Day 68 of the Hunting Season - February 26th, 2011

Day 68 of the Hunting Season - February 26th, 2011

Meet: Red Pump

Temps: 40's

Couples: 17

Staff: Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- Priscilla Godsoe Hound Trucks - Gary & Karen Kennedy, Leo & Flora Erb

Start: 11:00am
End: 1:30 pm



What a lovely day for being out in the country side...



Took the hounds along Red Pump and up towards the deer stand at Lees Bridge Road, down through the ravine and around the bank by the Scottish Highland Cattle. From the woods and brier patches towards Holy View the hounds popped out a Vixen then ran swiftly to her den.

MFH Jimmy took that hounds along the river, back along the old fence line picking up a line across the corn field, and up to the top of the corn field above the amphitheater. Hounds ran fast and strong though the woods and put the fox to ground in the woods between the two coops. I'm thinking there is a hole in there because twice since we have been over this way the hounds stop quick... that or aliens?

We crossed over towards the bridge abutment and the hounds picked up a line towards the coop above Hogs Run, ran along the top in the woods towards Hotel California, crossed the path by the pond and into Lousie Lane and out towards the cornfield on the Lees Bridge side of the meet.

Hounds were running towards a development so we called them up and took them around to pick the line up again. Fox crossed the Lees Bridge Road so we ended up calling it a day before heading into the Barrens.

I've gotta say - I'm pretty proud of the hounds for picking up and heading home... they hadn't been out for a week and they had a hot line. Dawn wasn't too sure about quiting and gave me a good glare!



and no... we didn't get stuck... just almost!

Day 67 of the Hunting Season - February 18th, 2011

Day 67 of the Hunting Season - February 18th, 2011

Meet: Red Pump

Temps: 40's

Couples: 17 1/2 Staff:
Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- Fred VonC MFH, Priscilla Godsoe, Hoppy Stearns, Field Master - Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy
Guest - Christin and Norris from New Zealand

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

Well gosh guys!!! How long has it been since we've been out?

We had tons of ice and snow which seemed to never end. At the start of the week we got lucky in that the temperatures were up into the 60's during the day, and the 40's at night. Even though the high temperatures proved a big help in the melting we still had snow and ice in the woods, and along the creeks. Good thing for sure footed horses and hard core fox hunters!



Despite the time off, the hounds looked great, they listened and were quick to pick up a line towards Pedro's and the Freemont Road. Not exactly where we were planning to go but hounds were able to take the line below the mushroom plant but double back towards the river below the log cabin, and go on towards Hog's run and the coop.



Our guest from New Zealand got a good listen of the hounds as they made their way through the woods, and went on back towards Hotel California and the meet. Fox was put to ground on the bank and MFH Jimmy took the hounds towards the brier patch near the meet along Red Pump Road and again the picked up a line. Hounds went across the corn field and in the the woods towards the Bridge Abutment, crossed Red Pump Road and went up on the Holy View Side towards the woods with the two coops.



Hounds ran pretty fast and strong until they got to the next field and then hit a miss. It looked as though the fox may have doubled back and went on towards the old dump. Eden seemed to keep picking up and losing what was left of the line, but wasn't much there to run with. Since we were near the meet, all riders and horses, and hounds accounted for we called it a day!



We enjoyed coffee, and tea, cakes, and donuts, sandwiches, and Herr's Chips while we enjoyed the company of our kindred spirit hunting friends.

Cheers & Tally ho!

'Gone Away' a tribute to Beazie

It wasn’t hard to tell
I could see it in her eyes
She was ready for some hunt’n
Almost saying her good byes
She watched me with her eyes
And she gave her tail a wiggle

As I looked down at her and smiled
A great hound - we all know that
I reached down to pet her
I saw that look in her eyes
She was always there to please
Always there to try

"Not today” I told her
“We are just going to stay here a while”
I looked down at her ragged ears
All ripped a part by briers
And I noticed all those grey hairs
that had come in around her eyes

She was kind - yet tough
Strong - yet lean
She had a fire in her eyes
She was always running strong on front
Until the years crept on her so
And slowly you would see her
As the seasons came and went

She was falling back into the pack
But right there to set them right
She never missed an outing
And all harked on all right!
The puppies came and went
They would trail behind her so

And slowly they too went on,
Knowing all that she would know.
Her stride was getting shorter
Her feet more spread apart
She had seen so many fox hunts
And covered many a mile.

As she laid there on her blanket
And looked up at me again
I put my hands on her
And pet her velvet soft head
I could feel the dreaded tears come on
And my chest aching so

She left us to go hunting,
There is a great pack up there ya know
She will be up there at the front
And running with the best,
Until I get to join her
In the great fox hunt in the sky.