Day 35 of Hunting - Opening Day - October 30th, 2010

Day 35 of the Hunting Season - October 30th, 2010

Meet: Down Patrick

Temps: in the 40's

Couples: 22 couples

Staff:
MFH- James Paxson, Staff - Dott Cochran, Priscilla Godsoe, Fred VonC, Carl Mease, Hoppy Stearns, Field Master Duncan Patterson, Gary Kennedy,Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy and Leo and Flora Erb

Start: 11:00am
End: 2:ish

Today was our Opening Day or first day of the 'Formal' hunting season.
The RH foxhounds and horses were all fit and ready coming out of the cubbing season where they had made it out 34 times. Opening Day was the prefect way to showcase the hound's great hunting noses, incredible speed, ability of forty-four hounds working as a pack and sticking together.

Everyone out for Opening Day were witness to the strength of the hounds, navigating fields and streams, cliffs, and ravines following the Wiley little red fox who gave us great runs and views on this beautiful, brisk afternoon.

Following hunting we were all welcomed to the Gibson's 'Pigery' for food and drink. The hunt today was a great success and the camaraderie after the hunt is priceless. Those involved with River Hills were all smiles today, knowing that today would be a great start to an exciting 2010-11 season.. Yeeha!

Great Read! MFH Jimmy & Ilion

CLICK ON THE BELOW LINK
The ‘heart’ to jump 7 foot walls

PA Hunt Night - Oct 18th, 2010

Two Teams went to Represent River Hills Foxhounds at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg

Team One
Gregory Paxson
Wilson King
John Brophy

Team Two
Kelly Conner
Shawndell Reisler
Ella Brophy

Results:

FIELD HUNTER OVER 35
6 1166 EVEN SMARTER - bay gelding 2002
River Hills Kelly Connor

GENTLEMAN'S HUNTER UNDER SADDLE
6 1163 WHO - gray gelding 2004
River Hills Gregory Paxson

7 1164 CALYPSO - gray gelding 2001
River Hills Wilson King


CONGRATULATIONS!

Day 34 of Cubbing

Day 34 of Cubbing - October 25th, 2010

Meet: Funnel Lake

Temps: in the high 60's

Couples: 21 couples *took Kalev - 8 month old puppy for his first hunt

Staff:
MFH- James Paxson, Staff - Priscilla Godsoe, Hoppy Stearns, Dott Cochran, Fred Von C, Field Master Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy and Leo and Flora Erb

Start: 8:30am
End: 10:isham

For me today was pretty cool because we started one of the nine 'K' puppies - Kalev. He was extremely happy to be out there hunting with the 'big dogs', and was so excited to get his little nose down to the ground and see what everyone was up to. It was a great day for smelling fox for the little guy and he was able to keep up with the best of them. I was really proud of him. Now he just need to learn to stay with MFH Jimmy and not think I'm going to pick him up and take him with me. He's no longer a puppy I'm told.

We headed into the deep woods at the Funnel Lake meet and ran a fox up and down the banks and cliffs, and streams and fields. We put three to ground in what we started to call the fox hotel because they all went into the same area of cliff dwelling fox holes.

Good day, and I'm sure one tired puppy!

Day 33 of Cubbing

Day 33 of Cubbing - October 23rd, 2010

Meet: Down Patrick

Temps: in the 60's

Couples: 20 1/2 couples

Staff:
MFH- James Paxson, Staff - Priscilla Godsoe, Hoppy Stearns, Field Master Gary Kennedy,Duncan Paterson Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy and Leo and Flora Erb

Start: 10:00am
End: 12:45pm

What a fun day! I think just about everyone viewed the fox today... and boy did the hounds have some good runs.

Our first run was in and around Ankrum's barn and woods for several good loops around. This was the first time the field viewed. From the Dog Box side we headed over toward the Old Hounds and early on the hounds picked up a line and Saran and I viewed the fox headed under the Old Tires to head across the road.

