Louetta's Lore

[Lyehopper]

Growing up in a very rural town where hunting, fishing, and trapping was what most of the guys did with their spare time. Baseball, football and those things were all part of it but being in the woods was the big thing. There was some unwritten code about being judged in part by your hunting dogs. Not so much the kind of dog but how good they were at whatever type of hunting they were
being used for. The three main types were water fowl, mainly goose and ducks in Lakehurst lake, upland bird, which were pheasant, bobwhite quail, grouse, and woodchuck, and rabbit.

The really bigger of the three for my town was for rabbit and beagles were the dog of choice. Everyone had them and raised them and was always talking about their beagle. The kind of tragic thing about it was that as much as they talked up their beagles no one really cared or loved them if they couldn't run rabbit. You could buy a good beagle somewhere for big money and out of a well known rabbit hunter known for his great dogs but you didn't really know how that dog was going to run rabbits until he was at least a good year old, two probably more like it. I've seen friends be hunting with a group of us, all with our dogs so there is maybe 10 dogs running a poor rabbit. We evolved into holding 5 or 6 dogs in the truck pens because it would get so hectic with 10 of them barking that sometimes a beagle or two would end up getting shot up alittle because a bunch of them would get up close to the rabbit but you couldn't win because the dogs in the pens would be barking so loud in response to the ones running the rabbit that you couldn't stand it. So sometimes someone would put alot of money and times into training one of these beagles and then they would have the dog out with a group of other dogs and the dog wouldn't or didn't have what it took to do it, and plenty of times a guy would get fed up and shoot the dog on the spot and no one would say anything because they understood that the dog was for hunting and nothing else. It it couldn't hunt no one was going to feed and take care of it. We would walk away from that dog and leave him right there, no burial, and continue on hunting rabbit. Those beagles had a great life if they could hunt and would live and hunt rabbit for a long time and sleep in deep strawhay but only as long as they could hunt and run rabbit.
It sounds like a barbaric way of thinking and acting but alot of these kids I grew up with lived off of game they killed or money they made from trapping. They took enjoyment out of the hunt and everything related to it but it was important to them as was the time and effort they put into it.

Strangest thing was that it wasn't like that at all with the birddogs. The retrievers and pointers were considered more of pets/hunters and received more consideration on that count.

I agree that a rabbit beagle is less likely to become a pet. I do like beagles and coon hounds. I own red tick coon hounds and I am "kinda" partners with a fella in some fine beagles. You are also right that a beagle that can't hunt is pretty much worthless and vice-versa. I've seen a beagle sold after a hunt for $3k cash. I know of fine coon hounds selling for $20k.... I would never shoot a hunting dog even if it were a sorry hunter.... but I know of some fellas who would, rather than feed them.

btw, rabbit is about as much fun as any hunting I can think of. We run about six dogs and about 4 or 5 guys cover the area we're hunting. I've never seen a dog shot by accident (personally).... The group of fellas I hunt with now are particular about who they'll invite and a novice might indeed shoot one of your dogs. The rabbit is usually a few hundred feet ahead of the dogs anyway so never watch the dogs, just look way ahead of them for the rabbit.... I shoot rabbit (and quail) with an old Remington 1100 28ga, sweet gun!.... AND I ALWAYS WEAR BLAZE ORANGE!!!!

[Lyehopper]

Everyone is welcome.

This is a great thread. Thanks Lou!....

Hey, if you ever want to go hunting just let me know.

[Louetta]

This is a great thread. Thanks Lou!....

Hey, if you ever want to go hunting just let me know.

Actually this is the time of year we go out putting back up the No Hunting signs that disappeared since last year.

[ParkTwain]

Wrapped up my vacation today...Was gonna do some stuff in Boston tomorrow but since it is supposed to rain hard I'll just take it easy...Have a 6:20pm flt.

Went to Plymouth today...Saw the rock...but you've seen one rock you've seen 'em all...The Pilgrim Hall Museum was interesting...I learned that they teach you the myths in elementary school rather than the straight story...Actually I learned that long ago...but after we left the museum I asked my wife if she thought George Washington was ever really President?

Went to see some other historic buildings...The Sparrow House which is supposedly the oldest house in town...circa 1640...I sorta couldn't find it so I just pointed to an older looking house and told my wife..."There it is"...What the heck, all the houses with their white cedar shingles look the same anyway.

