09/21/2025
Sunday Sept 21
Kennels
11 1/2
2 couple puppies
Low 70s with no dew at cast. Hounds were excited and keen to get going. Cast behind Anna Lins barn with hounds avoiding rouge chickens very well. They drew quickly through the woods and came together to cross the black top into Kyser’s first draw. Hounds began trying to work north of the cover with Spud bringing them back quickly and into the cover. Halfway through the draw, Red viewed a coyote away across the driveway into the swamp. The huntsman lifted hounds to the view with the pack hitting the line right before being laid on and were hard away. The huntsman counted all on, including puppies, as the hounds raced south. Red viewed a second, non hunted coyote cross out of the hay field into Portch horse pasture at the telephone pole jump. Hounds were locked on their coyote continuing hard south as Red viewed a 3 and 4 coyote getting out of town east. Hounds stayed together very well locked on their original coyote and continued south into the cow pasture towards Jamie’s pipes led by: Walnut, Teamster, Galley and Motley. Staff lost sight of the hunted coyote just south of Jamie’s pipes and the cows took advantage of this by trampling all over the line. As hounds cast around, Cal viewed the hunted coyote cross onto kennel property. We put hounds into the pond, did roll call and realized we were short 2 puppies and an older hound. They were back at the hay field working the line that went west from the hay field. Cal reported that cows were gathering at the South Gate and would be difficult to get through, so we brought the pack back to slippery lane, picked up the missing 1 1/2 couple, and crossed onto kennel property. Hounds were hot even after being watered so we drew in the open toward the burned down house to the cow trough. Hounds were picking up lines continuously through the pastures so we moved them on quickly to get to the south end of the honey hole to prevent making too much noise. Hounds were cast into the south east side and drew well towards dead cow. Walnut and Steamboat began speaking on the east side while Tasteful, Watford and Bramble began speaking on the west side. We had two distinct groups both speaking well and working north. Scent was beginning to get spotty but both groups worked their respective lines well. The huntsman moved to the railway line and tallyhoed a coyote down the railway line with hounds in hot pursuit led but Teamster and Motley. This coyote went east to the barbed wire fence then doubled back across the railway line. Hounds followed but got distracted at an earth and this coyote slipped west. The second group joined the first and so the split was brought back together. Hounds were hot after marking but were all together (except Watford and Tasteful who were at the sludge pits) so we watered at the duck pond and continued to Big Woods. Hounds showed interest with some older hounds picking up lines but generally blank through. We drew north out of the wooden gate towards the sludge pits where a few hounds struggled in the thick mud prompting Spud to get off and hook the hound collar with his whip and drag the hound(s) out, while the huntsman held his horse. Meanwhile the pack HITS running hard east from the sludge pits then straight north on the outside of the new trees towards slippery lane in full cry. Evan and Cal are left on their own to maintain communication and give directions. The huntsman quickly catches up as the pack crosses slippery lane with Walnut bringing the line along the dry edge of the pond and losing it. Hounds watered and we called it a day. Caroline suddenly spotted two hounds (puppies) on the far side of the pond who had walked the dry edge around but couldn’t figure out how to get back and were trying to swim back across. We sent Red to try to get them back safely and began walking towards the gazebo headed in. Spud goes back to help Red with the puppies and Walnut strikes with the rest of the pack honoring her. The pack is moving swiftly toward the horse pasture with Evan giving a tally ho across the horse pasture. Hounds are hard on and grouped closely together but the huntsman decided hard stop at 47, with both Red and Spud on the opposite side of the run and a long way to make up to get in touch. Spud said watch this and hit 37 mph on his horse to catch up with the action. Hounds were stopped by Cal and Evan before they crossed at the telephone pole jump and hounds were brought back through the horse pasture. We really called it a day then and, with the puppies in the car joining us before the kennel, were all on and a good day.
