The nice calm weather near Imogene, Iowa it the far southwest section of the state made the prospect of todays hunting hopeful for the WCT ride of the Wabash Hounds but it would turn out to be a tough day of hunting. Huntsman Jaymes Salestrom chose a pack of mostly crossbred hounds and led the judges and field to the east of the farm where the group was gathered. The hounds diligently worked the wooded coverts between farm fields in this farming intense fixture but had a hard time finding a holding scent. Some of the corn fields did hold scent and some short runs followed but no long lines could be sustained. Key creeks and field edges were worked as were the available woodlands.
The pack and field returned after 3 hours of hard hunting with unfortunately no quarry spotted or sustained chases which is quite unusual for this fixture this season - there is no accounting for luck - or as one person has said - I would rather be lucky than good ! The field did enjoy the ride and the fairly open terrain made it quite easy to view the hound work. A few coops did have to be jumped to the delight of the riders and one particularly tough coop was enjoyed by some of the group though a significant portion of us choose the easy way around instead. After the ride, the group gathered at the local pub a few miles away for a meal and conversation.
Thanks to the Masters , Huntsman , Kennelsman and Staff of the Wabash Hounds for an enjoyable end to a fun season of fox and coyote hunting in Southwest Iowa.
