Day 72 of the Hunting Season - March 9th, 2011

Day 72 of the Hunting Season - March 9th, 2011

Meet: Herr's Stone Lane

Temps: 40's

Couples: 17.5

Staff: Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- Priscilla Godsoe, Hoppy Stearns, Dott Cochran, Field Master- Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks- Leo & Flora Erb, Karen Kennedy

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

Well.... first off - I forgot my Droid in the hound truck - OOOPs! I did however get pictures for the blog from other members of the field who were less forgetful.

We had a terrific day of hunting! Just super! Hounds picked up a line in the Stump Woods and went strong and fast toward the Old House. They just about flew through Jim's Clear Woods towards the Park, and then made a bend towards the Park Road along the little stream that runs under Jim's Drive. Hounds were still going fast as they bent around the bank at Jims and crossed the flat area between Jim and Ed's Pond. Daniel, Issac, and Izzy were on front and took the line straight up towards the power lines.

At the top of the hill out of the briers the hounds went across the cow pasture towards the Pond in the woods and then started to bend toward the Sheep Pasture. Hoppy viewed the fox from the Sheep Barn Side heading back towards the meet. Hound were not far behind and they took the line strong all the way back to the Stump Woods were they originally started.

MFH Jimmy didnt let the hounds stay at the hole of the den long thinking that the fox may have been a vixen. So. on we went toward Barkers Woods and the Park.

Not much happened through Barkers Woods but as we crossed into Jim's Clear Woods near the park the hounds picked up a line and went full tilt into the Park with Issac and Drummer on front. They took the line towards the Swamp and then up towards the Monument, took a bend towards the Burn in the woods below the Junk Yard and back into Jim's Clear Woods, but... not in the clear part! The hounds made a good struggle to work through all the cat briers. I know you wouldnt find me in there!

As the fox gave them a guided tour of the brier patch he split and went towards Barkers Woods and the Old Barn Foundation. The fox then went to ground in a pile of logs with a den nicely build in the bottom. Older Hounds and Puppies were very proud of themselves! MFH Jimmy got off his horse and blew the fox to ground and then we moved off again to leave the fox been in his den.

As we moved back towards the meet the hounds picked up another line towards the meet, through the cow pasture and straight towards the Cemetery. In the bottom of the brier patch below the Cemetery, Leo saw the hounds working the line in the direction towards Jim's Barn.
Luckily for us we were able to enjoy watching the hounds work and were able to sit tight and let them work around us. The Hounds took the line back towards the woods above Jim's Horse Pasture and took the line to a hole again.

And then we called it a day!

We were all about tired too!

Day 71 of the Hunting Season - March 5th, 2011

Day 71 of the Hunting Season - March 5th, 2011

Meet: Red Pump

Temps: 40's

Couples: 17.5

Staff: Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- Priscilla Godsoe, Hoppy Stearns, Field Master- Sara & Melissa Gartland

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



No sight of our red furry friend but we had a very enjoyable day!

Melissa and Sara Garland did an excellent job leading the field and navigating the meet with all of their younger field members that included children from Pony Club and 4-H.

Hunting was a bit tame considering the flat our gallops that we had yesterday at Funnel Lake. Hounds were hit and miss on a few lines, and circled around a lot of holes. Its rather promising to see that the vixens are sticking to their dens preparing to have pups soon!

Holy View will definitely make good fox viewing... maybe I can get out there with my camera once the pups start exploring life outside the den!



Monday looks like rain - I doubt we will be out hunting.

Cheers!

Day 70 of the Hunting Season - March 4th, 2011

Day 70 of the Hunting Season - March 4th, 2011

Meet: Funnel Lake
Temps: 40's

Couples: 18.5

Staff: Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- MFH Fred Von C, Priscilla Godsoe, Hoppy Stearns, Field Master- Gary Kennedy

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



What a SUPER day! Just awesome.

Hounds ran from the woods below the log house, up and around toward the stone pile, made two tight circles on the big bank. We thought the fox may have went to ground, but he shot out across the woods going up towards chicken Sam's, into the Township woods and then back towards the Red Dairy Barn where they finally put the fox to ground on the rock cliff.

MFH Jimmy brought the hounds across the corn field and toward the woods with the power lines heading towards Pumping Station Rd and the second Dairy Barn. As the hounds made their way through the woods they picked up a line hot on the last fox of the day. The headed straight towards the Dairy Barn and along the bank over the creek that flowed along Pumping Station and Dry Wells Road. Fox was viewed coming up from the pond and heading towards Hollow Road. Hound were not far behind him!

As we got near the Hollow Road MFH Jimmy had to make the call to pull up the hounds because the fox was viewed heading out of country. Beautiful, healthy fox, and probably surprised that we stopped playing with him today. He would run, and then stop and just sit and watch the hounds, disappear in the woods, and pop out again and watch the hounds. I think he knew exactly what he was doing!!

Hounds were good and let us pick them up.. they weren't happy about it, but it was a great day for the puppies, and the older hounds were pretty tired.

Day 69 of the Hunting Season - March 2nd, 2011

Day 69 of the Hunting Season - March 2nd, 2011

Meet: Herr's Stone Lane

Temps: 40's

Couples: 16.5

Staff: Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- Priscilla Godsoe, Hoppy Stearns, Field Master- Gary Kennedy

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



Great - Great Day!



We started out along the fence line towards Barkers Woods and the hounds picked up an early line through the woods. The fox went right, deeper into Barkers Woods and in the direction of the Park. Hounds made pretty good speed following the fox through all of the cat briers. The puppies had a good taste of staying with the pack and going through thick and thin!



As soon as the hounds hit an open road they were flying. They took off along the road in the Park into the ravine paralleling West Ridge and the Blue Building. Keeping a steady canter I could keep up with the hounds along the edge of the woods in the fire break as the hounds headed towards the Brick House and then on towards the Church.



The hounds dropped left through the wash in the woods on the Radio Tower side heading towards the old quarries. From the quarries the were still going fast until the fox jumped back into the cat briers and slowed the hounds up a bit. I galloped from the ridge above the hounds near the quarry, all the way around to the Monument but never quite caught up.



As I came from the Monument the hounds were ahead of me heading towards Jims Woods, along McPhearson Lake. A good fast gallop around the lake put me on Park Road were I saw hounds still running up behind Jims House. I waited for a second or two to see if the fox would cross the drive at Jims but instead the fox crossed through Jim's back yard, along the pond, and up on the bank towards the horse pasture.



Full speed ahead and then silence! I cantered up through the horse pasture to find all the hounds at the hole. It must have been a well used den, because the hounds covered the two on the bank and got a good sniff of fox in their lungs. MFH Jimmy blew the fox in and praised the hounds for all their effort. We pulled the hounds back to let the fox be in his den unharmed and ready to play another day.

We packed up with a bunch of tired hounds, happy horses, and I'm sure some riders who will be feeling stiff in the morning!

Cheers!

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.