FROM THE WORLD HEADQUARTERS OF THE BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS OF THE ALLEGHENY

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE APPEARED IN THE FEBRUARY ISSUE OF

The following article is reprinted here for your reading enjoyment by authority of the author.

HOUNDS and HUNTING failed to include captions for the pictures. We will include captions here.

The article, as seen here, includes bonus material, i.e. pictures and information.

UPDATED: November 5, 2020

From the Allegheny High Plateau of Western Pennsylvania

OUR STORY

written and photographed by

Joe Ewing

High HareMan of the

Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny

Map used with complements and permission of Sevon, W. D., compiler, 2000, Physiographic provinces of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Geological Survey, 4^th ser., Map 13, scale 1:2,000,000.

The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny search for snowshoe hare in the “High Plateau Section” of the Allegheny Plateau of western Pennsylvania as seen on the map.. The High Plateau Section includes parts of Warren, Venango, Elk, McKean and all of Forest Counties. The Allegheny National Forest is located on the High Plateau Section.

We are the proud members of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny. We search the mountains, high swamps, clear-cuts and evergreen plantations of the Allegheny High Plateau with beagles for the elusive snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus). Headquartered in western Pennsylvania, high on the Allegheny Plateau, we are a band of outdoor men and women dedicated to the preservation of one of God’s greatest creations and one of Pennsylvania’s most elusive game animals, the majestic and magnificent varying hare.

Founded in 2002, we are a small, loosely organized, ever-expanding group of devoted beaglers, veteran snowshoe hare hunters, outdoor enthusiasts, conservationists and preservationists. We like to call ourselves “elite” mainly because we are the select few. Few are the beaglers who dare venture onto the Allegheny High Plateau in the bitter cold of winter in search of the snowshoe hare making the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny a very exclusive group to be sure. There is no weather too severe or snow too deep to curtail our passion for the great outdoors. We love to get out into the elements, search the Allegheny High Plateau for the elusive snowshoe hare, enjoying the thrill of the chase, while taking great pleasure in the beautiful beagle music as it rings across the scenic Allegheny.

The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny are dedicated to conserving and preserving the magnificent and omnipotent snowshoe hare on the Allegheny Plateau. Our objective is to save this magnificent animal for future generations of Pennsylvanians to enjoy. We take great pride in our mission of conservation of the varying hare. The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny are determined to preserve the thrill of the chase for future generations of beaglers.

It is fitting, then, for the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny to support our youth and our veterans in the pursuit of their hopes and dreams in the great outdoors. In 2017 the Board of Directors elected to bring about creative methods of helping our youth and our veterans no matter how modest our attempts. In 2018 the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny Foundation was formed. 

The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny Foundation takes great pride in being a silver sponsor of “Camo Cares”, a nonprofit, dedicated to sending young people with life-threatening illnesses and disabilities and wounded veterans on their hunt of a lifetime. The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny Foundation has contributed more than $750 to Camo Cares. For 2021 we will strive to do even better.

The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny Foundation is a contributing sponsor of Fryburg Junior Marksmen and Clarion County YMCA. The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny Foundation, through our Board of Directors and Officers also strive to financially support Clarion County Sportsmen for Youth Inc., Trout Unlimited, the National Rifle Association (NRA). Recently the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny Foundation made a modest donation to the “Pine Grove Programs”. In 2020 a benevolent member sponsored a hole at the Pine Grove Programs Golf Tournament.

Pine Grove Programs, headquartered in the great state of Maine, is a non-profit organization providing free outdoor experiences to military service members, Veterans, Goldstar families, and first responders. The Pine Grove Programs offers group events as well as private trips, to utilize the naturally therapeutic benefits of the wilderness.

It would be our hope in the future we could turn our modest contributions to these worth while projects into even more beneficial contributions.

In 2020 the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny made a substantial contribution to the MidwayUSA Foundation designating Fryburg Junior Marksmen and Keystone Clay Dusters as our teams of choice.

MidwayUSA Foundation is changing the future of youth shooting sports. Each shooting team in the Team Endowment Program has its own endowment that will be there for the life of the team. MidwayUSA removes nothing for Foundation operations and your donation is matched thanks to the generosity of Larry and Brenda Potterfield.  MidwayUSA Foundation is a qualified public charity.  

