Day 58 of the Hunting Season - December 31st, 2010

Day 58 of the Hunting Season - December 31st, 2010

NEW YEARS EVE

Meet: Red Pump

Temps: in the 30's

Couples: 21 Couples *Puppies Kane, Kirkwood, Kalev, Kent, Kiwi, Kiki, Kia, Kay

Staff:
Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- Fred VonC MFH, Dr. Carl Mease, Dott Cochran, Hoppy Sterns, Priscilla Godsoe, Field Masters- Duncan Patterson MFH, Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Leo and Flora Erb, and Karen Kennedy

Start: 10:15am
End: 1:ishpm

Well.... .... .... It wasnt a blank day, but it wasnt much of a day either.

All 42 hounds stayed together and worked hard, but they couldnt go on with anything.

You could tell a fox had been out and about but its never a good thing when the Huntsman 'smells' the fox. I guess all off us whips could have picked up Dawn and Dorthy, Drummer and Diana, Daniel and Issac, Devon and Beazie, Easter and Empress and then maybe we could have run a fox.

Oh well, such is the way of fox hunting!

Tomorrow will be the Blessing Of The Hounds and New Years Day Hunt
We hope that everyone will join us at 11:00am - whether you are on a horse or not!
After hunting we will have brunch in the Pigery - if you can bring something we would appriciate it!

Day 57 of the Hunting Season - December 29th, 2010

Day 57 of the Hunting Season - December 29th, 2010

Meet: Herr's Stone Lane

Temps: in the 30's

Couples: 20 1/2 Couples *Puppies Kane, Kent, Kiwi(*first hunt), Kiki & Kia

Staff:
Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- Priscilla Godsoe, Impromptu Whips - Melissa Gartland, Field Masters- Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Dott Cochran
Start: 10:00am
End: 12:12pm



Hounds stayed together so great and ran a couple fast foxes!

We started out with 5 'River Hillers' on horseback - Jimmy, Melissa, Carlee, Gary, and myself, and then Dot showed up a little later in the truck to view fox and watch the roads. We were not totally sure where everyone was today, maybe too much Holiday cheer? No one could fit into their breeches? I dont know. But, I'd say everyone missed out on a fun day.

So, we started out to the right of the meet heading towards the trailer park. MFH Jimmy had some issues navigating the 'cows', and the puppies thought the cows had some very exciting smells, especially the smells that they could roll around in!

As we past the trailer park, Dawn picked up a line and the pack was off. They dropped into the woods parallelling West Ridge Road and made there way into Barkers side of the meet. The were quiet s the older hounds worked a couple logs and then flew out of the woods! It would have a great video had I been more prepared with my camera!

Out of the woods and over the coops to the big cow pasture above Jim's horse field. Hounds ran straight to one hole and out came the fox from another hole. He ran through the Stump Woods, back to Barkers Woods and then went to ground.

On our way out of Barkers Woods we pushed out another fox and ran him through the Stump Woods, to the bank by Jim's pond, up around the Old Barn Foundation and then back out towards the coop at the cow field and then lost him?

MFH Jimmy moved the hounds out of the Stump Woods area towards Jim's Clear Woods, in the direction of the hole near the Park Woods. As they past over the hole they picked up a line on the park trail and took it across Jim's Drive and under the power lines. Dott viewed the fox come off the bank above Jim's Barn and crossed up through the horse field.

MFH Jimmy moved the hounds through the cow pasture in the direction of where Dot viewed. Cows were rather interested by all the hounds and it was just safer to move through, even if we hadn't viewed a fox. Not long after the hounds were on the line and they took it up through the horse field, out into the cow pasture, dropped into the Stump Woods again, crossed the little stream to the Old Barn Foundation, and then took a straight line towards the big cow pasture and the coop.

Melissa and I view the fox but he went right towards Freemont Road. With pretty much no whips out, and already having had a great morning of runs, we pulled the hounds up as soon as we realized where the fox was heading.

It was a good day! And... we came back with every hound. I shouldn't have been worried but we did cover a lot of area, so, it was 'cool' to know that they were all working well together.

