Truthfully you don't need to be that quiet when hunting rabbits with dogs. Virginia has a long heritage of using dogs for hunting things (SRC: Virginia Gentleman's Label). Today marked the first day of rabbit season as well as the start to the black powder deer season. This was my second time rabbit hunting, but around here it is a way of life. Freddie started banging on the door about 7:00am this morning. He and his brother Phillip have been ready for months now. Everyone will tell you that if you talk to Phillip, the conversation is going to come back around to dogs and rabbit hunting. Months ago someone had the idea to get a group together to go to Dave and Busters. I asked Phillip if he wanted to go play video games and eat pizza. He rebounded a simple question, "are there going to be dogs there?"
After several raps on the door, I had made it out of bed and down the stairs to open the door. Freddie wasn't ready to come inside and stood in the dawn light finishing his cigarette. I laid down on the sofa and covered myself up with the blanket laying over the arm rest. Eventually I got moving and we were off. Fog covered everything this morning except for a perfect view of Pilot Mountain with the base and tip separated by a thick band of fog. It was really incredible, I had to back up and look at it for awhile before proceeding.
We arrived pretty late after making some stops on the way to the hunting grounds, a 130 acre plot used for timber and forestry products associated with the Sustainable Homestead Institute. Two years ago the area was clear cut leaving brush piles and perfect cover for rabbits. The changes over the year since we hunted here were profound. Last year where all the ground cover had been pushed by the bulldozer it was easy to see rabbits darting from brush pile to brush pile. This year grass, scrub oak, thorn bushes, and pokeweed had grown up waist height in most places. The replanted pine ankle ticklers from last year now dwarf the hunters standing between them. With all the ground cover it was difficult to see the rabbits, and with an exceptionally beautiful and hot day, the dogs just didn't have the stamina to keep up with the rabbits. Not that they keep up anyway. It is there job to sniff the trail to flush the rabbit out for the hunter to see and dispatch. They had several good runs, and we jumped at least 11 rabbits and 6 deer, though the dogs don't chase the deer. Phillip and Freddie were disappointed not to get a rabbit for themselves. I think they were even more upset to be shown up by a rookie. I took home the only kill of the day, and the meat is in the freezer waiting for a special occasion. I would like to make soup. They out did me my first time significantly, and they have all the dogs, so they win.
The bird language was really happening today. The birds reacted beautifully "pop corning" to avoid the dogs sniffing. When we first arrived a Kestrel looking hawk flew upwards from a thick brush pile away from my direction. It was less than 10 feet away. Later in the day, a heron looking bird flew over us. I assume it was coming from the large pond on the property. It was impossible not to take notice because it seemed out of place. Well you could definitely miss it if you don't know what to look for. Want to learn how to focus your awareness on what birds movements reveal about other animals and the environment? You could email us about it at sustainablehomesteadinstitute@gmail.com.
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