NEW HUNTERS AND OLD HUNTERS VENTURE FORTH

HUNTERS, NEW AND OLD VENTURE FORTH INTO THE WILDS OF THE ALLEGHENY HIGH PLATEAU.

Excuse my hat.
From left to right: Autumn Bish, the High HareMan, Brayden Murray and Will Murray. Kaz is behind the camera.

On December 27, 2017 five members and six beagles ventured forth to the High Plateau in search of the illusive snowshoe hare and were granted success by the red gods of hunting. Several "Tally Hos", a.k.a. sightings, were awarded the hunters.

Autumn was awarded her new Big Woods Hare Hunter ball cap signifying her membership and many outings since 2009.

Brayden and William were awarded Big Woods Hare Hunter ball caps signifying their beginning interest in becoming future Big Woods Hare Hunters.

Above: Hunting in the mountain laurel.

Mountain laurel patch east was full of hare tracks and the hounds were immediately tonguing during our first outing of the regular snowshoe hare season. On December 27, 2017 the air was frigid with brisk winds out of the north. Several sightings, a.k.a. "Tally Ho"s were enjoyed by all present.

Below: Brayden hunting the mountain laurel patch.

The six beagles did an outstanding job. Considering the snow and cold, the pack, consisting of Kaz's Nikkie and Maggie, the High HareMan's Kipper, Sammie, Aero and Hollie, did an exemplary job.

As we entered the laurel patch the hare had paths worn through the laurel. Busting a hare out of the laurel would be the test.

Finally, the hounds did enjoy a 300 yard chase out of the laurel. All enjoyed a second long run during the day.

Brayden suffered what looked like possible frostbite on his face at the end of the long cold day. No damage was done to his face and we did not face reprisal from his mother.

Autumn, Kaz and the High HareMan hunted the high plateau the next day (December 28th) and enjoyed several chases but without a "Tally Ho".

A hare track is all we could muster a picture of on December 28th.

The feisty hounds chased the illusive hare to the bounds of hearing on some runs going as much as 500 yards before turning back. A good day was had by all.

GRATEFUL MEMBERS VISIT OUR NATIONS MOST SACRED SHRINE.

GRATEFUL MEMBERS VISIT OUR NATION'S MOST SACRED SHRINE

Freedom:

"All gave some, but some gave all."

Arlington National Cemetery with remembrance wreaths placed by 75,000 volunteers from Wreaths Across America.

On New Years Eve 2018, four members of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny took time out to pay their respects to some of our nation's fallen heros at one of our nation's most sacred places. The pictures say it all. And, yes, it was a little cold but all hearts were warmed.

"On Saturday, December 16, 2017, at 1,422 participating locations nationwide, grateful Americans in every state placed more than 1,565,000 remembrance wreaths. At Arlington National Cemetery specifically, 244,700 wreaths (one for each marker there) were placed by more than 75,000 volunteers, the largest crowd to ever participate there.
Nearly 500 truckloads of wreaths were transported across the country through a network of hundreds of volunteer drivers, donated trucking and diesel, and countless hours of dedicated volunteers committed to the mission to Remember, Honor and Teach."-Wreaths Across America website.

"A person dies twice: once when they take their final breath, and later, the last time their name is spoken."--unknown

"We are not here to decorate graves. We're here to remember not their deaths, but their lives."—Karen Worcester, Executive Director of Wreaths Across America

Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place for more than 400,000 active duty service members, veterans and their families. Service to country is the common thread that binds all who are remembered and honored at Arlington.

Main entrance to Arlington National Cemetery.

At the top of the hill is the Robert E. Lee Memorial or the Arlington House, formerly named the Custis-Lee Mansion. Once the home of Confederate General, Robert E. Lee, it overlooks the Potomac River and the National Mall in Washington, DC. During the American Civil War, the grounds of the mansion were selected as the site of Arlington National Cemetery, in part to ensure that Lee would never again be able to return to his home. However, the United States has since designated the mansion as a National Memorial to Lee. Although the U. S. Department of the Army controls Arlington National Cemetery, the National Park Service, a component of the United States Department of the Interior, administers Arlington House.

The primary mission of Arlington National Cemetery is to serve as the final resting place for the men and women who honorably served in the Armed Forces and their immediate family members.

