Well a local state senator just introduced a bill in the Vermont legislature to make the beagle the Vermont state dog. Boy does that get 'em talking, from the rabbit hunters who say that that makes perfect sense to the owners of all other breeds who are outraged.

We shot a lot of rabbits growing up but didn't have a dog. That wasn't a problem for cotton tails because it was my job to crash through the puckers and the brush to get them moving. No regrets with my assigned as there not much better than a day with a parker trojan, a pile of cottontail or snow shoes and then Cajun smothered rabbit with mashed potatoes for supper.

Well I think it should be the English Setter of course :cool:

My dad in sometime near 1920
 

My dad was a rabbit hunter all his life. After I was born, he went into breeding and training beagles; he had some great dogs. He took me on my first hunt, a rabbit hunt, when I was 9. We lived in south western PA and had lots of apple orchards and dairy farms within easy walking distance from the house. Here is a picture of him after a day hunting there, the picture was taken sometime in the late 1920's.

I was just showing someone my grandfathers twist barrel entry grade Syracuse 12 gauge. His mother bought it for him around 1903-05 according to my dad and from some articles I read in DGJ it sold for about $32. Got to thinking that that was a lot of money at the time for a family of Pennsylvania hard coal miners and what might have transpired. I do believe that "Mart" , my grandfather, probably put a slew of rabbits on the table on a regular basis as there were stories of lots of rabbit hunts and plenty hares to go around maybe justifying the cost. At that time there were no child labor laws and the kids made money too. Gotta think that if I were a youngster in the mines I'd want to use any dough I had to buy a gun and.shoot cottontails.

Great picture Robin. Looks like Dad was shooting a Winchester Model 42 or is it too early for the 42?

That looks like a 12ga.....don't think they played with 410-s when gathering food for the family larder....sxs ohio

I believe first year of production for the model 42 was 1935.

Oops on recheck I believe it was 1933.

He was shooting a Winchester Model 12 16ga. I have it now.

Thanks Robin....Now I'm embarrassed. I have one of them guns in the safe!