Close Encounters of the Jackrabbit Kind
The first annual Close Encounters of the Jackrabbit Kind blasted off in Roswell, New Mexico on February 28 and 29, 2004. This was the Borzoi event of the season.
Friday found the intrepid hunters rendezvousing at the National 9 Motel in beautiful downtown Roswell. Linda Turner, with Anna and Foxxi (Brighty was left home “in season”) arrived first from Los Angeles. Next Marcella Zobel and I, with Topaz, Chewy, Direk and Spot, drove in from Northern California.
Just at dark the native New Mexicans Carol Enz and Grandson Russell Ramsey arrived with Dakota, Falco and Sorcha. The last member of our crew, Susan Van Der Water, with Belle Star, CJ, DeeDee, and Talon, was driving up from Texas and planning to meet us at the draw in the morning.
6:30 a.m. Saturday morning found us at the 2nd Street Denny 's for breakfast and the draw. Susan joined us, as did our judge David Hise. The draw completed, breakfast eaten and we were off.
David Hise revved up his very cooool blue dog truck and led us to the field, the Brown Ranch, just a few miles outside of Roswell. The portion of the ranch we hunted is very open with assorted low cover, punctuated by thickets of catsclaw and clumps of cactus. This was particularly good for the young dogs that were running for the first time. Of the 13 dogs entered, 2 were Veterans and 5 were FTE (first time entered). Fortunately, for our peace of mind, Jacqueline Gregory of Sierra Borzoi Kennels, Somerset, CA. had loaned us her radio tracking collars (3 of them) and the receiver so we could track the dogs if necessary. The weather was Chamber of Commerce perfect. Clear, sunny, mid 60 's and a light breeze.
We were ready for our first Close Encounter of the Jackrabbit Kind…
The first course of Falco, Foxxi and Spot (FTE) went off about 10 minutes into the field. Falco led out with Foxxi and Spot in hot pursuit. It was a good rabbit and the dogs took it in a big arc, then lost it in some brush. The ground is fairly flat and we were able to see the whole course. When the dogs came back we discovered that they had run through a patch of cockleburs. They were all covered with burs.
After a quick recess to remove the worst of the burs, we were back on the line with the second course of Anna, Direk and Chewy… Again we had a good rabbit. Anna and Chewy tore off after it. They had a good run until the rabbit “ditched” them. Direk was unsighted (his first time OFC).
For the third course we crossed a small berm and walked into an area with taller grass surrounded by bare ground that looked like weathered “plow”. Topaz, DeeDee and Sorcha were on the line. Our Judge was standing up on the berm where he had an unobstructed view (of half of New Mexico). We had made a sweep around the grass area and were almost back to the foot of the berm when a rabbit came up. The dogs were slipped on Tallyho. Topaz blasted out after the rabbit toward the berm. DeeDee was unsighted (her first OFC experience), and Sorcha did not move. She stared to her right. A heartbeat later another rabbit jumped up almost under Carol 's feet, on her right. Sorcha was on it in a flash and took it out into the open ground where she worked it until it dived into a catsclaw thicket and escaped. From his position on the berm David was able to judge both dogs.
The fourth course was a brace of Dakota and Talon (a FTE dog). We were working between some catsclaw bushes when the rabbit came up and went straight out. The boys flew after it. They both had excellent runs and came straight back in…much to Susan 's relief…you always worry about FTE 's even wearing radio collars.
The scores were tallied and the dogs advancing to the finals were Falco, Foxxi, Chewy, Topaz, Sorcha and Dakota.
The first final was Falco, Dakota and Chewy. The rabbit came up and ran straight out in front of the dogs. It was a “tail chase” to a fence some distance away where the rabbit went through the fence and the dogs pulled up.
The second final was Sorcha, Foxxi and Topaz. Again the dogs had a good rabbit (we had good, big, fast rabbits both days), but unfortunately Sorcha was not sighted.
With the finals run, it was still early in the day, we ran a second section which Carol dubbed Final B. This was for the dogs who did not make the “real” finals and gave them a second chance to run.
First B final was Direk, Anna and Talon. Two FTEs, Direk and Talon, with the veteran Anna (a CC CM who is aging gracefully and having a blast). We got up a rabbit. Anna and Talon took off after it, Direk was unsighted. They had a nice course. By this time, his second course in his whole life, Talon was really getting into it.
The second B final was Spot and DeeDee, both FTE dogs. We were working some very low cover along a dry swale when the rabbit came up. It was even with the hunt dogs and out to the left. DeeDee didn 't see the rabbit but Spot sighted and tore out after it. The rabbit ran straight for a small berm. Spot, being a big 13-month-old puppy at his first hunt, got to the berm before he realized that it was no longer flat ground, it went up. By the time he “got organized” and scrambled to the top the rabbit was long gone.
It was about 10:30 on the morning. We ambled back to the cars letting the dogs free course on the way. As we approached the cars Susan, Carol and David noticed a brown “cloud” off in the distance. It was at ground level and seemed to be moving toward us. They said that it looked like a sandstorm. We collected the dogs, loaded up and headed for the main road. Sure enough, just as we reached the ranch gate on the main road the sandstorm swept over us. It just lasted a few minutes but during that time visibility was zero.
We all drove back to town, took care of our dogs, and went out to lunch…At the other Denny 's in Roswell…Then it was off to visit the International Alien Museum on Main Street.
