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www.pbgv.org
Spring2015
ISaberTails
IPBGVsatWork
photosandarticlebyBobCohen
CsssssjohpouifCvoojft
J
alwaysenjoyattendingoneofthehunttestshostedbythe
Mid-NewJerseyPBGVAssociation.Iwasabletogoagain
thispastNovember,theweekendafterThanksgiving.Alas,
ashasbeenmynorm,Iattendedsansdogs.Ineedtofinda
placenearmysister’sapartmentwhereIcanboardmydogs
overThanksgiving!(AsI’venotedbefore,herapartment
buildingdoesnotallowdogs.)
Saturdaywasfrigid,withabreezemakingitfeelcolder
thanthemid-30sindicatedonathermometer.Iworegloves
andahattheentiretimeIwasoutinthefield.Ithinkitwas
abitofashocktotwofriendswhowereattendingforthe
firsttime.Ihadlastseenthemandtheirdogsduringthe
summeronasignificantlywarmerday.
Therewererabbitsinthefield,thoughnoteverypackor
solofoundone.OnetimewhileIwasoutobservingIsawa
rabbitinthelargewesternportionofthefield,anditwasa
whilebeforethedogspickeditup.Butthentheydoggedly
trackedittothebackfenceandthendowntothefarcorner
ofthesmallerfield.Itwasinterestingthatfrequentlythe
dogsinapackwouldbeoutfornearlyalloftheirallotted
timebeforetheyfoundarabbit.(Iftheyfoundoneatall.
Notalldid,ofcourse.).
Sundaywasdecidedlywarmerandsunnier,with
temperaturesgettingupinthe50s,leadingtohandlersand
judgessheddingsomeoftheouterwearthey’dneededthe
daybeforeandearlieronSunday.Ileftearlyinthe
afternoontoavoidtheusualtie-upsontheNewJersey
Turnpike.And,wonderofwonders,itwassmoothdriving!
Iwanttogettoanotherhuntbeforelong,hopefullyin
somewhatwarmerweather.Susiedidnothingbutplayin
hertworunsatthehuntlastMayinPennsylvania.She
needstogetoutwithamoreexperienceddogtolearnwhat
it’sallabout.AndpuppyTaffywillbeeligibletoparticipate
inahuntsoon.Rightnow(justfivemonthsoldasIwrite
this)she’sanunknownquantity.
It’sfuntogetoutinafieldwithPBGVsandletthem
demonstratethattheyreallyarequitegoodatfinding
rabbitscentandtrackingit.Ourhuntshavebecome
moreandmorepopular,forgoodreason.Butbring
clothingappropriatefortheforecast!
I