Boxing Day Hunt December 26th 10AM
Bridlespur Kennels

Huntsman: Eleanor Hartwell
Whips: Gene Deutch, Lee Deutch, Mary Hensel, Jill Wagenknecht, Lil Lewis
First Field: Werner Kugler, Lei Ruckle, Jane Liesman, Leslie Ayers
Hilltoppers: Gerda Kugler, Geri Waushausen, Leslie Granger, Blue Sidebottom (guest)


18 ½ couple Hounds: Caleb, Dreadnaught, Tanker, Tidings, Wanda, Kestrel, Things, Jive, Patton, Scooter, Beauty, Inky, Nabisco, Stroller, Flanker, Freedom, Jargon, Jester, Sentry, Symbol, Target, Tracker, Tumble, Zorro, Daphne, Twilight, Truffle. 2005 entry Nailer, Necktie, Nettle, Nike, Racer, Wise

GPS readings 9.43 miles 2 hrs 10 minutes moving 38 minutes stopped.
Max speed 21.1 mph
Moving average 3.8 mph

Temperature started at 33 degrees and increased to 37 deg. F. We started at 10AM and returned at 12:30PM. Huntsman and staff did not return until after 1PM. Barometric pressure was falling, it was heavily overcast starting out but the sun did appear later in the afternoon. Humidity was at 100% which felt damp and bone chilling. There was still some snow on the ground here and there from the Christmas morning snow. Winds were mostly from the South at 3-5 MPH.

I hacked over from My Half Farm to the kennels. The footing was very muddy and slimy. The creeks and ditches were full of water. The hunt started to the south down the Bridlespur driveway and Eleanor drew the hounds into the East Woods toward Wilsons. We were walking along the woods trail when I noticed a squirrel acting strange. I then spotted a red tailed hawk and the squirrel jumped out of the tree from way up high and hit the ground hard. He ran behind me and Geri reported that the Hawk got him. Eleanor continued to draw the hounds to the north and into Brommelsiek’s cow pasture. The hounds started speaking in the creek. Lil spotted a coyote headed East near the lake across from Art’s house. Mary viewed one headed the other direction toward Chopps. She let out a Holloa and we knew she had viewed. The hounds headed west and then turned north across Schwede Rd. The field crossed Schwede and crossed the gathering field. Jane Liesman came unseated entering Huffmeier woods. They continued down until they were in the Dardenne creek. Geri , Blue and I fell behind trying to pick our way through the deep footing. We saw Wanda, Daphne, Truffle, and Kestrel working the creek below Pattersons. Wanda turned back and spoke in the creek but the rest did not honor her and continued north. We also continued North to catch up with the rest of the field. The field did not cross the creek due to the footing conditions so we waited. Jill had meanwhile crossed DD Highway and followed the hounds into the Wildlife area on the other side. She was able to gather quite a few hounds and bring them back across the DD bridge toward Eleanor. By this time the field had given up and gone in and there were hounds scattered everywhere. I stopped back at the farm and turned my horse out and headed back to the club in my car. Shortly after getting to the club one of the locals pulled up with Kestrel in his truck. I stuck him in the kennels. We had a nice Chili brunch hosted by Jane Liesman. We had several people show up that had not hunted. Debbie came with her boyfriend. Ron Ausman and his daughter came, and Leslie Ayers brought her mother. As I was leaving, I spotted a foxhound on DD. I pulled over and grabbed her. Just as I was trying to get her back across the road into my car, Eleanor pulled up. She must be psychic! It was 2:15PM and she still had four hounds out. Hopefully they all came back.