This week on Kentucky Afield, we're making a trip west to hunt the state's largest and hardest running rabbits, swampers.

Next, we're back in the deer stand and looking to fill our 2021 buck tag.

Then we grab a rod and reel and catch all kinds of fish alongside Jim and Eli Doom.

It's all next on Kentucky Afield.

Hello and welcome to Kentucky Afield.

I'm your host, Chad Miles.

Join us as we journey the Commonwealth in search of outdoor adventure.

Rabbit hunting is now open statewide here in Kentucky.

And if you hunt the Eastern Cottontail here in the central part of the state, you'll find a big difference if you go west and chase the swamp rabbits.

We're here in Graves County getting ready to do a rabbit hunt, so I'm here with Paul.

Tell me a little about the dogs you brought today.

I got a big male tricolored his name█s Smoke, and I got him as a pup.

And then I got a little tricolored female.

Her name is Tess.

And then I got a blue tick male in here named Trump.

He's only ten months old, but he's doing really good this year.

How many days a week you run these dogs?

If It's real hot, two times a week, but mainly 2 to 4 times a week.

Every week.

It don't matter.

July or August, year around.

This part of the state, a lot of times you can find both cotton tails and swamp rabbits.

This piece property we█re on.

What do we expect to find here?

Mainly swamp rabbits.

Okay.

You got a buddy that came with you that also brought some dogs right?

Yeah.

Let's go get those dogs out as well.

All right.

So, Troy, how many dogs you bring today?

I brought four today.

This is Echo.

This is Jeannie.

This is Festus.

And this is Leon.

Just a fast footed, strong dog.

It's got all day hunt, you know?

I look forward to seeing how he's going to finish.

He's doing a really good job.

We've put in a lot of time to get him ready for a hunt like this.

I'm excited to get out here.

Hopefully these dogs get a rabbit up pretty quick.

All right.

Here we go.

They're all taking off on that one dog that just opened.

Oh, they just saw it run over there.

Let's get a move on.

He█re he comes right to you, Brian.

Shoot him.

Shoot him, Cody!

Good shot.

And it looks like they may have one down.

Now, this is not a big swamper, this is a smaller sized swamp rabbit.

This could very easily be confused for a cottontail.

But this is what we're going to be seeing a lot of, hopefully some bigger ones.

You know what?

They get too much bigger.

Four of them turns into a load.

Well, nice job.

Nice shot.

I believe you could have shot that one off the porch.

Almost did.

Looks like there's a bunch of scat on this log.

This is a sure sign that you got swamp rabbits.

This is a good sign that there█s swamp rabbits.

Sometimes you catch a big hill rabbit, jump on a stump or something and do this, but nine times out of ten, this is what a swamp rabbit will do, you know.

He tries to get up out of the water and use the bathroom.

Another thing that you can look at, the rabbits eat the bottom of the trees, the bark off the trees.

This is a good sign that this place has got a lot of swamp rabbits in it.

They're working it back.

They went almost 600 yards and they're working their way back.

Pretty big run of a swamper.

Here it comes, coming straight to you.

There it goes.

Here we go.

There we go.

Good job, kid.

You get it?

About time.

I was about ready to start yelling, “The British are coming!” That rabbit had a lot of heat right off the bat.

You know, he was getting sight chased hard.

Oh, yeah.

Golly, what a rabbit.

Well, there's a swamper.

Well they're finishing the track up, he killed a rabbit.

We like to let them finish the track, show them its dead before we go on to another rabbit.

How far out are they, Paul?

310.

310.

They're out of hearing distance, but they'll be bringing him back here in a little bit.

People who either don't use electronics or they█re really not paying attention to how far the dogs are running on a normal cottontail.

And you call them hill rabbits, right?

Yeah.

About 200 is kind of normal wouldn█t you say?

200 on a cottontail.

Yeah.

If you get a hill rabbit that goes around 300, you really start thinking, you know, what's going on?

About 375.

Swamp rabbits, they got a lot of different advantages over a dog or a human.

The cypress trees, they're hollowed out at the bottom and they crawl up in there and you can't get them out.

Rather than go into a hole which might be full of water, they'll just go into a tree.

Just anything to get a dog or coyote or bobcat off of it.

Now they're coming back.

