Copper

[werner.reiche]

From my experience and observations Beagles or beagle mixes that prefer to run Deer, Fox or Coyote don't have the nose power or determination it takes to run snowshoe hare. Deer, Fox, Coyote have a huge vapor trail of scent compared to hare, especially when its -20 on old snow. Its easier and more fun for hounds to run head up with a snoot full of scent.

You'll see similar behavior with bird dogs and woodcock. They have very little scent compared to grouse, pheasant or ducks. Some dogs hunt them just as well as they do grouse. Other dogs are not interested in them - likely because they can't smell them.

[finsfurfeathers]

. Other dogs are not interested in them - likely because they can't smell them.

Always wondered about this often said hunter lore. My dogs have no trouble pointing live woodcock at distance however looking for a dead woodcock you can see them almost overwhelmed with scent unable to pin point the bird sometimes even when standing on it. To me its almost as if they give off too much scent.

[swampsinger]

I've seen a similar thing. My beagles might trail a hare for an hour and a half and cover kilometers around the swamp without a loss and run right over the shot hare. The explanation I've heard is that the shot {pellets} disturbing the ground and the "smoke" column cover the natural scent.

[finsfurfeathers]

I've seen a similar thing. My beagles might trail a hare for an hour and a half and cover kilometers around the swamp without a loss and run right over the shot hare. The explanation I've heard is that the shot {pellets} disturbing the ground and the "smoke" column cover the natural scent.

Might work for rabbits but what about woodcock?

[be2man]

It's because they get "airwashed" of scent as they're falling through the air, and as they're dead when they hit the ground, they're not giving off much scent at all.

[Stuart22]

Haven't been on the site in months.Love the pictures, I will have to figure out how to upload again.
We drag our deer the same way. We have run hounds for 112 years. Both beagles and foxhounds. Love them all. We shot 9 last year all in front of the hounds. WMU 63A Our smallest beagle treed a bear, which we let go, treed and released.