It was just one of those nights when I didn't really feel like going out. I waited for it to cool down, but the temp just stayed around 72. I finally went down to the river about 11. I drove to the west end & there were a couple of deer standing right where I wanted to drop. I didn't feel like testing Josie tonight so I moved..
I took her to the next field east and let her go. I was surprised that she took off so fast and then struck a couple hundred yards east of me. It sounded hot & I was worried that it might be a deer. I don't know why, Josie has been pretty good. Anyway, she started to fumble with the track soon. Let me explain.
There was one strip of corn by the swamp, then a picked section, one more strip of corn, another picked section, the road and then the strip of trees next to the river. It hasn't rained for a long time & it's like a desert down there now. There is dew in the standing corn then bone dry on the picked sections.
She struck hot in the corn by the swamp. It must have run to the trees across the road. Josie had a hard time trailing across the picked section. In the next strip of corn she trailed hot again. At the next picked section she stalled once again. I let her try to work her way to the trees for a while, but she kept coming back to the corn. That dew just smelled too good I suspose. I finally just caught her. I've seen this happen to countless other dogs on the river. It used to bother me, now I know better. In fact, I liked to see her struggle with this track. I can see she is starting to learn about tough tracking. Maybe next year she'll finish these.
I took Josie down to THE big tree. There is some corn there that is not quite ready. She ran up about half way & then came back. I just loaded her up and moved.
Went to the middle field at the club side. Josie struck and grubbed around in the trees for a few minutes and then headed east along the river. I don't think she was barking at coon there. She did this a couple of weeks ago & I saw something low to the ground later. Belle treed a woodchuck at night right there a couple of years ago. Maybe Josie nwo too?
She struck again about halfway down the field. When I got to her she was just running back and forth on the edge of the woods. I just caught her and went home.
So, it's hot, dry and most of the good spots to hunt corn aren't quite ready yet. I may take a break for a few days.
Posted by bruceo at August 14, 2003 02:05 AM