The following article was published in the July 2022 issue of
From the Pennsylvania Wilds,
the
Allegheny Plateau,
and the
Allegheny National Forest.
ST.
PATRICK’S DAY FUN HUNT
17 on the 17th
St. Patrick’s Day in
the Shamrock Room at
The Kelly Hotel
St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th, the Shamrock Room, the Kelly Hotel with seventeen special individuals. What an omen! An omen of good things to come. Fourteen members of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny, one future member, and two special guests are gathered for a pre-hunt breakfast at the Kelly Hotel in downtown Marienville, Pennsylvania.
All are individuals, each possessing their own unique and interesting story. Seventeen sportsmen and women joined in fellowship, comradery, and harmony. Sportsmen and sportswomen engrossed in the same endeavor. A remarkable way to start any day.
The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny (AKA The Loyal Order) has assembled for pre-hunt breakfasts hundreds of times over the years but not with this many members in attendance. This is a record-setting number of Bonafede snowshoe hare hunters. The fact that this is the largest group for a breakfast meet in the history of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny is far and beyond special.
Assembled around the breakfast table are the most distinguished sportsmen and sportswomen in the hare hunting community of Pennsylvania. Dedicated sportsmen representing hundreds of years of experience in the great outdoors. At the table is a new arrival to the sport of snowshoe hare hunting. He is ready and willing to acquire all the benefits the great outdoors has to offer.
Coffee and drinks are served. I’m prompted to go around the table introducing each to one another. Although I’m friends with each many have never met one another. Sometimes we live in a small world and our paths never cross.
Going around the table from left to right I first introduce Mr. Jim Jeffers, DuBois, PA. Jim, a member of the Rockton Mountain Boys, is not only a rabbit and hare hunter he is also a big game hunter. Jim successfully killed an exotic Pennsylvania snowshoe hare back in 2007 in front of my beagles.
January
2007, Jim Jeffers (L) and our late hunting buddy, Jim Hanson, with the trophy
hare and a pack of great beagles.
Next to Jim is Mr. L. T. Corso. L. T. hails from Knox, PA. L. T. and I have spent many hours hunting snowshoe hare in Pennsylvania and New York State. I have not, as yet, had the pleasure of witnessing L. T. kill a hare in front of my hounds but the day is coming. L. T. is a recent inductee into the Loyal order joining on February 1, 2022.
L. T.
Corso’s induction.
Next, Jackson Baker, a snowshoe hare hunting
prodigy, and the youngest future member of the Loyal Order of the Big Woods
Hare Hunters of the Allegheny. Jackson comes from a family long in the tradition of
sportsmanship. There are big things in Jackson’s future. Jackson will fulfill
his heritage with honor. I would love to be present the day he harvests his
first snowshoe hare.
Jackson’s grandfather is next. Mr. Mark Baker, Cranberry, PA, is a veteran hunter and erstwhile beagler. Mark and I have hunted snowshoe hares in New York State and chased many snowshoe hares across the Allegheny. Mark and his son, Matt, were featured on the cover of a 2020 issue of The Rabbit Hunter. Mark was inducted into the Loyal Order in 2020.
Mark Baker
with Adirondack Hare in 2020.
Mr. Marty Hrin, Rockton, PA. Marty is a
beagler and true lover of the wild outdoors. Marty is a member of the Rockton
Mountain Boys Chapter of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny and
successfully bagged a trophy Pennsylvania snowshoe hare back in 2009 in front
of my beagles. He was officially inducted into the Loyal Order on a cold day
back in 2011.
We welcome Mr. Lane Potts to the table. Lane
is a Wildlife Health Technician with the Wildlife Futures
Program at the University of Pennsylvania and is our special guest and speaker for today.
More about the Wildlife Futures Program later. Lane works out of the Northwest
Region office of the Pennsylvania Game Commission in Franklin, PA.
Ms.
Barbara Kazmarek, New Bethlehem, PA, has been a member of the Loyal Order since
forever. Barbara is a snowshoe hare hunter and beagler winning many field and
bench trials with her beagles. Barbara and her husband, Kaz, are a team raising
and training beagles.
Jim “Kaz” Kazmarek, second in command, Captain, at the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny. He became a prospective member on February 9th, 2009, and was welcomed as a full-fledged member on February 23rd of that same year. On March 8th, 2010, Kaz was awarded his captain bars.
Kaz was welcomed into the Loyal Order on a cold day by the High HareMan in 2009.
He has hunted snowshoe hare
across Pennsylvania and Maine. Kaz has been featured on the cover of this
magazine. He and I have spent hours on Allegheny training beagles and running
snowshoe hare.
Introduced as a unit is the father and son team of Jaret and John Zimmerman from Cranberry, PA. Both are veteran cottontail and snowshoe hare hunters having tramped the Big Woods of the Allegheny Plateau, Allegheny National Forest, Adirondack Mountains, the Tug Hill Plateau of New York, and the Central Mountains of Maine.
