New Years Hunt Report - Ashland Bassets

[JSwan]

Foxhunting was canceled due to mud, but Ashland Bassets were out and about as usual. We shared Great Meadows with a brace of what looked like lurchers; but I never got close enough to tell. They were stunning.

Wateryglen was absent; a little bird tells me she got “food poisoning” at a New Years Bash. wink wink nudge nudge. (get well soon!)

A blustery icy wind made scenting extremely difficult; though it did hold better in the dense brush. I can’t tell you too much as I spent most of the time trying to figure out my new camera. Lots of rabbits, poor scenting, but hounds tended to stick together and work the covert and line properly.

It’s been tough seeing the Master hunt the hounds alone; though Al Toews is always with us in spirit. He would have been very pleased with his beloved hounds today.

Here is the Master working one covert:

[JSwan]

A run.

(I’m trying to crop and resize these so they’ll be the right # of KB; I’m sorry for poor quality images)

[gothedistance]

How great that you had fun today! You have to post more photos!!

I know as soon as it gets too cold and nasty (if it ever does!!) to foxhunt, I’m going to have to go out with the foot packs.

Hope wateryglen gets of her “food poisoning” quickly.

[JSwan]

Scent held much better near water:

And hounds in full cry (couldn’t post entire picture). Heads are a bit up - but like I said; scent was funky. Wicking any moisture.

Some Bleu’s being patted by members after a good day:

An elder statesman:

I got some fabulous photos - I mean fabulous. But I just can’t post them. Too big. The bleu’s tend to be a bit independent; tending to sniff about on their own or with another bleu. However, today it was seamless.

Great Meadow has fabulous habitat for rabbit; there is also some selective logging done by - get this - a team of Suffolk Punch. I have to get out there to see that!

And of course - the races are held there; and it has a fabulous xc course and a brand new polo field. The grounds crew are to be commended. A good balance of preserving the habitat and rustic nature of the area, and a more manicured, neat appearance around viewing areas. Bravo.

The rabbits certainly seem to be thriving.

Happy New Year, folks. Hope the rest of the season is safe for all of you, and filled with plenty of sport.

And if you’re still in a mood to toast, please offer one to the memory of fellow hunters who have passed on.

[JSwan]

gothedistance; please please please come out with us. You don’t need any special equipment - just good waterproof boots and warm clothes.

You will be warmly welcomed and introduced to all the hounds. The ones we call “the bleus” are Bleu de Gascogne; the originals were imported from a pack in France a few years ago. Lovely hounds.

Several COTH folks belong to Ashland; me, Wateryglen, and Hunter’s Rest comes out - though I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing her lately. You might know another member; she is an endurance rider and is very active in that world. She was trying to get me to crew for her - but y’all are nuts - it sounds like way too much work!

With foothunting, it is possible to get very close and see the hounds work; something that’s almost impossible out foxhunting.

The folks at Ashland have never met a stranger. You will be talked to and fed. A lot.

Ashland hunts Tues Thurs and Sunday. Wateryglen and I will fight over who gets to claim you as our guest.

Any other folks that live in the area and would like to hunt with a footpack - I know the Master would love to meet you and show off the hounds.

[gothedistance]

Thanks for the invite. If I can steal away during the week, I’d love to come. :yes: Hubby and I have gone out with foot packs (beagles) a number of times, but I’ve only gone out with the Ashland pack once, quite a while back. Had an absolute blast. They showed us exceptional sport that day and everyone had great views, including one bunny breaking cover and scooting past the field so close you could see it’s nose twitching. Ya gotta love those bassets – those buggers can RUN!

[gothedistance]

Taking this from PMs to back on line –

J - your comment on carrying a flask I found hysterical! :lol: I hadn’t thought about it but…I guess it would be pretty appropriate. After all, it is hunting, et al.

But… doesn’t that mean you have to have pockets big enough to carry your flask? I don’t suppose it would be (ahem) “correct attire” to strap my saddle flask carrier onto my belt now would it? Umm?

[JSwan]

I got the whole flask thing figured out. You just hang out with me - I don’t have big pockets in my coat fer nuthin’. I don’t use a carrier on my saddle - Ashland Bassets sells a 4oz flask with a logo - perfect for a Melton!

yeah yeah - since when did 4oz of anything do anyone any good?

Well - pretty much everyone has one, plus we have a stirrup cup, plus we have a tailgate…oh - the tailgates - the foothunters have the best tailgates.

You can hang out with Wateryglen too. But she’s really skinny and pretty now so she’s not a very good windbreak. I’m a much better windbreak - though I’m constantly having to blow my nose. So just stay back a little.

We’re hunting again tomorrow - but it’s supposed to be freezing out. I may stay home and peruse my seed catalogs instead. I turned the compost piles today and am cooking up some seriously excellent compost. My thoughts are turning to my vegetable garden…

If you haven’t been out in a while, you’ve missed the Bleu de Gascogne hounds. Stunning French hounds. They do have a habit of surrendering to the rabbits a lot, though.

