RETURN FROM MAINE 2011

BWHH GO TO MAINE AND RETURN

THE 2011 BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS MAINE 2011 HARE HUNT,

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Executive High Hare Man bags first snowshoe hare in Maine during the BWHH Maine Snowshoe Hare Hunt 2011.

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Interstate 84 got a little rough on the return trip home.

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Mike (L), Wayne and Andy prepare for a day of hunting hare in the beautiful Western Mountains of Maine.

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Gracie (L), Speckles and Kipper had a great time running the magnificent snowshoe hare of Maine.

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LTC Gracie needs no snowshoes on the hard packed snow of Maine.

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The snow pack was four feet deep in some places. Here the snow pack was only three feet. The Ski pole is four feet long.

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Andy (L) and Wayne enjoy a break on Hill 16 during the BWHH 2011 Maine Hare Hunt.

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Wayne (L), Joe and Andy enjoy a break during the 2011 Maine Hare Hunt.

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An almost spectacular view from Hill 16 during the BWHH Maine Hunt of 2011.

RETURN FROM MAINE 2011

Andy, Wayne and I (“Ol’ Jim was unable to go along this year) returned from a spectacular week (six glorious days) of hunting for the magnificent snowshoe hare in the wilds of Western Maine on March 21 (March 14-19). We enjoyed what some called, “The best week ever!” I must concede and agree. The weather was good considering it is almost spring with a hard snow pack on most mornings. Most days the snow pack would be turning soft by afternoon. There seemed to be lots of hare this year as many “side-jumpers” were seen on all chases. The three of us shot five or six hares. Wayne did not buy his license until Friday and waited until Saturday, our last day of hunting, to shoot his two hares with my Contender. Wayne is now two-for-two with the hand gun. I shot the first hare on Monday with the Contender but missed several also. But non-the-less the Contender did bag a few.
On Friday, with Master Maine Guide Bob Howe as our Guide, we suffered a slight snowmobile wreck on the way in to a hunting sight. The sled on which I was riding behind the snowmobile tipped over and I went flying into the soft snow. Bob was not going slow. The hounds, which were riding in a box on the sled, did not suffer any and hunted outstandingly the rest of the day. Andy bagged one. The wind picked up in the afternoon and hearing the hounds was impossible so an early quit was in order. On the way out the snow pack was even softer and the snow machine tipped over two times. Of course, this time I was riding the snow machine with Bob. We all had a good laugh and made it out without injury of course.
The first four days Heath Howe was our Guide and we hunted some of our favorite hunting areas. We have a favorite place along Route 16 so we hunted there on Monday and Tuesday. Usually the hare take the hunters and hounds to the top of the mountain where the view is almost spectacular but on Monday we did all of our chasing on the low ground. On Tuesday we made it to the top of the mountain. Everyday we had “many, many” chases. At times too numerous to count.
“Wild March Hare” were an exciting if not exasperating “problem” on a couple of days. The old saying, “There’s nothing crazier than a March Hare” proved to be true. The hounds would start a “March Hare” which would end up a mile or more away with hunters in tow. Andy and Wayne both employ the latest in technology, the Garmin Astro, and we all use the Garmin Rhino GPS so we are in constant contact with each other and the hounds. I continue to use the Tracker Radio collars and Andy is using both the radio collars and the Astro on his hounds. About the only time Andy really needs all this stuff is when his hounds hit a March Hare. The rest of the time he owns the most reliable and best trained hounds of all of us.
Andy’s hounds, Nellie and Molly, did an outstanding job during the six days in the Western Mountains of Maine. I wish I could say the same for the hounds I carted to Maine. Poor old Gracie tried her best and on a few occasions did well, but played out early towards the end of the week. Kipper tried, this being his first year, I think. He seems to have the stamina. Males always have more stamina than the females. If he would just show more brains and nose. Tia and Speckles, well, it was hard to tell what they were doing. Tia was always in the chase and helping out on checks. Wayne’s hound, Freck did a great job with his big ball voice always making the chase exciting. Therefore, with the vote in, Andy’s LTC Nellie wins MVH (Most Valuable Hound) of The Hunt for 2011 and Wayne’s Freck gets it for Most Improved Hound (MIH) of the Hunt for 2011. LTC Kipper will be awarded, reluctantly, Rookie Hound of the Hunt for 2011. All will receive a citation and a generous cash award, Ha! Ha!
The Pine Grove Lodge was fabulous as always, with Andrea cooking up some absolutely grand tasting meals and always breathtaking deserts. Generous portions of NHL hockey was served up on the new wide screen TV. The hounds enjoyed the use of the kennel at the Pine Grove Lodge. Gracie was the only hound to chew her way out. This being the fist day I left her behind.
The road trip home proved to be a little treacherous at one point with an Early Spring blizzard slowing our progress. While crossing the mountain between the Hudson River and the Delaware River in New York the interstate became clogged with spun out vehicles. Wayne and I got off the road while Andy had to wait in traffic and we were lucky enough to enjoy a nice breakfast near Port Jarvis. As Spring weather would have it the icy roadways did not last long and we were on our way and made it home without anymore incidents.

