Sorry Blue Potlickers

[Gary Roberson]

Dumped Jimmy and Lizzie about 5:00 am this morning. Roaded about a quarter of a mile and Jimmy struck left of the road on an open hillside. Lizzie covered him in short order so I killed the engine to see what might develop. I could barely see the two dogs working, slashing back and forth in an attempt to figure out which way the critter had gone. In a few seconds, Jimmy opened going away from me and Lizzie agreed. They went west for a 100 or so yards and and then angled south, giving a little more mouth. It was a good track aided by just a hint of dew. As the track got better, the two dogs turned in an easterly direction, crossing the road about where I originally dumped them. After crossing the road, the race heated up and we were running a jumped critter.
The two dogs went out of hearing in the easterly direction so I jumped in the pickup and made a huge circle in an attempt to keep the wind blowing to me. The dogs were steady running and had not made a bobble that I had heard. I was hoping for a cat as the rancher had been telling me that he had seen one on the hillside from time to time. I finally got north of the hounds and could hear them on the east side of the pasture, I was sure they would go over the netwire into the next pasture. I took off in that direction, bouncing over the rocks paralleling a fence line. When I neared the east fence, I stopped the pickup and to my suprise, they had doubled back and were going out of hearing to the west.
I circled the pasture and drove to the general area where I last hear them running. As soon as I killed the engine, I could hear the two dogs treeing as if looking at the critter. I was thinking fox after the dogs made the reverse going back to the area where the race initiated but hoping kitty.
I drove within 70 yards of the tree to find Jimmy upon a dead snag and Lizzie looking up at him. The tree was hollow and as I approached, could hear some critter growling and carrying on. I shined into the hollow and was looking face to face with a big gray fox that had evidently run up in the hollow limb until he could not go any further.
I scolded the two lying potlickers (they are not supposed to run fox but I sure like to hear the race) and loaded them into the truck. They did catch a coon shortly after sun up. No kitty tracks again.
Adios,
Gary

[Dads dogboy]

Great Story Gary!

Fox not a bad critter to have the Hounds trash on! Running a Grey will sure teach one how to run a track!

Dad starts his pups on Greys when he can up to about 7 months then put them in the Cat Pack.

Keep these stories coming, I know others enjoy them as much as I do. Who knows ole Perk may have to come out west to get his next strike dog from you!

C. John Clay

[Gary Roberson]

Dads dogboy
Problem is they are five years old. I know it is my fault 'cuz I just can't bring myself to break them off a fox...I just enjoy the race too much.
Adios,
Gary