Three members and one future member of The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny make their way into Arlington National Cemetery.  The building behind is the Visitor Center. All visitors must pass through a security screening.

A first stop on a trip to Arlington National Cemetery should include the Welcome Center, located by the cemetery entrance. In the Welcome Center there are maps, information services (to include grave locations), kiosks for accessing AND Explorer, a bookstore, restrooms and water fountains. The Welcome Center also contains exhibits and displays that tell the story of Arlington National Cemetery and its significance to the nation. The cornerstone of the exhibits is a life-size replica of a bugler playing "Taps," one of the most recognizable components of a military honors funeral.

Arlington National Cemetery conducts between 27 and 30 funeral services each weekday and between 6 and 8 services on Saturday. The grounds of Arlington National Cemetery honor those who have served our nation by providing a sense of beauty and peace for our guests.

Who may be buried at Arlington National Cemetery?

(a) Any active duty member of the Armed Forces (except those members serving on active duty for training only).

(b) Any retired member of the Armed Forces. A retired member of the Armed Forces, in the context of this paragraph, is a retired member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or a Reserve component who has served on active duty (other than for training), is carried on an official retired list, and is entitled to receive retired pay stemming from service in the Armed Forces. If, at the time of death, a retired member of the Armed Forces is not entitled to receive retired pay stemming from his service in the Armed Forces until some future date, the retired member will not be eligible for burial.
(c) Any former member of the Armed Forces separated for physical disability prior to 1 October 1949 who has served on active duty (other than for training) and who would have been eligible for retirement under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 1201 had that statute been in effect on the date of his separation.
(d) Any former member of the Armed Forces whose last active duty (other than for training) military service terminated honorably and who has been awarded one of the following decorations:
(1) Medal of Honor.
(2) Distinguished Service Cross (Air Force Cross or Navy Cross).
(3) Distinguished Service Medal.
(4) Silver Star.
(5) Purple Heart.
(e) Persons who have held any of the following positions, provided their last period of active duty (other than for training) as a member of the Armed Forces terminated honorably: 
(1) An elective office of the United States Government.
(2) Office of the Chief Justice of the United States or of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
(3) An office listed in 5 U.S.C. 5312 or 5 U.S.C. 5313.
(4) The Chief of a mission who was at any time during his tenure classified in class I under the provisions of 411 of the Act of 13 August 1946, 60 Stat. 1002, as amended (22 U.S.C. 866, 1964 ed.).

The rolling green hills are dotted with trees that are hundreds of years in age and complement the gardens found throughout the 624 acres of the cemetery. This impressive landscape serves as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of every individual laid to rest within the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery.

One of the most recognizable components of a military honors funeral includes "Taps". Taps is a bugle call played at military funerals by the United States armed forces. The official military version is played by a single bugle or trumpet. The tune is also sometimes known as "Butterfield's Lullaby", or by the first line of the lyric, "Day Is Done".

At the top of the hill is the Robert E. Lee Memorial.

Above and below: Between 1947 and 2001, privately purchased markers were permitted in the cemetery. The sections in which the cemetery permitted such markers are nearly filled and the cemetery generally does not allow new burials in these sections. Nevertheless, the older sections of the cemetery have a wide variety of private markers placed prior to 2001, including an artillery piece.

Three members of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny respectfully pose before the camera and before the solemn graves to commemorate their visit. A future member is riding on his Daddy's back.

The High HareMan at Arlington National.
As emotions well up, a normal person's heart cannot help but be moved.

@ Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery.

"There is a meticulous routine that the guard follows when watching over the graves.

The Tomb Guard:

Marches 21 steps south down the black mat laid across the Tomb.

1. Turns and faces east, toward the Tomb, for 21 seconds.
2. Turns and faces north, changes weapon to outside shoulder, and waits 21 seconds.
3. Marches 21 steps down the mat.
4. Turns and faces east for 21 seconds.
5. Turns and faces south, changes weapon to outside shoulder, and waits 21 seconds.
6. Repeats the routine until the soldier is relieved of duty at the Changing of the Guard.

After each turn, the Guard executes a sharp "shoulder-arms" movement to place the weapon on the shoulder closest to the visitors to signify that the Guard stands between the Tomb and any possible threat.