All had a great trip. All men and hounds returned home none the worse for wear. Next year's hunt to Maine is already booked and I am almost ready to go. It looks like March 12 through the 17th, 2012.

There is a lot more I could say, but.....

Thanks to Andy, Wayne, Heath, Bob and Andrea for helping me enjoy a great time!

Fraternally In Beagling and Hare Hunting,

Joe

MORE FROM THE MAINE WINTER HARE HUNT

TALLY HO!!

GREETINGS TO THE LOYAL ORDER OF THE BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS OF THE ALLEGHENY.

Four hunters from the High Plateau of the Alleghenies travelled the 1600 miles to and from Maine safely and enjoyed a great week, six days of great hunting, in the Western Mountains of the great state of Maine.

Jim Hanson, Andy Hoover, new comer Wayne Wilson, Joe Ewing and ten great hounds enjoyed what some are calling, "The best week ever." The hounds did a great job considering the conditions. Only one day did they have a high degree of difficulty. That day was not much different than most of the mornings but this is why beagling is so much of a mystery sometimes.

Master Maine Guide Bob Howe and Maine Guide Steve Howe guided us to some outstanding covers, cooked some great lunches and helped us enjoy a fabulous winter hunting trip.

The weather held good everyday and we only noticed a few sprinkles on one day. The mornings were cold and crisp with general warming around mid morning. Most mornings the snow pack had a hard crust and snowshoeing was good. Most days by noon or earlier the snow pack became soft and would not hold the big guys. Sometimes snowshoeing was difficult while sinking in almost a foot or more. Most wore the widest shoes they had. Wayne tried several different models and came up with a 13 inch pair he brought home. The Howe's are now tying their "Maine Guide Snowshoes" with a nylon rope. The rope seems to be working well. The reason for the change is the neoprene is expensive . Traditional raw hide can still be ordered at the Pine Grove Lodge.

On Monday, March 16 we spent nine hours afield, had several good runs and Newcomer Wayne Wilson shot his first Snowshoe Hare ever. We snow machined to "Hutch's Mountain". The morning was cool and the ride up the mountain on the snowmobiles was cold. The day warmed by lunch time and everyone was in their shirt sleeves. There were a couple of missed shots this day but everyone enjoyed a good time. The hounds, Blacky, Patch, Gracie, Freck, Lucky and Nellie did outstanding without incident.

Tuesday was another good day on "Basin Mountain". The mountain was steep with thick new growth. Much too thick for the wide snowshoes necessary to make it through the soften snow pack. The only incident, Wiggles, Speckles and Freck decided to head for home on their own. Bob and I had to chase after them using the snow machines. We caught up with them about a mile down the snowmobile trail.