Oop's, then we drove by the real Sparrow House and my wife says..."There it is"...Yikes, busted again.

Wanted to go to the Plimoth Plantation...However, the AAA Guide says give it at least 2 1/2 hrs and the Plantation site says at least 2 hrs...But it was gonna close in 45 mins...Maybe next time???

Well, Cape Cod is a pretty nice place...very quiet and quaint...But it will be good to get back to the hustle and bustle of LA...Doug(IIC)

Hope you got to see Ipswich on the North Shore, I used to live there. Of all Massachusetts towns, it has the largest number of homes (owned by individuals) built before 1700. And Crane's Beach is wonderful.

[skiracer]

I agree that a rabbit beagle is less likely to become a pet. I do like beagles and coon hounds. I own red tick coon hounds and I am "kinda" partners with a fella in some fine beagles. You are also right that a beagle that can't hunt is pretty much worthless and vice-versa. I've seen a beagle sold after a hunt for $3k cash. I know of fine coon hounds selling for $20k.... I would never shoot a hunting dog even if it were a sorry hunter.... but I know of some fellas who would, rather than feed them.

btw, rabbit is about as much fun as any hunting I can think of. We run about six dogs and about 4 or 5 guys cover the area we're hunting. I've never seen a dog shot by accident (personally).... The group of fellas I hunt with now are particular about who they'll invite and a novice might indeed shoot one of your dogs. The rabbit is usually a few hundred feet ahead of the dogs anyway so never watch the dogs, just look way ahead of them for the rabbit.... I shoot rabbit (and quail) with an old Remington 1100 28ga, sweet gun!.... AND I ALWAYS WEAR BLAZE ORANGE!!!!

In all honesty I never shot one outright because it couldn't hunt but I wouldn't feed and take care of one either if it couldn't hunt. Have seen the dogs get up close to a rabbit and get hit by accident. It happens and doen't necessarily mean the guys hunting were careless or didn't know how to hunt around the dogs. I didn't mean to make it sound like it happened everytime we went out rabbit hunting. I hate that orange but you have to wear it.

[IIC]

Hope you got to see Ipswich on the North Shore, I used to live there. Of all Massachusetts towns, it has the largest number of homes (owned by individuals) built before 1700. And Crane's Beach is wonderful.

No...didn't make that...Maybe next year???

Well...The plane didn't crash...So I'm back home safe and sound...Doug(IIC)

[jiesen]

Welcome back, Doug! Glad to hear you had a good trip.

[skiracer]

Welcome back, Doug! Glad to hear you had a good trip.

Not like you were ever gone as you didn't miss a beat with your thread. But always good to get home safe and there's nothing as good as your own bed.

[Lyehopper]

Actually this is the time of year we go out putting back up the No Hunting signs that disappeared since last year.

I know what you mean. You spend all year feeding those deer shelled corn and allowing them to eat your crops and garden.... Now, since you sorta have an "investment" in them, and since they're so nice and fat, you really hate to let anyone else kill them.... but close family. Well Lou, you are like family.... so I'd be glad to have you come down to Lyehopper Hollow and shoot as many as you'd like.

[Lyehopper]

In all honesty I never shot one outright because it couldn't hunt but I wouldn't feed and take care of one either if it couldn't hunt. Have seen the dogs get up close to a rabbit and get hit by accident. It happens and doen't necessarily mean the guys hunting were careless or didn't know how to hunt around the dogs. I didn't mean to make it sound like it happened everytime we went out rabbit hunting. I hate that orange but you have to wear it.

I think I see what you're sayin' Ski..... You NJ Yankee rabbit hunters (unlike your Southern Brethren) fail to keep that lid on "The Goji" till after the hunt.LOL!

[skiracer]

I know what you mean. You spend all year feeding those deer shelled corn and allowing them to eat your crops and garden.... Now, since you sorta have an "investment" in them, and since they're so nice and fat, you really hate to let anyone else kill them.... but close family. Well Lou, you are like family.... so I'd be glad to have you come down to Lyehopper Hollow and shoot as many as you'd like.