NEXT MEET: Friday at RED PUMP at 10:00am

DON'T FORGET!!!
BLESSING OF THE HOUNDS - SATURDAY - DOWN PATRICK MEET - 11:00am

Day 56 of the Hunting Season - December 25th, 2010

Merry, Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Day 56 of the Hunting Season - December 25th, 2010

Meet: Red Pump

Temps: in the high 20's

Couples: 19 Couples *Puppies Kiki, Kane, Kalev, Keno, & Kia

Staff:
Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- Priscilla Godsoe, Impromptu Whips - Saran Singh, Sarah Gartland, Melissa Gartland, Field Masters- James Paxson MFH, Hound Trucks - None

Start: 10:00am
End: 12:30pm

Well folks, if you weren't out with us today, you sure did missed a good day!

MFH Jimmy, Saran, and I started out by going into then kennel figuring out which hounds to take hunting this morning... I dont know why the hound faces looked more sad of Christmas Day than other days, but they did. The result - taking 39 hounds out with one whip and three impromptu fill in whips.

LUCKILY we had a good day and the hounds made great Christmas Hounds!

We started out by heading towards the bamboo forest and the hounds picked up a line early towards Lees Bridge Rd but we had to pull them up. MFH Jimmy pull the hounds up through the clear woods towards DeVines and they started again really strong taking the line in the woods below the junk yard and dropped towards Hogs Run.

Hounds crossed Hogs Run and kept along the bottom towards the Bridge Abutment, had a little trouble but moved up towards the woods with the two coops and across towards the first deer stand near Lees Bridge. Hounds kept it going towards the Highland cattle and out in the direction of the Mouse House. From here it was a bit quiet as the hounds works slowly through the woods on the Mouse House side but went full tilt again on the meet side of the point heading into the amphitheater, across the fields above the woods with the two coops, along the old fence line by the old drive.

Hounds gave me a GOOD scare as they took the line right along Lees Bridge, making me think they were going to cross at any time, but they were careful and took it straight through the old dump in the woods and down to Red Pump Road. Hounds hit a miss on the road, and since we had everyone and all the hounds we headed back to the meet since we were pretty close.

It was a fun filled morning. Hounds were good. Puppies had some funny moments too!



Looks like we will be getting some snow so keep posted for Monday!

Cheers!

Day 55 of the Hunting Season - December 24th, 2010

Day 55 of the Hunting Season - December 24th, 2010

Meet: Ankrum's Dog Box

Temps: in the high 20's (windy)

Couples: 16 1/2 Couples *Puppies Kiki, Kane, Keno, & Kirkwood

Staff:
Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- Fred VonC MFH, Dr. Carl Mease, Priscilla Godsoe, Dot Cochran, Hoppy Stearns, Field Masters- Duncan Patterson MFH, Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy, and Leo & Flora Erb

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

We had a really fun Christmas Eve Hunt with the River Hill's Family.

Hounds started out by dropping down out of the wind by the Old House and kept dropping until they were able to pick up a light line that they were able to take up the pipeline and towards the two streams by Ankrum's and Gibson's.

The hounds were able to run well in the woods out of the wind, but had a time of it in the open fields. A few times when I was close to the hounds and watching them work the line up through the woods and into the field, I could see the hounds so concentrated and then they had a look of shock when they hit the field and the scent was just gone! I actually felt bad for them.

They lost the fox somewhere in between the bone woods and the pipeline. Most likely he went to ground in his regular hole in the heavy briers and fallen branches below the dog box.



MFH Jimmy took the hounds back out of the wind towards the flat and then crossed the Fishing Creek Road towards Schmitguls side with a slight bend towards Herr's Point.
Sterns where going the whole time but no one opened up with anything strong.

We crossed the Furrniss Road and headed towards the big bank below Herr's house. Once on the bank Daniel picked up a strong line straight up the bank and the rest of the hounds harked on to him. Hounds flew across the top and into the woods towards the pavilion, hit a miss along the drive to the park, then carried it on passed the Township building, struggled hard with it across the open field at Adams and then the scent was pretty much blown away at that point.

MFH Jimmy took one last draw by the old spring and up along the fence line towards the pump, and we headed back to the meet for Christmas cookies, cakes, brownies, cheese and crackers, Dottie's soup and hot coffee and tea. It was a great way to finish up with everyone!