In the afternoon we hunted a cedar swamp nearby and Jim missed a couple after a great chase by the hounds.

Wednesday, March 18 we again spent nine hours afield just off Route 16 across the river from the Pine Grove Lodge. Again we had some great runs, some good exercise and a great day. The only small incident, Lucky did not want to quit.

On Thursday we again enjoyed beautiful weather and some great runs by the hounds, Wiggles, Blacky, Speckles. Molly and Freck. We had two kills and a couple misses not far from the Lodge.

On Friday, March 2o Spring arrived. This was the day the scenting was bad although I saw more hare this day than another day. We hunted on the Cyr Road, not far from the Appalachian Trail, where we generally have tremendous luck and good times. We have hunted here many times with much success in March and October but today would not be one of those days. The "A Team" tried and we knew they can run hare.

On the final day, Saturday March 21, was the final day of our great Maine Hare Hunt for 2009. We all were glad we stayed the extra day. Lucky found the goat horns and sported them around. The hounds, all of them except for Speckles who stayed back because of estrus, did outstanding. There was one miss and no kills on this day.

All told we spend 49 hours hunting the Magnificent and Omnipotent Snowshoe Hare. All had a great time.

The Pine Grove Lodge was, as usual, outstanding both with great food and great accommodations.

Plans are to return next year during the same week in March 2010.

A great smile from BWHH Andy Hoover in The Great North Woods. The day started with a very cold snow machine ride but by mid day the coats were off and it was very warm.

BWHH Andy Hoover enjoys a relaxing lunch hour in the snow of the Great North Woods.

BWHH Wayne Wilson enjoyed a great hunt in the Western Mountains of Maine.

Moving along the snowmobile trail to our next hunting area.

The snow was mighty deep. Along side the snowmobile trail. One false step would put you in up to your knees.

BWHH and Chairman enjoys the "sweet smell of freedom" from the Western Mountains of Maine and the Great North Woods on a more beautiful day there never could be.

The snow machine ride on the high mountain trails of Maine.

BWHH Andy Hoover prepares for the snow machine ride into the Great North Woods.

BWHH Andy Hoover in the Western Mountains of Maine.

Master Maine Guide waits on a logging road while leading the BWHHs in the wilds of Maine.

Lucky found these goat horns and was very proud.

Photo by Andrea Howe and can be seen at http://www.pinegrovelodge.com/

Extreme BWHH Andy Hoover enjoying the view of the beautiful mountains of Western Maine.

The 2009 Maine Winter Foursome.

Veteran Extreme Big Woods Hare Hunter of The Allegheny and Maine Hare Hunter, Joe (JR) Ewing has been on many trips but this was one of the best.

Rookie Maine Hare Hunter Wayne Wilson had a glorious week.

Veteran Extreme BWHH Jim Hanson spent six glorious days in the woods of Western Maine.

March 2009-Extreme BWHH Andy Hoover after a great six days in Maine

Andy Hoover with Maine Hare compliments of the great hare hound Molly.

MAINE WINTER HARE HUNT 2009

TALLY HO!!













GREETINGS TO THE LOYAL ORDER OF THE BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS OF THE ALLEGHENY.
Above we pitched our flag and made ourselves at home.Photo by Bob Howe.
Steve and Heath Howe prepare the snow machines for the climb onto the mountain.
















Above, loading the hunters and hounds for the five mile cold snow machine ride.




New Hare Hunter Wayne Wilson bagged his first hare ever and the first of the hunt.
















Another look at Wayne's first ever magnificent snowshoe hare. Look at the back drop. We were only part way up the mountain.

Above, Andy, Nellie and Molly emerging from the dense underbrush with a trophy hare.

A closer look at a Maine Snowshoe Hare.

Wiggles, Speckles and Blacky did a fine job.

The woods was full of snow.

This ski pole is four feet long. Only the handle is showing.

Rookie Hare Hunter Wayne Wilson enjoyed his trip to the Great North Woods.