TALLY HO!!
Greetings to all Big Woods Hare Hunters,
Today, Monday January 26, 2009, Andy, myself and six hounds exited The Allegheny High Plateau with mixed emotions.
The High Plateau had greeted us with crisp, invigorating air (single digit temperatures) and blue skies. The snow pack had settled some over the weekend and it was not known whether this was good or bad. The snow pack seemed a little thicker now possibly making going somewhat tougher for the hounds.
The hounds hit a Supreme Varying Hare almost “off the tailgate” and the chase was on for more than five (5) hours through deep snow. They did have a couple of break downs and a loss or two but the fact remains they received their exercise and gave the Hare some too. The extreme conditions would not hinder these extreme hounds. Desire and conditioning would be no match for the elements.
Andy and I saw the Hare several times each which made our day. No one could ask for more. The hounds (Nellie, Molly, Patch, Gracie, Wiggles and Speckles) did an outstanding job. Considering the conditions they may have did better than outstanding.
Now the bad news.
As we were hiking back to the trucks with hearts full of joy we were about to be shaken back to reality. There, dead on the road, laid the broken, frozen carcass of a Snowshoe Hare. Apparently, struck and killed by a snow machine sometime the night before. The lifeless body of one of God’s most magnificent creatures brought sadness. Even the hounds, you could sense, were cheerless so noble an adversary had met such a senseless and untimely end.
Fortunately, one does not see Hare hit on the roads or snowmobile trails very often. This is probably the first or only the second time in my life I have had to witness such a terrible disaster.
Fraternally In Beagling and Hare Hunting,
Joe
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
EXTREME HARE SEASON
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(left) A minus 10 was warm compared to the 23 below we saw on the High Plateau.
TALLY HO!!
The "Extreme Hare Season" is well underway on the High Plateau of the Allegheny.
Minus temps have been the norm for the last few days.
On the plus side we have been finding and sighting the Omnipotent Snowshoe Hare.
The snow pack stands at about 18 to 20 inches in the Big Woods. Hunters have converted to snowshoes. The hounds are wading an increasing layer of white powder. If we get much more or if it warms up the hounds will have a real rough time of it. They are doing great now and getting stronger and in better s
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hape everyday. My Gracie and Andy's Nellie seem to be the hounds to beat. (right) With this kind of snow conditions in the woods you can see why it is hard to see hare.
Andy, Jim and I were out Monday and had a chase where we previously had not found one. We did not make a sighting. The picture left tells you why.
Jim Taylor, Old Jim and I each had at least one sighting on Tuesday. We ran hare for over three hours. The hounds were still able to go but we had enough.
I am taking a few days off to go to Washington, D.C. to confer with the new President on global warming, climate change and how it will effect hare hunting and to see Hare Hunter Joe, Jr. and Laura.
See you Monday the 26Th at the Village "Dinor" in Marienville, 7:00 AM.
Fraternally
Joe
Thursday, January 15, 2009
EXTREME HARE SEASON REPORT
TALLY HO!!
Yesterday, January 14, 2009, with temperatures hovering around zero degrees, "Old" Jim, Andy and myself, with six hounds ventured onto the High Plateau in search of the Omnipotent but elusive Snowshoe Hare. Jim was skeptical as we had given this same area a good look just a few days ago with very little luck. My hopes were up, as always, knowing we take with us the finest game finding machines known to mankind. And having six of them cuts the odds even finer. If there is any Hare around we will find them. With us today was LTC Patch, Gracie, Speckles, Nellie, Molly and Lucky. I was not about to give up on this area as it has always been one of the best and most accessable areas we hunt.
The red gods of hunting were smilling upon us. We had hit the big woods at 8:30 AM and at 12:10 PM the hounds found a Hare. Not good by Maine standards of cousre but, to us, not too long to hunt before striking a track.
The chase was on for another three hours. I saw the Hare three times and Andy and Jim witnessed the miracle also on several passes. It seemed as if we were possibly chasing two different Hare as we had the pack split on several occasions. At no time did a hunter see two hare at one time to confirm our story.
The weather must be now more conducive to what the Hare like as it seems it is easier to find them. Or, at least get them to run.
