Drove around the easy spot with the tracker turned on and got a pretty good signal from Mabels collar. She was on the west side & I didn't want to come in from the tar. I drove to the east side and cut Roy and then started tracking Mabel. I walked around the big curve and right through the woods to the corn on the west side. I caught Mabel there just wandering around. I leashed her and made a full walk around the section covering all the woods and corn. Roy hunted all over but never barked once the whole time. I loaded up and went home. That's 4 nights in a row without seeing a coon using 4 different dogs. I guess I need to regroup & come up with a new plan. It sure would help if some of this water starts to freeze.
Took Mabel and Ruby to the easy spot. Ruby started a track close again & didn't finish it. Mabel was trailing at the far south end. I walked the pup close enough to hear and sent her in. They treed on a den. I sent them back north along the corn on the opposite side of the section. I walked back to the truck, never hearing a bark. Tracked Mabel and the pup about 3/4 of a mile inot the next section. Mabel was bawling once in a while. I tried to shock her back into me but there must have been too much water. I gave up and drove around. I caught the pup very close to where I first let her go. I like this, she has come and found me several times now. Spent another couple hours trying to get close to Mable, walked in from 3 sides of the section. Finally left her and went home around 12:30. I'll go hunt with Roy up there tonight. Maybe I can lose him too?
I walked Ruby around my very best spot that I know has not been hunted. She started 3 tracks and finished none. I saw no coons sitting up or damage in the corn. I guess all I can do is take Mabel out next.
Took Ruby and Roy and Pearl out at the kids. Roy slick treed in the swamp. We went to the other side and sent them in a gain. Ruby was running something into the swamp and I called her off of it. The other dogs came back while I was calling. I dropped Charley and Pearl off and made one more drop at the vegetable garden. Ruby trailed all around about 1/2 hour in the corn & Roy only opened a litttle. They finally slick treed on the ditch. Just one of those nights I guess.
Took Roy to Lawrences woods. H e came out of the corn and was obviously tracking but not barking. About 100 yards into the woods he opened and ran for about 5 minutes before treeing. Had the coon.
Picked up Pete and we went to the vegetable
garden. Sent Ruby and Bronco in. Heard Ruby after a while, Bronco may have been there too but his voice is really shot these days. I got to the tree and they were both there, Ruby was up about 20 feet in the tree. They had a big coon. Nice job.
Had another caged coon. Took Ruby up to the farm and let her and Pearl chase it around. They treed nice together.
Getting close to deer season & they want me to take it easy for a few days.
I may hunt one or two nights but I'll mostly stay home til the 15th.