And, why, yes, GF did avoid becoming an old maid when I finally bought the pizza francise after only three more years

You mean instead of keeping you entertained?
Well, GF and I swapped some property and have ended up with a twenty acre horse farm near Auburn Alabama.
Yep, God has a sense of humor.
When Brag's wife went horse crazy, I used to pick at him unmercifully. I'd point out pasture land, devoid of any cover for rabbits and talk about what a waste
I'd mention that horse's were a waste of money, time and animal life.
That's about the time that God said it was time for a little irony.
The thing about horses is that if you're around them you either love them or you hate them. And, given my position, why in the world did I trade for this place? It was just to good a deal to pass up.

Naturally, it needs some upgrading, repairs and such before GF will move in

Mazie died in 06.

Julie died un-expectantly earlier this year

And then, a couple of months ago, Dixie disappeared on a training run. She was the canary in the mine for deer. She always run back to me and put her paw on my leg to reassure me that she wouldn’t be involved in such a lowly deed like run a deer.

due to a couple of thing beyond my control, I'm having some trouble finding time to write my posts.
I'll try to give a pictorial reason later

that had to have hurt, KY

But, as for me, I do believe that calls for a

let me introduce the winter rabbit hunting hat 07.

I suspect that I'm going to miss the old hat, lumps, shrinkage and all. the new hat is a deeply discounted Bailey of Hollywood from Noggintops. Merino suede, lightweight and packable, it has a cheap feel to it and doesn't have crisp. sharp lines. I do have a panama that I like from the same company.
As a side note, the top picture of the panama link is of my favorite daily straw wear. It finally cracked at the top of the front. I knew it was coming and had been desperately searching for a new one. NogginTops, referred to it as the "panama drifter" don't confuse it with the shady brady style referred to by the same name. I haven't found a source for it yet.

We'll see if the new rabbit hunting hat holds up the entire season or if I end up dragging the old favorite out

Thank you for GF. Why she puts up with this old goat, I’ll never figure out.
Thank you for 2’s company.
Thank you for my friends, both cyber and physical.
Thank you for the delight of watching deer at close range,,,,at least most years.
Thank you for beagles, rabbits and my rabbit hunting friends.
Thank you for the 2+3 and early morning’s on the Apalachicola Bay.
Thank you God for the miseries in life because they can become blessings.

Now I'm off to aid GF leaving you with an oldie but a goodie

we have a rabbit hunt set up for Saturday. Once again it will be at Plunker's Place and along with the usual suspects will be the Dog Man from the Ellerslie hunt last year.

Saturday was the start of firearms season for deer in Alabama.
Whoohoo! With the emphasis on sarcasm

Despite that they, the deer hunters pay the freight where we rabbit hunt on the pine plantation in Seale Alabama, I don‘t have a lot of use for most. I suspect that our hunting club is the exception to the rule and that’s only because Cuz holds the lease and he likes to rabbit hunt more than he deer hunts.
Most deer leases lock up the property 24/7/12. A few might allow you to rabbit hunt in February, and even then only in the company of members. As Uncle NoPass said, “deers will be the ruination of hunting” I firmly believe that the deer hunters will be the death of hunting in the US, turning a sport of the masses into a sport of the privileged as the land is locked up and membership fees drive the common man from the sport, limited public access notwithstanding.

There are quite a few, what I regard as, unethical and in some cases, illegal, practices used by deer hunters. One would be hard put to argue that in-line black powder guns and added components bear much more than a cursory resemblance to the old percussion and flintlocks. Does anyone seriously think that a compound bow is anything like a recurve or a longbow?
Do you really believe that all those camo sacks of corn sold in your local grocery are intended for the pet hog?

anyway, I took the old Remington 1100 and sat a stand in a live oak for a few hours Saturday, hoping for a suitcase deer. You know, one that you just tie the feet together and tote like a suitcase. Hmmmm tender.
But it wasn’t to be. The only deer besides the one that crossed at the gate on my way out was a big doe that came up on my hard right at a dead run, angled away. I passed on the brief shot I had.

I don’t think I’ll have a chance to go deer hunting again before Friday

most called up pictures of The Rabbit Journal on Google search?

