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.

'Arctic Hounds vs Pen Marydel' Day 66 of the Hunting Season - January 22nd, 2011

Day 66 of the Hunting Season - January 22nd, 2011

Meet: Red Pump

Temps: around 12

Couples: 17 1/2 *Puppies Kiki
Staff:
Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- Fred VonC MFH, Priscilla Godsoe, Lindsay Jones, Hound Trucks - Karen & Gary Kennedy

Start: 11:00am
End: 1:45pm

And to think I thought all is time we were hunting with Pen-Marydels... when I called MFH Jimmy to see if we were hunting this morning, I was informed that we are now hunting the 'Arctic Short Hair' an almost distinct breed that was used centuries ago to hunt the Arctic Fox. Of course! Thats what we have... no other hunt group would venture out to hunt under these temperatures unless equip with these 'Arctic Short Hairs'.....



We bundled up and had a fun morning hunting. Today the real dedication showed from a few of our members who managed to shovel out of their drive ways, clear off their trucks and trailers and come out!



We were dressed in our Sunday best as you can see, but there were no complaints about the coooold temperatures. The hounds were more than happy to be out and enjoyed the romp around the Red Pump Meet.



The foxes were out, but the scent was not much good today. Hounds worked hard and took a few good runs. We were definitely happy to get out, looks like some bad weather ahead!

Keep posted on Facebook/Twitter/RHF Recorder



(please note: there is no such thing as an Arctic Short Hair)

Day 65 of the Hunting Season - January 17th, 2011

Day 65 of the Hunting Season - January 17th, 2011

Meet: Red Pump

Temps: in the 20's

Couples: 22 1/2 *Puppies Keno, Kirkwood, Kent, Kane, Kalev, Kiwi, Kiki, Kia,Kay

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



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

Exciting day out and about and covering just about all of the Red Pump meet.

We started off heading towards the coop above Hog's Run. The hounds dropped down and across the creek heading up towards the Junk Yard, across through DeVines woods, and around towards the Bamboo Forrest. Hounds were on a few spotty lines but nothing great.

We crossed over towards the Stone Pile and Red Pump Road heading in the direction of the Deer Stand along Lee's Bridge Road. Hounds worked the little ravine down through towards the road and picked up a line by the Second Deer Stand. A fox was viewed out across the corn field in the direction of the Mouse House Farm, and a second fox was viewed heading towards the Amphitheater.

Soon 90% of the hounds were on the second viewed fox and they were off! The split pack ran the first fox to ground quickly. The main pack was all they way at the coop along Hog's Run and dropping towards Petro's Bank along the river. I moved the split pack to the line of the second fox knowing they would eventually catch up.

The fox was viewed crossing between a landowners house and their garage, and again from Freemont Road heading towards the Junk Yard. We moved the hounds away from the house to avoid getting too 'up close and personal' with the house dogs and our pack of 45 hounds! Ha-Ha.

The line was now a little harder to pick up but the hounds were able to take the line back across Hog's Run, and out into the big corn field at the meet. MFH Jimmy helped the hounds by moving them along and dropping towards the Red Pump Road. They picked up the line again and took it from the brier patch at the meet along the meet side of the bank along Red Pump and hit a miss.

It was a good day. Not too bad for getting around. You could gallop in some places and the horses feet didnt 'ball up' with snow. Looks like we are set to get some rough weather of freezing rain and snow which could hold up our hunting for a bit.

Keep posted on Facebook, Twitter, and the RHF Recorder to see what we are doing next!

Cheers!

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

Day 63 of the Hunting Season - January 14th, 2011

Day 63 of the Hunting Season - January 14th, 2011

Meet: Red Pump

Temps: in the teens

Couples: 22 1/2 *Puppies Keno, Kirkwood, Kent, Kane, Kalev, Kiwi, Kiki, Kia,Kay

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

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

Snow day!



We had a lot of fun with the hounds and horses playing aroun and finding some fox tracks in the snow. No one saw a fox today, but the evidence was very clear that the foxes of Red Pump have been all over.

When the hounds moved up on the line they were able to take it strong and move along, but if they hit a miss or got pulled behind because of the puppies, the hounds had more of a struggle moving with.



Next Meet: Saturday at Ankrum's Dog Box - 10:00am