Out of respect for the interred, the sentinels command silence at the tombs. If the guard walking the mat must vocally confront a disturbance from spectators, or a threat, the routine is interrupted, and remains so until the disturbance is under control. The sentinel will exit the mat, place the weapon in port arms position, and confront the disturbance. Once under control, the sentinel then walks on the pavement to the other side of the mat, turns to shoulder arms, and continues the routine.

Twenty-one was chosen because it symbolizes the highest military honor that can be bestowed—the 21-gun salute ."- wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_the_Unknown_Soldier_(Arlington)

Overlooking Washington, D.C. from Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery stands atop a hill overlooking Washington, D.C. On March 4, 1921, Congress approved the burial of an unidentified American soldier from World War I in the plaza of the new Memorial Amphitheater.

Below: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier or the Tomb of the Unknowns is a monument dedicated to U.S. service members who have died without their remains being identified. Wikipedia

"All gave some, but some gave all."

TRAILING SIDNEY CROSBY

From the Big Woods of the Allegheny

TRAILING SIDNEY CROSBY

OR

Following Sidney

On December 5th, 2017 James Creek Sidney Crosby or as it appears on his brand new papers, "JAMESCREEK SIDNEY CROSBY" will be:

FIVE MONTHS OLD!

To bring you up to speed Sid is growing like wildfire. He is going to be a big hound. His feet are of a tremendous size already. It is difficult for me to believe, when I look at Sid, he is only five (5) months old.

Sid has been running with the pack since his first outing. He loves the "girls", barks when they bark, tongues when they tongue and runs with them everywhere.

Sidney was out November 29th, to the puppy pen at the Bear Town Beagle Club. He saw two (2) rabbits but failed to chase them. In fact, Sidney and a rabbit were fact-to-face, looking at each other at about three (3) feet apart.

This video appeared on Facebook in November. It 's placed here for perpetuity.

Sidney is trying to learn to "load-up". Here on 11-17-2017 (4 1/2 months) he sitting on the diving board posing for the camera. Sid is such a ham.
Above: Sidney is getting "load-up" drills from Brenda.

Sidney just doesn't get it yet.

Here, Sidney and Sheeba in the wild on 11-13-2017

MY MENTOR

The following article, "MY MENTOR", was originally published in the February 2015 issue of Better Beagling magazine and in The Rabbit Hunter magazine March of 2015 issue.

Many more pictures are included here.

The article is reprinted here with slight edits and by popular demand.

From High on the Allegheny Plateau of Western Pennsylvania

MY MENTOR

By Joe Ewing

High Hareman of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of The Allegheny

       “TALLY HO!  TALLY HO!  HERE GOES!  HERE GOES!” Andy had bounced a snowshoe hare out of an ancient tree stump. The hounds immediately harked to his call and were soon locked on to the scent of the hare. Sugar and Charlie were chasing that hare like I knew they could. They were heading away, their cries becoming fainter until they were out of hearing. Where were they going? We knew it was a hare. Andy had seen it.

          I remember the hunt like it was yesterday. It was back in the seventies, more than forty 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 pedigrees 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. Andy and I hunted deer and all the other game available. Things have changed a great deal since way back then.

Jim emerging from the cabin of the late Jack Hugh's
boat with a ham sandwich during a fishing trip on
Lake Ontario circa 2006.

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

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

Click on map to enlarge.

 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.

Jim relaxing during a fishing trip on
Lake Ontario.

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 drive 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'd parked the pick-up truck at a wide spot along U.S. Route 322, also known as the "Rockton Mountain Highway". Jim guided us down a creek named Anderson Creek but pronounced “crick” in this part of PA. Hunters and hounds hiked 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 commenced 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 erroneously called mountain pink, mountain laurel can be very thick and makes magnificent cover for snowshoe hare. There was no snow on the ground, so finding a track would've been impossible. The air was warm and the ground was damp, scenting conditions would turn out to be good. We would find 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 all things snowshoe hare 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 hare 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 was sure 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 with snowshoe hare? 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.

Jim, with bird in hand, circa 2006, after a
successful hunt on Game Lands 244. The
hounds, from left to right, are Blacky, Gracie,
Speckles, and Patch. Only Speckles remains
as of this writing. (2017).

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 appeared out of the laurel, just as suddenly 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.