Our home is in a residential neighborhood that is bounded by a very large park and wooded area a few miles square. On the other side of the road separating the park from the old Ciba-Geigy plant there is another wooded area several miles sq. Both of these areas are filled with deer and they are always getting hit and killed by cars travelling the roads around the two areas. So we always see dead deer lying on the side of the road. I saw a family of three, a larger doe and two smaller does, run across Rt. 37 which is a main arterery here and one of the smaller does got hit by a car and it knocked her at least 10 ft. into the air and she came down and got banged by the car behind the one that hit her. I was behind the second car. I saw the entire thing and that little doe got up and ran like a rabbit across the divider and across the other 3 lanes after being hit twice.
The deer population is growing spectacularly around here as there are no natural enemies and there is plenty of food in acorns, teaberrys, wild blue and blackberrie and other foilage they eat. The one thing that is happening is that the homebuilding around here has been taking their natural habitat and they are pressed for living space. This is the God's honest truth. Our property is close to the park, about a block away, and a large doe has taken up living in our backyard. She moves about in and out of the park but she comes into our yard everyday for a considerable amount of the day. Lisa, my wife, has taken to putting out lettuce leaves, cracked corn, and apples for her plus we have a couple dozen large oak trees that drop enough acorns to feed the entire deer population it seems. So she has found a home with us. She is still wary of us but it's been several months since she started coming around, and is now at the point in our relationship where she doesn't run away when we walk into the rear of our yard behind some evergreens where she stays. She has gotten to know and trust us and you can see she is a little skitzy but doesn't run when she sees us close by. I'll be raking up in the back and she'll be standing and eating lettuce and apples about 15 to 20 ft. away. Our driveway is about 100 ft. long and the other day I was raking leaves in the front yard and she comes walking down the middle of the driveway to see what was going on. I've been taking lettuce leaves and standing with them in my hand offering them to her or throwing them on the ground each time a little closer. I want to see if I can get her to eat out of my hand.

[IIC]

Welcome back, Doug! Glad to hear you had a good trip.

Thanks J......Doug(IIC)

[Louetta]

I know what you mean. You spend all year feeding those deer shelled corn and allowing them to eat your crops and garden.... Now, since you sorta have an "investment" in them, and since they're so nice and fat, you really hate to let anyone else kill them.... but close family. Well Lou, you are like family.... so I'd be glad to have you come down to Lyehopper Hollow and shoot as many as you'd like.

Thank you for the invitation but I'll have to pass. We (well, not me) do in fact feed the deer. Mr. Marini, who owns Marini's farm stand, grows corn on land owned by the Winthrops. Those would be the same Winthrops who came over on the Arbella in 16 whatever and are descendents of the first governor of Massachusetts who must be spinning in his grave watching the current campaign. Anyway the deer come down every day just about sunset and munch away on Mr. Marini's corn. When the corn season ends the farmers hack down most of the stalks but leave a few rows for the deer to hide behind while they finish off whatever ears are left lying on the ground. They do so with impunity even during hunting season because the Winthrops would never allow hunting on their land.

[skiracer]

Thank you for the invitation but I'll have to pass. We (well, not me) do in fact feed the deer. Mr. Marini, who owns Marini's farm stand, grows corn on land owned by the Winthrops. Those would be the same Winthrops who came over on the Arbella in 16 whatever and are descendents of the first governor of Massachusetts who must be spinning in his grave watching the current campaign. Anyway the deer come down every day just about sunset and munch away on Mr. Marini's corn. When the corn season ends the farmers hack down most of the stalks but leave a few rows for the deer to hide behind while they finish off whatever ears are left lying on the ground. They do so with impunity even during hunting season because the Winthrops would never allow hunting on their land.

I was working on the computer this afternoon working on the spreadsheets for my thread and while I was doing that I was watching the doe feed on our lawn just off our rear deck. She has become very domesticated and is quite at home and feels safe in our yard. It's a blessing to have this wild animal coming into our yard and lives like she has. I think she gets a very strong clear vibe from my wife and I that she is in no danger here. Plus the lettuce leaf and the cracked corn and acorns. Just wait till she fattens up. Just kidding.

[Tatnic]

If you like the taste of a lobster stew.....

Stew? Is that like chowda but only five times more expensive? Must be a cape thing. Real chowda is quite simple...no fancy herbs or spices.