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www.pbgv.org

Spring2015

ISaberTails

IPBGVsatWork

photosandarticlebyBobCohen

CsssssjohpouifCvoojft

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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