Hunting dogs

[Muker]

Not sure if this is in the correct place but I would consider dogs as a valuable piece of equiptment. I have two hunting dogs at the moment and have used dogs for a long time. In a SHTF situation they would provide me with all the food that I needed and even feed themselves. They can catch me 30 to 50 rabbits a night easily and in a SHTF situation could go for bigger game. Just thought I would share that and ask your opinions on having hunting dogs when it kicks off. Like I said I value them as my most important piece of equiptment at the moment. They can catch food, help carry or pull equiptment, provide security and another couple of sets of ears(good ears at that) and if all else failed I could always eat them lol just joking, I'd eat the kids first.

[Vespa]

I enjoy rabbit, I generally buy mine from a guy down the road, a fiver for three, fresher and cheaper than market, the only other local source.
I think he uses ferrets tho', not hunting with dogs which is illegal.

Just a thought about rabbit. With a rabbit population of approx, 38M then in an EOTWAWKI situation there would be less than one rabbit per person, they wouldn't last very long along with all the geese, ducks and other birds .

Although rabbit is a very lean and healthy meat you couldn't feed on them exclusively, you'd soon start to suffer from rabbit starvation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit_starvation

[Muker]

I completly agree you couldn't live on them alone but with all the other animals you could hunt in that situation.dogs will catch and kill just about anything in Britain. And it is perfectly legal to hunt rabbits with dogs under the hunting act 2004

[Vespa]

I had no idea that hunting rabbit with dogs was still legal, can they be used to course hare?

[Muker]

No only rabbits and rats if I remember correctly. I have been hunting for about 7 years with dogs and have my deer stalking qualification . I eat everything I catch and nothing goes to waste.i tan the hides and skins and use the bones to carve fishooks and needles and just about anything else I can think of lol

[tfish]

I don't hunt with my terrier but he runs free and often Comes back with a rabbit in his mouth.

They are worth their weight in gold.

I read an article recently that stated mans domesticating of wolves into dogs is why our human species killed off the rival other five or six species.

[Muker]

Hey tfish, ye they certainly are a very good allie. On the other hand it wouldn't take long in a SHTF situation for stray dogs to turn feral and form packs and then we may be thankful for a wee bit of K9 back up

[tfish]

This will only happened. In city's and I am sure our new diverse sub cultures will soon turn any stray dog into a kebab.

[Muker]

Lol too tru.

[Vespa]

No only rabbits and rats if I remember correctly. I have been hunting for about 7 years with dogs and have my deer stalking qualification . I eat everything I catch and nothing goes to waste.i tan the hides and skins and use the bones to carve fishooks and needles and just about anything else I can think of lol

That's quiet a relief. I have a German Shepherd who, whilst not a hunting dog, does love to chase rabbit and he occasionally manages to catch one. I've always been a little worried about getting in trouble if another dog walker sees him and reported me.

Many years ago (30 or so) I used to enjoy the Waterloo Cup, not so much for the coursing but for some of the characters that used to go, I was a little sad when I was told it was not run anymore.