Roswell is famous for the Alien “invasion” that happened in 1947 when there were unexplained sightings of Unidentified Flying Objects and mysterious wreckage found on a near by ranch. The museum is a trip. Anything and everything that you ever wanted to know about Aliens is at the museum. We looked at the exhibits, had a blast in the museum gift shop, and then were off to investigate the souvenir shops that line Main Street near the museum. Tourists to the core.
Dinner Saturday night was at Pepper 's. Carol had made reservations for our celebration. The food was excellent, the company was delightful and Carol announced the winners of the days coursing. Topaz was first, Chewy second, Foxxi Third, and Falco and Dakota tied for fifth. In addition to the fun dinner Carol had ribbons and prizes for the winners and more gifts for the rest of the participants.
6:30 a.m. Sunday morning found us once again gathered for the draw at the Denny 's on 2nd Street. The weather had turned cold. It was sunny and clear, with a stiff (like about 20-30 mph.) wind blowing. It felt like the wind was coming all the way from the Arctic Circle.
But we were ready for our second Close Encounter of the Jackrabbit Kind…
Once again David led us to the Brown ranch. This time we went to a different section of the area and parked. Out came the foul weather gear. Heavy jackets, gloves, hats, ski-masks and rain suites. Our judge, David Hise, pulled out a set of insulated Carhart coveralls (I was wishing that I had brought mine). Linda Turner was resplendent in her new Forrest Green rain gear. Matching jacket and pants with coordinated headband, gloves and backpack. She was christened “Open Field Barbie” on the spot.
Dressed to be insulated from the wind, we put the first course of Dakota, Chewy and Anna on the line. We worked around some catsclaw in a flat area near the cars but we didn 't get anything up. After a while David suggested that the rabbits would be in the lower areas; swales, dry creek beds, under the bushes, etc. so we headed toward a dry creek with a berm down the side and a bridge over the watercourse. As we approached this area a rabbit came up out of the grass. Dakota and Chewy took off after the rabbit. Anna was not sighted. They had a nice course and came right back in.
The second course was C.J., an FTE that Susan had not run on Saturday, Falco and Topaz. All of the dogs sighted and had a good run.
Third course was Talon, Sorcha and Foxxi. We were working a low grassy area near a large catsclaw thicket when the rabbit came up. The dogs were on it and ran it up into the thicket where they worked it.
The Fourth course was the veteran Belle Starr, Spot and Direk. A rabbit came up and headed straight for a catsclaw thicket about 50 yards away. Bell Starr and Spot were on it, Direk was unsighted. When the rabbit got to the thicket he dove in and Spot, in his youthful exuberance and ignorance, dove in after him. Bell Starr went around to the other side of the bushes to get the rabbit when it came out. Spot got stuck in the catsclaw, his jacket hung up, and he couldn 't go forward. So he stood on his hind legs and watched Bell Starr look for the rabbit. She couldn 't find it. Spot untangled himself and they came back in. The judge asked for a rerun of the course.
We crossed a small dry ditch and put up the rerun rabbit. Bell Starr and Spot went out, Direk was unsighted. They ran the rabbit and lost it in the brush.
The scores were tallied and the finals dogs were Chewy, Topaz, Talon, Foxxi and Spot.
The first final was Foxxi, Chewy and Spot. We jumped a rabbit just on the other side of the dry ditch and it went straight out. All of the dogs were sighted and they had a nice run.
The second final was a brace, Talon and Topaz. We were walking in some grass that had an occasional low bush. A rabbit came up right in front of the hunt dogs. The huntmaster gave a Tallyho and Susan slipped Talon. Before he had taken a stride (and before I could slip Topaz) a second rabbit came up right next to the first one. Fortunately the rabbits split up, one went left and one went right. Talon sighted on the rabbit that went to the right (which was the rabbit that was called). The rabbit started to make an arc on around to the right and I slipped Topaz. Topaz caught up to Talon and the rabbit and took it over the edge of the ditch and out of sight.
With the finals over we started the B finals. The first course was Dakota, C.J. and Sorcha. The rabbit came up and went left with the dogs right behind it. They ran it toward what appeared to be a low berm where they lost it. C.J. and Sorcha came back in but Dakota had found something interesting and refused to come in. What he had found was the ranch “boneyard” where dead cattle are placed to decompose. Nirvana !! for a dog. Russell and Carol had to go out and retrieve him from his smelly paradise.
At this point we were about a half-mile or so from the cars. We had been walking with the wind. With one rabbit left to find we turned into the wind and began to hunt our way back to where we were parked. Belle Starr, Falco and Dierk were on the line. We hadn 't gone very far when we jumped the last rabbit. Falco and Belle Starr sighted and went out. Direk was unsighted but Spot broke his pinch collar and joined the course (fortunately he did not interfere). The dogs ran the rabbit up and into a clump of catsclaw and lost it. Linda had withdrawn Anna from the B finals.
Facing into the wind we started our walk back to the cars, with the dogs free coursing along the way. The wind was stiff and after what seemed like a walk of about 100 miles we arrived.
Carol had the awards in the field with lovely ribbons and prizes. Foxxi was first, Topaz second, Chewy third, Talon fourth, and Spot fifth.
We adjourned for lunch, which we ate at the all you can eat buffet at the Pizza Hut in Roswell. Good-byes were said and every body took off for home vowing to be back next year for the Second Annual Close Encounter of the Jackrabbit kind…
I don 't know when I have had so much good company, good hunting, and good sportsmanship…