That’s a joke. A lot of people don’t get that one.

[Tory_Relic]

@J Swan;2907203

If you haven’t been out in a while, you’ve missed the Bleu de Gascogne hounds. Stunning French hounds. They do have a habit of surrendering to the rabbits a lot, though.

That’s a joke. A lot of people don’t get that one.

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

I have to remember to tell Mr. TR that you foot hunt as well as mounted. He loves to hunt, mostly deer and rabbits. He doesn’t use dogs for deer but he likes a good rabbit dog.

[JSwan]

Well then, he might like to meet Peanut.

However, Peanut is asleep right now, and none dare disturb her. She does like to chase those wacky wabbits - but also enjoys tearing up our freshly made bed and nesting under the covers.

I refer to her as a trencher; trying to be suave about the fact that I’ve got a bad tempered smelly beagle who does like to chase rabbits, but isn’t consistent enough to take her out with real hunting dogs. So we just hunt here.

[wateryglen]

Give it up!!

Oh JSwan, silly girl! There ya go showing that staged photo of Peanut AGAIN with that road kill rabbit…honestly!! give it up! :winkgrin: She’s not the rabid rabbit killer you’re making her out to be…But the look on her face IS precious. Same one my cats have when they bring me a chipmunk or vole. Or my dog has when he brings me a dead squirrel that the cat killed and he wants to take credit for it…:lol: But WHY do cats only eat their heads???:eek:

Great Meadows is a great fixture! Lotsa rabbits in the infield! Even more at the farm in the back. Total chaos back & forth and great viewing for us followers. Sorry I had a 24hr virus but will try again! Yes, our tailgates are quite shee-shee!! :lol: Everyone outdoes themselves. Everyone trying very hard to keep our chins up without our friend Al too. Remaining MBH, Mary Reed, is doing an excellent, caring job and will be a hunting legend before she’s done for sure. I LOVE her rapore with the hounds.

Ya’ll come, ya hear!!

[JSwan]

Excuse me?

My Peanut would not stoop to bringing home road kill. She is, indeed, my rabbit hound. Whether or not other folks would consider her a good steady hound… well…one does what one can.

Hope that was a joke, because it’s bad form to insult a person’s hound. Very bad form. Particularly since you know next to nothing about me, or that hound.

[JSwan]

So? Which is it?

[wateryglen]

sheeesh!!

Total joke!! Didn’t you see my winking/smiley face emoticon!!??? I know Peanut hunts super!
Man…hunt people and their hounds:winkgrin::winkgrin::winkgrin::winkgrin::winkgrin::winkgrin: sheeesh :D…!!!

Put up your dukes!! I’ll pit my English Springer Spaniel dawg again your old hound dog anyday!!!:yes::lol: ok, ok, Peanut would win but…ok, ok and maybe Peanut would be cuter doing it…ok, ok but Milo would be more…happy!??

[JSwan]

Springer Spaniels? You mean the ones with the frou frou metrosexual haircuts? Yeah - let her at 'em!!

You gotta be careful with razzing Peanut. You see, she watches and waits. And then, when you least expect it - she attacks.

It’s pretty bad. Usually she’s rolled in something very very very dead, and very very very smelly, and then burrowed under the bedcovers. A very sleepy JSwan crawls into bed… and ARGH - encounters some pretty noxious emanations. And they’re not coming from Mr JSwan. (for a change)

This is the down side to owning a beagle. Evidently they’re very sensitive. Just like me. Now don’t you feel awful that I got upset when you made fun of my widdle dog!

You can insult Homer all you want. He’s a German Shepherd x Neighbor Sneaky Dog. Evidently, the shepherd is not from what they call, “a working line”. We like to refer to him as “our special dog”.

One of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen was Peanut hollering her head off on a line - oh man it was a sight to behold. Just beautiful - nose to the ground, baying…

Unfortunately, she was running heel.

Shhhhhh… be vewy vewy quiet… she’s hunting wabbits, doncha know.

She’s much better nowadays. At least she was… last couple of days she’s huddled on the couch in front of the fire. Right next to me.

We’re quite the pair of fair weather hunters, yessirreebob.

[wateryglen]

froo-froo?

Froo froo(sp?!!) metrosexual haircuts are for city dawgs! He’s a coyote- hating- walking fuzzy rug right now. And rolls frequently in deer guts as hunting season is in. AND goes on walkabout and brings home deer leg bones to chew on. I picked up 6 legs in the yard yesterday! Hope it wasn’t from just 1 deer! In spring I use the horse clippers and he ends up looking like a skinned rat. Good thing clips grow out! He has that same worried look on his face my horse does when I come at him with the Osters!! Wonder why!!

[Catersun]

rotflmao

you two are a hoot.

I hope I can get up to VA soon.