Location: Lowell, VT
Weather: Sunny
Temperature: 32 °F (Start) 53°F (End)
Companions: Logan Abell
Dogs of mine: Belvidere Bailey & Wild Seasons Mountain Snickers
# of Rabbits Ran: 2
# of Rabbits Shot: 0
Fall has arrived and so has the cooler weather. I woke up this morning to a brisk 32 degrees and put on the thermals for the first time this year. Dressing for this time of year is tricky, as the mornings are cold and it warms up quickly. I layered up thicker than other outings at this temperature, I was tired and I always feel colder when I am tired. I picked up Logan at 5:30 and began the hour drive Northeast. Things were quiet when we got there, perfect. Next weekend will not be so quiet in this spot as moose season will be open and then "new owners of the woods" will be out and about. Every time that I have come across a moose hunter while I am rabbit hunting they are disgusted that I am disturbing their hunt. This adds an extra degree of nervousness when you never know what the crazed hunter will do when a barking dog runs by them! Anyway, Logan (my 12 year old brother) and I geared up the dogs and I let him make the plans where to run for the day. He picked a log road that we have had good luck on and we headed down over the bank into the softwoods. Bailey picked up a scent within 5 minutes and picked at it for about 120 yards across a clear cut before it was hot enough for Snickers to start barking as well. They worked it for another 40 yards or so before the barking turned to a roll and the hot chase was on. The two of them headed out away from us and made a quick turn back up towards where Bailey began the run. The barking was hot! It sounded like there were three dogs running as came back up the bank towards us. The hare snuck by Logan and I and it crossed the main logging road while we were looking down a smaller log road road where Bailey made the start. We repositioned and separated to catch a glimpse of the hare on the way back by. The dogs were getting closer to me and the barking was still hot. It had been about 15 minutes of running already without a check, very nice. The way the dogs were coming towards me I expected to see the hare cross above me about 30 yards up. As the dogs got closer they made a sudden turn down along my left and towards Logan. He got a quick glimpse of the hare as it cross the log road again, but no shot. The dogs were only about 50 yards behind it and still running strong. They brought it out of hearing and Logan and I regrouped. I really wanted him to get his first hare so I stood behind him to help him spot it in the woods before it came out on the log road, hopefully give him a better chance to connect. I saw it coming, and Logan did too, as it approached the log road. He was ready, and there hare came up to the edge of the log road and hung up in a brush pile. I really wanted Logan to get a hare, but I really wanted to get a hare for the dogs too. I couldn't get a shot on the hare after Logan if he missed from where I was standing so I made the mistake of repositioning. The hare saw me and we saw the hare bound back off into the woods. No shot. I was so mad at myself and will probably kick myself for a while to come until Logan gets his first hare. The dogs kept on running and brought it back out on a deep circle. On the way back to us they checked, picked up the check and then checked again. They started to run really choppy as they made the 20 minute trip back up near us and then lost out for a long time. I called in the dogs to regroup. I was happy with their run, but really upset with myself. About a 45 minute run before the first check, very nice. I asked Logan where he wanted to go from there and he quickly picked another spot. As we made our way to the new spot I kicked up a Wookcock and Logan took pursuit. He flushed it once more along with a Partridge, but no luck. We made our way over to the side of the VAST trail where we ran our first hare on opening day. Bailey got the start in almost the same exact spot as opening day and I knew where the hare was heading. Logan and I set up for the return run in our direction. Of course nothing ever goes as planned and the hare crossed a log road while I was in the woods watching. The dogs were in running well and headed back down to where they started. They had their first check on the turn, and then the choppy running began again. This continued for about 15 minutes and then all was quiet. I gathered up the dogs after and headed for another spot, a new one. We crossed the powerlines to try and find a new spot. There were a few areas that were perfect areas, but no hare. Someone should tell the hare about these spots! After an hour of no luck we headed back to the truck and home. A successful hunt none the less.
