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| Official logo of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny |
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| Official logo of the Adirondack Mountains Hare Hunters of PA. |
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Pictured above on the cover of February, 2020 issue of The Rabbit Hunter magazine is (L-R) Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny Mark Baker of Cranbery, PA, Matt Baker of Lucinda, PA and wonder-dog Geronimo (Mo)Adirondack Mountain Hare Hunt by Joe Ewing, featured in the February 2020 issue of The Rabbit Hunter magazine, is presented here for your reading pleasure with the authority of the author.
The original magazine article was not presented in color.
Additional content and pictures have been added.
ADIRONDACK MOUNTAIN HARE HUNT
Written and photographed
by
Joe Ewing
High HareMan
of the
Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny
Many of the trees are giants, however, the canopy is not dense and does not block the sun making the under-story great snowshoe hare habitat.
Daylight is deteriorating after what has been a beautiful sunshine filled day. A thin coating of fresh snow on a base of an icy three inches is making scenting conditions better than average I presume. In the distance I hear what sounds like, listen, what could it be, two snowshoe hare chases? The beagles have me convinced two hares are being pushed simultaneously. Hollie is methodically moving a snowshoe hare by herself and the pack is pounding a second hare. It’s late afternoon on our third day of this Adirondack mountain adventure. As the sun sinks quickly toward the horizon it’s difficult to fathom three days have past so quickly. It’s always this way and it will always be this way.
Matt and his father Mark, along with Roy and Nick, and myself, are hunting in a true primeval forest. Many of the trees are giants, however, the canopy is not dense and does not block the sun making the under-story great snowshoe hare habitat. The white pine trees are six-feet or more at the butt while reaching a hundred-feet in the air. We’ve been seeing enough sign to keep our interest peaked and the hounds dedicated in their search for the elusive snowshoe hare.
Our adventure has taken us to a wild forest in the Adirondack Park in New York State. New York’s wild forests are intended to preserve an essentially wild and natural character, however, management makes possible a greater amount of recreational use than areas designated by the state as wilderness. Our not-so-primitive base-camp is located in the Fulton Chain Lakes just off Route 28 in the tourist town of Inlet, now nearly deserted.
The Adirondack Park was created in 1892 by the State of New York. The Adirondack Park contains 6 million acres of which New York State owns 2.6 million acres with the remaining 3.4 million acres privately owned. The Adirondacks are made up of state-designated areas including wild forest, wilderness and primitive areas, historic and state administrative lands. The region abounds with pristine waterways, boreal forests and lofty mountains. The area includes towns and villages, farms and businesses. The Adirondack Region is the largest publicly protected area in the lower 48 states. It is also home to 105 towns and villages. One of those villages is Old Forge.
 
