FEBRUARY 18, 2020 ROCKTON MOUNTAIN BOYS

 

ROCKTON MOUNTAIN BOYS

VENTURE TO THE

ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST

The Rockton Mountain Boys chapter of The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny made their annual visit to the Allegheny National Forest to snowshoe hare hunt with the local division on Tuesday, February 18, 2020.

Three members from the Rockton Mountain Boys, formerly DuBois Chapter, Jim Taylor, Jim Jeffers and Mary Rhin, met with local division members, Jim “Kaz” and Barbara Kazmarek and Joe and Brenda Ewing, for a hearty breakfast at the world-famous Kelly Hotel in downtown Marienville, Pennsylvania.

Members include starting at left and going clockwise are: Jim Taylor, Jim Jeffers, Kaz Kazmarek, Barbara Kazmarek, Marty Rhin, Brenda Ewing and Joe Ewing.

Although the weather failed to cooperate with wind and a deluge of rain outside, a hearty helping of fellowship and camaraderie followed breakfast inside. The extended breakfast meeting was enhanced by member Jim Jeffers’ recount of his African Safari to the country of South Africa. Members were intrigued to hear about his adventures and asked many questions.

Once the rains slowed to a slight sprinkle the members moved to a location deep inside the Allegheny National Forest where four hare hounds were released in an attempt to locate the elusive varying hare. The beagles raised their voices in chorus a time or two, however no real chase ensued.

Members of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny from left to right are: The High HareMan,

Veteran Hare Hunter Jim Jeffers, Veteran Hare Hunter and Mentor to the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny Jim Taylor and Veteran Hare Hunter Mary Rhin.

After the hunt a variety of homemade specialty baked goods were presented by Member Brenda Ewing for the enjoyment of the veteran hare hunters.

The outing ended with a surprise visit from an ANF Forester who stopped to chat. The ANF Foresters presentation proved to be both informative and interesting. The Rockton Mountain Boys promised to return again this season for another attempt at finding an elusive snowshoe hare.

RECOLLECTIONS OF A ROCKTON MOUNTAIN HARE HUNT:

Written and photographed by Joe Ewing, High HareMan of The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny.

Portions of this commemoration were published in the March 2015 issue of THE RABBIT HUNTER magazine, February 2015 issue of Hounds & Hunting magazine and the Better Beagling magazine in February of 2015 with the title, MY MENTOR.

I remember the hunt like it was yesterday. It was back in the seventies, forty some years ago. I was a young buck who wanted to hunt all day, every day if I could. I had a new rabbit-hunting partner, Andy, and we each had a beagle. My beagle was a grade hound and Andy’s hound, Charlie, didn’t much look like a beagle or a hound, however, those two hounds knew how to chase a rabbit. Looks or pedigree didn’t seem to count for much with those two. Charlie and Sugar were fast, very fast.

Sugar in her prime.

  

They were always competing for the lead, which led to some frequent problems except on snowshoe hare. The more years that go by the better those hounds get. Charlie loved Sugar. We never had any puppies, but, poor Charlie endured some agonizing days afield.

Andy and I had to be in the woods at daylight, we refused to quit until sunset and we had to be out in the field every day off, except Sunday. I don’t remember how the two beagles kept going all day but they did. We also hunted deer and all the other game available. Things have changed a great deal since way back then.

Mr. James R. Taylor, known by everyone as “Jim” and also a co-worker from DuBois, Pennsylvania, invited Andy and me on this hunt. Jim guaranteed there were snowshoe hare on the “Rockton Mountain” and strongly recommended we go after them and today was the day. I felt privileged to be invited.

Jim was a real sportsman and outdoors man and still is to this day. Jim had been a beagler at one time in his life and was feeding a couple of bird dogs as I remember. I had been on snowshoe hare hunts before with other hunters and their dogs without much success. Today would be my first actual hunt for the magnificent and omnipotent snowshoe hare. Little did I know what I was getting into and where it would lead me.

We were on the hunt for snowshoe hare in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Unbeknownst to most people including most residents, Pennsylvania has real mountains and genuine wilderness. The area is called “The Wilds of Pennsylvania” and wild it is.  The Wilds encompass an area larger than Yellowstone National Park. Virgin forests, wilderness areas, Elk herds, The Allegheny National Forest and much more are found in The Wilds of Pennsylvania.

The exact area we were hunting is known as the Rockton Mountain, which is in the Allegheny Mountains and part of the Appalachian Mountain chain. If you ever drive on Interstate-80 in Pennsylvania and see a sign which reads, “Highest point on I-80 East of the Mississippi River” then you’ll know where I mean, except, don’t go there in winter. We were off the interstate by several miles.

