Duran Martinez - AM Outdoors Radio Show

MARCH HARE

Most of the dogs that I have owned have been of the non sporting variety. When I was a kid we had an Irish Setter, beautiful dog but not trained. We also had a couple of mutts that weren’t around long. My dad actually went and bought an English Pointer but alas, not a hunter either. The first day we brought him home he hunted out a soft place on the couch and that was it. I think our best dog was a Yellow Lab mix that was a great dog, but again, never trained for hunting.

My current dog [Bella] is a mix of half Springer Spaniel and half Coon Hound. I started out training her for birds but after a while realized that I was not very good at it. She has all of the ability and still gets going when she hears the word “bird” or “hunt” but I have yet to get her on any real birds to she how she will respond. I still think there is hope and will be taking he out in the next few weeks for some running.

BEAGLES AND BUNNIES

A couple of years ago my friend Ron Spencely introduced me to hunting rabbits with dogs. Beagles to be more specific. He had a couple that he hunted with and offered to take me out and show me how they worked. From then on, he need not ask twice. Oddly enough, today was twice.

His friend Greg had a piece of property to hunt and with the dogs we went. Ron, Greg, our friend Mark and myself all headed out to a piece of property that was about 150 acres of woods and field. Now the textbook on rabbit hunting says the dogs should have no problem and the rabbits will be enjoying themselves sticking to the sunny, warm portions of the fence row. No one told the rabbits or the dumb animals don’t know how to read. It seems they were not going to move unless they were stepped on. The first one jumped took a loop around and doubled back to Mark and me with itchy trigger fingers. All it took was a quick shot from my Remington 870 and one bunny was in the bag.

If you have never hunted with a good beagle, I encourage you to find someone who does and ask them to take you. Please remember there are a few things when hunting with these great dogs: Wait, wait, wait. Oh yeah, and listen. What I learned on my first hunt it that a good dog(s) will can manipulate a rabbits path back to you. The rabbit jumped from a spot that it probably knows and it will come back to a familiar hiding spot. Or, the will run like hell to the first hole or rock pile and never come out. Much like today. After all was said and done we jumped about five and took two. I was lucky enough to get three shots and take both. Even if we had not been successful, meeting a new friend and hunting with old ones was great! A beautiful day of sunshine howling dogs and fast game beats a day at the mall or watching television anytime.

GONE TO THE DOGS

Aside from the great time with friends, I really should thank the little ones that worked harder than everyone else. So to Ron’s dog Radar and Greg’s dogs, Lucy and Pepo, Thanks!

FINAL THOUGHTS

Looking back to my first real hunt with my dad, it was rabbit hunting. I remember jumping one and it ran for about 15 yards and stopped. Almost like it was waiting for me to shoot. Having not been fast enough to get the first shot on it, I looked down the barrel of my Remington .410 and shot. A quick flip and it was over. A flood of emotion raced through my body having shot my first animal. I can remember standing over it and wondering what next? Quickly I decided to keep hunting and for that I am thankful. Because my dad too the time to take me hunting, I now share the same love of the outdoors with my own daughter. She helps me clean what we kill and is happy to help cook and eat them with equal enthusiasm.

I know I have said it countless times, but please: “Take the kids out hunting and fishing and educate them.” Today’s children are bombarded with bad choices that were once intended to be good choices. Fast food and video games have taken the place of the family meal at home and outdoors time. I am just as guilty of letting myself go but with this final thought, I am going to make an improvement in my own health and hope that I can make an improvement also. Today was the first day of much needed exercise and I hope to have many more with my family and friends.