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Rabbit dogs

NChunt1 said:
Anyone know of any one that has some beagles/ breeds them that are looking to sell. Me and my family are trying to get into rabbit hunting with beagles
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Where are you located?

There are lots of very knowledgeable houndsman all over the state. Two things I'd consider doing before getting dogs is running with some folks that already have a pack. You can see if their dogs are what you like or if you'd like something faster,slower, rougher or cleaner. If you don't know anybody then I'd recommend attending a field trial. In all of my experiences they are a welcoming bunch to new folks. You will get to see a lot of dogs running, meet some great folks, eat good, and maybe even walk away with a nice started dog or pup.

I'd check with a reputable breeder of hunting beagles before I took chances on a random guy who could be a dog jockey just giving you his junk before season ends JMHO. A good dog/pack can set you up for a lot of good times and memories, and a bad one can ruin it all 5 minutes after it gets off the tailgate.
 
I'm in Chattanooga and I'm not afraid to travel. I completely agree with everything you said finding a dog is not easy task. But I'm not new to hunting dogs, I've been hunting mnt curs for squirrel most my life we also hound hunt bears with Walker dogs. I'm just looking for some phone numbers of some reputable breeders or serious hunters that others might know and have had dealings with.
 
NChunt1 said:
I'm in Chattanooga and I'm not afraid to travel. I completely agree with everything you said finding a dog is not easy task. But I'm not new to hunting dogs, I've been hunting mnt curs for squirrel most my life we also hound hunt bears with Walker dogs. I'm just looking for some phone numbers of some reputable breeders or serious hunters that others might know and have had dealings with.
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You outta try them curs for bears. My group won't hunt unless I bring my curs and they all hunt hounds lol in all seriousness don't fall into the got to have a pack of rabbit dogs mentality. You can kill every rabbit on the place with 2 well trained beagles.
 
The Tennessee State championship is this weekend in Lavergne. They usually have a big turn out. Should be plenty of guys you could talk to and you be able to watch some good dogs as well.

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Mack Cullins has some good dogs. I've hunted with Mack before, and he is president of the club I used to be in. His website has his contact info on it. If he doesn't have any I'd imagine he might know where one is you could check out. I'll ask around for you and PM you any other info. This is Mack's website, he would be a good start.

drycreekkennels.weebly.com

Dry Creek Kennels

Dry Creek Kennels
drycreekkennels.weebly.com
 
Check out Trackem Down Kennels on Youtube and Facebook.
Joey is from St. Louis Missouri and one of the most dedicated beaglers I know. He has made a name for himself and raises some fine dogs/litters.
I brought him to TN for 3 consecutive years for swampers which he had never chased and became addicted to!!
The man runs/trains year around even if it aint but for an hour of the morning during the summer toting water bottles for his dogs!! He primarily hunts public ground in Mo and would guess 200-300 rabbits killed on average if not more.
 
There is a guy by the name of Tyler Walling around Sparta/Rock Island(I think)he usually has some good ones. I had a female from his kennel that showed a lot of potential a few years ago and I see he's still active in the sport through FB. I know a few guys who have owned dogs from him and dogs were exactly as Tyler described, buyers were happy.
 
timberjack86 said:
You can kill every rabbit on the place with 2 well trained beagles.
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I love to hear a big pack, but also have to agree with this. A pair of dogs that run well together can be just as good as a pack.


I wouldn't recommend getting more than 1 or 2 to start out with anyway. If they can't do it by themselves they won't be contributing anything in a big pack.
 
Mud Creek said:
The Tennessee State championship is this weekend in Lavergne. They usually have a big turn out. Should be plenty of guys you could talk to and you be able to watch some good dogs as well.

View attachment 262990


Mack Cullins has some good dogs. I've hunted with Mack before, and he is president of the club I used to be in. His website has his contact info on it. If he doesn't have any I'd imagine he might know where one is you could check out. I'll ask around for you and PM you any other info. This is Mack's website, he would be a good start.

drycreekkennels.weebly.com

Dry Creek Kennels

Dry Creek Kennels
drycreekkennels.weebly.com
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I love beagles, I'm on my second one. Neither one suitable for hunting for different reasons. I also love the idea of watching these dogs work. Is this something that just anyone can attend and are non-hunting dogs welcome. It sounds like a really good time.
 
m_allison71 said:
I love beagles, I'm on my second one. Neither one suitable for hunting for different reasons. I also love the idea of watching these dogs work. Is this something that just anyone can attend and are non-hunting dogs welcome. It sounds like a really good time.
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Ok, bare with me lol.

Anybody can attend and watch. I encourage whoever is near this one that has nothing to do swing by and check it out. There is a club house there and I'm sure the coffee will be hot and ready. If you have kids, even better! To enter a dog at this trial it has to be AKC registered though.

They will measure dogs and seperate them into 2 classes(13" and 15"). The dogs will get a number, members of the club will roll out numbers to decide which dog goes in each pack. Let's say thirty, 13" males show up. They would most likely have 5 different packs, each pack consisting of 6 dogs. Two judges, and a field marshall will call out the first packs numbers and tell the owners where to release the dogs. They will judge the dogs on how they hunt and when a rabbit is jumped, the judges will follow behind the pack and judge how they run it. A lot of times they are on horseback so they can see the dogs over the briars. The horses will have briar protection on it's really cool.

They will judge each individual pack, picking 2 or 3 dogs they like the best from each one. They can pick as many as they want but the goal is to whittle it down from 30 to 15, then from 15 to 6-8. That final 6-8 dogs will be your winners pack. The dogs get a rabbit going and after a while the judges will pick them up 1 at a time until it gets to the final 2 or 3 dogs. If all goes right, that's when it gets good! Watching those final dogs go head to head is awesome. It can be fast and hard to keep up at times but there are lanes mowed so you can get around as long as you give dogs and judges plenty of space to work.

I haven't been in a few years but it was always reslly fun. Music City Beagle Club and Volunteer Beagle club have meetings and hold trials at the above location. There is a large piece of ground in Kentucky the federation bought and enclosed where they hold the nationals every spring. Hundreds of dogs compete over 3-4 days. You got to have a dog dialed in and ready to roll at that point!

You get to spend the day hearing dogs run a rabbit, meet some dang good people, and eat good food. Worse ways to spend the weekend! If you have kids then bring them. Usually a new kid ends up being asked to handle a dog or pose them on the bench at the end. It's a family environment.
 
If I had to pick only 1 animal to hunt from now on it would probably be a rabbit with a dog or 2, 12th birthday, got home from school, didn't remember it was my birthday, got a beagle-20g stevens ss-box of shells and a hunting license, best birthday ever. Me and that dog walked many a mile hunting.
 
mike243 said:
If I had to pick only 1 animal to hunt from now on it would probably be a rabbit with a dog or 2, 12th birthday, got home from school, didn't remember it was my birthday, got a beagle-20g stevens ss-box of shells and a hunting license, best birthday ever. Me and that dog walked many a mile hunting.
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It would be impossible to put a number on the amount of miles I have walked following rabbit dogs but I loved it!
 

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