It was New Year’s Day, the last day of the six-day hare season in Pennsylvania. We had parked the pick-up truck at a wide spot in the main road next to a mountain stream called Anderson Creek. Jim guided us down the creek, pronounced “crick” in this part of PA, for the better part of two miles where we found a swinging footbridge. The beagles wanted none of that narrow bridge but we made it across.

My Mentor, Mr. Jim Taylor, circa 2000. Jim emerges from a high plateau swamp after an exhausting, snow laden, cold day on The Allegheny High Plateau during the regular snowshoe hare season.  Jim is carrying a Belgium Browning autoloading 12 gauge.

We’d started our climb up the mountain in a standing forest called the Moshannon State Forest.  The forest floor was covered with an evergreen called Mountain Laurel, the state flower.  Sometimes called Mountain Pink, laurel can be very thick and makes magnificent cover for snowshoe hare.  There was no snow on the ground, so finding a track would be impossible.  The air was warm and the ground was damp, scenting conditions would turn out to be good.  We would find some hare sign which lifted our morale considerably.

Daylight was burning quickly.  We agreed if we didn’t start a hare soon, we would have to leash the hounds and get out of the woods.  Striking a hare at three or four in the afternoon is not a good idea as I have painfully learned over the years since, the hard way.

I would learn most things about snowshoe hare hunting the hard way. Years of cottontail rabbit hunting had not prepared me for snowshoe hare hunting.  I was about to find out that hare hunting was basically different than rabbit hunting.  Eastern cottontail rabbits run short circles.  The hounds seldom get out of hearing.  Cottontails seem to love civilization and are found not far from it.  Cottontails have little stamina and after a circle or two will go to ground.  Hare will run “big” with the hounds going out of hearing in a matter of seconds and for long periods of time.  In Pennsylvania, snowshoe hares are not numerous and are generally found far from that same civilization which cottontails love. Hare can run all day and for many miles.  Snowshoe hare seem to love the chase as much as the hounds.

The minutes seemed like hours as I waited for the hare.  Doubt kept trying to creep into my mind. Where the heck are the hounds? The hounds were not the problem. These hounds were “perty darn” good with lots of experience and reliability. It was my head filling with anxiety.

All of a sudden and to my extreme surprise what should appear out of the thick laurel but a white rabbit.  He was all of 25 yards in front of me and about to take another giant leap into the laurel.  I don’t remember taking the safety off, or lifting the 20-gauge to my shoulder or squeezing the trigger.  I regained consciousness the moment the shotgun went off as the hare was in mid leap.  It quickly dove into the laurel and was gone.   It had disappeared as fast as it appeared, seeming to pick up speed in midair.

Did I miss?  I knew I had.  I couldn’t get the thought out of my mind.  In Pennsylvania, and other places for all I know, when you miss a deer you lose your shirttail.  Was the same going to be true here?  Would I endure endless ribbing or worse, ridicule?  When I tell this story, I like say the hounds were at least twenty minutes behind the hare and that twenty minutes seemed like two hours as I waited.  I don’t mention my shirttail.

After what seemed like an eternity, I could hear the hounds, barely.  They were coming closer, their cries never missing a beat, their voices “machine gunning,” hot on the hare‘s trail.  They were very close now.  The two hounds suddenly appeared out of the laurel, just as the hare had, dove back into the laurel, and instantly out they came again. Both hounds had a death grip on the hare.  I remember a feeling of reprieve. Relief came over me. I believed the hare had run off after what I felt in my heart was a sure miss.

The hare was kicking like no cottontail I had ever witnessed, but the hounds were not about to let go. I remember feeling uneasy for the hounds as the hare kicked. As I ran to the hounds, I didn’t know how I was going to handle this situation. When I arrived, I tried to get hold of the thrashing back legs while at the same time the hounds were each hanging on for dear life. Finally, the hare stopped kicking for a second and I had a firm grip on both back legs as I let out a yell, “No!”

Jim on a hunt in the Allegheny National

Forest in 2008.

To my surprise both Sugar and Charlie simultaneously let go of the hare. I couldn’t believe my good fortune. I quickly finished the hare with a swift chop to the back of his neck. He was still kicking as he took his last breath.

Soon both Andy and Jim were on the scene with congratulations.

“Looks like a nice big one. A real wall hanger,” they both agreed. Gutting it out never crossed my mind. He was going to be a trophy.

We returned to the Rockton Mountain for several more years without much success and very little celebration. We would see old sign frozen in the ice and snow as if locked in time. Sometimes the hounds would cold trail a little but with no real chases. The red gods of hunting had smiled down on us two times in a row which is apparently the limit.

We changed altitude and we changed latitude. We even changed our attitude. We moved further North and to higher elevations with the same results. We eventually started hunting hare at other locations on the High Plateau of The Alleghenies and in the Allegheny National Forest. It was here that I became “hooked on hare.” After all these many years I am still obsessed.