At the three hour mark the chase ended abrubtly. I don't know if it was the Hare or the hounds that were played out. I think the Hare took his scent and went home. It seems lately as if three hours is our limit or maybe the Hare's.
Fraternally,
Joe
Yesterday, January 14, 2009, with temperatures hovering around zero degrees, "Old" Jim, Andy and myself, with six hounds ventured onto the High Plateau in search of the Omnipotent but elusive Snowshoe Hare. Jim was skeptical as we had given this same area a good look just a few days ago with very little luck. My hopes were up, as always, knowing we take with us the finest game finding machines known to mankind. And having six of them cuts the odds even finer. If there is any Hare around we will find them. With us today was LTC Patch, Gracie, Speckles, Nellie, Molly and Lucky. I was not about to give up on this area as it has always been one of the best and most accessable areas we hunt.
The red gods of hunting were smilling upon us. We had hit the big woods at 8:30 AM and at 12:10 PM the hounds found a Hare. Not good by Maine standards of cousre but, to us, not too long to hunt before striking a track.
The chase was on for another three hours. I saw the Hare three times and Andy and Jim witnessed the miracle also on several passes. It seemed as if we were possibly chasing two different Hare as we had the pack split on several occasions. At no time did a hunter see two hare at one time to confirm our story.
The weather must be now more conducive to what the Hare like as it seems it is easier to find them. Or, at least get them to run.
At the three hour mark the chase ended abrubtly. I don't know if it was the Hare or the hounds that were played out. I think the Hare took his scent and went home. It seems lately as if three hours is our limit or maybe the Hare's.
Fraternally,
Joe
EMAIL FROM BOB HOWE, PINE GROVE LODGE
Hi Joe, nice to hear from you, glad the hare hunting is going well! I snowmobiled passed the Hutch cover (where he killed a double) today. It seems to be full of hares, I haven't had a dog in there for 3 years, so we'll have to check it out when you come up to Pine Grove again! The isle of bogs cover looks good too! I broke the trail out with the snowmobile so it could get hard and we can hunt it when you come. Regarding the trip after the last email, on Friday we saw 28 hare, 2 killed, on Saturday, they saw 14, no kills. It was very cold and windy both days, it was hard, we had to move into thick cover, 9 shots fired though, but these guys said the hare can outrun birdshot! Ran all pups today, cold, dry snow, the dogs struggled a bit. We are getting 4 inches of snow tonight and running the "A" team tomorrow. I'm heading out to Vermont for a show, Steve will be here hunting a party Friday and Saturday. We are expecting bitter cold and wind on Friday, but a little better on Saturday. My article in next months Outdoors Magazine is on scenting, hope you like it. See you soon!
Bob Howe
www.pinegrovelodge.com
Bob Howe
www.pinegrovelodge.com
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
RABBITS AND HARE 2009
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Above (clockwise) the hounds blow across the beaver flow after an Appalachian Cottontail rabbit. Andy Hoover, across the beaver flow, looks on, wondering and hoping the ice is thick enough to hold the hounds. An authentic Appalachian Cottontail rabbit dashes across the ice. And, Little Toby Creek Blacky, veteran of many a rabbit chase crashes up the creek bank at full voice.
TALLY HO!! and GREETINGS from THE HIGH PLATEAU of THE ALLEGHENY,
I am finally able to report some good news.
Last Friday, although we ("Old" Jim, Andy and myself) did not find a Snowshoe Hare we did manage to find two hard running Appalachian Cottontail rabbits. The two Appalachians took the hounds around and around for almost three (3) hours running it like a tag team event. Finally, some good exercise for the hounds. The "A" Team did an outstanding job.
The "A" Team consists of; Andy's Nellie and Molly and my Patch, Gracie and Blacky. Jim's Lucky dog had hitched a ride home and was in the pen.
Then on Saturday, Jim, Andy and I took, Molly, Nellie, Lucky, Patch, Gracie and Speckles to one of our old reliable places because of the impending storm and found an Omnipotent Snowshoe Hare. The hounds once again did an outstanding and superior job while chasing the old hare for over three (3) hours. Andy had confirmed sightings on three different occasions. Because of the weather we caught the hounds and headed in. It was another great day!
