Category: Camp News

Never again!

Tree down on the Hilton

Boys at the Hilton

Probie looks Cold

Black Hole

Nice Fire!

Polecat & Leaddog

Boys warming up!

Mr. November 2014

Friday

Five members of the FAMHC (all in good standing) gather at camp to “three inches of partly cloudy” to resume chasing mules across the lands. After getting the camp set, all head to the valley to hunt the hills on both sides of the creek. Polecat, now retaining his membership in the FAMHC based on his earning his CHU goes high on No-name while the rest of the crew assaults the creek bottom lands.

Some track were observed, but nothing fresh enough to get anyone excited. The ensuing lake-effect snows quickly covers any fresh sign, making it impossible to figure out just what is going on. All return to camp to dry out their outsides, and thoroughly wet their insides.

Saturday

A good turnout results in 15 to hit the hills. A three pronged attack in the back country by specialists resulted in Robba and crew crossing the creek to further explore if the mega-mule of last year is still tearing up telephone pole sized trees. Junior and “Jaws” receives their “Cross the Creek” badge – a true honor for F-troopers Rangers.

Four others climbs the hill and goes over the top to initially meet Robba and company, but since that crew was already out of bounds, the Black Hole was the secondary target. Much sign was observed, but no major rubs as with last year! Even the rogue crew sees little sign on the other side of the creek, but one never knows….

The center attack pair – Polecat and Chip – goes over the hill through Beaver Valley to the Split Rock camp, and sees about the same. Chip promptly skewers his eye on a stick on the way in, but hunts regardless.

The remainder of the gang stays somewhat local, and actually sees some deer! No bucks however.

Sunday

A big one way push over and under Marsh results in mules being moved! Tracks and scrapes are seen, there’s still more than one buck on this hill, but where? Polecat and his up-top crew sends mules flying about, and two descends through the drivers to the low-crew (Robba and Leaddog) and promptly evacuates the area, after bouncing off Robba.

As the crew heads up the driveway to camp after the hunt it appears that there is one mule that is sticking up his middle hoof to the gang. About 150 yards from the camp, a fresh giant solo track that wasn’t there just two hours ago when the watchers went out to the watches – was present crossing the driveway. This track went INTO the drive where the crew just left. Go figure……

I’ll be back from the NASCAR car race and will join for week 4 hunt

Regrouping after we learn the bad news.

Polecat interrogates the intruders

The View from Liz II

The View from Liz

RIT’s crosses the cable

Drying everything out

Drying Out

Everybody loves FYB!

Trailhugger made it to Deer Camp!

Friday

Three members (all in good standing) assemble to hunt the beast that has been tearing up the hills. Probie earns his required FAMHC – “CHU’s” (Continuing Hunting Units) to maintain status in this elite club. Polecat arrives but declares he has “other duties” to attend to, and swears he’ll hunt next Friday.

The trio heads to the areas hunted last week, which is occupied by the mighty mule. More scrapes and rubs were seen, with a repeat of “ring around the swamp” hunts being done. At 3:30 it was decided that a last push through the Knolls would be done, so all set out from the drive on Marsh to the Knolls.

At 4:30 an single shot was heard a mile away – from the area just vacated by the crew.

Saturday

A strong crew now consisting of almost 17, (two show up a little later in the day) gets their marching orders and disperses to the mountain lair inhabited by the beast in question. The entire mountain is covered and crawled about end to end by the crew – even the red squirrels quivered and hid in fear by the presence of this camo covered compilation.

More and more scrapes and rubs are observed, the beast can’t possibly get away now unless it sprouts wings! All performs their assignments perfectly, and are somewhat befuddled by the absence of any mules. At the end of the mountain, the elusive “Icicle Al” was caught once again in the midst of the drive. Al has some bad news for the crew – it appears that another gang of four slipped in the night before and bagged a seven pointer – right in the spot that the FAMHC left at 3:30 on Friday. Yes, it certainly did sprout wings and was sent to its creator it appears. Robba was not pleased, and cuts cross country in a rage. His state of mind can only be depicted here:

All performs one more drive before heading back to camp, some mules were seen – but who really cares at this point.

