LAST DAY FIRST

[netman9]

Met up with a couple hunting buddies Saturday morning to finish the season up with a rabbit hunt. Beautiful morning without a cloud in the sky and the winds hadn't picked up, still quite a bit of snow on the ground with a patch of bare ground here and there under the damaged cedars. My middle son Wyatt joined us to try for his first on this last day hunt. We hadn't gone far from the old barn where we park before the first rabbit of the morning jumped from a blow down and the dogs let in with the song only a beagle can sing. We look around and get Wyatt in possition explaining the nature of the hunt and to keep an eye out as the rabbit will circle back from where the chase started. The two little beagles, Hunter and Lady were putting on a show as they worked around the cedar thicket barking at the scent. About five or so minutes go by, I spot the rabbit heading right to us and when he gets 15yds he turns from our right to left coming no closer heading no further. Buzz was standing on the other side of Wyatt who was only four or five feet from me coaching and telling Wyatt, "wait wait wait". Then the OK and Wyatt squeezed the trigger of his little youth 20ga and rolled the bunny that was making such a great chase. He had his first on the last. We ran at least 6-8 more rabbits that knew Wyatt was in the field and ran in a hole for cover ending our morning with the beginning perfect chase.

Caught the whole thing on my new video glasses, just trying to get a good quality download to share with those waiting to see. A few stills from the Nikon to hold over while working out the details of the video.

Amazing to see how all the wildlife was making out with the record snow fall as we worked around the broken trees that provided cover and food for them that normally wasn't there.

[WAHOONBOX]

I AM AMAZED & PLEASED HOW MANY GUYS ARE STILL RABBIT HUNTING ON SFC ...SEEMS DOWN MY WAY THERE IS LITTLE TALK OF IT ANYMORE...I MISS IT....GOT MY HUNTING ROOTS ESTABLISHED WITH THE COTTONTAIL...

I LOVE THE PIC OF YOUR SON I GUESS? WHAT A DAY FOR HIM...TELL HIM I AM PROUD OF HIM!!!

ON MY NEXT TRIP TO CHARLOTTESVILLE I WILL GIVE YOU A SHOUT...I GO SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR

[SeaBiscuit]

Great shot that second one of the boy, game and dog. A proud hunter and prouder yet beagle!
Thanks for the fine report.
SeaBiscuit

[Bird Dog]

That last picture should be framed. Thanks for sharing.

[weekender]

great stuff right there, thanks for sharing, super pics

[Robja]

Loved the last picture netman

[netman9]

I AM AMAZED & PLEASED HOW MANY GUYS ARE STILL RABBIT HUNTING ON SFC ...SEEMS DOWN MY WAY THERE IS LITTLE TALK OF IT ANYMORE...I MISS IT....GOT MY HUNTING ROOTS ESTABLISHED WITH THE COTTONTAIL...

I LOVE THE PIC OF YOUR SON I GUESS? WHAT A DAY FOR HIM...TELL HIM I AM PROUD OF HIM!!!

ON MY NEXT TRIP TO CHARLOTTESVILLE I WILL GIVE YOU A SHOUT...I GO SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR

I think alot of dads including myself are starting kids off with a deer rifle these days since they are so plentiful and easy to hunt. Heck, Wyatt drop 2 in one shot back when we declaired war on them over my azaleas. When it comes to small game like rabbit and squirrel, I think we should all take the time to take the younger generation out as this is a great time to teach saftey, watch the work of the dogs (my favorite) and the great social event spending quality time with family and friends. One big change in rabbit hunting is the difference in hunting land, my dad took us on both of the farms where my parents were raised in a little counrty town Jonesville Virginia, where all the neighbors welcomed the family and beagles for a holiday rabbit hunt. I was one of fourteen grandsons and we could cover some ground and these days you can get in big trouble stepping across a fence. Some great times were had when I was growing on those farms, one of 64 acres the other 100 acres. Not much compared to todays hunting grounds but add the nieghbors place and it adds up. I know of only one deer that was killed on the 2 farms, but the squirrels and rabbits...

Thanks to everyone with thier comments of Wyatts "Last Day First" and pics.

Box: I'll have a cold DP waiting anytime your around C'ville.