Day 64 of the Hunting Season - January 15th, 2011

Day 64 of the Hunting Season - January 15th, 2011

Meet: Ankrum's Dog Box

Temps: in the 20's

Couples: 22 *Puppies Keno, Kirkwood, Kent, Kane, Kalev, Kiwi, Kiki, Kia,Kay

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

Start: 10:00am
End: 1:45am



Another fun snow day!

We had a really good day listening to the hounds. They made beautiful hound music that bounced off the walls along the Fishing Creek and the banks through Gibson's and Ankrum's.



Our Amish neighbors curiosity of 44 hounds and people in scarlet coats on horse back chasing foxes through the woods and across fields brought them to watch the hunt today. This particular family who's farm is right next the to Ankrum's meet, were celebrating with their family who lived all around the area. There were probably three or four families with little girls and boys who were just learning to speak english, and asked MFH Jimmy all sorts of questions about the hounds, the horses, our equipment, and the way we teach the hounds to hunt for a fox.

When Karen let the hounds out of the truck, the looks on the little kids faces where pretty much shock and disbelief. I dont think they could have imagined that all 44 hounds had names, and were all going to listen!

In this area MFH Jimmy is well know to the Amish because he talks to them, has been invited to weddings, plows driveways in the winter, drives some of the kids to work or school, and is ready to help them out at a moments notice. MFH Jimmy might be 'english' to them, but its very clear there is a respect that caries along way, and I would say they see him more as a good friend.

The Amish family watched as we went over the hill and towards the Old House. They would be back at the end of the hunt to hear all the stories of the day!

From the Old House the hounds took a line along the Palisades, and on the flat. They moved up through the banks between Gibson's and Ankrum's and back and forth and back and forth across logs, through fallen brush, into briers, and just about everywhere a fox would go in order to play with the hounds.

After a good run through the woods we all decided that we were not too cold to keep hunting and cross the Furniss Rd and hunt towards the Duck Pond. Not long after crossing the road the hounds hit line and crossed towards the Tree Farm. Since the Tree Farm wasnt in our plan for the day, we picked the hounds up and moved across towards Herr's Point. Hounds picked up a line heading back towards the Old House and the lost the line out pretty far in what was the soy bean field.

Since we had all the hounds and were near the meet, we called it a day. The little Amish kids had made a snowman and were sledding by the time we came back. They came running over to see if we caught the fox. Karen had to explain that wasnt what we were trying to do. They looked like they were trying to understand that concept. Im sure it gave them all something to talk about when they go to school on Monday. Fox chasing is pretty 'worldly' for the Amish but MFH Jimmy has their respect anyway. 'We got to see Mr. Jimmy's River Hills Foxhounds' I'm sure will be a topic around the tables and class room, and I'm sure there will be lots of drawings and colored pictures of their interpretation of the fox hunt as well. At least now they will know what colors to give the hounds and the horses!


Next Meet: Monday at Red Pump - 10:00am