TAILS FROM THE COTTONTAIL WOODS





TO: ALL BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS OF THE ALLEGHENY

THE COTTONTAIL, photo by J.R. Ewing

FROM: THE HIGH HARE MAN OF THE ALLEGHENY


GREETINGS TO ALL,

The first Eastern Cottontail season for 2008 is history. Overall, it was a good season. Not anyway near one of the best I've ever had, but... The hunting with Joe, Jr, Jim Taylor, his friends and son, Vic, and my hounds made the season worth it many times over.

During the past season the weather consisted of nearly every possible variation possible from too hot to snow, wind and cold. For some reason, the snow cover the last few days gave the hounds some trouble. Maybe because the snow was getting old. By this, I mean the snow had been on the ground for several days, tracked up by both man and beast. A fresh snow may have made the scenting conditions considerably better. But, of course, a guy can't have everything. The fact is we do not generally have snow on the ground this time of year.

Jim Hanson will have his four rabbits for his church wild game dinner and Jim Taylor took the two he wanted for his game dinner. I had several good rabbit dinners and I still have a couple to get into the freezer or the pot. Now we are looking forward to the Pennsylvania Varying Hare Season.

Yesterday, Saturday November 29, proved to be a good day afield. Joe and I enjoyed a great breakfast at the Corner Restaurant in Sligo before venturing into the rabbit fields. At the Corner Restaurant, you get eggs, your choice of meat, (ham, bacon, or sausage), potatoes, toast and coffee for only $3.75. There is not too many places on this earth that offer a deal like it.

The scenting conditions were not perfect as the hounds were cold trailing long before they got the first rabbit up and running. Sometimes they work very hard and make a lot of noise before they actually find the rabbit. Find it they did and bring it around they did! But, alas, I missed it twice, sitting. Don't know how, but missed it. I sometimes think the ammo company forgets to put shot in the shells. I had a bad primer last year and my faith in the ammo is not good. The hounds ran it for a while but then came up empty.

Moving on, the hounds worked another rabbit up and the chase was on. The hard working hounds, Patch, Gracie, Speckles and Blacky, were having trouble but they were keeping it moving. The rabbit was way out in front of the hounds when I saw it. Unfortunately, the rabbit saw me move and was gone. Lucky for me, the hounds soon found another rabbit and the chase was on again. As the cottontail came my way, I never dreamed he would run into the open woods as there was cover all the way around me. But old Briar Rabbit made a fatal mistake as I took him with a running shot from the infamous Thompson Contender .410. Funny, I can't hit them sitting but can hit them running. Again, a fresh snow cover no doubt would have made the scenting conditions more favorable.

Going back to Thanksgiving Day, Joe and I had enjoyed a pretty good hunt with several rabbits up and one killed. We were hunting near Callensburg, PA.. Near a place I like to call the "Dear Defense Area". No, Deer Defense, I mean. The deer hunters have built these high tower tree stands, so, it looks like they are defending the area, from deer I presume. I had been almost run over by a nice eight point buck which not one of the hounds wanted to chase, amazingly. As we were leashing up the hounds to leave the woods we heard a truck enter close by. It was only seconds after which we heard a man screaming in pain. Joe rushed to the screams as I finished taking care of my hounds then hurried over to find a young man sitting on the ground. It did not take me long to figure out the guy had fallen from the tree stand that he was intending to use on the opening day of buck season. As he tried to stand my concern was that he had broken something and would then go into shock. He claimed he was okay but accepted Joe's offer to drive him to his grandmother's home. I loaded my hounds and picked Joe up at the residence. We hope he was okay. The poor guy was lucky that Joe and I were near by. He could have laid there for sometime. We now know his name to be James (Jamie) Aughton from the Callensburg-West Freedom area. I may stop and check with his grandmother sometime to check on his condition.

There is a lesson to be learned here somewhere.

Over all, of the available days, I hunted twenty-five days and seventeen rabbits were killed in front of my hounds. Not a record season by any standard but an enjoyable one none the less. I am not going to get my perfect attendance certificate this year. Joe and I reminisced many times about the many really great cottontail hunting seasons we have had over the years.

The cottontail will shine again!

ATTENTION: MAINE WINTER HARE HUNT
MARCH 16 THRU MARCH 22, 2009.

GREETINGS FROM THE HIGH PLATEAU

TALLY HO!!

TO: ALL BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS OF THE ALLEGHENY

FROM: THE OFFICE OF THE HIGH HARE MAN

GREETINGS: Yesterday, Saturday November 22, 2008, "Old" Jim Hanson and I ventured onto the High Plateau of The Allegheny in search of the elusive Snowshoe Hare of the North.

The weather was not on our side. Heavy snow squalls and heavy accumulation of the white, fluffy stuff must have kept most game animals holed up.

The snow depth on the High Plateau is unofficially knee deep. A little deep for the beagles.

The picture above was taken while traversing a logging road in the Allegheny National Forest. The light snow did not impare travel with four wheel drive.

This is the earlyest on set of winter I can remember. At least for a long time. It may be a long winter.

Fraternally In Beagling and Snowshoe Hare Hunting,

Joe

TALLY HO!!

Jim Taylor with (L-R) Blacky, Gracie, Speckles and Patch.

Me with "A Team" and soon to be pheasant dinner.

TALLY HO!!

