Hunting hares in orchards

[pilgrim1982 0]

I just got permission to hunt on a queensland nut farm. The owner is a friend of my uncles. Has anyone had experience hunting in this type of environment. (orchards or similar) I'm hoping it will be good for my two whippets when they mature a bit more. The trees are spaced fairly far apart with grassy area in between and no low branches which could hinder them running. Only tree trunks.

[Guest Frank]

Tree trunks can be hard , becarefull mate, hares can turn on a tree, leaving the dog to go into it.

 

Frank.

[juckler123 707]

If the dogs aint used to running in woods etc from pups you are asking for trouble seen a few dogs took out in the orchards in kent when fruitpicking

[Mitch 0]

You will saught them out with these snares mate

[pilgrim1982 0]

ok thanks for the replies. Do you think it is a bit too risky? my dogs are quite familiar with wooded areas and trees as i often take them walking around the bush and our yard has lots of trees which they negotiate when chasing each other. I really don't wanna see one running into a tree though. It would kill me to see one sustain some serious injuries after running into one. There are lots of hares in this area as i worked there pruning the nuts trees for a while and i saw so many hares, they were jumping out of the grass everywhere. The guy who runs the farm said there are heaps of them around.

 

thanks mitch, i'll give them a go

[Mitch 0]

Would Doubling up your whippets give less of a chance of injury?

[pilgrim1982 0]

Not sure, i was always planning on hunting them as a pair anyway. Maybe someone more experienced can help answer.

[Guest houndblair]

I remember when out hunting with a beagle pack we found a Hare in an orchard, Hounds hunted it for an hour but at least twice the Hare twisted round trees leaving leading hounds to go into them But after about an hour an a half the Hunted Hare was humanly caught by the leading hound in a hedgerow, But it was fantastic to watch the Hare put its skills to the test! All this happened before the ban of course

[inan 841]

I just got permission to hunt on a queensland nut farm. The owner is a friend of my uncles. Has anyone had experience hunting in this type of environment. (orchards or similar) I'm hoping it will be good for my two whippets when they mature a bit more. The trees are spaced fairly far apart with grassy area in between and no low branches which could hinder them running. Only tree trunks.

My coursing partner Andy lost a good dog Silks,he was killed running a rabbit in an orchard ,he collided with a tree and broke his neck,I would be very wary of running fast dogs like whippets in such places.

[stoaty 171]

Careful in the orchards Pilgrim Ilost a cracking whippet x greyhound dog through a collision with a tree be ok if you could bolt them out with a terrier or spaniel etc onto some open ground but just be careful are the hares worth losing a dog for???

Stoaty

[brock 11]

i saw a very promising young dog of a freinds hit a tree aftre a rabbit and break its neck,we had to bury it there where it died,so if it was me i would say your asking for trouble

[whin 463]

i hunt my dogs as pups in woods they no how to run awood and dont get to badly injured but they do get cut etc , had greyhounds grews collie crosses and saluk crosses all hunted woods but had done since they were young i wouldnt take dogs hunting in woods that are not used to it espes if hunted with seasond woodland hunters

[pilgrim1982 0]

My dogs are used to woods and trees but it sounds quite risky. I don't know if its worth it. A shame really because its a nice property. I'll just have to go looking for another.

[Ossie 11]

my little brindle bitch chased a rabbit into a wood & went head-first into a tree. out cold for 8 hours, came round, bit wobbly for a couple of days, then was pretty much fine, just couldn't turn her head as far to the left anymore! not worth the risk, i say.

[pilgrim1982 0]

that's not good i thought they would learn to avoid trees with time. I obviously have a lot to learn. I don't wanna put my dogs at risk. They are quite used to trees but accidents do happen.