THE MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN MAINE RANG WTIH THE SOUNDS OF HOUND MUSIC

TALLY HO!!

THE MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN MAINE RANG WITH THE SOUND OF HOUND MUSIC FROM OCTOBER 5TH THROUGH OCTOBER 10TH, 2009.

Jim and I started out early from Lucinda on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009. Our destination being Chelmsford, Mass and the Best Western of Chelmsford. The drive was long but without incident. We enjoy going for a good meal at the "99".
We had ten (10) hounds along. We must be getting used to handling the hounds on these trips as the stops to let hounds out do not seem so bad anymore.

Sunday, October 4th, we were on the road again. This day would be less driving but more shopping. It is tradition to make our first stop at the New Hamshire Liquor Store for some "social lubrication" as Bob Hedburg puts it. A stop at the Kittery Trading Post is next. They have made some major changes over the years and now rival Cabela's for selection and the gun department is great. Jim found a new barrel for his Contender which made him very happy.

Next, would be a stop at L. L. Bean in Freeport but we decided to forgo a stop this time. Instead stopping at the new Cabela's in Saco, Maine where both Jim and I found some stuff we desperately needed.
Always, we must stop at the New Balance store in Skowhegan, Maine for new shoes. And at Walmart there too.

After all our shopping stops we did not want to be late for supper at the Pine Grove Lodge. We arrived about 5:30 Pm Sunday evening, unloaded the hounds, unloaded our gear, ate a great supper and watched the Steelers, of course.

The hunting for the next six (6) days was great. The hound music and hound work was good to excellent. The seeing game and shooting was not so good. I did say, "If we had a hare for every spent shotgun shell we would have had a bag full." But we didn't. I shot two hare and had several misses. Jim had some misses too, I believe.

We did miss one day of hunting because of rain, Wednesday. Which saved some cost in ammunition. So, we went shopping, of course, just to make up the difference. We did an awful lot of shopping for men who reportedly don't like to shop. Sometimes you need hunting stuff and dog stuff.

The hounds did an outstanding job in the field. New addition to Little Toby Creek Kennel, Iron Mountain Tia, fit right into the pack and did a great job. Tia is in contention for "Rookie Hound of the Hunt" award. Tia is AKC registered and came to us because she was thought to be more of a "hare hound" than a rabbit hound. She handles great and is always around.

New hounds to Maine were, Kipper, Angee and Sheeba.

As always, Patch, Blacky, Wiggles, Speckles, Jim's Lucky and all the rest did a great job. Only Gracie (seven years) seemed to be bothered by something. Who knows. We did find a lot of ticks in the Maine woods and bought medication which cleared up the problem, finding none after administering to the hounds. Otherwise we ran into no other problems. We did see a coyote one day but not while hunting. No moose were sighted. There was a bunch of moose sign. Another day we saw two whitetail deer on Fletcher Mountain.

The hospitality at the Pine Grove Lodge was great and Andrea's cooking even greater. If you leave the table hungry at the Pine Grove Lodge it is your own damn fault.

I know I can speak for BWHH Jim when I say everything about the Pine Grove Lodge and Bob and Andrea was OUTSTANDING.

Thanks to Jim, too, for being a good traveling companion and hunting buddy. I hope we have many more such trips.

Not too many photographs were taken by me. A few are listed below. To make them larger on your screen just click on the picture.

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We set up camp at the Pine Grove Lodge in Pleasant Ridge, Maine and made ourselves at home. Or to be more precise, we were made to feel at home by Andrea and Bob Howe. After all these years of staying with them, it is like going home, again.

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The foliage was lush and colorful making it difficult to see a hare in the underbrush. They could sneak by without a sound. Or even set down beside you. Sometimes you knew the hare was there, you just couldn't see him.

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Patch (shown) did an outstanding job. Patch has always been a great hound. She just turned ten (10) years old and still does a wonderful job. All the hounds did a great job.

Jim's hound, Lucky (seven years) did an outstanding job.

He is is under consideration for "Hound of The Hunt" AND "Most Improved Hound of the Hunt."

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BWHH "Old" Jim takes a break from a cold day afield.

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Dog Handler Jim Hanson in the kennel at the Pine Grove Lodge. Bob Howe opens his kennel to us which is another reason we feel right at home.

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Veteran Maine Hare Hunter and Beagler, Jim Hanson, loads beagles into the dog truck in preparation for a great day afield.

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There was a lot of activity at the Pine Grove Lodge during the six days Jim and I were there. From "leaf peepers" to deer hunters. The gentlemen in the photo are preparing for a bird hunt.

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BWHH Jim Hanson talking on a cell phone from the Western Mountains of Maine. Technology is making its way deeper into the wilderness. It seems you can no longer escape from it.

(Above)

The Autumn colors were glorious.

Lucky (L) looks on as the Hare Man (R) shows off for the camera a freshly harvested brown Snowshoe Hare taken near "Hutch's Hill" in the Western Mountains of Maine.

Again, Lucky did an outstanding job.

This is about it for this trip. Our next outing to Maine will be March 13 through 22. 2010. We are already making our plans. Cottontail season, PA Hare Season, maybe a trip to NY are all in the plans.

I hope you can read my scribles and will use the comment section.

All for now.

Fraternally In Beagling and Hare Hunting,

Joe