TO: ALL BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS OF THE ALLEGHENY

FROM: THE CEO OF THE BWHHs of THE ALLEGHENY


GREETINGS,

Yesterday, November 18, 2008, Jim Taylor, Leo Crawford (a friend of Jim's) and myself hunted for Eastern Cottontail at State Game Lands 244 in Jefferson county Pennsylvania. What a GREAT day we had! The hounds; Patch, Blacky, Gracie, Speckles and Wiggles did a great job. Not only did they not embarrass their owner and handler but made him proud. Sometimes all the dog training and hard work pays off.

Leo made two nice shots killing both rabbits. I killed one and Jim killed one. There were some missed shots on flying pheasants too.

I think I failed to tell you about the pheasant I shot last week, on the fly, with my contender. Not only was it a great shot but the bird was great eating. I plucked it instead of skinning and it was cooked on a beer can filled with Sam Adam's October Fest. A meal fit for a king or better yet a meal fit for a red neck like me. We have been eating some mighty good rabbit meals too. "Rabbit Supreme" for one was really tasty. I couldn't stop eating. I have also enjoyed some great rabbit pot pie.

Joe Jr. will be home for Thanksgiving next Wednesday. We will be getting out for cottontail Thursday, Friday and Saturday I hope. Anyone wanting to go along can give me a call. We would love to have your company.

All for now.

Fraternally In Beagling and Hare Hunting,
Joe

TALLY HO!! AND GREETINGS

LAKE SUPERIOR IN WISCONSIN
OLD FAITHFUL, YELLOW STONE NATIONAL PARK, WYMOMING

PRAIRIE DOG, NORTH DAKOTA "DO NOT FEED THE PRAIRIE DOGS"

LADY ELK IN THE STEAM OF YELLOW STONE

CROSSING THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE WITH SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW

THE GRAND TETONS, WYOMING

ELK NEAR JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING

BULL ELK BY THE WATER, YELLOW STONE NATIONAL PARK

MULE DEER AT THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK, NORTH DAKOTA

BUCKS AT DEFENSE LANGUAGE SCHOOL, MONTEREY, CALIF.

COYOTE AT YELLOW STONE, WYOMING

TALLY HO!!

TO: ALL BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS OF THE ALLEGHENY

FROM: THE CHIEF HARE HUNTER OF THE ALLEGHENY, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS OF THE ALLEGHENY, AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS OF THE ALLEGHENY

GREETINGS TO: THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS OF THE ALLEGHENY, GREAT WHITE HARE HUNTERS, BEAGLERS, HARE WATCHERS OF THE GREAT NORTH AND ALL OTHERS.

It has been a long, hot, busy summer and fall. I have enjoyed many miles of travel across the country.

In September, Brenda and I flew to Austin, Texas for a beautiful and wonderful wedding ceremony for my nephew Cliff Ewing and his new bride and a great visit with my brother’s beloved and wonderful family. While in Austin it was also my big brother’s and his wife, Kay’s fiftieth wedding anniversary. What a great time we had, in a beautiful location, celebrating such a great mile stone. With my entire brother’s six children and their families made it a weekend to be remembered for a very long time.

The very next weekend after returning from Texas, a road trip to Cheektowaga, NY for another beautiful and memorable wedding ceremony and reception with the family of BWHH Board Member Bill Moreland. We also had the pleasure of spending time with Board Member Ray Wolford and wife Cheryl.

Shortly their after another road trip to Washington, D.C. to meet up with BWHH Board Member Joe, Jr. and tour the District. Son Joe was in our nation’s capital on business and mom and dad were fortunate enough to spend some long sought after time with him.

In early October I flew to California where I had the honor of witnessing Joe, Jr.’s graduation from the Defense Language Institute (DLI) at the Presidio at Monterey and his receiving of his Master’s Degree from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) at Monterey.
I also enjoyed sometime with Big Woods Hare Hunter Laura Hennessey while in California.
On October 10th Joe and I trucked out of Monterey, California on our nine day tour across the United States of America.

Starting out from California, we visited Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and finally Pennsylvania. Just of few of the sights are included on this blog in picture form for your viewing enjoyment.

Some of the cities we enjoyed visiting were, Lake Tahoe, Reno, Salt Lake City, Jackson Hole, Billings, Duluth, Sault Ste. Marie and East Lansing along with many small towns along the way.

Cottontail rabbit season is long underway here in Pennsylvania and I have been busy hunting everyday. The weather has gone from very wet on opening day to snow to very hot and dry. The weather is now turning more seasonal with today being cold and windy.
The hounds are ready and getting in better shape every day.

Veteran BWHH Board Member “Old” Jim Hanson as been laid up after surgery and slowly recuperating at home. We (the hounds and I) have missed his company in the rabbit woods. (Post Script: “Old” Jim and I were out rabbit hunting today, November 11 and although we didn’t kill anything, we did get some exercise.)

Old Big Woods Hare Hunter Jim Taylor and I had a good day in the field early on and retired Beagler Merle Wetzel has plans on a day out sometime soon.

The Snowshoe Hare season will soon be upon us and it is time to make plans for the much anticipated season. The dates this year are from Friday, December 26th, 2008 through Thursday, January 1st, 2009.

The Annual Maine Hunt will be March 16 through the 22nd, 2009. We will leave on Saturday, March 14th and return home on March 22nd, 2009.

Fraternally In Beagling and Hare Hunting,

Joe