And that he did... but he ran the road for a long time, all the way from the Old Tires to the Bridge before the Fishing Creek RD. The fox ended up crossing the road by the first pond in the horse field, and heading towards Herr's Point. Because of the deer season we thought it best not to head that way so MFH Jimmy took the hounds toward the big bank in the direction of the Duck Pond.

Saran and I viewed a big, fluffy, red fox mousing at the top of the big bank near Herr's house. He wasn't in much hurry, but he trotted off when he saw us, and pretty soon the hounds where hot on the line... trouble was, he crossed into an Amish mule field and we had to pull the hounds up. The mules were not interested in seeing a pack of hounds going through their field (go look up a YouTube of mules taking care of a mountain lion - instincts kick in).

So MFH Jimmy kept the hounds up off the mule field and took them toward the pavilion by the park. The hounds picked up a line straight up the bank toward the township shed and toward the Furness Rd and then across Adams Field.

We went from the Old House sort of slow and just working, and then hit strong when we came closer to Fred's Fox that Helen and the field viewed near the Dog Box. Karen saw him near the stone pile with the hounds not far off and then he went to ground.

It was a good day, and we hunted in from there.


Diana says.. it was a long day.. I'll drive home now

Day 32 of Cubbing

Day 32 of Cubbing - October 22nd, 2010

Meet: Red Pump

Temps: in the 60's

Couples: 13 couples

Staff:
MFH- Gregory Paxson (MFH Jimmy was sick), Staff - Priscilla Godsoe, Dott Cochran, Hoppy Sterns Master Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy and Leo and Flora Erb

Start: 4:00pm
End: 6:15pm

Fun night hunting... change of Masters with Gregory Paxson filling in for Jimmy who was sick. We only took the 'older' hounds and left the 5 'I' puppies, and 5 'J' puppies at home (they were not happy haha).

MFH Gregory Paxson took the hounds toward the pond, and they picked up an early line along the junk yard side of Hogs Run... from there the hounds worked their way up towards the coop on the Meet Side and out into the corn field where they flew. They took about three or more big loops in the corn, hit a miss on patch of grass into the woods but picked it back up heading toward the junk yard where the fox went to ground.


We picked the hounds up at Hogs Run and went up through Hotel California and towards Red Pump Rd where they hit a line but it was hit and miss until they got near the Bridge Abutment, from there they made a big loop on either side of Red Pump, and then a smaller loop heading back toward the meet.

We picked up the hounds and called it a day... a good day! I think we will keep Gregory, ha-ha

Day 31 of Cubbing

Day 31 of Cubbing - October 20th, 2010

Meet: Herr's Stone Lane
Temps: in the 60's

Couples: 20 1/2 couples


Staff:
MFH- James Paxson, Staff - Priscilla Godsoe, Dott Cochran, Hoppy Sterns Master Gary Kennedy, Duncan Paterson Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy and Leo and Flora Erb

Start: 8:30am
End: 11:something


This Wednesday wasn't as 'amazing' as the last time that we were here but it still was not a bad day. I think we got a bit spoiled with a lot of fast runs. Today the hounds had to work through the woods, and I think we were pretty far behind the fox. None the less all went well, and we had fun.

Day 30 of Cubbing

Day 30 of Cubbing - October 18th, 2010

Meet: Down Patrick

Temps: in the 60's

Couples: 20 1/2 couples

Staff:
MFH- James Paxson, Staff - Priscilla Godsoe, Fred VonC Field Master Gary Kennedy,Duncan Paterson Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy and Leo and Flora Erb

Start: 8:30am
End: 11:something

What a day! What a fun day too! We started off around the backside of Gibsons and around towards Ankrum's Bone Woods and then across toward the Old House. The hounds were hot and cold all the way towards the Old House and then hit pretty strong as they crossed the road by the Old Tires and took it pretty good along the big bank and woods towards the Duck Pond.


