Reading Ron's post about rabbit hunting pushed my memory button. And so I don't ambush Ron's thread, I'll post this on a new one.
Back when I was a teen, I lived to hunt. I would beg my dad to take me hunting because here in Michigan, I couldn't hunt alone until I was 16 years old.
I turned 16 the summer before small game season and on opening day, September 15th, it was freedom to be able to go hunting about any time I wanted.
I had a beagle hunting partner that was always eager to accompany me on my treks into the woods, swamps and fields.
After a few weeks of my solo hunting my dad suggested I use his .22 rifle for the rabbits so there wouldn't be lead shot in the meet.
After that a few weeks later he thought I should try my longbow.
That sounded neat to me so that was my weapon of choice from then on.
Now I must add that with the 20ga shotgun I would get two to five rabbits when I would go hunting.
The .22 rifle worked just as good, just get the rabbit in the scope and with a slight lead, that worked every time.
The only problem with my bow would be getting the limbs grabbed by green briers and stuff. Still would get a few rabbits every time out.
Now fast forward to 2011 and my now wife that I'm married to were married that year ( we were both widowed ) and we went to visit my parents.
My dad got to talking about my rabbit hunting as a kid and told my wife about talking me into using the .22 rifle and then my longbow.
He still seemed amazed by my harvesting of rabbits and told her he was trying to find a way to slow down the number of rabbits I would get.
After all those years, I finally found out that my parents were just getting tired of eating rabbits.
:archer:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Great memories Pine and thanks for sharing them!
When I was a kid I was a good student (got good grades) but I was ornery and got myself into trouble. Every Saturday was the day my dad and I would hunt and fish together....if I managed to stay out of trouble during the week. I loved hunting rabbits with our beagles and sitting for squirrels. I still love small game hunting and now get to do it with my own son. He's not as ornery as I was, thankfully! :biglaugh:
I was born and raised on hunting, Dad did it all but bow hunting. Rabbits and beagles, ducks and swamps, groundhog's in summer, and foxes during the winter months. All great memories, Thanks!
I bet he was happy when you stopped using shot!
What a great story sure does stir up some old memories....
You must have had a slow dog or been a heck of a shot to hit a rabbit being run being run by a beagle with your longbow. I have 2 beagles and the few rabbits they run are usually moving way too fast to be shot
Quote from: JonCagle on February 05, 2021, 04:19:21 PM
You must have had a slow dog or been a heck of a shot to hit a rabbit being run being run by a beagle with your longbow. I have 2 beagles and the few rabbits they run are usually moving way too fast to be shot
All rabbits run different. Beagles vary tremondously. From traditional brace walkie talkies to large pack windsplitters and everything in between. My dogs would move them along nice and allow easy shots at times. Often at a squatting or slowly hopping rabbit. Now slow is subjective. Steady pressure causes quicker circling than dogs running hit n miss as "fast" dog always do.
Great story op!
Great story. Brings back my teen years. Hey, rabbits, squirrels and Pheasant was all we had unless we went downstate for deer. I used everything from a Whamo slingshot to a 12 gauge. I didn't bring that many home at a time. I was only one who would eat what I shot.
Enjoyed your story a lot thanks for sharing it. Although I don't know if I could ever get tired of eating it..... good meat!!!
That's a great story. Makes me want to get out and beat through the brush.
I remember those days from a long time ago but we started at about 12 because we hunted right around the house. I still have my first bow hanging on the wall. I belive it's close to 100 years old now and hasn't been shot in years.
Pine, I enjoyed you story very much.
When I was a preteen and teenager I used to love going hunting with my cousin, of eternal memory. He was an excellent wing shooter.
Jawge