While cub hunting is supposed to be adult hounds teaching puppies to run foxes and their young in small circles, the Chagrin Valley Hunt pack has exceeded these expectations on three successive Saturdays and Phillip is thrilled!!!! Saturday the 8th Mrs. Mc viewed a large fox, presumed to be the dog fox who took most of the pack on a “textbook” circular run through Havensafe and right back home, while either the vixen or one of the cubs distracted some of the front runners, Ali and Gracious to the north. It was as if the foxes read the book on how to run and the hounds followed. We had a wonderful tailgate in Betsy’s pavilion, viewed some of Mr. Hunker’s hunting attire that is for sale and traveled home.
We then moved on to the south in Zoar on Saturday the 15th. Phillip put the hounds in near the Roemer’s barn area and the hounds picked up a fox and screamed to the top pasture where John Redmond and Cary Meyer viewed the fox. Unfortunately, the weather was VERY warm and the scent evaporated in the open high pasture. Not to be discouraged, Phillip went down to a small pond and cast the hounds into the bottom where they picked up a coyote(we think) that took the entire pack to the north through the tall timber. Luckily the staff could keep up as most horses and the field were exhausted from the heat, the humidity and the hills of this beautiful fixture. Again we met for a tailgate in the lovely mowed area along the Tuscarawas River. All hounds were recovered within a couple of hours and returned to Cleveland satisfied and tired.
How can you top this? Phillip and his crew had worked on the Bundysburg-302 fixture all week, some 80 hours. Our new parking in the Yoder pasture was perfect. He had guests in town, always an added pressure for his pack to perform. He cast the hounds into the first wood with sugar lines, and then followed by casting them into a small interior corn field. The temps were much friendlier and the humidity was leaving. With no action he swung them around and followed a long interior ravine. He is so very patient. The puppies were struggling a bit to stay in the covert, while the seasoned hounds were nowhere in sight. When we had nearly reached the end of the ravine, almost to Girdle Road, there was speaking, but it took the fox “a long time to get up” per Phillip. Once aroused, he ran a great chase through the bottom half of the fixture, making a huge circle. He was too fast to be viewed and very wily. Phillip feels this was the best so far, even though he told us that each of the previous two Saturdays. WHOO! Is that sweet? Just so you know, there is a lot of Bundysburg-302 yet to be seen. It is a wonderfully large fixture that has been really spruced up.
Speaking of fixtures, we will reopen the Silvernail fixture with hunting on Tuesday, the 25th. We will park at Whispering Pines Tree Farm on Clark Road and hack 10 minutes to the entrance of the fixture on the gravel road. Many thanks to the Williams who allow our parking there for Schoolhouse and Silvernail and all the times we are in the area for trail work. We are very excited to be back in this fixture after many years and we will finish cleaning it up tomorrow, Monday, the 24th. Volunteers welcome.
The fields have been splendid. Their leaders have been wonderful, with everyone being so very flexible. The staff is working at full capacity and the trailblazers have been making the riding easier. Everyone keep up the good work as it seems to be a recipe for success!!!!
