Hunting Saturday Feb 11, 2006 10AM
Hopewell Territory (Shatros)

Huntsman: Eleanor Hartwell
Whips: John Korenak, Jill Wagenknecht, Mary Hensel
First Field: Roger Smith (field master), Eddy Beyers, Jean Mutrux, Junior guest Shelby, Sue Marshall, Geri Waushausen, Leslie Ayers, Tess Fleishli (professional), Leslie Granger


I didn’t get a hound list but recognized, Kestrel, Patton, Scooter, Jive, Wonder, Welcome, Wise, Nike, Tanker, Things, Dreadnaught

GPS readings 10.05 miles 1 hrs 36 minutes moving 55 minutes stopped. Max speed 26.5 mph
Moving average 5.0 mph

Note: GPS shut off early so actual miles and time are greater.

Temperature started at 28 degrees, and climbed gradually to 31 degrees F. We started at 10AM and returned at 1:15PM. I went in earlier as Jill’s horse went lame and since she was whipping, I loaned her mine and walked her horse in. Barometric pressure was gradually rising, it was overcast most of the day with a little sun here and there. There were flurries most of the day. You can see the snow in the photos even though it didn't accumulate. Humidity was high but gradually dropped some. The ground was hard from the recent cold weather. Winds were mostly from the West and started calm but picked up as the day went on.

We started off from Shatros. We headed across a plowed field which was frozen with deep furrows, horses were walking very awkwardly and picking their way. We headed past the Arab pasture and into the woods. Eleanor let the hounds hunt along but they didn’t find anything. We came out of some woods and crossed through a wire gate that was very hard to reconnect. While we were standing there waiting for Tess to get it closed, I looked over and saw a dead coyote laying in the woods at the edge of the field. The hounds, Eleanor and the whole field had walked by and not noticed. I called to Eleanor and she came back and took a look at it. We were too far from any roads to be road kill, must have been shot. The hounds did not show much interest, and we moved on. We then traveled down a road through the middle of a field of winter wheat just coming up. Eleanor drew the hounds in the woods at the edge of the field. One of the hounds picked up something and headed the other way. We reversed the field and galloped back the other way. The Junior rider at this point was having troubles with her very athletic pony and went flying past me. Geri Waushausen on Heidi’s horse had turned him in a circle to slow him down. With the cold weather, the horses were really feeling their oats. Geri wanted to walk for a while so Sue Marshall and I stayed back and walked with her. We got to the field behind the TH barn and Eleanor was calling the hounds back as we cannot go north of there. Shortly after that, Jill notice her horse was lame so I volunteered to give her Maurice and walk Camo in so she could continue to whip. Geri volunteered to walk in with me so we headed in. I figured since I was doing the brunch it wouldn’t hurt to go in early. Jean Mutrux and Shelby also went in. Jill reported that they went by Coreen Eaton’s place and had fun with the spotted donkeys and such. I headed back and Geri helped me lay out the brunch. The rest came in about a ½ hour later. We had Goulash, Chicken Gumbo, fruit salad and Valentine cupcakes.