Author: leaddog

Friday:
FA, FA, FA!! We can’t even get into camp due to excessive warmy-changy residue. Polecat is dead in his tracks halfway to the camp lot with his high-dollar-foreign-supposedly-supoda-to-go-anywhere-in-the-snow-with-“cityot-tires”-vehicle. Once the metal roadblock is cleared, Leaddog “walks” his American-made-yes-it-does-go-anywhere-in-the-snow-truck-with-“non-cityot”-tires right up the hill, with Robba’s snowblower. Robba brings his American made truck up as well, and clears the lot of the warmy-changy residue so that the remainder of the crew can park in fine fashion without difficulty. This was accomplished after several hours warmy-changy residue removal at their prospective abodes back in the flatland. Darkness ensues, as does the mood of the gang. FA, FA, FA!

Saturday:
After yet another camp mechanical issue is addressed and repaired – water – the persistent events of residue placement hamper the gang still. Up to 20″ in spots, more in others slows the gang down and keeps them local. Tracks are seen! Beds are seen! Rubs with fresh scrapings are seen! The makers of such are not however, but at least we know they’re still on the hill. A tired and demoralized crew, now with Dr. Pork in tow trudges back to camp to whine about the events of the last few weeks. At least a good dinner was had, mule based. FA-FA-FA-FA-FA-FA…….

Sunday:
FA!

An excited crew assembles this week for a extra long, vacation-hunt (similar to going on an extended hunt to Alaska) where the gang will trek to faraway places in search of mega-mules. Plans have been made, destinations determined and packs packed for the long awaited stay at the happy hunting grounds. The weather however, has it’s own thoughts on this Alaskan type adventure……

Friday:
The FAMHC resumes activities before the long awaited, long term stay at the happy hunting grounds. Toucher, Leaddog and Steve’n frolics about close to camp before the onslaught of more climatically changing warmy-changy, which started promptly at 2:00. Nothing was seen due to horizontally blowing snow turning the once leaved covered ground into a winter wonderland. No worries, we’ll be there until Wednesday – plenty of time to hunt the back country….right?!

Saturday:
The crew awakens to mother nature’s next prank – 8″ of crusted snow which now limits the range that the Rangers can actually range. No back country pursuit today, plenty of time left….right?! A repeat of Fridays hunt is in order, keep it close and tight. Not one tail is seen, hide nor hair, some tracks observed here and there. What gives? Plans are made for the next day…..plenty of time still left to hit the back country…..right??!! FA!

Sunday:
The crew hits the side of Liz back to the Knolls. Drives are set, watches are set, ready, set…..nada.
Still plenty of time left…..right?! FA!

Monday:
A nice sunny day, lots’ of warmy-changy on the ground, so time to see what gives on the other side of the happy hunting grounds, why not, plenty of time left, right? The crew hunts areas that aren’t normally hit. Tracks abound everywhere, with the Polecat and Robba actually seeing twos does, and Digger and Leaddog seeing two more on their end. A drive ensues, with one lone mule escaping just out of Leaddogs sight. More warmy-changy makes its appearance – now making it impossible to perform the initial desire of back country pursuit of happiness of the crew. FA! FA! FA!

Tuesday:
The now demoralized crew decides enough is enough. Why sit around in crotch deep snow when nothing abounds? Get off the hill, go the hell home and it’ll all melt by next weekend, which is only two days away- right? FA! FA! FA FA!!!!

Wednesday:
With no one in camp – Warmy-changy decides to take over all on its own………

FA.

Friday:
Leaddog arrives to a cold camp, in yet another bout of pouring rain. After a nice fire is built and the camp warms somewhat, the rain ceases and the trails are hit. Going up the “secret yellow snipped trail”, the only sign observed is the usual calling cards left on the ground. Entering the area of the 10.2 watch, Robba and Probie announces their arrival and a push of the other side to the Duck Hole is in order. Leaddog waits, with nothing being pushed in the direction thereof. Note that Polecat is indeed at camp, but is “saving his sore knee” for the Saturday hunt. Beastloaf is on the menu for the eve.