That's what I like most about it.

Whenever they pick him back up and they just start hammering.

That's the best part.

You see it, shoot it.

There you go.

That's his first swamper.

That's your first one?

Yeah, first swamper.

Fantastic, man.

There he is.

There he goes!

Oh, that one dog almost caught him.

Here it comes!

Here he comes, Cody!

We're going to let him run.

Y'all better be ready.

Here he comes.

Just got me a little cottontail rabbit, shot over him a little bit the first time.

Man, what a great race.

That dog ran that rabbit a long way.

Yeah, probably a good three or 400 yards.

Yeah, for a cottontail.

That was a pretty good race.

But now we've kind of come out of some real thick, swampy areas over here into more fields.

Over here, we're going to get into more of these style rabbits.

Okay.

Hey, nice shot.

Thank you, man.

Hey, we've got a lot of good looking area right here to hunt.

I think we're getting ready to get into it.

Find him, find him, find him.

That Rabbit knows that field all the way around, but this is a little peninsula.

It comes out.

So he's looking for a hole to get in there.

And those dogs are trying to push him.

There he is.

Coming at you.

too far away.

They had this rabbit in here and that rabbit came out, but it was out of range.

But I've been carrying this gun all day.

It was time to shoot.

There he goes.

Get him!

Oh.

There he goes.

Hey, there█s two!

There█s two!

So I think they just got that rabbit but some of them yelled there█s two.

Good shot.

So I think they've got that second rabbit.

It looks like they just took it.

So that was great, man.

I tell you what, for the dogs getting that log jam, that's probably the safest place in this county.

They got down there in a very, very bottom and bumped that rabbit out and lo and behold, jumped a second rabbit.

Looks like we got shots at both of them, man.

That is some great dog work right there.

I'll tell you what, this was a great experience because we got to come down here today and hunt two completely different terrains that held different species of rabbits.

You guys are very passionate about your dog work, and today was a lot of fun watching these dogs run a lot of distance.

We had a great time.

Thank you, guys.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

Now let█s take a look back at one of our archery hunts from 2021 where I punched my buck tag Today, we're we're hunting this farm we've been at all year and the beans have now been cut.

So they've been removed.

It's time for us to make our way into the woods.

We're going to a stand the last time I hunted this stand in the evening.

I had a pretty good Buck chase a doe right by me.

I made a couple Mer Mer noise trying to get that deer to stop, paid no attention.

It kept on running and that's pretty typical when they're starting that rut phase.

Hopefully tonight I can get in a stand and have some deer come through chasing.

We're going to do some rattling, going to do a little grunting and hopefully that buck that I've seen or a couple other deer that I've seen out here will show up and get in bow range.

As a die hard archer and Bow Hunter.

I would much rather fill this tag with my bow and arrow, then have to wait until tomorrow when the modern firearm season starts and try to fill it then.

But we'll see how it goes.

You won't get a deer if you don't get out in the stand.

Bad conditions.

The rain can't stop us.

We're going to try to get out there, make this happen.

Got in really quiet.

Felt really good about that.

The interesting thing is, is that when I was down in the field, it's really windy and the wind was supposed to be coming directly this way.

Blowing my scent, right across the creek the way I came in, which would be perfect.

Unfortunately, when I got in here and got set up, you can't always trust the wind that you see on your weather apps.

Because i got in here and got set up.

The wind on this hillside is going this way.

Now that doesn't necessarily ruin my hunt, but it does let me know that it comes in and it's moving toward the way my wind is blowing.

I want to do my best to try to get a good shot before it gets downwind.

You got a mature deer, unless he's got a doe on this mind, they're going to probably wind you if you're downwind.

So hopefully any deer that crosses this creek i█ll have the wind in my favor.

Right now, it's not moving in the same direction that I was anticipating.

Honestly, I would have chosen a different stand had I known It was doing this, but now I'm here.

I got to make the best of it.

Here comes a deer.

There█s a buck.

There█s a buck right there.

I can't see him now, but I just saw a buck.

It█s a nine or a ten pointer, and it's walking down away from me toward the creek.

It█s either going to cross that creek or turn and either come our way or the other way.

Here he comes, here he comes, here he comes.

This deer█s going to walk right under us.

Holy crap.