We will be hunting Christmas Day at Red Pump!
10:00am

Day 54 of the Hunting Season - December 22nd, 2010

Day 54 of the Hunting Season - December 22nd, 2010

Meet: Herr's Stone Lane

Temps: in the high 20's

Couples: 19 Couples *Puppies Kay, Kiki, Kent, Keno, & Kirkwood

Staff:
Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- Priscilla Godsoe, Dot Cochran, Hoppy Stearns, Field Masters- Duncan Patterson MFH, Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy, and Leo & Flora Erb

Start: 10:00am
End: 12:15pm

It was a good day for hounds working together, but not so much for long runs. Scent seemed a bit spotty. We started out through Piersons Woods, wrapped around Eds, then on through the woods on the meet side of the pond. They took a stronger line through the Stump woods and on towards the old barn foundation and the park, and kept it going towards the junk yard and the ravine near the blue building.

Below the brick house, MFH Jimmy took the hounds towards the Church and in the direction of the bus and the radio tower. Hounds kept trying to take the line but it was just a tough day. From the radio tower we went on to the monument and along the stream along McPherson Lake towards Jim's Clear Woods, and then headed back to the meet!

We will hope for a good day on Christmas Eve!
December 24th at Ankrum's Dog Box at 10:00am

Day 53 of the Hunting Season - December 20th, 2010

Day 53 of the Hunting Season - December 20th, 2010

Meet: Funnel Lake

Temps: in the mid 20's

Couples: 19 Couples *Puppies Kay, Kia, & Kiki

Staff:
Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- Fred VonC MFH, Priscilla Godsoe,Dot Cochran, Hoppy Stearns,Field Masters- Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy, and Leo & Flora Erb

Start: 10:00am
End: 12:15pm

So, I was told yesterday, 'You know every time I ask how the hunt goes with you guys at River Hills, I hear - O great, we had a really good day - so I figured I should come see for myself'.... 'You had another good day! Hounds sounded great'

I will leave this anonymous.... but I'm not lying when I say we had another good day.

We took Kia out for her first time today. I'm pretty sure she will be sleeping well tonight since the pack kept her running up and down the 'river hills'. We started with our first good run from the stone pile, back towards the amphitheater and the Bridle Path Rd. We thought they were going to cross Pumping Station Road but the fox crossed the small part of the river on Shadles side staying low along the river. The hounds ran towards the horse shoe and from the bottom ran straight up to the rocky bank by the horse pasture, and here the hounds put the first fox to ground.

MFH Jimmy took the hounds upstream again towards the horse shoe when the hounds picked up another line taking them on a high route back towards the stone pile on Sam's side, dropped down towards the horse shoe again. We thought they may have hit a miss, but it looked like Daniel found the line again on the machine shed side of the horse shoe. All the hounds harked on when Daniel opened up and the Issac helped bring it up the steep part of the bank. They were all on as the came to the top of the horse shoe and headed behind Shadles in the direction of the bridge on Pumping Station closest to the meet.

The hounds took the line to the river when we pulled them up before crossing towards Black Rock. This time of year during the Holidays we steer clear of Black Rock and always try to steer clear of 472, that is unless we happen to hunt under the bridge after deer season.

All in all, good day. Hounds stayed together nicely. Couldn't ask for anything better.

PS. Using the excuse that you didn't have clean brick britches doesn't work. Tan Tailored Sportsman, as clean as they may be, are not appropriate River Hills staff pants... ooops! Better off to err on the side of dirty - haha

Day 52 of the Hunting Season - December 18th, 2010

Day 52 of the Hunting Season - December 18th, 2010

Meet: Down Patrick

Temps: in the mid 20's

Couples: 18 1/2 Couples *Puppies Kalev, Kirkwood, & Kiki

Staff:
Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- Priscilla Godsoe, Hoppy Stearns,Field Masters- Duncan Patterson MFH, Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy

Start: 10:00am
End: 1:15pm




Started off across the corn fields towards Dougs for a change of pace. Hound hit a line early near the woods on the Jump Field side of Dougs and ran into the woods towards the Fishing Creek. Hounds took the line toward the stream from Gibsons and Ankrums, and took it up near the Chicken Feathers. It looked like they were going to take it toward the Pipeline but they doubled back and took it towards the Bone Woods.
In the Bone Woods the put the fox to ground in the heavy briers.

