Writeup thanks to Matthew Cook - Huntsman NHH , pictures thanks Kathy Tourney and MFH Luke Matranga
After a brief meet, the hounds moved off, 11 ½ couple in all and a very large field of over 50 riders. Working up to the first valley and across a field of cows and calves, hounds sowed interest in a small covert of cedar trees. Slow to start, feathering the line and with great cry, they were off, taking the line well and running hard across an open cornfield and into the big pasture. With the field running hard to keep up, the hounds checked at the head of a steep ravine. I cast on, re-found the line, and went past a small group of deer into some thick cedars. Hounds re-cast themselves but were not able to take it on. This was just as well because we had just run to the furthest extent of our country. It was just under a five-mile run with the top speed registered on a members GPS of over 40 mph. Now was a good time for a well-needed check for the hounds and riders. Refreshments were served by the following North Hills Whoopee wagon.
So on again, casting down the valley, hounds working ok, trying to keep up while pulling cacti out of their feet. Cast into a big cedar canyon, hounds spoke briefly. Then I tried the hounds over in a gulley, slowly they hit the line and were off, and running back up the valley. After struggling with a fence, the hounds got away from us so we had to kick on and catch up with them. I recast them and after a bit we were off and running a nearly perfect circle back to where we found, then the scent just stopped. The hounds were hot and tired so we watered them in a nearby pond. I began working back towards the meet, and the hounds did show interest in a few spots but did not open.
This was a fun filled, fast moving farewell for my last weekend of hunting for the North Hills Hunt. I am moving to the Rome Foxhounds, Italy. Coyote hunting has been an experience.