Somewhere in the woods they hit super strong and they were off. 41 hounds just riping through the woods up towards the park, cross the stream and into the Mule Fields. They made several small loops and several big loops and moved a few 'not the hunted' foxes which we viewed. Its good to know the woods are healthy with foxes!

The hounds took us to Scalpy Hollow Rd where we thought we might have to pull them up, but they went along the back side of there fields and took our last run all the way back to the Mill. They hit a miss so we picked everyone up and went across the Furness Rd back to the meet.

It was a great day of hunting, following and listening to hounds.



Next Meet: Herr's Stone Lane on Wednesday at 8:30am

Cubbing - Day 29

Day 29 of Cubbing - October 15th, 2010

Meet: Red Pump

Temps: in the 60's

Couples: 19 1/2 couples

Staff:
MFH- James Paxson, Staff - Hoppy Sterns, Priscilla Godsoe, Fred VonC Field Master Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy and Leo and Flora Erb

Start: 4:00pm
End: 6:23pm

Nice night out in the woods. We were off and on with a fox and all around the Holy View Side and along by the road. I'm not sure if anyone viewed but the older hounds kept all the young puppies on track by staying steady and working out some of the old lines they hit through the woods.

We also had cake (thank you Karen) to celebrate MFH Jimmy's Birthday (October 17th), even though he was not so thrill we remembered.


We will not be hunting SATURDAY - first day of the black powder deer hunting season

We will be hunting MONDAY at Down Patrick at 8:30am

River Hills will be represented at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show for Hunt Night.
Team One: Gregory/Wilson/John
Team Two: Kelly/Shawndell/Ella
Good Luck!

Cubbing - October 13th, 2010

Day 28 of Cubbing - October 13th, 2010

Meet: Herr's Stone Lane

Temps: in the 60's

Couples: 19 1/2 couples

Staff:
MFH- James Paxson, Staff - Hoppy Sterns, Priscilla Godsoe, Dott Cochran,Charlie Fleischmann, Field Master Duncan Patterson, Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy and Leo and Flora Erb

Start: 8:30am
End: 10:35am

Yeee ha!

What a great day! Hounds got rocking and rolling and took us from the stream in Barkers woods, through Jims Clear Woods, around the old house and through the Bone Woods, up toward Jims Pasture, flying across the Stone Lane, under the Power Lines, into the edge of Peirsons Woods and then across Peirsons Over Grown Field, into the woods below the Cemetery, toward 'The Animal Kingdom' and the fox went to ground!

Phew what a great run!

The hounds touched on a bit before that but that run was really great. The most exciting part to me was being near the hole and seeing all 39 hounds there as a group.. its really great to see them all working together and trusting one another.

On a side note: as I was whipping today I came up through the Cemetery, and thank goodness I decided to go right instead of straight over this hill to speed up my short cut to get to the hounds before they got to Freemont Road... When I crested the hill I saw that someone was getting 'planted' this day.

There were four guys watching me ride through the back end of the Cemetery, they heard the hounds but where not expecting me to come popping up over the hill. As it ended up they stopped their 'planting' and came over towards the over grown field near where the fox went to ground and the guys watched the hounds work.

I decided the best thing to do after we moved the hounds back to MFH Jimmy was that I should go talk to the guys at the Cemetery and explain that I wanted to get to the road before all 39 hounds did...

The four guys were all smiles and the first thing they said, before I said a thing, was that they loved to hear the hounds and they were so impressed that the hounds actually ran together not even taking a look at the two deer that were where the fox was put to ground.

I felt pretty proud of our hounds today... and its a good feeling to see people happy, even in a cemetery!

Cubbing - October 11th, 2010

Day 27 of Cubbing - October 11th, 2010

Meet: Funnel Lake

Temps: in the 70's

Couples: 19 couples JCP Kennels

Staff:
MFH- James Paxson, Staff - Hoppy Sterns, Priscilla Godsoe, Fred VonC,Dott Cochran, Field Master Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy and Leo and Flora Erb

Start: 8:30am
End: 10:45am

What a fantastic day! It did get a little warm for an October morning, but it didn't keep the hounds from running through the 'River Hills'!