From the Bone Woods MFH Jimmy took the hounds across the wheat fields towards the Old House and around towards Adams and the Township Building. As MFH Jimmy took the hounds from the Old house towards the Township Building, the hounds were touching on scent but didn't get it strong enough to really run it until they got by the Pavilion.



From the Pavilion the hounds took the line along the stream by the Mule Field, then high up towards the briers near Herrs House. They ran really strong along the bank towards Herrs Farm Buildings and the bend on Furrniss Road (for anyone in question of the spelling of Furrniss and Furnace... I know the difference, thats just the way they spell it in these parts -haha) . Hounds took the line across the road and towards the Old House and bent around by the Old Spring House and high on the Palisades. We expected to see a fox jump out across the open fields but instead the fox crossed the Fishing Creek Road and went up towards Herr's Point.



With all the hounds on they went high on Schmitguls Side but bent back towards Herr's Point and the horse pasture that's along the Furrniss Road. Hounds crossed Furrniss and ran up towards the tree farm, sort of in the direction of Harmony Ridge Road. They went pretty fast out across the fields with all the planted trees then dropped towards the small horse field and the Gazebo by the Fishing Creek Hollow Road and the Tree Farm Meet.

Hounds went towards the Duck Pond and then up the bank towards Herr's House and put the fox to ground. We picked up the hounds at this point and hack back to the meet from the Furrniss Road side. It was a nice day of hunting for foxes with the River Hills Foxhounds!



Its a mystery to me to think what we would be doing without them?

Day 51 of the Hunting Season - December 17th, 2010

Day 51 of the Hunting Season - December 17th, 2010

Meet: Wiles

Temps: in the mid 20's

Couples: 17 1/2 Couples *Puppies Keno, Kirkwood, & Kiki

Staff:
Huntsman- MFH James Paxson, Staff - MFH Fred VonC, Priscilla Godsoe, Hoppy Stearns, Hound Trucks - Gary Kennedy

Start: 10:00am
End: 12:15pm



What wonderful foxes today! Hounds kept touching on the line as soon as we let out by the meet. You could see the tracts in the snow as the hounds inched up closer and closer to our little fuzzy friend.

Hounds got a pretty good line on the other side of the Ram and from there they pushed out two foxes that ran towards Freemont. The third fox ran back towards the ram, through the woods and then towards the Log House. Hounds stayed together really well and didnt get split as the fox took them through all the heavy briers and fallen logs. Even the puppies had their noses down and looking like they were hunting!

The fox was quiet wonderful to stay a foot for so long, and wrapped around and around and around again until he went back towards the meet and crossed the Pusseyville Road where we had to pull the hounds up.



It was a much nicer day with out all the wind that we had Wednesday!

Looking forward to tomorrow at Down Patrick! 10:00am start!! See ya then!!!

Day 50 of Hunting - Dec 15th 2010

Day 50 of the Hunting Season - December 15th, 2010

Meet: Funnel Lake

Temps: in the 20's

Couples: 18 1/2 Couples *Puppies Kane and Kiki

Staff:
Huntsman- MFH James Paxson, Staff - Priscilla Godsoe, Hoppy Stearns, Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy

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



Okay, so I have thawed out and I can type again! HA-HA. It wasn't THAT bad.. I guess. The hounds did a great job despite the wind and the scent blowing around in the top fields along the 'river hills'.

MFH Jimmy took the hounds across the top field towards the Stone Pile and the hounds picked up a line that they managed to work for about an hour as they went back and forth through the woods. Hounds made several big loops from the Stone Pile, to the Log House, then to Shadles side, and back to the bank (TWICE) to put the foxes to ground.

From the Amish side we crossed the road and picked up another fox and the hounds were smok'n towards Pumping Station Road. They worked the bank really well out of the wind, and took the line up the gravel road towards the Power Lines. Personally speaking.. I was cold at this point. MFH Jimmy was not. But thankfully he had a little pity on us girls and decided to call it a day when the hounds hit a miss.

Nice day back in the saddle and out chasing foxes :-)