Old Forge, the western gateway to the Adirondack Park, is on New York State Route 28 in the town (township) of Webb in Herkimer County, NY. Old Forge is the largest hamlet in historic Webb with a population of 756. It’s conceivable the population increases drastically during the summer season as the town is primarily directed at tourism. There are numerous hotels, motels and rental properties in the area which cater to snowmobilers in winter and I assume hunters with beagles too.
This morning’s crusty snow is softening giving me the impression the air temperature is just around that optimum +32°F threshold. Old Forge often records the lowest winter temperatures in New York. On February 17, 1979, the record low temperature for New York was set in Old Forge at −52°F. Old Forge has an average winter snowfall of approximately 180 inches (15 feet). Luckily for us the temperature is a long way from -52°F and the snowpack nowhere near what it will be this winter.
I can hear Hollie tonguing in the distance. A lengthy scan of my Garmin® Alpha® informs me she is 700 yards out methodically pushing her lone hare and veering slowly in our direction. The five-hound pack, sounding more aggressive, is closer and also making a turn in our direction. Mark, 100 yards to my west, is on high alert. I can pick out his blaze-orange coat hazily through the heavy cover. He is elevated as if standing on a rock or mound. Matt and Nick are spread out on a line to my east. My trusty Cannon® is at the ready. The pack, consisting of Matt’s hounds Geronimo and Pocahontas, Nick’s hound Beau and my Music and Sidney, are now passing Mark. There is no report from his shotgun. The hare had to have come close to him to the west and circled around behind him to my front. He didn’t shoot, I didn’t see the hare and the hounds are making a big swing toward Hollie. Will the two-snowshoe hares soon collide?
Earlier this morning, the hounds kicked a snowshoe hare from its warm bed and an enthusiastic sight chase began. There is no sweeter music to the ears than a pack of six or more beagles tonguing frantically behind an elusive snowshoe hare. As the beagles lined out the hare made every effort to shake the hounds during the long chase. As we released the hounds the temperature stood at a comfortable +28°F. The shallow snowpack was crunchy, but like I said earlier, a thin layer of new snow assisted the hounds in their duties. The hare pushed across the travelled roadway, causing a slight breakdown. The pack picked up the scent and “machine-gunned” the hare for another 200-hundred-yards and then silence. It was a major breakdown. The illusive hare had tricked them again.
The beagles took a few minutes to find the check but as the beagle music commenced the hare broke back across the single lane roadway, Nick, guarding the narrow mountain road, fired and missed. Again, the lightly travelled dirt-road caused a slight breakdown just as another shot rang out and soon another. Tonguing merrily all the way, the beagles tracked the hare to Matt’s location where Matt was waiting to show them their trophy. Not only had Nick missed but so had Roy before Matt connected. The magnificent snowshoe hare was so close to its winter white it appeared almost silver in color.
Matt with his trophy hare and his trusty hound, Geronimo, while his Dad looks on with a great big grin. Writer's note: This photo is featured on the cover of The Rabbit Hunter magazine, February 2020 issue.
On the first day of our adventure we ventured into a wild forest. This would be my first visit to this wilderness. The narrow, one-track forest road was ice covered and a tad precarious as we trucked into the bush 10 to 12 miles. The worst-case scenario would be to slide off the road into the ditch. I carried tow chains and we had tire chains. Fortuitously, four brand new bologna-skins donned my chariot’s wheels.
While carefully navigating deeper into the backwoods a semi-brown snowshoe hare darted across the road. We instantaneously knew we were in genuine hare country. No better sign can be seen than an actual snowshoe hare. The trucks came to a halt, hounds collared and a great hunt began.
Hunting on this beautiful inaugural day was Mark, Roy, Luke and myself along with my pack of beagle hounds lead by Wilson’s Sable Samantha (Sammie), Little Toby Creek Everyday’s a Holliday (Hollie) and Music and James Creek Beagles Sidney Crosby. Hare tracts were indistinguishable on the frozen snowpack, however, as we progressed into the cover every hunter reported finding hare sign. As the cover became thicker even more hare sign was observed. In no time at all Sammie was telling us there was a hare close by. The scent soon turned hot, really hot, and the chase was on. The elusive snowshoe hare made a short circle, then sprinted away from us for seven hundred yards. The hounds were out of hearing in no time.
What is “sign” the novice may ask. Any indication of a snowshoe hares’ presence from tracks to droppings or scat are a sure sign of Mr. Hare’s presence. The fecal pellets are often dry and in the form of round spheres. The pellets can be darker in color and semiliquid in form however this mode
Indications of what the snowshoe hares are eating may be another sign. In late winter easily visible “chewing(s)” are noticed at the snow-level of many saplings. The more chewings the more hare. Other signs of snowshoe hare’s presence may be their urine. Due to their diet their urine may be a yellowish orange to orangish red color. The color is from the pigments found in needles of spruce, fir and pine needles.
Cottontail not featured in Adirondack Mountain Hare Hunt.
In late winter easily visible “chewing(s)” are noticed at the snow-level of many saplings.
The snowshoe hare that first morning made two big circles, both out of hearing and was eventually harvested by young Luke. It was his first hare kill. As the hare approached, I witnessed what must have been a side-jumper as the beagles never came my way. Roy saw another hare which proved to be a side jumper or a stray. The beagles pushed their hare within killing distance of Luke and he connected. I couldn’t tell who was happier, Luke or his Papa.
I couldn’t tell who was happier, Luke or his Papa.
 
The second day of our Adirondack mountains hunt is not worth writing about. Heavy rain washed the day away with nearly unbearable conditions and a weird chase of something off which messed up the afternoon. How do I know? Sammie and Hollie, my tattletales, came back refusing to join the chase. The remainder of the day was spent recovering beagles which is an art in its self but made easier thanks to Garmin®.
The two hares have now crossed paths with Hollie harking in with the pack. The hares apparently didn’t collide. The hare went out a half-mile and is now coming our way again. The hare is heading for Mark. I wait for the shot which never comes. The hounds are now turning my way. I’m waiting and watching. Just as silently and mysteriously as a ghost in the night the elusive snowshoe appears right before me. I swing the camera around getting in the way of my own shot. No time for a close up as Mr. Hare spends no time posing for a picture before he disappears into the bush. The hounds methodically pick up the track through the cover never letting up on the hare. They are heading away soon approaching that 800-yard threshold. They go silent at which time curfew is called and eventually the hounds are picked up.
I have relayed to you all the information I’m permitted without betraying my oath of confidentiality. I want to thank the Baker family for inviting me on this greatest of hunting adventures. I enjoyed a great time and my hounds enjoyed it immensely. If the weather hadn’t interfered that one day the hunt would have been flawless.
   
Four minutes of this chase can be viewed on facebook.com. Thousands of Facebook fans have watched the video.
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