The hare pictured above is the actual hare and the actual pose I remember as I pulled the trigger that fateful day. Mr. Hare has been a respected and revered guest in my home for more than 40 years.

Jim is more than 80 years young now, still an athlete and still hunts the Wilds of Pennsylvania, the Allegheny High Plateau and the ANF.  Jim and I are friends first, hare hunters foremost and have even caught a couple of fish together. I consider him my mentor, defined in that old dictionary as “a wise and trusted counselor.” It was Jim who first truly introduced me to snowshoe hare hunting all those many years ago. He got me hooked on hare and I couldn’t be more grateful. In fact, eternally grateful. Jim with bird in hand and hounds at SGL 244. Rockton's First Settler: Copied from annals of the DuBois Area Historical Society. http://duboishs.com/      Rockton’s first settler was John Brubaker (1810-1888), who moved to Clearfield County from Snyder County in 1839 with his wife, Barbara, and six children. He purchased 100 acres of woodland for $310 and eventually accumulated 600 acres. He built the first sawmill in Union Township and was the first to ship lumber east.        Rockton is located in Brubaker’s first land purchase. First named Moore’s Mills and later Rockton Mills, the area became Rockton because of a huge rock along the road east of town. When the stagecoach came over the mountain from Clearfield with the mail, the passengers would argue about the weight of the large rock. Some claimed it weighted a ton, so the town became Rock-ton.         The nearest school was at Luthersburg four miles away. Brubaker and some neighbor men cut a path up through the country for the purpose of taking a survey for the first road along Anderson Creek. The path became the present road to Clearfield.          Brubaker was ordained as a Mennonite minister in 1842 and as a bishop in 1850 for the Rockton Mennonite Church. John and Barbara sold the land to the church trustees to build the first meetinghouse in Rockton in 1860. Rockton, Pa.      The name Rockton originated from a time when the stage coach would come over the mountain from Clearfield with the mail, and passengers would argue about the weight of a large rock along the route. Some said it weighed a ton, so the town became Rock-ton.      Rockton had its own school, weekly newspaper, several stores, three churches, a number of mills, both grist and lumber, and an emergency landing field for air mail pilots. Farms did well in the shelter of the surrounding mountains.      Rockton was divided in two, upper and lower. What is known as Rockton today was begun through lumbering by people such as John Brubaker. In 1885, Jason E. Kirk and David W. Kirk built a steam-powered feed mill.       Lower Rockton began in 1837 with a saw mill and grist mill built by Jason Kirk and Jeremiah Moore. It sits along Anderson creek as did the wool mill of William Johnson. The Kirk mill was designed to provide adequate height and space at the front of the building for men and horse-drawn wagons to load and unload products.       The greatest disaster for Rockton was a tornado on September 14, 1945, beginning in the Coal Hill area of Brady Township. Many buildings were destroyed with the Hollopeter Poultry Farm receiving most of the damage. The William Irwin house was moved several inches off of its foundation and a barn demolished. The storm cleared a path approximately 100 feet wide and 8 miles long. After the storm crossed Anderson Creek and moved up Montgomery Run, it dispersed. No one was injured.      Today, Rockton has a post office, two churches, ( St. John’s Lutheran and the Church of the Brethren), and two shops.                                                          Gene M. Aravich Rockton's First Settler: Copied from annals of the DuBois Area Historical Society. http://duboishs.com/      Rockton’s first settler was John Brubaker (1810-1888), who moved to Clearfield County from Snyder County in 1839 with his wife, Barbara, and six children. He purchased 100 acres of woodland for $310 and eventually accumulated 600 acres. He built the first sawmill in Union Township and was the first to ship lumber east.        Rockton is located in Brubaker’s first land purchase. First named Moore’s Mills and later Rockton Mills, the area became Rockton because of a huge rock along the road east of town. When the stagecoach came over the mountain from Clearfield with the mail, the passengers would argue about the weight of the large rock. Some claimed it weighted a ton, so the town became Rock-ton.         The nearest school was at Luthersburg four miles away. Brubaker and some neighbor men cut a path up through the country for the purpose of taking a survey for the first road along Anderson Creek. The path became the present road to Clearfield.          Brubaker was ordained as a Mennonite minister in 1842 and as a bishop in 1850 for the Rockton Mennonite Church. John and Barbara sold the land to the church trustees to build the first meetinghouse in Rockton in 1860. Rockton, Pa.      The name Rockton originated from a time when the stage coach would come over the mountain from Clearfield with the mail, and passengers would argue about the weight of a large rock along the route. Some said it weighed a ton, so the town became Rock-ton.      Rockton had its own school, weekly newspaper, several stores, three churches, a number of mills, both grist and lumber, and an emergency landing field for air mail pilots. Farms did well in the shelter of the surrounding mountains.      Rockton was divided in two, upper and lower. What is known as Rockton today was begun through lumbering by people such as John Brubaker. In 1885, Jason E. Kirk and David W. Kirk built a steam-powered feed mill.       Lower Rockton began in 1837 with a saw mill and grist mill built by Jason Kirk and Jeremiah Moore. It sits along Anderson creek as did the wool mill of William Johnson. The Kirk mill was designed to provide adequate height and space at the front of the building for men and horse-drawn wagons to load and unload products.       The greatest disaster for Rockton was a tornado on September 14, 1945, beginning in the Coal Hill area of Brady Township. Many buildings were destroyed with the Hollopeter Poultry Farm receiving most of the damage. The William Irwin house was moved several inches off of its foundation and a barn demolished. The storm cleared a path approximately 100 feet wide and 8 miles long. After the storm crossed Anderson Creek and moved up Montgomery Run, it dispersed. No one was injured.      Today, Rockton has a post office, two churches, ( St. John’s Lutheran and the Church of the Brethren), and two shops.                                                          Gene M. Aravich