So we're watching this doe out here in this field, and this deer is out there messing around.

Now I look back, and this buck is making its way away from us.

I know it's going to get to the river.

It's going to have a barrier.

So I start grunting and I grunt three or four times.

Thinking maybe I can bring that deer this way.

It starts running down here toward us.

Well, the way this is set up, I get at full draw, and when the deer stops.

It's setting down here.

I can't get a shot because of the angle with my camera guy here.

So the deer█s standing there, perfect range.

I can't get a shot.

Can't get shot, can't get a shot.

Finally I was able to get a shot.

Hopefully this will all pull together.

I think that█s- there it is.

There it is.

Right there.

Oh, sweet.

That deer didn't go 130 yards.

Oh, sweet.

Oh, my goodness.

Oh, my goodness.

This is not a huge deer.

But I'll tell you what, considering how much time I spent in the stand and to get this buck with my bow literally the night before gun season, I could not be more excited.

And I don't think I put a great shot on this deer.

It literally is on the other side, but the deer was slightly quartering away and what whatever happened, it didn't go over 100, 100 or 200-300 yards.

And here it is, very wide deer, not very long tines.

But I couldn't be I could not be more excited, tickled to have this deer buck tag is punched.

What a great season.

I'm so excited.

What a year.

Now let█s head west and go fishing with one of the toughest little boys i█ve ever been fishing with Eli Doom.

He loves to fish in the wintertime No matter what the conditions are.

So you ready to go fishing?

Yeah.

You got an anchor?

What's an anchor do?

Holds the boat.

Holds the boat?

That's right.

You know, Jim, you and I have fished many a times together, but today is a little different for a couple of different reasons.

Yeah, we've never fished the middle of December before, and we got a little buddy here that begs me to go fishing.

So this is your grandson, Eli.

He loves to fish, doesn't he?

He does.

He's fished with you enough that he's pretty much self-sufficient, isn't he?

He Is.

I turn him loose in the boat and have to tell him to get off the edge of the boat every once in a while, you know?

But other than that, he's really good.

Hey, Eli, what kind of fish you like to catch the most?

Smallmouth bass.

Smallmouth bass?

That's my favorite, too.

I saw you got a little white minnow looking bait on there.

Little swim bait.

You think that's what we're going to catch them on today?

Yeah, we're kind of in between Kentucky Lake and the Ohio River, so hopefully we get down here and find a spot and catch some big fish.

I█m going to catch a 100.

You█re going to catch 100?

Yeah, I'm going to try and catch the first fish.

Look at this.

You ever caught one of these?

These are pretty rare around here.

This little stick fish here.

You want to take a bite?

No.

No, okay.

Weather is too nice.

They don't want to bite on a good day.

Need a little bit of sleep.

They don't play fair.

Don█t think any of them are playing fair right now.

I don't have much patience with them.

They█re not biting here, so let's move out a little deeper.

Sounds good.

We've got live bait in case we really have to try to catch something.

We have to trick them first and then- Eli, don█t you be eating the bait.

i█m not eating the bait.

You know you eat the bait.

Alrighty.

Give her a shot.

Fish on, lookie here.

Lookie there.

Oh, we should have doubled because I just got bit too.

I█ll squeeze through and get the net.

What do you got there, buddy?

Oh, white bass.

There you go.

There you go.

Hey, first fish.

Nice job.

Need some help?

Heard you caught dinner.

I'll put him in a cooler.

Yeah, I know you like to eat fish because I saw you eating the bait a while ago.

Look ay here, I found Eli's spot, i█m going to catch all of Eli's fish out of there.

Uh oh, I'm on to him.

What you got there, a drum?

The good old drum.

Hey, we may have found them.

We've caught three fish in three different species.

Three species.

Check that out.

Of course, I get one that we really don't want to eat.

Well, this is a spotted bass I got here.

Black bass species number one, alright Eli, time to get serious.

Why?

So we can catch some fish, dude.

Now that didn't look real serious.

What do you think this is, Eli?

You never know when you're in the river.

What you got?

White bass.

White bass.

Lookie here.

It█s a dandy.

What do you got there?

It's a pretty nice one.

I caught the biggest.

That's a good one there, buddy.

Might be able to catch several of these being this time of year.

They'll school up tight.

