The following article appeared in BETTER BEAGLING MAGAZINE, July 2017 issue and in THE RABBIT HUNTER MAGAZINE, June 2017 issue. The article is reprinted here with permission of the author.
From
Western Pennsylvania,
the World Headquarters of
The
Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny
and
the desk of the High HareMan,
ANOTHER WINTER ON
THE ALLEGHENY
by
Joe Ewing
The six day 2016-2017 Pennsylvania Snowshoe Hare Season came to
a successful conclusion for the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny on
Saturday, December 31st, 2016. It was a grand day to be in the great outdoors
and on the Allegheny. The sweet smell of
freedom permeated the fresh clean air of the Alleghenies. Kaz, Captain of the Big Woods Hare Hunters,
daughter Autumn, along with Andy and the High HareMan were greeted on the
Allegheny with temperatures of 22 degrees and a light breeze. Snow cover of only two inches made the
scenting and running conditions perfect for the seven beagles.
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Conditions were not favorable for good hare hunting during the first
five days of the 2016-2017 regular Pennsylvania varying hare season. Confidential
informants, rumor and innuendo made known few hares were harvested on the Allegheny. According to the Pennsylvania Game
Commission’s “game-take” survey “estimated” hare hunter numbers and estimated harvests
have been declining every year for a long time.
In the year 2002 estimate, there were 1369 hares harvested by 3818
Pennsylvania hare hunters. In 2015
estimate, the numbers totaled 738 hares harvested by 3434 hunters. These
estimated numbers seem suspiciously high to this reporter. Personally, I’m sticking to rumor and
innuendo. Not long ago, while hunting
hare on the Allegheny, packs of hounds could be heard in the distance singing
their praises to the omnipotent snowshoe hare.
Pickup trucks loaded with hounds and hunters were easily recognized as
they made their way to their favorite hare cover. These days, in the big woods, the bawls of hare
hounds have been obvious by their absence.
On
this last day of the season action commenced for the Big Woods Hare Hunters within seconds of the tailgate
dropping. The pack of seven beagles had
a hare up and the chase was on for the next four hours. Many "Tally Hos!" (sightings) were announced
via two-way radio as the beagles did their work flawlessly. The chase ended without explanation at about
noon thirty.
Photo by J. Ewing
The majestic snowshoe hare makes his getaway
on the Allegheny.
Captain Kaz and Autumn departed the big woods at lunch time. Andy and the High HareMan continued hunting
south toward the famous Tionesta (creek) for another half mile. Kipper began working a cold track and, as
usual, it wouldn’t be long until the hounds had another hot hare going. The
hare ran into a formerly fenced area and gave the hounds the slip almost
immediately. Sammie bounced the hare or
one like it and the chase continued on with several more sightings and
"Tally Hos!". This hare was running short circles and the
High HareMan should’ve had more photos but the hare outsmarted the cameraman
several times.
The hounds suffered a breakdown with Sammie telling me the chase
was over. With Kipper, Sammie and Nellie
on the leash Tiggan and Aero kicked the hare once more and the chase was on
again. The hare was spotted crossing a
lease road. As curfew approached Aero
and Tiggan were intercepted and leashed.
Another eight hours of nonstop racing. The last day of the 2016-2017 season turned
out to be an extraordinary day.
Photo by J. Ewing
Hare hounds lined out on the Allegheny.
Saturday, January 7, 2017 The Extreme Season Opens
Andy
and I along with six hounds ventured onto the Allegheny to officially open the 2017
extreme season. The air was chilly and
breezy. The extreme season is that time
of year after the regular hare season and during extreme weather conditions in
January, February and March. In this
reporter’s humble opinion these are the conditions which make for the most
productive and enjoyable chasing on the Allegheny.
The
hounds were released at 8:53 am. Hare
sign was everywhere in the fresh snow cover.
Soon the Allegheny was ringing with the sounds of beautiful beagle
music. At 3:17 PM I was loading hounds
into the pickup with Andy leading the remaining beagles in shortly thereafter. I was compelled to write in the book, “seven hours
and change nonstop. The awesome hounds
did an awesome job.”
Photo by J. Ewing
The majestic snowshoe hare listens for the
hounds during a chase on the Allegheny.
Saturday, January 14,
2017—Too Much Brown on the High Plateau!
Today turned out to be a bust!
The elusive snowshoe hare was even more elusive with the complete absence
of a snow-pack. The brown forest floor
proved to be void of a white hare interested in taking the hounds on a chase. Even though the woods were full of sign the seven
hounds could not get a chase going. At
one point, it sounded like they might have a hot track going but all hopes were
dashed. We covered a lot of ground today.
What a turnaround from last week.
Saturday, January 28th,
2017—A Great Day on the Allegheny!
Another great winter day on the Allegheny in
Elk County today as the hounds did a great job and a great time was had by all. There may have been two chases going at times.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Four members of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of
the Allegheny ventured forth onto the Allegheny in search of the illusive
snowshoe hare. The hunters were greeted
on the high plateau by cold winds, sudden squalls and a deepening snow pack. The snow-pack is now up to the running boards
on the dog truck.
Friday, February 3,
2017 No Luck.
Four Big Woods Hare Hunters ventured forth
into a knee-deep snow-pack today. The illusive hare would not cooperate today. The hounds did some cold-trailing and bawled
around.
