Do I need to explain to a group of Hound guys, that since we were expecting a Short hunt, it Turned into a Full hard day of hunting.... (I didn't think so)
We went to an area that had plenty of roads so we might catch one close enough to pack him into it..You know like the Last 10 times I’ve hunted that Area .. No Dice..
The dog started a (hopefully Cat track) ran up and over into a Hole that we hadn’t cleared out the roads from all the timber across them from winter, (we kept putting this area off because there was so much timber across it) wouldn't you know that's the first time this season a Cat decided to head that direction..
So we got thrown out of the Race within the first 20-30 minutes
I pulled out the saw and started cutting our way into the dogs, and about 1 ½ miles into them I ran out of Chain saw Gas..
I could hear a faint bark, So I Proceeded to continue cutting my way into the dogs with a hand saw, Hopeing I would make it through the rough section and get back to some open roads.
Of coarse after that I realized I wasn’t getting any where with this new method and every turn showed more timber.!
Finally I figured I would just have to do it the old fashioned way... I needed the exercise anyways..
So I Ended up just booting up and hiking towards the faint Echo sounds of my dog, Left Laura and the baby at the Truck for some good sleep..
Grabbed a GPS, Radio and Hit the woods. After a mile or two and few canyons and ridges in I found him Treed on a Tall Douglas Fir tree. I forgot my Bino’s so I never really got to see what it was, I spent some time looking seen some things that might have been a Cat but without Bino's I just couldn't tell. Ironically after Hiking up and down ravines and creeks, I found it was about 300 Yards down off a different Road, (another road blocked by even more Blow downs) , Guess I should bring more Chainsaw Gas next time..
I’m going to have to re-think Cat hunting with a 1 week old. The Kid holds up great.. I just don’t know if I can handle the stress of the unexpected.. It didn't help that the one time we wanted a Quick Easy hunt, turns out to be the one of the Roughest hunts of the year. I was definately glad Laura was with me so I was able to hike in that far for the dogs.
On our way out We were Roading the B-String dogs that didn't get in the race, we started another Cat, (A cat we have gotten to know pretty well), She's a Fast little running Female that whips us 9 out of 10 times, we decided we had gotten our Ass wooped enought that day and decided to Grab the dogs and head home!..
Oh well, it was still nice to be back in the woods, with the Family..
