West Virginia Hunting Hogs

22-25 June 2001

News Flash • Bee-bee-be-dee ... bee-bee-be-dee....

We went up to West Virginia to hunt this past week-end. None of the dogs that were there needed any NHC's so it was all fun and no pressure on anyone. We were able to trap (snare and put in a cage) the groundhogs and relocate them to new homes. The pups Bang and her littermate Mash also got to go along and run with the big dogs and begin to learn recall and field manners. They even got to sniff at the opening of the holes! The pups also got to watch seasoned dogs work quarry, be dug to with tools, and got schooled their first time in the ground.

One of the ways to school a young dog is to put the quarry back into the sette behind a pitchfork and block off the tunnel (with a shovel) behind the varmint. Then you can let the green dogs and puppies go in one at a time without any real fear that they are going to do anything too brazen with the quarry. After all, you don't want your pup (or a dog first starting to hunt) to have a bad experience and get hurt!

We came back late Sunday night and hunted on Monday here with the dogs who didn't make the trip. By late Monday afternoon both pups watched Crash work a groundhog and were trying their best to get in the ground to help her! Of course, they'll have to wait until they are a little more grown up to work anything on their own but they are definitely realizing how much fun hunting is!!

(photos up top by jeff rowe and down here by jAnE)

Last modified: November 09, 2001
copyright © 2001 by Mary Beth
Page Title: West Virginia Hunting Hogs
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