Rabbit Hunting 1-14-06

Saturday morning. After a windy morning, with no deer sightings, it was time for rabbit hunting. I wanted to get Daisy "on" rabbits. Thought the farm would be sure thing.

I saw one rabbit, three times. Didn't kill it. Couldn't get a good shot off. And, I couldn't get Daisy on the trail. Daisy keeps her nose to the ground and seems like she's hunting, but even after crossing the rabbit's path doesn't take after the rabbit.

We hunted for a couple of hours. The rabbit population on the farm, feels like it is severely depleted. Don't know if it's the lack of crop fields in the adjoining lots. Parson's property seemed like it supplied lots of rabbits in the past, but it is now nice houses. The small pond that used to be by the old chicken run, is now on the property border - and no longer a pond. It was always good for a few rabbits. I once shot two in one burst by this pond. The back field was always good for a fleeting shot, but I kicked no rabbits up back there.

Could it be coyote and fox populations? Could it be trespassers neighbors? Could it be diminished habitat?