Even though there may be less snowshoe hares running around, they are still fun to hunt with beagles. It takes a good dog to be able to sort out and follow a scent trail through the sometimes ...

His Pine Grove Lodge in Bingham, Maine, is the epicenter of a snowshoe hare hunting network that draws clients from as far away as Italy and Greece. His beagles are pure athletes.

Bassetts and beagles are set loose in likely hare habitat. Once on a hot scent the dogs sing out to alert hunters who follow the chase by ear as they move into potential ambush locations.

Rabbit Hunting With Dogs Beagles are by far the most common rabbit and snowshoe hare hunting dogs, and they make good companions, too. (Photo/Getty Images) ...

Those who rabbit hunt with beagle hounds often look forward to a chance to hunt the snowshoe hare. Snowshoes are known to run huge routes when pursued by beagles, sometimes for miles.

Oh, what I was missing. The time-honored tradition of hunting hares with beagles is one of winter’s most exciting sports. My first hare hunt with dogs was quite an event.

A friend of mine had his beagles even tree a bobcat while snowshoe hare hunting up north. They are very versatile and extremely trainable, including retrieving applications.

Chasing rabbits and hares with beagles has a long and storied history in the Northeast.

Snowshoe Hares Unlimited, if such a group existed, no doubt would applaud forest management plans that seek to boost ruffed grouse habitat.

Technically, we wouldn’t be hunting rabbits. We were headed to the eastern Upper Peninsula to hunt snowshoe hares, the big white guys with what appears to be lambswool on their feet.

During their annual Christmas rabbit hunt in the Catskills, the author and his family are led on a wild chase by an all-black snowshoe hare ...

Hunting: Slip into your snowshoes and track down snowshoe hare As deer season comes to an end, you might consider chasing smaller game well into winter.