If you’ve never been hunting before, a rabbit hunt might be the best species to start with. They are easy to clean, versatile in the kitchen, and abundant in every part of Virginia.

The general idea of rabbit hunting is that you have specially trained dogs that love nothing more in the world than to chase after the scent of a rabbit. Typically a few experienced hunters will accompany the dog handler into the thickets where the rabbits like to spend most of their time during the day. The rest of the hunting party will then line up along a road or field where they have a greater field of view to shoot the rabbit when it runs out of the thicket.

If you want to find rabbits, look for the thickest, nastiest patch of briars on the property and start there. The dogs (typically beagles) will wiggle their little butts into the thicket without hesitation, and when they find the scent of the first rabbit, they will alert everyone around with a loud and authoritative howl. The other dogs will run over in a (mostly) single file line to join in the howling. They then continue to wind through the thickets and forests following the rabbit’s path. It’s both amusing and impressive to observe.

This past February, I was able to join my good friend and seasoned rabbit hunter, Jake Huggins. Jake and his wife Casey reside in Powhatan with their newborn girl, Claire, nine rabbit-hunting beagles, and one goldendoodle house dog named Mila. I chatted with Jake about rabbit hunting:

When did you start rabbit hunting and who invited you/took you?
I started going rabbit hunting when I was 5 years old. My dad’s best friend had rabbit dogs and we would go with him every weekend after deer season ended. I’m 25 now and have been hooked ever since that first time my dad took me.

What about rabbit hunting made you so committed that you have nine dedicated rabbit dogs?
I love the action that rabbit hunting provides. You’re up in the briars with the dogs, and it feels like you’re part of a big team working together to try to get that chase going. I love working with the dogs and watching them work together. Each dog’s strength takes care of another dog’s weakness. They pay attention to each other and listen to each other and it’s a really cool thing watching how each dog reacts to one another.

Not only is it fun watching the dogs but it’s a great time trying to get in front of the dogs to harvest the rabbit. A lot of people don’t understand the enjoyment of rabbit hunting, but there is nothing in this world that runs like a rabbit. They’re slick. They’ll run up under old barns or sheds and come hauling out of the other side while the dogs are all right there and then the chase is on again. Rabbits will make you look bad, no matter how good of a shot you think you are, and it’s a great opportunity to get friends and family together in the outdoors to have some fun and trash talk a little bit.

What breed of dogs do you use and why?
All my dogs are short-legged beagles around 13″ tall. I feel this size is perfect for me with the type of terrain I hunt. They’re small enough to get up under the thickest briars, but not too small to where the rabbit gets way out in front of them. I consider my dogs to run an upper medium speed which is fast enough to keep pressure on the rabbit and keep him moving but not too fast to where they will catch the rabbit.

What’s MOA reticle your favorite way to cook a rabbit? My favorite way to cook rabbit meat is to fry it. I will debone the rabbit and cut the rabbit meat into big chicken nugget-sized pieces. I’ll beat it with a meat hammer a couple times on each side, dip it in some whipped up eggs, coat it in a House Autry seafood breading mixed with some other seasonings and put it in the frying pan and cook until it’s golden-brown colored.

How do you recommend someone gets started with rabbit hunting if they’ve never done it before?
If you’ve never rabbit hunted before I definitely recommend trying it at least for the experience. There are a lot of good videos online of people rabbit hunting and having a good time while doing it. I personally won’t rabbit hunt without dogs, so if you know someone with rabbit dogs, ask if they will bring you out. It’s not like sitting in a tree stand and having to be quiet (although that’s also very enjoyable). It’s a different type of hunting. You’re moving around and talking with your friends most of the time, but while the dogs are running it’s best to stay still and quiet to put yourself in a position to get a shot. I typically hunt with five to 10 people. We always know where each other are so we can be as safe as possible, in addition to wearing blaze orange. There’s never a dull moment in the woods, and you definitely see something new every time you go out.

Competitive intelligence is the process of gathering and analyzing information about competitors, their products, services, and business strategies. In the B2B world, competitive intelligence plays a critical role in shaping the marketing and sales strategies of businesses. B2B competitive intelligence is all about understanding the market and the competition in order to make informed business decisions. In this guide, we will explore the key aspects of B2B competitive intelligence, including its definition, importance, tools, and best practices.

