Ground Work 



to back track and bother the dogs, even in heavy 

 cover. I can't agree with some of my brother 

 sportsmen when they say, 'the only way to use bea- 

 gles is to shoot the rabbits in front of the little 

 hound.' I moreover say any pack of beagles hav- 

 ing their game always shot in front of them will 

 spoil any pack of dogs it is practiced over, they 

 will gradually lose their ambition and perseverance, 

 and on a bad loss of trail will come in and give up. 

 My mode of hunting is to let the dogs run down 

 and catch some of the rabbits on every hunt, and 

 sometimes hunt without a gun, and let the dogs 

 chase and catch their game on fair footing. That 

 gives the dog perseverance, and makes them press 

 their game, looking for the sight chase and close of 

 race. 



"There is little amusement in the chase if the 

 rabbit is not made to run; that is the fun, when 

 dogs and man are all excitement, and the rabbit is 

 sighted from cover by the little hounds, and the 

 rabbit gradually failing and the dogs well set to 

 their work, and growing more eager at the close of 

 the chase. What amusement can there be to only 

 make a rabbit tip along in cover and at the first 

 opportunity shoot it? That is to me tame sport, fit 

 for pot-hunters. Dogs must be allowed to mouth 

 their game, and do it by hard work, if you want 



