Nov 4 , Hunt #21

The weather conditions this morningwere totally different from Tuesday.  The low never got below 44 F overnight, which made it 14 degrees warmer.  A very heavy fog enveloped me during the entire drive in the dark - not a fun drive. But by the time I drove inland 30miles, the fog lifted, and the wind was relatively calm but out of the N/NE.  Not a good direction for following hounds , and by late morning it was to be blowing a steady 25-30mph.  I was hoping we'd be finished our hunt before that happened....

At  7:55am,  Gail viewed a fox away on the west side of the hunt country.  The hounds were walked to the view and by 8am the pack was running.  Unfortunately, this fox didnt stay up for very long and went to ground after only  20 minutes.  Before  anyone could get to the hole,  a couple hounds opened north of the earth and in moments the rest of them harked. This second pilot  showed us great sport for the next  2 hours , running large circles through the woods , and running  a dirt road  for a good distance on three separate occasions.When the fox ran the woods, I was up with the pack most of the time.  When he ran the roads, all of the guys got to view him.  I never viewed the fox, as I was always right behind the pack. But that NE wind was making it difficult for the others to hear the hounds at times, and I was able to keep them informed of the packs' whereabouts.

By 9:30, the wind was already beginning to blow quite hard. The only  video I had time to try to take was when the pack came out of the woods and ran a path  right alongside it.  I was galloping Rap right behind them  and trying to hold the camera.  But we were in the open, and you will be able to hear just how bad that wind was blowing.  Not long after, this fox went to ground also.  All hounds were on, and by 10 am, it was over. Thank goodness, because the wind was howling by then!

It was a great chase, all the guys got several views of  our very obliging pilot, and Rap and I spent most of the time right behind the hounds. But I;ve decided a helmet cam is a necessity, as trying to hold the reins, a radio ,my whip,  and operate a point and shoot camera  is crazy on a fast day!

At the start ofthis clip,hounds had justmade a check in the woods after running the open milo fields.  They picked it up again only moments later,and came out of the woods to run along the edge .