Yesterday, Monday, Andy and I ventured onto the High Plateau in search of yet another Snowshoe Hare chase. The hounds once again were doing their great job of searching but after five hours it was beginning to look fruitless. But, much to the handlers surprise the hounds hit a hare and the chase was on. Beautiful hound music rang across the Allegheny High Plateau for more than three (3) hours before we called off the hounds. It was getting late and darkness would soon be setting in. At one point during the chase it sounded like the hounds were ready to eat the poor little hare. I made the sighting and what a beautiful white hare it was. The woods was full of fresh snow making it difficult to see very far. I was very fortunate to catch a fleeting glimpse.
In case you have never heard of an "Appalachian Cottontail" or "Allegheny Cottontail" rabbit let me explain by reprinting here an article I wrote for the Rabbit Hunter magazine or one of them back in September of 2003.
THE APPALACHIAN COTTONTAIL
By Joe Ewing, Sr.
By Joe Ewing, Sr.
This article may be copied or used as you whish because you have my permission as it is my property.
Old hare hunter Jim Hanson and I were sitting around a campfire one evening this summer in the Enchanted Mountains of Western New York. We had spent the day scouting for new cottontail cover in a new, to us, section of the country. The Enchanted Mountains of Cattaraugus County are well known for the plentiful game that resides in its hillsides and fields. The Allegheny River winds its way along the southern border and Cattaraugus Creek forms the northern boundary. Cattaraugus County is the number one county in New York State for turkey hunting and in the top three for deer hunting. It was Jim’s idea to check out the rabbit cover, which is quite hard to do without dogs. Mostly we were just wasting away the summer.
We were sitting around the campfire reminiscing and making plans, when I said to Old Jim, "Jim, did you know that a couple years back a trio of researchers discovered a brand new breed of cottontail rabbit?"
"What the heck are you babbling about? Do you mean there are actually people who study wild rabbits?" Jim demanded.
"Apparently there are a lot of them spending a lot of your money. A Penn State University researcher is going to spend $115,000 to count snowshoe hare in northern Pennsylvania." I explained. "And don’t ask me how they plan on doing it. This is only one of fifteen projects approved for funding by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Fish & Boat Commission to study ‘troubled wildlife and fish species.’"
"Okay, I won’t go there, but what about this new rabbit?" Jim asked.
"There is an article in the August 2003 Pennsylvania Game News by a Marcia Bonta that states that in 1982 three scientists ‘split’ the New England cottontail into two species." I informed him.
"Did not know that". Said Jim. "What is a New England cottontail?"
"The New England cottontail is a separate and very rare species of cottontail rabbit. The Eastern cottontail is found almost everywhere unlike the New England cottontail whose range is only New England and northern New York State."
"Where does this new cottontail live?" Jim interrupted impatiently.
"The new species of cottontail are secretive, forest-dwelling rabbits. There are never too many found in any one place and they range only within the Appalachian Mountain chain from eastern New York, down through northeastern Alabama. They inhabit woods, shrubby areas, and brush. This new cottontail resides in dense evergreens and deciduous cover at high elevations. It is associated with conifer and heath habitat, and prefers thicker wooded cover than the eastern cottontail." I reported.
"What is a heath habitat?" Jim asked.
"I think ‘heath’ is a foreign word meaning an extensive tract of uncultivated open land covered with low shrubs and the like." I informed. "Probably like huckleberry, mountain laurel or even blueberry."
"What does this new cottontail eat?" Jim wanted to know.
"It eats a variety of grasses, ferns, forbs, and shrubs."
"It eats Fords?" Jim questioned.
"No, no, I said forbs. A forb is a broad-leaved herb growing in a field or meadow. It also appears to be the only cottontail that feeds extensively on conifer needles. In the winter they also eat twigs and bark."
"They bark," Jim acted surprised, "at the moon?"
"No, they eat the bark of saplings". I corrected. "Just like most rabbits and hare".
"If that is the case, Jim asked, is there a difference in the droppings?"
"Negative", I continued, "In fact there is no difference in the fecal pellets of cottontails or hares to the naked eye. Did you know that rabbits and hares expel two types of fecal pellets, greenish and brown? The greenish pellets contain partially digested vegetation and are commonly reingested. This process is known as ‘coprophagy’. In addition, before you ask, the greenish pellets have a high protein content and contain large amounts of B vitamins produced by intestinal bacteria. This way they make optimum use of the food available and they do not leave behind any nutrients. This process is important to their survival as they can spend more time in cover and less time out in the open feeding."
