Thanks Lynn Lloyd for the report and to Kathy Tourney for the pictures
We took out 23 couple of hounds (the bitch pack and geldings) and hunted Hungry Valley. Judge Clive Rose rode Cover Girl who is a wonderful pacing Standard Bred.
We cast into rugged, rocky canyons with trees and scrubby juniper. The canyons are virtually not rideable. Whipper-ins Chrysann Collatos and Maggie Smith with 11 year old Katie Smith stayed at the bottom. I took the field and judges with me to the top to watch what unfolded. Whips at the bottom radioed that a coyote was sitting on a rock 20 feet in front of them and seemed to be enjoying all the action. Hounds finally did get to that coyote only to find there were two coyotes. The coyotes split, the hounds split and all we could do was watch from afar. Field and all saw 5 couple of hounds screaming on one coyote going north and 18 couple of hounds screaming on coyote number 2 going south. The scent from the north bound coyote disappeared in about 400 yards and the hounds were not able to find it again. The south bound hounds also had a loss. We dropped 1000 feet off the mountain and I was able to blow all hounds back to the north bound coyote. The hounds worked and pecked away at the line going back up hill 1000 feet and down the other side until they were able to get better scenting and off they went again at a good clip. Scent finally evaporated out in the open under the intense sun.
We kept working to a cattle tank were we watered hounds, horses and humans. We cast from the water hole heading south. In the remaining three hours, we worked two more lines. Hounds were diligent pecking away and pushing the coyote right into the field for all to see. They really couldn't do much with the scent and were unable to put any real pressure on Wiley Coyote. 4 1/2 hours and 25 miles later, we returned to the trailers thirsty and happy. I could not have asked better of my hounds - they gave it all they had with very poor scenting conditions. The judges were great - and I don't say that because we won. Like my hounds, they were diligent and paid attention. Nice guys!
Submitted by Lynn Lloyd