FEBRUARY 17, 2020 HARE HUNTER INDUCTED INTO THE LOYAL ORDER

Official emblem of The Loyal Order

February 17, 2020

vETERAN HARE HUNTER accepted INTO THE

LOYAL ORDER OF THE BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS OF THE ALLEGHENY

Ms. Mary Hosmer of Ridgway, Pennsylvania (L) is welcomed by the High HareMan.

The High HareMan of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny is honored to announce the induction of Ms. Mary Hosmer of Ridgway, Pennsylvania into the Loyal Order.

Ms. Hosmer was initiated into The Loyal Order of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny at a ceremony conducted deep in the Big Woods and high atop the Allegheny Plateau on President's Day, February 17, 2020.

The High HareMan of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny extended the hand of friendship and welcome while presenting Mary with the official cap emblazoned with the official emblem of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny and the official emblem/badge of The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny.

Mary Hosmer is retired from the U.S. Forest Service, Allegheny National Forest, serving as a wildlife biologist and a public relations specialist. We welcome her knowledge and expertise into the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny.

The day commenced with a Big Woods Hare Hunter breakfast presented at the famous Kelly Hotel in Marienville, PA. which was enjoyed by the seven (7) snowshoe hare hunters attending. A great meal filled with conversation about conservation and a hardy helping of fellowship was enjoyed by all.

After breakfast a convoy of cars and dog-trucks ventured forth onto the Allegheny. At a secret location deep in the Big Woods eight (8) highly capable hare hounds (beagles) were released into the wild.

Members present at the BWHH breakfast include, left; Kaz, Barbara, Mary, John, Jaret, Brenda and the High HareMan.

Although it was a beautiful day to be on the Allegheny, it turned out to be a glorious day for a walk through the forest. The hounds turned up not a single snowshoe hare much to the chagrin of the High HareMan. In the words of a friend and prophet, "If hare hunting was easy everyone would do it."

But then again, "It is only with terrible trepidation we venture forth."

Six members of The Loyal Order of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny witnessed Mary's induction. A time of fellowship followed the outing with Barbara Kazmarek presenting a hot lunch for the hare hunters. As one hungry hunter put it, "Nothing better than a grilled hot dog after a hard day in the Big Woods."

BWHH from left include: Jaret Zimmerman, Barbara Kazmerak, Jim "Kaz" Kazmerak, John Zimmerman, Brenda Ewing and Joe Ewing. Mary Hosmer was behind the camera.

Mary is now an official member in good standing of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny and is entitled to all the special rights, privileges, advantages and immunity granted or available to a Loyal Member. Membership in the Loyal Order is granted for life and cannot be revoked under any circumstances.

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, 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 and conservationists dedicated to preserving the omnipotent snowshoe hare. We take pride in calling ourselves “elite” because we are the select few 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, searching 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 Pennsylvanians.

2006-12-30 CLASSIC VIDEO FROM THE ARCHIVES

Official logo of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny

CLASSIC VIDEO

FROM THE ARCHIVES

of the

BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS
of the

ALLEGHENY
The following video was taken during the 2006 Pennsylvania snowshoe hare season.
Below, Cinematographers, Master Hare Hunter (MHH) Ray Wolford (L) and Master Hare Hunter Bill Moreland, M.H.H. prepare the Panavision equipment before entering upon the Allegheny.

  

ADIRONDACK MOUNTAIN HARE HUNT AS FEATURED IN THE RABBIT HUNTER MAGAZINE

Official logo of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny

Official logo of the Adirondack Mountains Hare Hunters of PA.

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 is seldom viewed in the wild. The semiliquid stage of scat is reingested in order for the animal to maintain nutrients. The process is called “coprophagy” and refers to animals which reingest their own feces to absorb more of the vitamins and nutrients contained in them.

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.

@ https://www.facebook.com/BigWoodsHareHunters/

Sammie

Sidney

Hollie