February 19, 2009
TALLY HO!!
THE HILLS ARE ALIVE WITH THE SOUND OF HOUND MUSIC!!
2009 Varying Hare taken by me on the Allegheny Plateau. Here he was in a hurry to make his get away. Above, he was in no hurry and posed on the log for me.
Three glorious and triumphant days were spent chasing the Omnipotent and Magnificent Snowshoe Hare on the High Plateau this week (so far). The hills came alive with the sound of hound music each and every day.
Monday and Tuesday the weather was nothing but glorious. The type of days to make you feel glad to be alive.
Yesterday, Wednesday, the gods of weather turned on the Extreme Hare Hunters of the North, giving us blinding blizzard conditions, stinging ice and torrential rain. Yes, all is the same afternoon but not all at once. Each scenario took it's turn.
Monday, February 16, we (Jim, Andy and myself) were honored with the fellowship of Jim (Kaz) Kazmarek and hound, Kelly, the best little 12 1/2 inch Hare hound bar none, on the High Plateau. We ran Hare for several hours and made several sightings. The weather was excellent.
Tuesday was also a great day. Not only did we chase the Omnipotent One but we located a new lair in which to run. The Hare pictured above is the one we chased in the morning.
In the PM we moved to a trusted old location and also found and chased another Magnificent Hare for a couple wonderful and aw inspiring hours. This Hare stopped and posed for me also but thinking I would never get two photo opportunities in one day I had not brought my camera along. The Hare stopped and commenced to clean and preen himself. Every once in a while casting an ear for the hounds. It was surprising how close he allowed the hounds to get before he decided to move on.
Yesterday, we immediately found Mr. Snowshoe and the chase was on. Andy's Nellie and Molly, Jim's Lucky and my Patch, Gracie and Blacky tuned up the Allegheny National Forest for several hours.
Almost as immediately the weather set in with snow, ice and rain.
What made it bad was, Blacky decided to be late coming in during the worst of the storm. A few hours later all hounds were accounted for and the day was deemed a glorious success.
Fraternally,
Joe
An email from a fellow Hare Hunter,
Hi Joe
Hunting is not very good. No fresh snow in 7 days, nights have been cold
and the snow has no moisture. Dogs are unable to handle a hare for any length
of time. The good part is the dogs are able to get around very good, first
time in four weeks they havenot fought snow up to their necks
Joe, I really enjoy your tales of your hunts, you sound like a real
sports writer. I usually share your tales with some of my hunting friends and they
always ask the same question. How many hare have you and your gang kill?? or
do you only run them? What are the dates of your season?
Roy sends
Hunting is not very good. No fresh snow in 7 days, nights have been cold
and the snow has no moisture. Dogs are unable to handle a hare for any length
of time. The good part is the dogs are able to get around very good, first
time in four weeks they havenot fought snow up to their necks
Joe, I really enjoy your tales of your hunts, you sound like a real
sports writer. I usually share your tales with some of my hunting friends and they
always ask the same question. How many hare have you and your gang kill?? or
do you only run them? What are the dates of your season?
Roy sends
[PS: Roy lives in Rome, NY and hunts the Tug Hill Plateau]
2 comments:
enjoy your photos and stories about hunting the wily white rabbit. I grew up on the tug hill and we used to pursue the hare every winter. Retired now, but I like to read about it.
thanks,
I hope you are going to write more articles for "The Rabbit Hunter". I've enjoyed reading those great tales of hare hunts on the Allegheny Plateau!
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