"What do they call this new rabbit?" Jim asked.
"They call this new species of cottontail the Appalachian cottontail or sometimes it is called the ‘Allegheny’ cottontail. It is obvious why it is called the Appalachian but Allegheny refers to the Allegheny Mountain in the Dolly Sods of West Virginia were the Appalachian cottontail was first named." I reported. "The Dolly Sods is an interesting story all its own. The Dolly Sods Wilderness is located on the Cheat-Potomac Ranger District of the Monongahela National Forest in Tucker and Randolph Counties near Elkins, West Virginia. It is part of the 106 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. Altitudes range from 3,200 feet to more than 4,000 feet and are said to be a little bit of Canada placed too far south."
"Sounds like a great place for snowshoe hare", Jim observed.
"Yeah, they reportedly have snowshoe hare. Hey, maybe we should go to West Virginia hare hunting sometime?" I suggested. "The Dolly Sods sounds like a remarkable place."
"What does this Appalachian cottontail look like?" Jim wanted to know.
"The Appalachian cottontail supposedly resembles the eastern cottontail very closely. It differs only in its slightly smaller size, shorter ears, and greater amount of black on the back. A narrow black patch is present on top of the head between the ears. The rufous or rusty nap patch characteristic of the eastern cottontail is lacking. So say Linzey and Brecht of Wytheville Community College in Wytheville, Virginia. Some scientists admit that Appalachian cottontails are difficult to distinguish in the field from Eastern cottontails. It gets better, I read that the only way they, the scientists, can honestly tell any difference is by doing an autopsy and measuring the cranium."
"Very fascinating, are there any Appalachian cottontails in Pennsylvania?" Jim asked.
"According to Bonta, scientists first assumed that the Dolly Sods was the preferred habitat of the Appalachian cottontails. But she says that a Dr. Ralph Harnishfeger of Lock Haven University, in Pennsylvania, claims that Appalachian cottontails are found in the very young regenerating forest stands where the tornado went through in 1985 in northern Clinton County. They are also found in a blowdown where pines were planted between windrowed debris, with dense bramble cover and in a dense stand of scrub oak on a SGL (State Game Lands) clear-cut site in Centre County."
"There are cottontail rabbits in the blowdowns in Forest, Elk, and McKean Counties. Do you think they might be this Allegheny cottontail?" Jim asked enthusiastically.
"Do you remember a couple years back when the ANF (Allegheny National Forest) Forester sent us up to the Timberline Trail Head in Elk County to kill the snowshoe hare which were eating his apple trees and all we could find were cottontails?"
"Yeah, I remember, we even killed a couple. Those cottontails ran so big we honestly thought for sure the hounds were chasing snowshoe hare, and then Little Joe shot a cottontail." Jim reminisced. "You wrote in one of your articles that we were starting to find cottontails because of the declining dear herd."
"That’s right, I wrote ‘In Pennsylvania, especially northwest Pennsylvania, the deer herd has been out of control for years. Research has shown that the over-population of deer causes subtle but significant changes to the present and future forest habitat, to the harm of the deer herd and small game, which includes snowshoe hare. Large numbers of deer in relatively small areas lead to over-browsing of forest vegetation. Heavy damage to low-level vegetation also hurts other wildlife. Small game is less abundant. Escape cover, nesting areas, and food sources are severely restricted for such wildlife as the snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse, woodcock, cottontail, turkey and many non-game species. We have started to see more cottontail rabbits in remote forest locations. Maybe, just maybe, the deer herd controls are starting to show some sign of "rabbitat" improvements.’" I recalled.
"Maybe your prognostication is coming true and maybe it is possible that some of those rabbits are Appalachian." Declared Old Jim.
