and a tip on breaking your dog from running deer.

Relatively cool weather greeted me this morning and it was a pleasant ride with the windows down to exercise the “girls” on the pine plantation that Cuz holds the hunting lease on. I was running a little late since I had stopped for gas after spraying the “Girls” pen this morning, when I met Tiny and Cuz’s Boy on the pavement just before turning into the gate. They were heading to fish the lakes in Pittsview this morning which is what Tiny does most Saturdays when hunting season is out.

I had decided to start at the Sand Pit because I hadn’t really run it since the Saturday that Miss Ruby visited us. I was taking my own sweet time putting on the snake chaps after liberally spraying the bug repellent on while the “girls“ danced at my feet. The recent rains guaranteed a bumper crop of bugs including the chiggars, or chiggers, as some spell it.

When I finished pouring up a cup of coffee to take with me, the little ladies were still under my feet in the pre-dawn darkness. I was wondering why they were still there instead of trying to find a rabbit. As I walked down the power line on the opposite side from the sand pit they still stayed under my feet despite my urgings to go find me a rabbit. From the way Dixie and Julie were acting, I began to suspect that there were deer around.

Those two little short legged beagles had been broke off of deer using a fresh deer leg in the back yard. Earlier in the day, I would put the Dogtra collars on them. Later, I would drag the deer leg around and then put it into some bushes and leave it.
I would take them out of the pen one at a time. When they followed the scent, I would wait till they put their nose out toward the leg, then ZAP! It only took a couple of times before they decided that a deer caused pain. You can usually get a fresh leg from any deer processing plant during the season. Boy, is Lucy going to get a lesson after the start of the Alabama bow season. It starts 15 October.

On the way out, crossing the road to the pit,. Lucy started barking behind us. Then that “growl” crept into her voice as the track became hot. Julie, Dixie and Kate ran to assist. Those three never opened their mouth, all I heard was the thunder of their feet hitting the hard pack, running back toward me. That was good enough for me, I zapped Lucy on 3 continuous though I only held the button for a second. She squalled, then readily came to me.

At the end of the pit, Lucy started barking again and I held my breath. Deer or rabbit? Then Dixie joined in quickly followed by Julie and Kate.
Rabbit!

We had three good 25 minute races on a long stretch of hillside. I turned to see the last of the three rabbits only a couple of yards behind me. I’m not sure if he was just passing close to my backside or I spoiled yet another attack.

When we crossed the bottom where I had the run-in with the timber rattler, Lucy started barking again, this time Dixie almost beat her to it though. This race lasted almost an hour before they lost the trail. At the end of the race I was already walking back to the Pathfinder to get another cup of coffee.

It was a good morning.
Oh and Cuz called wanting to know if I wanted a free beagle puppy. Even had papers, he said. Some warning signs popped up. Like why would Cuz offer to pass the dog to me instead of keeping it himself? Not that I don’t exactly trust Cuz but I’ve seen a few of his deals. Especially, the dog deals that Uncle NoPass seemed to always end up on the wrong side of. Anyway, he says he’ll check to see if it fills Brag and my bill--Six to twelve months old and female. I ain’t to concerned about the papers except to swat it with.