We shall always support our youth and our veterans for they are the beneficiaries who will inherit our legacy.

The officers and board of directors of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny financially support “Camo Cares”, a nonprofit, dedicated to sending young people with life-threatening illnesses and disabilities and wounded veterans on their hunt of a lifetime.

The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny do not harvest snowshoe hare on the Allegheny High Plateau. We search for the elusive hare with beagles and when we find their lair the beagles test the hares’ escape and evasion capabilities to the maximum and in return the hares test the beagles. Chasing hare with beagles and allowing the hare to run free is as close to catch and release as the Big Woods Hare Hunters can achieve. It’s all about the beagles and it’s all about the hare.

In 2010 Kaz is elevated to the position of Captain of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny as the High HareMan pins on his Captain bars.

Many of the members have been chasing the evasive snowshoe hare with beagles on the Allegheny Plateau for what will soon be half a century. In addition to many locations on the Allegheny Plateau, our members have hunted the Pocono Mountains of eastern Pennsylvania (a province of the Allegheny plateau, see map), the western mountains and lowlands of Maine, the Adirondack Mountains, the Tug Hill Plateau of eastern New York State and many other locations for hare with beagles. Many members have been featured in this magazine and major outdoor national publications like FIELD & STREAM magazine.

March of the Snowshoes: 4 Days of the Craziest Rabbit Hunting in the World

BY T. EDWARD NICKENS MARCH 12, 2014

In March of 2013 members Andy Hoover, Wayne Wilson and the High HareMan hunted with T. Edward Nickens, editor at large for FIELD & STREAM MAGAZINE.

Ed's article was published in the March 2014 issue of the magazine and can be found @ https://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/hunting/2014/03/march-snowshoes-rabbit-hunting-maine

The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny have numerous members who are not beaglers; however, we are committed men and women who love the out-of-doors and the Allegheny. The beautiful sights, sounds, panoramic views, fauna and flora of the High Plateau are beloved by us all. The Allegheny National Forest is the crown jewel of Pennsylvania for outdoor people of all stripes.

In 2009 Vic Taylor is awarded both his official hat and emblem making Vic a member in good standing.

The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny is not a club, league, group or secret society, although, we do have secrets. We are often called the “Loyal Order” because we are faithful to each other and we are devoted to the beagle breed. We are a fellowship, taking great pleasure in the communion with nature, companionship of friends and camaraderie with special people.

The loyal order has no constitution, no by-laws and no articles. The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny collect no dues, initiation or irritation fees of any kind. We have a Board, Chaplin, Captain, Chief of Staff, Chief Advisor and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The CEO, originally called the Chairman, is now officially titled the Chief Executive High HareMan.

On March 2, 2009, Wayne Wilson receives his Big Woods Hare Hunters patch emblematic of a lifetime membership in the Loyal Order.

Membership in the loyal order is not effortless. Members are not solicited, petitioned or recruited. There are no application papers; however, all would-be members are well vetted. Fellow beaglers get special dispensation. No outlaws or poachers need apply. Membership in the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny is bestowed for life.

Six members of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny stand on a mountain side in the Western Mountains of Maine on a beautiful March afternoon in 2010.

From left to right: the late Jim Hanson, Chaplin and Board Member Wayne Wilson, Joe Ewing, High HareMan, Andy Hoover, Chief of Staff, Ray Wolford, Board Member and Board Member and Captain Jim “Kaz” Kazmarek.

We take great pleasure in listening to the beautiful beagle music as the melodious tones reverberate off the mountains, echo up the valleys, bringing back special memories of the days of our youth. When we mention we are beaglers to people we meet, which is often, they immediately relate hunting stories of days gone by. We see smiles emerge on their faces and we see warmth emerge from their hearts for the beagle breed as they relate the days of hunting with the family beagle. Sadly, those days are gone. Disappointingly, future generations may never know the great enjoyment or bask in the memories of hunting with beagles which our generation and past generations of beaglers have known. We pray our youth will be the guardians of our hunting heritage.

August 2018, members of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny turned out in support of the Clarion County YMCA.

On a snowy day in January 2011, Marty Rhin received his official membership patch from the High HareMan.

During the hare season of 2005, Robin Hanson Scull, first female member of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny, harvested a snowshoe hare on the High Plateau which was mounted and placed in a position of honor in her home.