"Maybe…"
Old hare hunter Jim Hanson and I were sitting around a campfire one evening this summer in the Enchanted Mountains of Western New York. We had spent the day scouting for new cottontail cover in a new, to us, section of the country. The Enchanted Mountains of Cattaraugus County are well known for the plentiful game that resides in its hillsides and fields. The Allegheny River winds its way along the southern border and Cattaraugus Creek forms the northern boundary. Cattaraugus County is the number one county in New York State for turkey hunting and in the top three for deer hunting. It was Jim’s idea to check out the rabbit cover, which is quite hard to do without dogs. Mostly we were just wasting away the summer.
We were sitting around the campfire reminiscing and making plans, when I said to Old Jim, "Jim, did you know that a couple years back a trio of researchers discovered a brand new breed of cottontail rabbit?"
"What the heck are you babbling about? Do you mean there are actually people who study wild rabbits?" Jim demanded.
"Apparently there are a lot of them spending a lot of your money. A Penn State University researcher is going to spend $115,000 to count snowshoe hare in northern Pennsylvania." I explained. "And don’t ask me how they plan on doing it. This is only one of fifteen projects approved for funding by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Fish & Boat Commission to study ‘troubled wildlife and fish species.’"
"Okay, I won’t go there, but what about this new rabbit?" Jim asked.
"There is an article in the August 2003 Pennsylvania Game News by a Marcia Bonta that states that in 1982 three scientists ‘split’ the New England cottontail into two species." I informed him.
"Did not know that". Said Jim. "What is a New England cottontail?"
"The New England cottontail is a separate and very rare species of cottontail rabbit. The Eastern cottontail is found almost everywhere unlike the New England cottontail whose range is only New England and northern New York State."
"Where does this new cottontail live?" Jim interrupted impatiently.
"The new species of cottontail are secretive, forest-dwelling rabbits. There are never too many found in any one place and they range only within the Appalachian Mountain chain from eastern New York, down through northeastern Alabama. They inhabit woods, shrubby areas, and brush. This new cottontail resides in dense evergreens and deciduous cover at high elevations. It is associated with conifer and heath habitat, and prefers thicker wooded cover than the eastern cottontail." I reported.
"What is a heath habitat?" Jim asked.
"I think ‘heath’ is a foreign word meaning an extensive tract of uncultivated open land covered with low shrubs and the like." I informed. "Probably like huckleberry, mountain laurel or even blueberry."
"What does this new cottontail eat?" Jim wanted to know.
"It eats a variety of grasses, ferns, forbs, and shrubs."
"It eats Fords?" Jim questioned.
"No, no, I said forbs. A forb is a broad-leaved herb growing in a field or meadow. It also appears to be the only cottontail that feeds extensively on conifer needles. In the winter they also eat twigs and bark."
"They bark," Jim acted surprised, "at the moon?"
"No, they eat the bark of saplings". I corrected. "Just like most rabbits and hare".
"If that is the case, Jim asked, is there a difference in the droppings?"
"Negative", I continued, "In fact there is no difference in the fecal pellets of cottontails or hares to the naked eye. Did you know that rabbits and hares expel two types of fecal pellets, greenish and brown? The greenish pellets contain partially digested vegetation and are commonly reingested. This process is known as ‘coprophagy’. In addition, before you ask, the greenish pellets have a high protein content and contain large amounts of B vitamins produced by intestinal bacteria. This way they make optimum use of the food available and they do not leave behind any nutrients. This process is important to their survival as they can spend more time in cover and less time out in the open feeding."
"What do they call this new rabbit?" Jim asked.
"They call this new species of cottontail the Appalachian cottontail or sometimes it is called the ‘Allegheny’ cottontail. It is obvious why it is called the Appalachian but Allegheny refers to the Allegheny Mountain in the Dolly Sods of West Virginia were the Appalachian cottontail was first named." I reported. "The Dolly Sods is an interesting story all its own. The Dolly Sods Wilderness is located on the Cheat-Potomac Ranger District of the Monongahela National Forest in Tucker and Randolph Counties near Elkins, West Virginia. It is part of the 106 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. Altitudes range from 3,200 feet to more than 4,000 feet and are said to be a little bit of Canada placed too far south."
"Sounds like a great place for snowshoe hare", Jim observed.
"Yeah, they reportedly have snowshoe hare. Hey, maybe we should go to West Virginia hare hunting sometime?" I suggested. "The Dolly Sods sounds like a remarkable place."
