Well... I got up and collard the hounds... rain had stopped sometime before daylight. I decided I was going to take my youngest female "Ripley". This would be her first time in the field. So Chase, Hunter, Twister and Ripley would be the cast today.
We went to the first field where I had decent running earlier tis fall... but not so much as a single strike and it had started to rain again by the time we were heading back to the box.
took them to my second field where we gnerally run non stop. It was tough to get back out of the truck knowing the rain was pouring. But I was already out there... may as well get at least one run in.
We started to the left by a pond... during snow all the rabbits seemed set up in here... Chase struck... Twister soon joined... but could not produce a bunny. Seems like the feed lines protected by the rain held scent... but when they got out of cover it had been washed away, tough on the hounds.
relocate to the big thicket.... all hounds working tight... soon Hunter strikes... Chase and Twister open in unisen .... and be damned if there is not a new voice in my pack... Ripley... first bunny and opening. Rabbit pushes thru a barbwire fence and accross a trail into the hollow off to my left... then hounds a pounding... Ripley was not tonguing at this point... just trying to keep up. But she was right there with them... occasionaly talking to me.
I suppose the breeding season as started cause this rabbit was bee lining away and showing no sign of turning. I see a neighboring farms large dogs heading to the action so I had to hit the keats and call the race off.
Relocate ... raining pretty good now... miserable... but the thoughts of my little lady running a rabbit keeps me out there. I talk with David on the cell... excited at the occurance... he, as a good coach will... advises how to be sure she is running rabbit and not chasing dogs. Hunter strikes... hounds hark... Ripley hits the strike area with nose on the ground... good sign David comments. But again cannot produce the bunny... lots of bumping... but no bunny.
I have had it with the rain... comfortable that Chase got a little excercise... and i see his desire to find the bunny... I am content that he will do well next weekend... so "To The Box" I command... we make that long dreaded walk.
I get Ripley and Twiset in the box and Chase / Nunter must have bed jumped... they were screaiming thru the thicket and toward the hollar again... Ripley and Twister were trying to tear the doors of my box... so to the ground with them... soon all 4 hounds were yellin at me... they circled this bunny twice before a breakdown0... Ripley was not doing so good at keeping up... she was "boo hooing" more than tonguing... so I called her to me. The breakdown lasted long enough called... so I leashed all the hounds and boxed them up.
Glad to get outa the rain... but more proud of my lil Ripley... was well worth gettign wet for.
D