Saturday:
The usual core crew of Rangers are now present, since no one else seems interested in hunting in the big scary woods these days. A repeat of Friday’s hunt is performed, with watchers watching, and drivers driving. Not one hair of a mule is seen, except for a few washed out scrapes. Now that the crew is used to hunting in the Nor’easter conditions of last week, the 40+ mph winds don’t seem to hamper their enthusiasm….yeah – sure. Sleet, rain and snrain once again pelts the gang as they move about the hills, with no results whatsoever. All returns to camp to begin the Saturday eve festivities! On the menu is a ground mule sauce with pasta which was quite delicious!

Sunday:
Once again, as in the past for reasons unknown the gang is directed to hunt where they found out (once again) that there were no deer present. A push of one of the bunny hills resulted in yet another wasted Sunday, but at least Lindy is now familiar with performing Toucher’s route up top. Some sign was seen here and there, but not one mule was observed, again.

Next week – The return of “Professional Week”, where select members will stay in camp till Wednesday, most likely removing mice from the traps…..

Friday:
Toucher and Leaddog gets an early start up the hills due to a Thursday night arrival! Toucher goes to his usual spot, with Leaddog doing what will now be most likely be his usual route! Up top, little sign is observed – no rubs, scrapes yet. Taking almost three hours to get to the area of interest, which is only about 1/3 or so of a mile from the start, Leaddog jumps something either out of it’s bed or was walking up from the bowl. Yet another missed opportunity to bag the beast of the rubs it appears. Upon reaching the rubs of last year and year prior, it was determined that a mega-mule indeed exists! Meanwhile, Toucher is still on watch on his hill….with Polecat nursing his knee from a prior injury at camp.

Leaddog finds the Probie and Digger on his way off the hill, who performs an expert drive to both with no results. All catch’s up with Toucher on the way out who then reports that the Big, mean ‘ol bear is now even bigger! The crew assembles at camp, who then assembles a dinner of beast loaf with all the trimmings. The FAMHC has but four members gaining membership status at this time due to required attendance – invalid medical excuses are not tabled for discussion!

Saturday:
Waking up to a precipitation event, it was determined that a low hunt is to take place in the Nor’easter that was howling outside. A run up and down the Duck Hole reveals that there is an active mule, who’s scraping up the land is now making his presence. No less than 15 scrapes are seen, with many rubs as well. The maker of such is not willing to engage at this time, and will surely taunt the gang in the future. After most of all are soaked by rain, sleet, hail and snrain, a decision is made to go to a dry camp, to commence the wetness of the innards of the crew. Mule steaks are on the menu, which were prepared and devoured regardless of the ensuing Nor’easter…..

Sunday:
Still raining, sleeting and now ice, the crew has made a decision to not chase the fat off of the mules until the gang resumes activities next Friday.

Duck Hole

MMM’ Bacon

We Miss You!

Saturday:
It all begins. A core crew of seven assembles at camp to chase mules across the lands, but unfortunately the lands are still leave covered that inhibits the crew from seeing much beyond 30 yards. All marches up to the Hilton through freezing rain which actually stopped for once before all got soaked, where a tube steak lunch is devoured. Up top all spread out and hunts to their destination of desire, but no sign is seen nor a mule encountered. Upon returning to the lowlands, an intruder lay in wait – hoping that the noisy exiting crew may move mules about, but not this time! All marches out to a fine dinner of mule steaks and trimmings.

Sunday:
The gang awakens to a blustery and cool day, and hunt two of the year commences. A full push of one of the bunny hills is in order, with two watchers on watch on a hill that can’t be watched with only two watchers….During the drive Steve’n sees two mules which disappeared quicker than his GPS! 😉 A new unit is now needed, perhaps a sale can be found somewhere where a replacement unit can be easily obtained, we’ll see!! All arrives at their predetermined endpoint, the only other woodsy creature seen was a Pine Martin (not Digger’s friend Marty) by Leaddog.

Next week – the first sanctioned FAMHC gathering is planned and will hunt as they desire!

WxFTR1968 v0.2

#packtooheavy