"What does this Appalachian cottontail look like?" Jim wanted to know.
"The Appalachian cottontail supposedly resembles the eastern cottontail very closely. It differs only in its slightly smaller size, shorter ears, and greater amount of black on the back. A narrow black patch is present on top of the head between the ears. The rufous or rusty nap patch characteristic of the eastern cottontail is lacking. So say Linzey and Brecht of Wytheville Community College in Wytheville, Virginia. Some scientists admit that Appalachian cottontails are difficult to distinguish in the field from Eastern cottontails. It gets better, I read that the only way they, the scientists, can honestly tell any difference is by doing an autopsy and measuring the cranium."
"Very fascinating, are there any Appalachian cottontails in Pennsylvania?" Jim asked.
"According to Bonta, scientists first assumed that the Dolly Sods was the preferred habitat of the Appalachian cottontails. But she says that a Dr. Ralph Harnishfeger of Lock Haven University, in Pennsylvania, claims that Appalachian cottontails are found in the very young regenerating forest stands where the tornado went through in 1985 in northern Clinton County. They are also found in a blowdown where pines were planted between windrowed debris, with dense bramble cover and in a dense stand of scrub oak on a SGL (State Game Lands) clear-cut site in Centre County."
"There are cottontail rabbits in the blowdowns in Forest, Elk, and McKean Counties. Do you think they might be this Allegheny cottontail?" Jim asked enthusiastically.
"Do you remember a couple years back when the ANF (Allegheny National Forest) Forester sent us up to the Timberline Trail Head in Elk County to kill the snowshoe hare which were eating his apple trees and all we could find were cottontails?"
"Yeah, I remember, we even killed a couple. Those cottontails ran so big we honestly thought for sure the hounds were chasing snowshoe hare, and then Little Joe shot a cottontail." Jim reminisced. "You wrote in one of your articles that we were starting to find cottontails because of the declining dear herd."
"That’s right, I wrote ‘In Pennsylvania, especially northwest Pennsylvania, the deer herd has been out of control for years. Research has shown that the over-population of deer causes subtle but significant changes to the present and future forest habitat, to the harm of the deer herd and small game, which includes snowshoe hare. Large numbers of deer in relatively small areas lead to over-browsing of forest vegetation. Heavy damage to low-level vegetation also hurts other wildlife. Small game is less abundant. Escape cover, nesting areas, and food sources are severely restricted for such wildlife as the snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse, woodcock, cottontail, turkey and many non-game species. We have started to see more cottontail rabbits in remote forest locations. Maybe, just maybe, the deer herd controls are starting to show some sign of "rabbitat" improvements.’" I recalled.
"Maybe your prognostication is coming true and maybe it is possible that some of those rabbits are Appalachian." Declared Old Jim.
"Maybe…"
There you have it. Now you know.
Fraternally In Beagling and Hooked on Hare,
Joe
Monday, January 5, 2009
FROM THE ALLEGHENY PLATEAU
TALLY HO!!
Another few days on the High Plateau with no success.
"Old" Jim and I hunted Friday and found nothing, no sign of any kind. Then Saturday, Andy and I spent all day on the High Plateau with not even a word out of a hound. Today "Old" Jim and I did find some tracks and some cold scent. Sandy did a bunch of cold trailing but she could not find the hare.
More later.
The High Hare Man
Joe
"The Hare Will Shine Again."
Another few days on the High Plateau with no success.
"Old" Jim and I hunted Friday and found nothing, no sign of any kind. Then Saturday, Andy and I spent all day on the High Plateau with not even a word out of a hound. Today "Old" Jim and I did find some tracks and some cold scent. Sandy did a bunch of cold trailing but she could not find the hare.
More later.
The High Hare Man
Joe
"The Hare Will Shine Again."
AN E-MAIL FROM BOB HOWE
Hi Joe! Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and everybody is well! There seems to be a good number of hares this year, temperature has been cold, had 2 feet of fluffy snow, then rain 2 days later, now we have all ice. It's like running late March, dogs feet are bleeding, scent doesn't hold well, been hit or miss running, I've downsized pack size to make a decent run. Large group coming in this weekend, will have 2 run 2 packs Saturday, no snow in sight. Will let you know how it goes. Happy New Year! Bob
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