Now that is a different kind of fun! ;D Been invited along on about a dozen hunts over the years. All in the deep woods of NH, snow on the ground, and 1 or 2 coonhounds (an absolute must). A .22 rifle or scoped pistol is all you need besides good flashlights and extra batteries.
We generally dont start out until 2 hours after dark. ***** are nocturnal. Have to wait until theyve been roving about a bit and laid a scent trail for the dog/s to find. Head down a likely old loggin road, release the dog/s, and stand around *****in about gun control & liberals and stompin feet to keep from freezing until the dog/s start bayin.
Then we hustle. Follow the noise. Lots of bushwackin. Careful crossing frozen cricks, swamps, & ponds. Eye protection also a must. No pokes in the eyes with sharp sticks or branches whipping back! 8)
Lots of other neat aspects to these hunts. Trying to keep from getting lost, woods at night, stars, wind in the big pine tops, eerie bayin of the dog/s, kicking out deer, moose, yotes etc. And if you get a smart old ****, hell lay false trails, backtrack etc. to throw you off. ???
Then you reach the dog circling a tree and think youve finally treed one. Ha! Only about one of every 5 times. Keep circling the tree, checking crotches of branches with the lights. Find him way up high. The light reflecting off the eyes is the giveaway. Draw a careful bead with the trusty old .22.
Crack. If you did it right, then down he comes like 20 lb sack of potatoes, crackling thru the branches and whump! Check if he is done for. Dont ever want to pick up a stunned one!!! If you did it wrong, get ready cause they can come down fighting mad!
Now the long walk out. Da__, we thought we knew exactly where we were. Werent you payin attention? Naw, I thought you was... Howse about buying that pocket GPS finally...
Boy they can be heavy, and get heavier by the minute. Besides you are walking along, trying to hold his carcass out away from you, thinking about all those fleas getting ready to jump ship for a new home as soon as his body temp starts dropping...
Now you are out. Somebody volunteers to drop off the bandit in the morning with the old gent who skins and tans the hides to get a few bucks to supplement his Soc Sec $s. Goodnight and I am going to sleep like the dead tonight. ;D
In NH, hunting ***** this way is fading fast. Probably all the way to Georgia too. It sure is sad
Thanks Todd for posting this question and reminding me to get on the phone and rustle up an invite for this coming winter!! Lf
