Stonewall Hounds Blog

Hunt Report: Apr. 6, 2008

Filed under: 2007-2008 — Cheryl @ 7:00 am

Fixture:  Bonnydale Farm, 2 p.m.

Members:  Lili, Kate, Cheryl, Tom, Judy and Earl. Guests from Reedy Creek include Jim (MFH), Tom (Huntsman), Betty & James, Harry and Theresa, Amy, Susan, Gary, Kathy & Marian, Gretel, Rachel and Phil rode with Earl.

Weather:  WET and threatening rain, but ended up misting only during the breakfast

Hounds: 8 1/2 couple

I.D. Awards: None

Misc. Notations:  With the short chases, we got to see a lot of close-up hound work and view many of the hounds speaking and hear their individual voices. That made the day really fun and fit in perfectly with the conditions. Gary gets the award for best turned out with his Diva mare, Phoebe, whose white coat positively glistened against the dreary backdrop.

Tailgate/Breakfast:  Lots of food, brought by Reedy Creek and SH members – Country Ham, baked pencil points, brunswick stew, trifle, banana pudding, brownies, and more!

The Hunt:  Lili drew first covert down at the woods edge of the cow pasture where we parked. We moved back and crossed the creek, up thru woods out to Helen Wise haybale field. Hounds worked in those woods speaking on and off. Moved through the farm road over to the yellow flag trail, and up to the 4wheeler trails behind the Pugh trailer. They worked hard over there and found again, and spoke. We had a short chase and got to gallop a bit on the firmer parts of the 4wheeler trails. Hounds took it up to the power line by Plum Branch sounding great, working something in the pines on both sides of Plum Branch.

We then moved over to the fields behind Katie’s, where they found again, and we were treated to watching all the hounds striking a line and streaking past us back over toward Plum Branch. We got to see and hear Kaptain and his really cool voice. They seemed to lose it in the field, although Jim saw a den in the covert between the field and creek by Katie’s.

From there we headed back to the field and up to Ruckers Rd. then across to the hay fields up top, then to the peninsula of pines, where they spoke again, but it was suspicious and Kate stopped them and sent them back. They all looked a little guilty but listened well and got back in hunting mode right away.

We jumped Ingrid’s coop and followed Lili and hounds through Evan’s cow pasture over to the pond, where hounds found in the woods by the pond, and took it up to the field behind his house. There they trailed the fox into a huge pile of old pallets, and just couldn’t get in there well enough to flush him out, OR he had already left! Lili blew gone to ground, and we moved on. Hounds kept finding all in the coverts in that field, and really worked hard there. We got to see them open and speak, and hear the different voices. We especially enjoyed watching Dawson throw his head up and give tongue with his beautiful voice. He looked entirely pleased with himself.

We headed back out to the gasline and Lili was going to pack them up and head in. As they went down the holey trail, hounds struck and took off, on what sounded like coyote. The field was still close to Ruckers Rd. so we went back out and had a nice gallop down Ruckers Rd., but then I heard on the radio that hounds had stopped and they were getting them back in. So we went back to the holey trail, but at least got one little gallop in on decent footing.

Had a fabulous breakfast in the mist, and truly enjoyed our guests from Reedy Creek. They were all fine riders, and excellent hunters, and seemed to enjoy the day. Thanks to everyone who came out in the more than questionable weather to make it a great day.

Cheryl M.

Hunt Report: Apr. 2, 2008

Filed under: 2007-2008 — Cheryl @ 7:53 am

Fixture:  The Meadows at Naked Creek, 9 a.m.

Members:  Lili, Kate, Cheryl, Gary, and Howard

Weather:  cool and partly sunny and breezy

Hounds: 8 couple

Misc. Notations:  Bishop, our newly drafted handsome and SMART hound from Potomac, demonstrates his impeccable training by streaking toward Lili’s doubling on the horn. He obviously knew exactly what it meant!

I.D. Awards: None

Tailgate/Breakfast:  Sandwiches provided by Lili and Kate

The Hunt:  Started off in the church pines, where hounds found and ran a bobcat round and round. Sounded good on and off, and Cheryl talked to the pastor who said they hear bobcats back in there all the time. Nobody saw anything, and we pushed on. Lili drew behind Fewell’s, and again, we think the hounds ran a bobcat round and round for a bit, heading toward the hay bale field and pine trail. From there we went on back by Nowlins Mill toward Tweedy Rd. looping back and ending up in the field by Judy’s gate and Ralph Ogden’s.

Hounds struck hard and FAST right there on top of the hill. Boy they were off like a streak, all in a line screaming and running toward the creek. Lili galloped on after them, Gary and I had to shut a gate… of course we are all thinking coyote. I heard it sound like it was turning, so Gary and I waited up in the field above the schoolbus. Lili and Kate stopped the hounds in the woods before the crossed Nowlins Mill. It’s a drag stopping them but the alternative is running like mad to try and keep up with them on a coyote run, and being out all hours of the night gathering hounds. So we were glad they stopped. Boy they sounded and looked good streaking off though!

So on toward Ralph Ogden’s and our newly marked trail. Hounds found right at the end of that trail where it meets the pines and started chasing a gray fox in the pines. Lili stayed at the edge of woods, and Gary and I went up further for a good vantage point. Kate and Jane flew to the other side to watch the roadside with Howard.

Lili radios her “Tally Ho” as she watches the gray fox saunter around her in the woods. It pauses, walks across a fallen log, looks at her and keeps sauntering off. Gary and I quietly hurry over but miss the view. Lili doubles up on the horn and Gary and I help push the hounds on to her. She watched them work the line the fox took, even up and down across the log. It’s really neat to see where the fox goes, then actually watch the hounds work to find and trail that same line.

Kate and Lili follow the hounds in the woods where they are following Charlie’s line once again. Unfortunately they lost it coming out into the plowed field and sunshine.

They go over to the woods by Tweedy Rd. and find again in there. Lili follows down farm Rd., and Kate is out on Tweedy Rd. Lili said he’d be going back, so Gary and I stay back in the field, and after a long while standing there, are treated to a perfect view of the gray coming back out of the woods and running across the plowed field. Tally Ho! Lili gallops over and calls the hounds out to the line. They just couldn’t pick it up, the scenting was that tough with the sun in the dirt field.

So we ended up calling it a day and heading in. It wasn’t a very exciting hunt as far as any runs, but the hounds found and chased plenty of game, and we enjoyed being able to view the hunted fox two different times.

Cheryl M.