“What do we do now?” Jim asked.

“We should probably get out of the woods before it gets dark,” was Andy’s response.

“Yeah, and go some place to celebrate over a cold one,” was my reliable solution to any dilemma.

After the long walk down the mountain, back across the foot bridge and a short ride, the three of us were entering an establishment called the Gateway Tavern. Sitting on a couple of bar stools were two guys who asked if we were flintlock hunters as we took our seats.

With a quick puff of the chest the answer was, “No, we are snowshoe hare hunters.”

The first bar stool guy queried, “did ya have any luck?”

“Yeah, we sure did!” Was my quick answer.

“Was it all white?” The second bar stool guy asked.

“Yep, it is,” the response from all three of us.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a white hare.” the second bar stool guy proclaimed.

“Do ya wanna see it?” Without waiting for a response out the door I went.  Within seconds the beautiful white hare was being passed around for all to see.  That’s how we celebrated.

During a hunt near the Byromtown Swamp on
December 28, 2006, the late Jack Hughes and Jim
take a coffee break.

The next year Jim harvested a trophy snowshoe hare with the scenario being almost the same. With Jim beaming and all smiles he asked, “How are we going to celebrate?”

My quick and immediate response, of course, was, “Why by stopping at the Gateway, it’s tradition.”

With that, we were off and within a couple of hours we were entering our new most favorite spot. You’re not going to believe this, but there, sitting on those same two bar-stools, as one full year before, were those same two guys.

“Hey!  How ya doin’?  Snowshoe hare huntin’ huh?  Did ya have any luck this year?”  The interrogation starting upon immediate recognition.

A still beaming Jim proclaimed, “Sure did!” 

“Do ya wanna see it?”  I ask quickly, instantly realizing history was about to repeat itself.

“No, no,” they more than insisted, as I was on my way out the door.  “We saw last years,” they were almost yelling, stopping me in my tracks.

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 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. 

I didn’t know at the time that snowshoe hare were “magnificent or omnipotent.”  After hundreds of hunts, countless sightings, thousands of hours listening to the beagles run hare and a few kills I came to respect and honor this noble and glorious lagomorph.  According to my ratty old coverless Random House Dictionary, “magnificent” is defined as, “making a splendid appearance or show, extraordinarily fine, noble or awe-inspiring", all of which pertains to the snowshoe hare. Omnipotent is defined as, “having unlimited authority or power.” The snowshoe hare has had a power over me all these years. The Architect of the universe went out of His way when He made the varying hare extremely extraordinary.  I’ve been hooked on hare since that first real hunt. 

We hunted hare for many years near Marienville.

(Click on map to enlarge.)

        Jim Taylor, almost 80 years young now, is still an athlete and still hunts the Wilds of Pennsylvania and the Allegheny High Plateau. We are friends first, hare hunters foremost and have even caught a couple of fish together. I also 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.

Jack Hughes (L) and Jim having a little lunch during a hare hunt in the ANF.

Above: Jim, Vic and Joe with hare hounds John and Kandi.

Three pictures above were taken during a hunt with Jim and Vic.

 Above, Jim with Captain Bob Hayner and walleye.

Below, the "seas" were a little rough. This photo was snapped right after the one above.

We fished near Pelee Island, Ontario, Canada.

(Click on map to enlarge)

Jim with walleye during 2011 fishing trip to Marblehead.

 Above the crew. From left to right  starting in back; Jim, Wayne, Captain Bob, Ray, Ron and Dick.

Jim with another big walleye in 2011.

We fished for years as the invited guest of the late Jack Hughes. We fished out of Kendall, NY.

Click on map to enlarge.

 Above, (L-R) Jim Taylor, Jack Hughes, Jim Hanson and Joe Ewing.

Above, Jim (left) and Captain Jack.

Above, Captain Jack Hughes and below another big one.

Above, another big haul.

Below with Jack at the helm, Jim in the right seat while Jim Hanson looks on.

Jim and I have spent many hours hunting the illusive eastern cottontail. This photo was taken a number of years ago judging by the young looking faces.

Jim did a fine job of campaigning.

Above, Jim colludes with bigger than life President Donald J. Trump.

Hunting the Allegheny National Forest, January 2016.

Jim hunting the fields of SGL-244 October 2017.