Funnel Lake is one of my favorite meets and I was really hoping we would have a good day of hunting. To my luck the hounds picked up a line early on and ran up and down the 'River Hills'. I have to apologize now because there are so many Amish Farms around the Funnel Lake meet that when I'm there, and see the farms I know the names and where I am, but sitting here in bed trying to come up with the names... I just cant remember. I do know that there is such a beautiful landscape of farmland that MFH Jimmy and Leo have kept open for us to hunt by their close relationships with these Amish families. Its very impressive to see so many farm owners that are happy see to us and enjoy hearing the hounds through their woods.

The hounds looped into the woods and went deep into the 'River Hills' ravines or hills, whatever you'd like to call the terrain when you get deep into our country. They came up and down and looped around, and around. It was such a great morning hearing the hounds and watching all of them together.

Next Meet: WEDNESDAY at 8:30am at Herr's Stone Lane

Cubbing - October 8th & 9th 2010

Day 25 of Cubbing - October 8th, 2010

Meet: Down Patrick

Temps: in the 70's

Couples: 16 couples JCP Kennels

Staff:
MFH- James Paxson, Staff - Hoppy Sterns, Priscilla Godsoe, Fred VonC, Field Master Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy and Leo and Flora Erb

Start: 4:00pm
End: 6:32pm

What a beautiful night to be out in the woods with a great pack of hounds. We started out behind the Gibson Farm on the Fern Glen Road side, dropping down toward the hay bales and the two streams hitting off and on as went along. The hounds ran pretty good through the Bone Woods and then moved across to the Old House and then along the Palisades. From there we went along the Flat along the Fishing Creek and made two loops around the same path until we finally put the fox to ground along the Pipeline.

A lot of views!!! Thank Freddie for that.

______________________________________________________________________


Day 26 of Cubbing - October 9th, 2010

Meet: Red Pump

Temps: in the high 60's

Couples: 17 couples JCP Kennels

Staff:
MFH- James Paxson, Staff - Hoppy Sterns, Priscilla Godsoe, Dott Cochran, Field Master Duncan Patterson, & Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy

Start: 10:00am
End: 12:12pm

Another fantastic fall morning. We covered just about every part of Holy View an then some. We had a nice fox that was game to play for a while until he went to ground.

Its the perfect time of year so I hope that everyone keeps coming out and enjoying the beauty and sound of our hounds.


Next Meet: Funnel Lake on Monday at 8:30a.m. See ya there!

Bareback Over 5 Foot Wall, trust a TB

Bareback over 5 foot wall, trust a TB

*CLICK ON THE ABOVE LINK*

Day 24 of Cubbing - Oct. 2nd, 2010

Day 24 of Cubbing - October 2nd, 2010

Meet: Red Pump

Temps: in the 60's

Couples: 15 couples JCP Kennels

Staff:
MFH- James Paxson, Staff - Hoppy Sterns, Priscilla Godsoe, Dott Cochran, Field Master Duncan Paterson & Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy

Start: 10:00am
End: 1:12pm


What a day... and we needed it!

I dont think anyone was able to view, but we had foxes running circles all over in the beginning. Hounds split once so MFH Jimmy and Hoppy stayed with one group that went toward the mushroom plant, and Dott and I picked up the other group that was heading toward the stone pile and brought them to Jimmys group. Soon after then the fox went to ground on the cliffs near Freemont.

After we picked all the hounds up we headed back to the where Dott and I stopped the hounds... at that point we got too far behind the fox to really run him well. From the Hogs Run side we headed over to Holy View and work the regular draw backwards...but, the River Fox wasnt home... We did get a fox heading back in the direction of the meet, and he gave up a pretty good run. All in all it was a really fun day, and a just perfectly beautiful day as well!

Hopefully we will get out Wednesday Oct. 6th, at Herr's Stone Lane at 8:30am

I'm thankful for all this rain... but its getting in the way of hunting haha!