Saturday, February 4,
2017 Time for a new strategy.
Eleven degrees above
zero, four BWHHs and nine beagles on the high plateau today. Snowshoes were used by all the hunters but
not necessary. It took two hours before
the hounds found the illusive snowshoe hare in the laurel patch. Round and round the laurel patch the hare and
beagles ran. The magnificent hare
refused to leave the patch.
Photo by J. Ewing
Whoops! Who are these people?
After three hours, with the area completely
tracked-up, the deep snow and thick jungle like conditions taking its toll, the
big woods became quiet. The hounds were
done. Andy theorized there may have been
more than one snowshoe hare in the patch.
Once more, another great day on the Allegheny.
Monday Feb. 6, 2017
Today’s hunt for the illusive snowshoe hare
was not as spirited as last Saturday's. We did see sign. A good thing.
The beagles could not find the illusive hare.
Saturday, February 11, 2017, A Great Day of
Hare Chasing and Hare Watching on the Allegheny.
With the atmospheric
conditions calm and a wet snow-pack of only an inch or two the eight hounds
pounded and hounded the majestic snowshoe hare for more than four hours
non-stop over hill and dale.
Photo
by J. Ewing
Little Toby Creek Areo in deep snow on the Allegheny.
Saturday March 4th, 2017
Today's snowshoe hare hunt was probably one of
the best days of the extreme season. It had
been a few days since our last outing for hare due to warm weather. All hunters enjoyed many sightings of the
magnificent white rabbit with many a “Tally Ho!” being recorded along with
photographic confirmation.
Photo by J. Ewing
Saturday,
March 4, 2017 Hare.
Saturday, March 11th, 2017 A direct attack
into the laurel.
What a glorious day to be on the
Allegheny. Two hunters and six beagles
ventured into the Big Woods of the Allegheny. The plan of attack: proceed directly into what
is now called "Laurel Patch East".
After three hours of round and round the laurel patch it became obvious
the illusive hare was not about to leave the patch. The hounds were
increasingly unable to run the hare with any continuity due to the lack of
fresh untracked snow.
Photo by J. Ewing
Andy places a “boot” on Tiggans sore foot.
Photo by J. Ewing
Mountain Laurel patch on the Allegheny
Moving some 600 yards to the west in search of
a new hare to run, the hounds skillfully managed to dig one out of, what will
hence forth be called, "Laurel Patch West" and the chase was on. This new hare, the second of the day, ran
directly to Laurel Patch East, already totally tracked up from the morning,
resulting in frustrated hunters and stymied hounds. There was not a snow flake left unturned.
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia).
Mountain Laurel is Pennsylvania’s official
state flower. Mountain laurel is one of
America’s most beautiful native shrubs. Laurel is native to the eastern United States
from southern Maine to northern Florida and west to the Mississippi River. Laurel, often
found growing in large thickets,
is naturally localized to rocky slopes and shaded mountainous areas. In
low, wet areas, it grows densely, but in dry uplands it has a sparser form. In the Alleghenies, it grows as a shrub sized plant but can grow to tree
size further south. The round white and pink
flowers have attracted travelers since the early days. Sunday afternoon sightseers flock to
Pennsylvania’s laurel fields in season to enjoy the beauty of the laurel much
like the “leaf-peepers” in autumn.
Wednesday, March 22, 2017.
Last day of the extreme season.
Three veteran members of the Clearfield County
Chapter of the Big Woods Hare Hunters ventured onto the Allegheny to hunt the
illusive Lepus Americanus with the Captain, Mrs. Captain and the High HareMan. The group of six hunters all witnessed the
majestic and omnipotent snowshoe hare and returned home happy.
I’ll never tire of
saying, “another
great day on the Allegheny.” Fantastic
friends, great beagles and the majestic snowshoe hare make everyday a great
day.
Photo by J. Ewing
Wilson’s Sammie on the hunt on the Allegheny.
The extreme season looks for all intent and
purpose as being finished for the duration. It was a fair to good year considering the Big
Woods Hare Hunters did not always enjoy cooperating weather conditions. We chased many illusive, magnificent and
omnipotent hare and the beagles did a wonderful job.
The Big Woods Hare Hunters chased the illusive
snowshoe hare and wary eastern cottontail on many more days than I have
depicted here. We enjoyed many great
days of cottontail chasing at the “proving grounds” not to be confused with the
training grounds. The winter weather was
hit and miss with winter weather and snow one day and then warm, spring-like
weather the next.
Only Andy made the semi-annual trip to Maine in
March. He reports great weather for hare
hunting and he enjoyed a great time. The
Big Woods Hare Hunters didn’t make their annual trip to Maryland to hunt
cottontails with the bow hunters this February.
It seems the bow hunters have had enough for a while.
No animals, hare or beagle, (except for
Tiggan’s foot) were injured in the production of this article.
Thanks to all members who helped bring absolute
enjoyment of the great outdoors. Thanks to the beagles for their never give up
attitude and a special thank you to the Creator of the universe for giving us a
worthy adversary.
For complete in depth details of each and
every hare, rabbit hunt and more check out facebook.com/BigWoodsHareHunter.
Photo by B.K. Ewing
