(3-10-1998)
Last Saturday's fox hunt started promptl#y at 9:00 am. Well, at least
the fox was ready. (that's a first for me). I think one team of hunters was mobile by
9:45, Clint, kc8ehr, and Leon, Kc8aco. N8yqj and w8bqd joined in a bit later
after stopping at a hardware store for a longer mast for their yagi. Dennis, Kb8zqz also
joined in late, after soldering up the necessary coax jumpers for his set up.
(good thing we don't do timed hunts) :-)
 I had chosen to hide behind the DeWitt high school, in my car, running
an ht and linear, putting out 30 watts +, hoping the signal would be
strong enough to make the hounds think I was in close. In spite
of my best efforts Clint and Leon showed up fairly quickly, logging in at 10 miles.

I congratulated them, and asked that they drive to an adjoining
parking lot while I hid another transmitter for them to find on foot.
I put this xmtr in the woods behind the school, and the 2nd hunt was on again.

 About this time Don and Ralph pulled up, logging in at 9.4 miles, and Clint and Leon
headed for the woods to hunt bunnies. While they were tracking down fox #2 ,
I committed an act of random silliness, and popped the rear hatch of Clints van
and put fox #3 in his back seat ;-) Leon gets credit for finding
the fox in the woods first, followed by Clint.

Don and Ralph had a bad knee and ankle respectively, and didn't venture
into the woods, so I started them hunting for fox #3.

 I got the most chuckles on fox #3, watching everybody take readings up close
to the vehicle and then wander off in the distance, chasing reflections off trees
and buildings, then coming back to the cars and repeating the whole scenario
again and again. I took pity on them, and as Clint opened his front door to get
some paper to start writing things down to make sense of it all, I mentioned
that he had no idea how close he'd been to the fox. Ralph over heard the hint
and noticed an extra ht in the back and fox #3 was found. (atta boy Ralph).
I truly wish I'd had the foresight to bring a video camera to catch the looks on
the hunters faces. It was great.

Not long after this, Dennis showed up, with slightly (stretchhhhh) higher mileage
than Clint, having visited my home qth 5 miles nw of DeWitt to make sure I
wasn't there :-) In all fairness though, with the sport of the 2nd two hunts, I made
fewer transmissions on the #1 xmtr, but offered to transmit on request.
many Clint and Leon left for the day shortly after Dennis arrived, which
necessitated hiding bunny #3 again. I took a poll, and all agreed
Dennis should get similar treatment :-) He didn't leave his doors
unlocked, (and neither will I for future hunts), so while he was out
chasing reflections in the woods I put the fox underneath his truck,
inside the wheel of his spare tire, well out of sight. After finding
the #2 transmitter in the woods, Dennis set out after #3, repeating the
same scenario as before, always coming back, (eventually) to his truck.
I finally suggested that we move the vehicles back about 30 yards in the
parking lot to eliminate reflections, which when done confirmed his suspicions that
I'd hidden it in his truck. But WHERE! He knew the readings were hot by

the spare tire, but preferred not to go underneath to find it, so eventually
I showed him where it was, and the hunt was over.
(I recall Dennis mentioned he checked his coat pockets for the 3rd fox;
thanks for the suggestion)
We then headed over to Sams Kitchen in DeWitt for coffee and lunch, and a chance to
furtherberate the hider. I must say you were all very good sports about the whole hunt.
The following conclusions weremade: #1, when doing a mileage hunt
drive slow and take frequent bearings to keep mileage low. #2,
look where the s-meter readings are highest :-)
(I recall some muttering about keeping an eye on the guy doing the hiding too)
Don and Ralph get the dubious honor of 'winner' of the hunt, having
come in with the lowest mileage, and will be our next hiders for the
hunt coming up this Saturday, 4-4-98. Leon was
first to find xmtr #2 in the woods, and Ralph gets the award for finding fox #3.
I'm aware of that old saying about payback, guys, and am looking forward to even
greater foxiness in the coming hunts.

AA8LF

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