Rich, good rock chunkin'
I know this story might be a little hard to believe. I find it difficult to believe and I was there.
Fall before last I stepped out of the house in the evening to see a bunny sitting in the yard next to the tall weeds. I needed another rabbit for my burgoo recipe that I'd planned to cook for my friends on our annual hunting trip. I went inside, grabbing my .22. Off handed I layed to crosshairs on the bunny and pulled the trigger. I thought I heard thump of the bullet, but the rabbit leaped into the weed. I rushed over to where he entered the thickness. He was sitting 10 yards away. Good I can finish off this wounded creature. Snap, I was out of ammo. I hate losing a wounded animal.
I laid the rifle down and started the chase. When I couldn't see him, I would listen, then run, jump, chase some more. When I couldn't hear him, I'd stalk to where the last sounds were and try to anticipate his direction. He would jump again and the chase was on. Finally, I saw him sitting about 15 yards away. I stalked with 4 ft. and pounced. The wiggley creature escaped my grip, jumping across my lap in his retreat. I chased and stalked. After all, I had wounded him. It was my duty as a hunter to finish the job.
I caught up to him, again. I stalked withing 3 ft. Since grabbing him hadn't worked, I decided to smack him on the head with the palm of my hand. That worked. When I examined the rabbit, there was NO bullet hole in him. I had ran down a healthy adult rabbit. Stunned, I walked the 1/2 mile back to the house.
I kicked out emails to my hunting buddies about this hunt. They congradulated me on my prowess, but there was a justifiable note of skepticism in the tone of there replies.
A month later, we're all at the cabin for our annual quail hunting trip. My bird dogs don't pay much attention to rabbits when they're working. They may chase one for 40 or 50 yards, but they come back when I call them off and concentrate on birds. They'll even retrieve a rabbit. But, then it's back to business. So, I don't mind shooting rabbits around them.
Well, a rabbit jumps up. I swing through and shoot just as it reaches a big patch of blackberry briar and other assorted brambles that are head high and taller. I check where the rabbit entered the thicket. There were a couple bunny hairs where I had shot. So, I've got to retrieve my game.
I step into the briars and the rabbit jumps. I shouldered my double 20 but couldn't get on him. I laid the shotgun down. The chase was on. I was high stepping like a Tennessee Walker. Forty yards later I had cut the distance to 6 feet. I dove at the rabbit catching him by a hind leg. There was squeal just before a karate chop to the back of the neck ended the race.
I made my way out of the briar, bleeding but holding my rabbit. My friends we're standing there with open mouths. I handed H, who loves rabbits, but doesn't get to hunt them much, the bunny. He laughed, "Dave, I had a hard time believing your story about running down a rabbit, but I just watched you do it. So, I apologize." This rabbit had 3 pellets in one hind leg.
I was 47 at the time. Could I do this again? I doubt it. But, next season if I think I have a wounded rabbit that's escaping, I'll sure give it a try. And, I'll offer up a thanks to the great spirit, as I did before, for giving me the swiftness of feet to complete my roll as a hunter.
