Head Scratcher....

[wyojrt 0]

Well, I finally had a day off that the weather cooperated with me so I made plans to go out. We had some errands that we had to get done this morning, so I didn't get out until about 2:30 pm....about 4 hours later than I'd have liked...but oh well. I took my stud, MJ, and his green daughter, Coral. MJ has accounted for between 20-30 fox for me over the last 2-2 1/2 years. Coral is 3 and very, very green. Mainly because I've had fun with MJ and many times just grabbed him....other days, both Coral and MJ said nothing was home. Such is life.

 

Anyway...a few weeks ago, Coral had her mouth on fur in the ground for the first time. We were only able to get out with the terriers 2 days on that trip, but Coral and Ana had both shown improvement from the first morning to the last afternoon. And, I'd learned how my girls were going to react when something was in the ground. So....I'm trying to make a pointed effort of getting my green dogs out FIRST with my ole reliable along as a backup/lie detector.

 

Back to today....temps to be high of 34 and it started snowing this morning and is still snowing. Told the landowner I'd be out...she says "in the snow????". Yup....I'm thinking charlie's gonna be tucked in his den rather than running around in the wind and snow....I'm headed out. I let Coral out of the truck and away we start across the creekbed to a bank that holds several settes. Checked a couple and she showed no interest. MJ's still in the truck and I figured I'd run him back by after a bit just to double check. We get to the third sette, one I've gotten fox from in the past, and Coral's body language changes...seems excited/agitated. Enters the top hole and I block off the bottom one. She's in for a minute or so and then starts barking. It's not real consistent and a bit tentative sounding. I don't hear anything else. I figure I'll just settle a bit and let her take her time and do her thing. After a bit, she sounds to have moved just a touch further in. Her barks are sounding a bit more confident. I get a mark on her at about 3 feet about 5 feet in from the entrance. After a while, I start digging at the mark. Her baying is more and more steady and much more confident, but no evidence that she's engaged. Once in a while I can feel her below me, but it's more like she's digging than any engagement. I'm pretty sure she's not up to the critter. While I'm digging, she comes out of the hole a bit, like she's checking in with me or on me and dives right back in. There's something there she's really wanting. I'm checking my watch and looking at the sky and starting to get concerned about daylight. I'd love for this green little bitch to get her quarry, but there are times that you just have to do a reality check and come to terms with shorter days. So....prior to breaking through to where I'd marked her, I went ahead and swapped her out with MJ.

 

MJ doesn't get dug to very much. His MO is to go in and bark a couple of times to let me know he's found somebody.....and that I'm to just hang tight at the hole as he'll be bringing them out to meet me. MJ enters and lets out about three barks in total. By this time, the landowner had stopped by to say hi, see how it was going, and tell me I was crazy and that she was going back to the house where it was warm. I'd looked at her and said "here we go....should be on....". We wait for a few minutes and MJ comes out to us.....just him. He proceeds to check the other hole that I'd blocked off, so I let him in there. All the way in, not a sound, and back out. Checks the first hole again and is now telling me nothing is home and he's ready to move on. This dog has NEVER made a sound in the ground and not come out with something before. Landowner asked me if I thought the fox could have thrown up a wall.....shit...got me....could be....

 

Landowner left and MJ is still acting like nothing is home. I put him up and pull Coral out again. She just REALLY likes this hole....goes back to the same place and starts into a steady bay. I start working on digging some more and she begins her stint of checking on me. I really was within about 30 minutes of daylight left. I just finally basically threw my hands in the air and collected her back up and headed toward the rancher's house.

 

I stopped in and let them know we didn't get whatever it was and she wondered if maybe it wasn't the badger they have had digging in their hay field lately? Turns out that said hay field was just maybe 100 yards from the hole we were at.

 

So...I'm left wondering if maybe Coral entered on the scent of badger and he hauled hide while she was being tentative and threw up a wall? Perhaps if I'd have started with MJ first I'd know? Hard telling....

 

I'd like to say I'll be back out there tomorrow to check, but my wrists have been giving me trouble the last few weeks and the digging I did today hurt them pretty bad.....so I'm actually going to break down and go to a doctor, I guess....I'd love to give it another shot, but if I'm not going to be able to dig, I can't see putting my terriers in that position. Such is life....

 

All in all, I was actually fairly please with my green bitch's performance. It was encouraging. Just wish I had x-ray vision to see what it was she wanted so badly......

[TOPPER 1,809]

if it was a badger they will dig on and put a wall of earth between them and the dog and as the dog is a bit green it proberbly didnt know any better thats why you never found the quarry, you live and learn

[Kye 77]

I agree Topper, a badger could well be the suspect!...they will dig fast in the soil you have up there mate!

 

Kye..

[Guest blackntan]

I agree Topper, a badger could well be the suspect!...they will dig fast in the soil you have up there mate!

 

Kye..

GOOD TO READ KYE KEEP POSTING