Huntsman Ken George (foreground) and whipper-in Bill Sipp / John Webber photoThe Moingona Hunt (IA) had a great start to the season. I joined Steve Satterly, ex-MFH, and Matt Lange—local cowboy turned foxhunter and whipper-in—for the season’s very first cub hunt on a hot, dry day in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Huntsman Ken George took out twenty-two-and-a-half couple of hounds.
As expected in late August the start was slow. Then in a small covert at the bottom of a draw, hounds struck and struck big, all giving cry at once, and jumping over each other to get to the front. It was a beautiful sight as they flew up the hill out of the draw. We had a great run, before the scent was eventually lost in the dust and dry air. We got to watch some impressive hound work as hounds cast themselves trying to recover the line.
Suddenly, there was a yelp up the hill, and jumping up out of the milo was veteran hound TMH Xenia. It was as if she said, “Come help me girlfriends; he came through here!” The pack all honored her, including two-and-a-half couple of young entries. It was quite a sight to see heads popping up here and there and ears flapping above the milo, checking the whereabouts of each other and their huntsman.
The puppies were all in the search and the race, and we can’t ask for anything better from this all bitch pack. The Moingona hounds go on to Des Moines for the fall, and will return to the Flint Hills for the winter season. It was a great prelude for things to come.
Posted September 19, 2012
(r-l) Huntsman Ken George and whipper-in Bill Sipp with the Moingona foxhounds / John Webber photo