Well, It's time fer the hound to try and trail a coon that he hasn't seen runnin from him. I set a big ol' boar loose, cleared away the cage, and gave him a good head start.
I walked Juba towards where the coon was released, as if it was just a normal stroll. Right away he let loose! He was on the trail full bore, singin for all he was worth! Max, my airedale cross, and I had to hustle ta keep up.
That coon musta been chased before. It was all over the place! Finally we ended up at an old hunt camp. The dogs just kept circling it, but the coon was nowares in sight. The building was on a pad, so I know he wasn't under it, and the rest looked solid. The dogs started wanderin up and down a cut cornfeild, right beside the cabin. It was almost like he dissapeared at the edge of the field...I came up fer a closer look. Aha! The farmer just sprayed liquid manure. No wonder the coons scent trail disappeared...
I leashed up the dogs and headed across the field. That was fun. Anaways, when we got ta the other side, lil' Juba picked up on a trail. we follered it to a big maple, with a smaller maple leanin on it, half fallen down. Juba just kept circlin the trees, howlin but not tree barkin. He was confused. Old Max was pullin like a demon, so I let him go. Right to the roots stickin up on the leanin tree he went. He started snarlin and tearin at the roots, and tryna dig the frozen ground. Sure enough, there was a hole, with a coon inside! Only problem is Max can only fit his head in the hole...
Now here's a trick that I've used in the past. After pullin the dogs back, I lay on the ground sideways and stuck the .22 in the hole. When the coon lines up, give him a brain shot. When he does his "run ta Jesus", he'll kick himself right outa that hole.
Well, after the dogs had their fun, I took a closer look at that coon. Funny, it somehow turned into a small female...
All's well that ends well I say. Far as the dogs er concerned, they caught their coon. Sides, this one was alot lighter ta carry home...