Well, they fight so well.

I█m going to work them over.

Another white bass.

Hey, we're on to something now.

This feels like a drum.

Oh, is that right?

Yes, that's okay.

As long as i catch more fish than Eli.

Yeah, drum count.

You know, if I get enough fish to eat for supper, if I'm wanting some to eat and then catch the rest drum, I don't care.

Look at there, got a drum.

I don't feel so bad now.

Catching all the drum.

I'm glad you could get in on some of that.

Now.

You can eat those, can't you?

I've got a feeling that a man who's been commercial fishing, you've probably tried drum, haven█t you?

I have tried drum.

Some of them are okay.

Got another fish on.

This does not feel like a drum.

I think we might have a white bass again.

Yes sir.

Another one for the skillet.

There you go.

Look at my net-man back here, Jim.

He saw my rod bend, he said this guy needs some help.

That's where I'm trying to be, is help.

Got him.

Look at that.

man.

You can have spot in my boat any day.

I didn't say a word.

I just set the hook.

I look down, and old Eli was grabbing the net, dipping that big old white bass.

You know, there's only certain times of the year that I really catch myself targeting these.

It's usually in the spring runs.

Much different in the part of the state that I live in where you got Nolin and Salt River and the Dix River that have so many white bass that run up in the spawn, but they can be caught year round.

Sure.

And man, they're so fun to catch.

Fun to catch.

And they're actually one of my favorite to eat.

They all they're really, really, really good.

Go check another spot.

What kind of bird is that right there?

An eagle.

What kind of eagle?

American.

American bald eagle?

You know, have you been a fishing guide now for 14 years.

You're an avid fisherman.

You love getting new people involved in fishing and a true conservationist.

I've actually learned a lot from just watching other people fish.

Might even learn something from Eli here.

Got one Eli?

Catch him.

Oh, here we go.

Here we go.

I think I might tickle him while fighting that fish.

No.

Well he█s being mean on you, isn█t he?

Got him a big█n.

Hope this net-guy don't miss.

What do we got.

Oh he got him a big drum.

Lookie there, buddy.

What is that?

A drum.

Grab a hold of him.

Hold him up there.

That is awesome.

That is such a good fish.

All right.

What are you going to do with him?

All right, you going to put him back?

There you go.

Hey Eli, all the leaves fallen off the tree except for those right there.

What is that?

Mistletoe.

That's right.

You got a girlfriend?

You got to take her to that tree.

I got a fish.

What do you got there?

That sauger?

Yep.

Some teeth on there.

That one there might be 16.

I believe it█ll work.

Hey, now it's a party.

Got a fish on.

Got a big one.

a fish on.

Oh, another sauger.

Let█s get that joker in the boat.

Jim is on them.

That's a better one even.

Well, Jim, I had a great time with both of you today.

And I tell you what, of all the times you've been out, this may have been the most enjoyable- Just watching his passion.

He loves to fish.

So, hey, you got a cooler, full for the skillet, so.

No, that's your fish.

No, that's yours.

Good job.

We had some yesterday.

Hey, when you start your guide service, you're going to take me fishing someday?

I want to fish tomorrow.

You want to fish tomorrow?

It's hard to believe that he's five years old.

He's just really, really good.

Yeah, he's pretty good, kid, I reckon.

Now let's check in and see who else has been out having fun in this week's ones that didn't get away.

Check out this beautiful buck that has a very unique drop tine that was taken by Cameron Dennis.

This buck was killed on the opening day in Hardin County.

Nice job.

Check out this impressive buck taken by Kevin Canfield.

This buck was taken with this beautiful Winchester model 88 and a .308 caliber.

Nice job.

Here we have Aubrey Brown with her very first deer ever.

A nice buck that she took in Hazard, Kentucky.

Nice job.

Here we have six year old Boyd Winkle.

Boyd is a big fan of Kentucky Afield and he wanted everyone to see this nice nine point buck that he took in Pendleton County.

Nice job.

Happy Thanksgiving from the entire staff here at Kentucky Afield.

Hopefully you were able to find some time to spend with your families and remember hunting and fishing on private property is a privilege.

Always ask permission and thank the landowner.

Until next week, I'm your host, Chad Miles.

And I hope to see you in the woods or on the water.