Sunday

A drive through the Meadows is set. There shouldn’t be any interlopers there, and most likely no mules as well either. Polecat takes his rangers through the snow topped hills and drive towards the watches down below. Lindy see two mules on the way up. Polecat inspects the buckcart that has never been used in the way-back and finds it half eaten by a bear! The bear did however leave a calling card – half a bandoleer of 30.06 rounds, from Toucher’s encounter of last year…..

“Hey Digger! Let’s carry this back to camp!”

You can have your F’ing mattress back Lindy!

Friday

The first sanctioned FAMHC event was held, with Robba, Digger and Leaddog (all in good standing) in attendance. Polecat once again had a gas delivery and a surveyor to deal with, so he couldn’t join the real men on this first event. The three amigos disperse to the woods in an effort to find mules. Several “ring around the swamps” drives were performed with some sign seen. After a few drives, mules were actually encountered, but the type of mule was not verified. One mule decides to make it self’s presence known by blowing tunes just out of sight of all three FAMHC members (in good standing). Another is heard in the Knolls by Leaddog, but not seen. Toucher arrives just in time late in the day to be included in the hunt to maintain status, but decides that the beer is more alluring the deer. This may lead to more council to determine his status in the “club” at some point!

Saturday

A good crew is present, and the hunt is set. Drivers are dispersed to Camp Creek, with watchers at the other end as usual. Leaddog goes out left through Beaver Valley and up and over Liz and down to the 10 point watch. The main drive was performed with no results. All meet as planned, with running track going right through the 10 point watch, where no one was present. The crew is sent to Marsh to do drive two. On the way for drive two, a very nice rub is observed – that wasn’t present there the day before. Digger finds more rubs up top, and very impressive ones at that! The drive ends as planned, and all return to camp empty handed.

Sunday

As usual, since all sign was seen at a particular spot over the last two days – the crew is directed to hunt elsewhere. Why this happens, we’ll never know. The usual No-name to the Painted Marker drive is performed, with absolutely nothing seen, except for the next mountain which will be assaulted on part two. Leaddog and Steven stalks a stealth hiker on the way in on the trail, but was not seen. We do however, know the brand of boots said hiker had on! Rumor has it that Polecat may have seen some mules, no bucks however.

Next Friday – a good turnout for the FAMHC is set.

Mmmmm Hotdogs!

Leaddog Grillin’

Saturday

Once again a crew of 12 assembles at the happy hunting grounds to “pick up where we left off” from last year. The day turns out dry, with a threat of rain, according to “triple lying doppler radar” which is to begin promptly at 5:00. The woods were perfectly damp from the previous days rains, which led to perfect hunting conditions, which led the crew to perfectly hunt where there were no mules. The first hunt of the year resulted in a nice 8 to 10 mile walk in the backcountry for the crew, which is usually done in the following weeks. A baseline has been set, so every hunt hereafter will be similar or shorter – but probably not!

No mules were encountered, it appears that no one had informed the mules it was time to play. Rubs and scrapes were observed, so they did leave a calling card to bait the crew for next time. Steven finds remnants of a camp up in Beaver Valley, where and why it was located at this spot is still to be determined. The rain did indeed fall, a little later than predicted but still close to the set time. A feast of mule steaks was consumed in fine fashion, with beer of course to wash it all down.

Sunday

Waking up to the rain from the previous day, the now aching crew is slow to disperse to the wilds. A “shorter” hunt is planned due to the rain, and all head out to perform several shorter drives which led to some actually seeing mules! Robba sees the smallest deer ever without spots, which upon seeing Robba started to shake, cry and wail for it’s mommy like a liberal that just got lost off the trial.

Lake effect rains were encountered throughout the day, which kept the crew somewhat in proximity to camp. The last drive sends one lone mule right between Robba and Leaddog, which of course was never heard of or seen. A good crew will be on staff this coming Friday for the first FAMHC sanctioned adventure!