Took Mabel north of the schoolhouse. She got deep & treed fast. She sure was slow walking back out. I stopped several times to let her rest. She slept all the way home too.
I took Ruby to the easy spot alone Thursday night. I was really surprised by the conditions when I arrived. The snow was still pretty deep and crusty. It would just about hold me up as I walked. So I was really getting a workout when I walked. It was cold too, not good conditions for a pup at all. I let her go at a path at the edge of the woods. She took off pretty good, I didn't see her for quite a while. I used the tracker & found that she wasn't too far away. I figure as she gains confidence she will start to cover a lot more ground. She came into me while I walked the fence line. I cut back into the woods and she took off again. I circled around and headed back to the truck. I tracked her some more & it seemed like she was making a wider circle in about the same direction. By the time I got back to the truck she was already on the road nearby & I was able to catch her. I don't think I'll try thios again until I have a better handle on where some easy coons are.
Went up to the farm with Roy. All the kids and Pearl came along. We went south and let them go. Roy struck & it sounded a little funny to me. We walked in a way, Pearl started barking. I thought she was treed. I tried to get to her, but the snow was deep & she was taking rest spells by the time I got close to her. I never did see exactly where she was. We all headed back to the truck, Pearl showed up as I started the engine. We drove to the house and dropped everybody off then Charlie and I drove around. Roy was treed in the next section. We walked in, it was a big den. I banged on it a while but didn't catch site of anything. Went home. Roy had a cut on his leg, vet, $$, he'll be laid up for a week now.
I took Roy to the easy spot again. Boy was it cold and the snow was deeper than the last time out. He struck a track and ran it for quite a while. Finally treed back by the inside corner. It was very convincing, but I didn't see a coon. No praise, no scold.
Took Roy to the easy spot. It was really snowing pretty good. He struck along the fence & I thought I'd have a quick one. Then I heard him pretty deep to the northwest. This was a little different than I expected. I drove around and found him out in the field. I suspect a little junk run. I decided to go home, the weather was really bad.
Took Mabel and Ruby to the school house. They struck and treed about 100 yards off the road. Seemed a little too quick so I took them to the easy spot for a second drop. Mabel struck and the pup joined in a little. Mabel grubbed to the south and the pup came back. I walked the edge with the pup on a leash. Mabel treed & I sent the pup to her. The pup was standing a few feet away just watching Mabel when I arrived. Mabel had a coon & I called the pup over and made her tree a little. Mabel has been sleeping for almost two days now. She's getting old.
Took Roy back to the easy spot. He opened after about 15 minutes. Ran the track with 2 or 3 minutes between barks. Finally located and treed hard. Den tree with chipped bark running up to the hole. Good enough for the benefit of the doubt. Once again, no praise, no scold.