Huntsman Dave, a Coast Guard veteran and a reservist with the US Army, wanted to take the hounds out and hunt today.
We started the day by facing the flag at the kennels, placing our hands over our  hearts and recited the pledge of allegiance. I haven’t said the pledge since I used to teach school.
Huntsman Dave, whipper-ins MFH Dave K, Bre O, Brit V and a hot pack of bitches headed east out of the kennels. Huntsman Dave asked Colonel Lisa Nemath to ride up front with him.
Our field : Mary Curran, Kristen Welch, Jenny Nguyen, Holly Barrett, Adam Gengenbach and Sara Meier.
As the hounds worked the first covert, one buck and two does were flushed out. They saw whipper-in Dave K to the North, all the hounds and the field to the south, and the poor things were dancing circles trying to figure out how to escape. They finally flew west and up over a giant terrace. Two puppies made a bid-naughty girls. Whipper-in Brit V flew after them and cut them off, meanwhile, Whipper-in Dave K galloped the back side of the terrace. One of the hounds squirted by Brit, dashed up the terrace and about two seconds later came flying back down. We then see Dave standing at the top-surprised that little pup and stopped her from chasing those deer.
The rut is about to start up in full force and we must have flushed out a dozen deer today.
We continued hacking east past the wooden bridge, past Big Jim’s field, jumped the little coop facing south, rounded the small patch of timber, when eagle eye Bre tally ho’d a coyote and the whole field watched a big healthy coyote running up the hill to the Honey Pot. Huntsman Dave patiently waited, encouraging the hounds to work it out-Boom! They found the line, erupted in full cry, racing up the hill.
They ran hard through the grove of trees that we call the Honey Pot and came out running North-towards the interstate. Hard and fast riding by whipper-ins Dave K and Brit V thankfully  stopped the hounds. Huntsman Dave blew his horn and they came back and packed up.
The rest of the hunt was uneventful and we returned to the kennels for grilled cheeseburgers, corn casserole, cheesy baked potatoes and some desserts.
Saturday we’re hunting at our Cumberland country.
See you there!
Carine/Indie
Honorary Secretary, NHH
gathered around the flag

gathered around the flag. photo credit: Jenny Nguyen

Hiltoppers, Sara Meier, Holly Barrett and Col. Lisa Nemath

Hiltoppers, Sara Meier, Holly Barrett and Col. Lisa Nemath. Photo credit: Sara Meier

Adam Gengenbach

Adam Gengenbach. Photo credit: Jenny Nguyen

working the covert

working the covert. photo credit: Jenny Nguyen

whipper-in MFH Dave K

whipper-in MFH Dave K. photo credit: Jenny Nguyen

wearing my red, white and blue!

wearing my red, white and blue! Photo credit: Kristen Welch

Thank you Holly B !

Thank you Holly B ! Photo credit: Jenny Nguyen