John received his
official cap and insignia in 2020.
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The old hymn by J. B. F. Wright comes
tumbling back; Precious memories how they linger How
they ever flood my soul- In
the stillness, of the midnight- Precious
sacred scenes unfold precious
memories fill my soul
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Mr. Vic Taylor is introduced as the “Mentor’s” son and was inducted into the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny in 2008. Vic is an avid snowshoe hare hunter and whitetail deer hunter. Sitting next to Vic is the “Mentor”, Mr. Jim Taylor.
Jim is considered the “Official Mentor” to the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny. It was Jim who started me and others on this snowshoe hare hunting journey many years ago. We’ve hunted the Wilds of Pennsylvania and fished the Great Lakes together too many times to count. Jim is a young 88 years and a charter member of the Loyal Order.
I continue around the table introducing each sportsman or sportswoman, my mind is distracted from my assigned task by the many wonderful memories I’ve shared with each one of these hunters over many years. With each name, a flood of recollections comes collecting and cascading through my brain.
Mr. Roy Towner, a past beagler, inducted into the Loyal Order in 2020, is a rabid snowshoe hare hunter, loves hunting over the hounds, and a lover of the outdoors. Roy and I chase snowshoe hare across the Allegheny and the Adirondack Mountains of New York State.
Roy, Sammie, and
trophy Adirondack hare in 2020.
Sitting beside Roy is Ms. Jan
Towner, a future prospective member as soon as we get her into the woods one
day and make memories.
Next, the Chief Advisor to the High HareMan, Brenda Ewing. Brenda would not consider herself a beagler, however, she really is an accomplished beagler. Brenda spends many hours yearly training beagles. Brenda, a charter member of the Loyal Order, is experienced in whelping, raising, and training the little hounds.
With breakfast complete, it’s time to head for snowshoe hare habitat on the Allegheny. The snowshoe hare season ended in Pennsylvania on January 1st but that doesn’t mean we have to lock the beagles up and quit running the elusive hare. I have a feeling there won’t be much hunting today though.
Pickup trucks parked, I launch my beagles knowing if I don’t, they will make quite a racket. The group gathers around Lane wanting to know what he has to say.
The first outdoor lecture series for this group.
Lane Potts, a Wildlife
Technician with the Wildlife Futures Program, despite his young appearance, is an
expert in wildlife disease ecology, toxicology, and pathology working closely
with the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Lane holds degrees in these fields from
Penn State University. The Wildlife Futures Program is a science-based,
wildlife health program that serves to increase wildlife health surveillance,
management, and research to better protect wildlife across Pennsylvania and beyond.
Wildlife Futures is a partnership between the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC). The program includes experts in wildlife diseases working close with PGC personnel. Wildlife Futures focuses on conducting wildlife disease surveillance, diagnostics, and innovative applied research.
One of the biggest worries in Pennsylvania is the highly contagious Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD). Mr. Potts outlined the ways in which hunters and the public can help stem RHD and RHVD2. Reporting wildlife disease concerns to the PGC or the Wildlife Health Tech, remaining informed to emerging wildlife diseases and mitigation efforts through the Wildlife Futures website (www.vet.upenn.edu/wildlife-futures) are two ways. The public can contact the regional Wildlife Health Tech to submit hunter-harvested or found-dead wildlife for ongoing surveillance programs. Among the many animals Lane listed were snowshoe hare, Eastern cottontail rabbits, and Appalachian cottontail.
When Lane concludes his talk, he is awarded an official Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny cap and is made an honorary member. The members give their full approval.
Roy Towner photo.The High HareMan,
Joe Ewing congratulates Lane Potts on becoming an honorary member.
The air is warming quickly. There is no snow on the ground contrary to many past St. Patrick’s Days. While Lane was speaking, I heard the beagles cold trailing a time or two which at least spurred my hopes of getting a chase. Everyone heads for the cover.
After two hours it becomes apparent today is not the day. The time is not wasted as the hunters visit and compare war stories. As I head back toward the pickups the faint smell of food cooking is detected. Barbara and Kaz are cooking lunch on the tailgate.
Roy Towner photoBarbara and Kaz prepare lunch.
With lunch complete, it’s time
for a special ceremony. Jackson Baker officially becomes the youngest member
ever inducted into the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny. With a minor amount
of indoctrination and propaganda, I award Jackson the official insignia of the
Loyal Order commemorating his official induction.
Roy Towner photoThe High HareMan
presents Jackson Baker with his official membership documents.
To conclude the day’s
activities, Jim Taylor, the oldest member, congratulates Jackson Baker, the
youngest member, on his induction into the Loyal Order.
The beagles, Maggie, Peaches, and Nickie, and Sid, Music, Nasty, and Hollie did not chase snowshoe hare today but they tried which counts for a lot. We’ve run hare here many times and we will chase them here again; however, it makes no difference today.
It’s been a great day with great friends and fellow hare hunters. The day was advertised as a “Fun Hunt”. It turned out to be just plain fun.
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