First is Lucy as a pup


Cute little thing, wasn't she?
Followed by another of Lucy's baby pictures titled "Rabbit Hunting is such hard work"

It's hard to lose a place where you have spent so many summers building memories with your Compadres

who train beagles to run rabbits might want to be careful how you do it, especially if you use a rabbit run.

"Operating a fox pen isn't illegal as long as the prey gets inside on its own and has a reasonable chance to escape, Andress said. But capturing animals and placing them inside the pen to be hunted is illegal."

One of the bright notes of the day was that “One Dog” who is doing a bit of real estate lawyering for me picked up the tab for our lunch. Though I suspect though that I’ll find the amount tucked somewhere on a disclosure form as “miscellaneous expenses: entertainment”

And I got a great picture of Penny.

Are you sure you want to hear the rest? It can be pretty painful.

Dues?
There aren’t any real dues, cepting maybe these. Everybody contributes what they can, if they can. Some have access to land, some have dogs, some have related skills, and some are just good company.

As I've said before ( with apologies to Chase's mother) Teats ( I might have to change that term, especially if any ladies wish to join) are always welcome.
Ya’ll are the future of this sport and it behooves us graybeards to mentor our successors, if possible.

Now that being said, you young’uns have to take care of the home front. That’s teachers and parents to satisfy. We never go against a parent. What they say is gospel.

It looks like Hudson/buckshot/bb/studson/pertyboy/.....is busy growing the Dothan chapter of the EARH&SESC.

I know that I need to do some ordering on hats and such, but I've been awful busy. Besides, we really don't make any money on these things and need minimum orders of 12. I'll talk to djmed about a order of caps and or shirts this weekend to offer.
I know Vern and Hover want some. I could use a cap since I gave away all of mine

Don't forget
the Ridge Grove Volunteer fire department BBQ and Brunswick Stew fund raiser in Chambers County, Saturday, 10 November 2007.

Some member of the East Alabama Rabbit Hunters and Souse Eaters Social Club plan to attend after a morning hunt at Plunkers Place. Punker won't be hunting. He's been cooking the q and stew and will be hard at work
Even if you don't hunt, be a hero to your spouse and get a couple of plates for the ballgames

Directions from Phenix City

this morning (Hush up, Vern), I dug out my winter hats.
I didn’t put up the summer straws. The weather in my part of Alabama can run the gamut from 20’s in the morning to the upper 70’s in the afternoon.

The wool felt rabbit hunting/don’t give a dang hat is looking pretty rough. The finish has faded from brown to a olive greenish color. The hat has shrunk. And it’s gotten lumpy and out of shape in strange places, sort of like it’s owner.
But there is good news.

I didn’t?
Good. That way I can distract you away from my exceptionally sorry shooting today.

Last week while getting gas, Cuz got into a conversation with a guy that went something like this

“Where you going” Cuz's acquaintance asked
“Oh we’re going to meet my cousin and rabbit hunt this morning”
“ I got two rabbit dogs, beagles. Paid 150 dollars a piece for them and then never got to go.
Shame it is. I’d give them to you if you’d take me rabbit hunting some this year.

Now Cuz can’t stand to turn down a good deal and if somebody wanted to give him some valuable dogs, he was all for it. Forget that he didn’t know the age of the dogs, if they had Ever been run, or what kind of shape they were in. All Cuz heard was that somebody wanted to Give him $300 worth of dogs.

for Saturday morning at Plunker's place in Chambers County, Alabama.

So far, One Dog, Brag, Hover, his son, Double D, and myself are committed

djmed says he will confirm or decline tomorrow

I haven't heard from the Harris boys. Jordan needs to email me

Cuz and Rye are doubtful considering that Alabama plays at lunch.
And our plans are to hunt till 11:00-11:30 eastern and then go by the Ridge Grove Volunteer Fire Department for their semi-annual bbq.

I have orders to pick up a plate for GF and 2. And I suppose an extra for myself since we will be watching the Auburn Georgia football game later in the day

ye shall receive

Cuz asked as he looked at the side by side 16ga Stevens with it’s newly blued barrel and refinished stock.
Continuing, he said, “I know I ain’t never sold a gun that looked like that for what you say I sold it to you. I must have a touch of old fartism”
Well, that was true enough, both on the “old fartism” and the “he ain‘t never sold a gun that looked like this“.