Definition of B2B Competitive Intelligence
B2B competitive intelligence is the process of gathering and analyzing information about competitors in the business-to-business (B2B) space. This information includes everything from competitor products and services to their pricing strategies, sales tactics, and overall business strategies. The goal of B2B competitive intelligence is to provide businesses with the information they need to make informed decisions about their marketing and sales strategies. This can include everything from identifying potential competitors to monitoring their activities and analyzing their strengths and weaknesses.

Importance of B2B Competitive Intelligence
B2B competitive intelligence is essential for businesses that want to stay ahead of their competitors. By gathering and analyzing information about their competitors, businesses can make informed decisions about their marketing and sales strategies. This can include everything from identifying new market opportunities to refining existing products and services.

Some of the key benefits of B2B competitive intelligence include:

Improved market knowledge: B2B competitive intelligence helps businesses gain a better understanding of the market they operate in, including potential competitors, market trends, and customer needs and preferences.
Enhanced product development: By analyzing their competitors' products and services, businesses can identify gaps in the market and develop products that better meet customer needs.

Better pricing strategies: B2B competitive intelligence helps businesses understand their competitors' pricing strategies, allowing them to set their own prices more effectively.

Improved sales strategies: By monitoring their competitors' sales tactics, businesses can develop more effective sales strategies, including targeting new customer segments and improving customer retention.
Tools for B2B Competitive Intelligence

There are many tools available to businesses for conducting B2B competitive intelligence. These tools can range from simple search engines to sophisticated data analysis platforms. Some of the most common tools for B2B competitive intelligence include:

Search engines: Search engines such as Google can be a powerful tool for gathering information about competitors. By conducting searches on key terms related to their industry and competitors, businesses can gather a wealth of information, including news articles, press releases, and social media posts.
Social media monitoring: Social media platforms such as Twitter and LinkedIn can be a great source of information about competitors. By monitoring their competitors' social media activity, businesses can gain insights into their marketing and sales strategies, as well as their products and services.
Industry reports: Industry reports and market research studies can provide businesses with valuable insights into their industry and competitors. These reports can include information such as market share, industry trends, and customer preferences.

Competitive intelligence software: There are many software platforms available that are designed specifically for B2B competitive intelligence. These platforms can help businesses gather and analyze data from a variety of sources, including social media, news sites, and industry reports.
Best Practices for B2B Competitive Intelligence

While B2B competitive intelligence can provide businesses with valuable insights, there are also some best practices that should be followed to ensure that the information gathered is accurate and useful. Some of the key best practices for B2B competitive intelligence include:

Identify key competitors: Before conducting any research, businesses should identify their key competitors. This can include both direct competitors (i.e., those offering similar products or services) and indirect competitors (i.e., those operating in the same market but offering different products or services).
Gather data from previous message...

Once the key competitors have been identified, businesses should gather as much data as possible about them. This can include everything market intelligence services from their products and services to their pricing strategies, marketing and sales tactics, and overall business strategies.

Use multiple sources: To ensure that the data gathered is accurate and comprehensive, businesses should use multiple sources. This can include everything from social media platforms and news sites to industry reports and market research studies.

Analyze the data: Once the data has been gathered, businesses should analyze it to identify key trends and insights. This can include everything from identifying market opportunities to refining product and service offerings.

Keep up-to-date: B2B competitive intelligence is an ongoing process, and businesses should continuously monitor their competitors to stay up-to-date on their activities and strategies.
Protect confidentiality: Businesses should be careful to protect the confidentiality of the data gathered, particularly when it comes to sensitive information such as pricing strategies and sales tactics. This can include using secure data storage systems and limiting access to the data.

Conclusion
B2B competitive intelligence is an essential tool for businesses that want to stay ahead of their competitors. By gathering and analyzing information about their competitors, businesses can make informed decisions about their marketing and sales strategies, product and service offerings, and overall business strategies. With the right tools and best practices, businesses can gather accurate and comprehensive data to gain a competitive edge in their industry.