BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS OF THE ALLEGHENY: 2017 MAINE HARE HUNT

Sunday, November 26, 2017

2017 MAINE HARE HUNT

From the Big Woods of the Allegheny National Forest to the Kennebec River Valley;

MAINE HARE HUNT 2017

October 23-28

Three hunters with hounds in the background emerge from their vehicles into a foggy, damp Maine landscape on the first day of the Maine Hare Hunt 2017.

It may have looked like four old worn out hare hunters plodding their way to a local running grounds but in truth it was four veteran members of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny. They were on their annual pilgrimage to the center of the snowshoe hare hunting universe, Maine. Actually, I don’t know about the universe but Maine is certainly the hub of all activity snowshoe hare related.

Kaz places jewelry before launching hounds into a foggy hare cover.

Setting out from the high ground of the Allegheny Plateau on their 850-mile plus journey to the Western Mountains of Maine, four members of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny completed their annual fall pilgrimage to the very heart of snowshoe hare hunting, Pleasant Ridge, Maine. Arriving on Sunday, October 22, the four veteran hare hunters hunted the mountains for six glorious days. Two of those days were not really so glorious. Torrential rains, three inches in one day and heavy rain on another day, tried to dampen the spirits of the grizzled old hunters but to no avail. Three of the four hunters enjoyed many chances at bagging a varying hare. All hare killed were frozen and carried home for future consumption. The long trip home was uneventful except for heavy rains and high winds during the drive.

Maine certainly has to be considered as the center of snowshoe hare hunting in North America. Not because of the numbers of snowshoe hare but the sheer numbers of outfitters, guides and hunters located and hunting in the state. Many hundreds of hunting camps and lodges and too many hunting guides to count provide accommodations and guide services to the many hunters who venture into the woods of Maine. Hunting moose and woodcock and everything in between hunters from across the United States and around the world flock to the state of Maine.

One of those such places is the Pine Grove Lodge located in Pleasant Ridge, Maine. The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny have been enjoying the services rendered by Pine Grove Lodge for the last fifteen or sixteen years exclusively.

One of those “grizzled old hare hunters” was my son Joe. Joe met us in Portland, Maine having flown in to meet us from his home in Virginia. The Portland International Jetport is located between I-95 and I-295 and is very convenient no matter which highway one uses. Joe took his frozen snowshoe hare home successfully in his checked luggage.

The ceiling was very low high on Johnson Mountain on October 24th. The low visibility didn't seem to hamper the hare hunting. The turbine noise did seem louder at the Bingham Wind Project.

The giant monoliths, although barely visible here, were at times invisible in the heavy cloud cover.

I believe there may be a giant wind tower in this picture but I couldn't prove it.

Heavy rain hung on the trees.

Droplets of water can be seen.

Kaz (L) and Joe, Jr. ready the hounds for release into the wild before a hunt on a better day in Maine.

A beautiful day for hare hunting.

Sammie hunts on a rock out-cropping on the summit of Johnson Mountain on a very beautiful day in Maine. The giant turbines were certainly quiet with a high sky.

Kaz watches as a snowshoe hare runs up the trail towards him.

Kaz checks the location of his hounds.

Above is a closeup of the hare that was running up the trail in a previous picture.

Above, Andy with a snowshoe hare he harvested during a torrential rainstorm.

(The heavy rain is the excuse for such a poor photo.)

Above, Joe, Jr. skins out on of his many kills while Aero waits for a handout.

Photo complements of J. Kazmarek

Above, the High HareMan checks his hounds location during the hunt on Johnson Mountain, Maine.

Below, the hare were already chewing on the bark of some trees. Normally this scene is only seen in the winter as food sources are depleted for the hare.