typing this reply.

Laughing1 Laughing1 Laughing1 Thumbsup

[packbasket]

tough day

simon didnt feel well so he and 1 other of the group went to mass fishing, the rest of us went north, those that hunted did great limitiing out with handguns and 410s in a few hours

bill and i got sideswiped by a college girl yakking on her cell phone and trying to take an exit ramp at 70 mph from the far left lane on a right exit, hitting bill's truck hard enough to bend the frame , set off both airbags when we hit the rails, and we spent the day in getting his head checked where it hit the side window breaking it, everyone is fine, but we missed the hunting for the day, I am sore and bruised enough this morning I didnt even go out for opening day of deer.

not sure if the guys took pics of the hare hunt but I will post some if they did.

funny thing about it is she was blowing the horn AT US, as she drove into the driver's door of the truck wanting us to get out of her way so she could take the ramp WE WERE ON!
Never even stopped talking on her cell phone the whole time.