Carl and Paul came up tonight. The corn has been going fast & I was not quite sure how to approach it tonight. We sent Josie, Buddy and Nitro east along the last strip leading away from THE big tree. All three of them pups. About 1/3 of the way down they struck. It wasn't too hot of a track but they headed north into a little swampy area. I've never had much good luck when dogs head out there. Only once did I tree there, late in the year when that was the only corn left. Lucky for us we were able to catch them and move..
Went to the middle club field and all three struck right away. They headed east into the jungle. Buddy located once but went on. Josie seemed to be making good progress and Buddy joined with her. Nitro seemed more interested in working an area behind them. I thought I heard Josie locate & I started into the woods, but now Buddy was trailing back the way he came. Josie was quiet & I'm sure she went with him. A lot of bawling around and then Nitro and Buddy treed. Josie finally joined them. I think the tree was probably slick. Nice to see Josie come in and tree with them at least. She needs all the socialization she can get.
Went back to the big bend and let them go. Nitro headed right into the brush and struck while the other two stood on the road and looked stupid. We found an opening and walked the other two in & they finally got to trailing a little. Saw a deer run out of the woods and into the bean field. Buddy and Josie came out of the woods at the same spot, not trailing though. Carl walked them into the beans along the path the deer took. I didn't bother to wait and see if they would open, I just let Josie have three or four good shocks. She ran back to the truck and jumped in the box. Not sure I did the right thing there, not sure what I'd do different either, seems like a lose-lose situation. Nitro treed and Buddy joined him. Looked like a slick tree.
Not too good, but this IS the river. Have to remember all of the good dogs I've known that have done just the same under these conditions, or worse.. much worse.
Paul headed home & Carl was catching a ride with me back to his truck. Before heading out for the night, I wanted to just survey the rest of the river area. We drove down to the east end & it looked like there was a little corn left. Checked a little closer and it actually started to look like it would be a hot spot. I still felt a little bad about shocking Josie, this looked like a good way to end the night on a positive note. We got the dogs out but Carl didn't have Paul's tracker on Buddy anymore. We just sent Josie out to be on the safe side. She hunted out pretty good for a dog that had recently been fried, and she struck. We waited to see how the track was going and then sent Buddy in. They brought it out to the edge of the woods, Josie stalled there, Buddy was still going but struggling. I saw some coons sitting up. I didn't want to risk losing a dog without a collar on down there, so I called Josie in to me and walked her into the tree. Buddy turned out to be very close & may have found this on his own anyway. Let them tree for a few minutes, glad to see Josie showing no ill signs or hesitations.
Not a pretty night but, "All's well that ends well".
Posted by bruceo at August 4, 2003 01:32 AM