February rabbit hunts bring exciting action

By By Mike Giles / outdoors writer
Feb. 6 2004
With all the deer hunters finally out of the woods, many small game hunters are heading outdoors for some action packed fun chasing the ever elusive rabbits.
Old times are not forgotten in my memory bank, but it sure helps to get back outdoors for a refresher course every now and again. Recently I joined Dan and Toler Robinson, Justin Giles and Gordon Downs on an exciting rabbit hunt.
Just after arriving at our hunting spot, Downs released his three crackerjack beagles and they struck pay dirt instantly. With three dogs hot on a rabbit's trail so quickly, it was almost hard to believe. In less than five minutes time, young Justin Giles was initiated to the rabbit hunting fraternity. The first rabbit came by him in waist high weeds and was gone lickety split.
As the rabbit continued on, it brought the dogs in a figure eight and right towards my stand. At first I heard the rabbit moving through the thick brush, then it hit a small opening. Instantly I swung my Remington 12 gauge around and just in front of the streaking rabbit and squeezed the trigger. The rabbit crumpled in a heap and our first kill was in the bag. Lucky for me the rabbit had already gotten out in front of the dogs and slowed down.
Hunting and fish(ing)?
On this particular day we were hunting rabbits in an area more suited for catching catfish or shooting ducks. However, the ditches and canal banks around the catfish ponds were chock full of rabbits. Our main area was about 40-yards wide with a catfish dam on one side and a high-banked water-filled canal on the other.
As we worked up the weed-choked ditch, the dogs continually jumped rabbit after rabbit. Sometimes they would go 80 to100 yards and turn and head back. On one particular trip both Justin and Toler missed a rabbit that made it to the top of a dam and really hit high gear as it went around the corner of the dam. Not to be outdone, I missed one on three consecutive shots with the rabbit running towards me on the top of an adjacent dam. In fact all three adults missed the rabbit before Dan Robinson finally sent him to glory.
It didn't take long for the youngsters to join in on the action as both 9-year-old Toler and 12-year-old Justin nabbed their first rabbits. In fact this was the first rabbit hunt that young Giles had ever been on. And what a trip it turned out to be. With the beagles barking and bawling the action just kept getting better and better.
Better than deer hunting?
The action got so hot and heavy and exciting that both of these youngsters were hooked. They didn't have to be still as a statue or as quiet as a mouse like on a deer hunt. There was plenty of moving around trying to get in front of the rabbits and surely a lot of shooting opportunities. "This beats deer hunting any day," exclaimed Toler Robinson. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why young Robinson preferred the action packed rabbit hunt to sitting still on a deer stand.
Not too many youths get to experience the excitement of an action packed rabbit hunt or squirrel hunt with dogs anymore. But you can bet your bottom dollar that they will surely appreciate and enjoy the opportunity when they get to go on a hunt like this.
Before the day was over almost every one had missed a rabbit or two and even killed a few. Don't miss out on an opportunity to get in on some of the finest February rabbit hunting anywhere. But remember to bring a youngster or maybe even an adult who has never been. With decreasing deer populations, rabbit hunting might just be on the comeback.
Recipe of the Week: After cutting the rabbit up into pieces, put them into a pressure cooker or crock pot for tenderizing. If you don't have a pressure cooker, just put enough water in the crock-pot to cover up the meat. After it becomes tender, dip the meat in milk, coat it in flour and lightly brown it in a pan. It doesn't need to cook long, just long enough to brown since the meat has basically been cooked already in the pressure cooker or crock pot. After frying up some of the meat, you will have the fixings for some of the best brown gravy known to man. If you prefer, you may take some of the meat and put back in the gravy for simmering. Put the gravy and fixings beside a platter of biscuits and you'll have a feast fit for a King. I guarantee.