(5-23-1998)

Saturday's (5-23-98) fox hunt started shortly after 9:00 am from
Theios restaurant. Cary, KC8JKA had the honors of hiding. Hunters
included AA8LF, N8YQJ, and KB8ZRE. Ralph (yqj) and I (lf) worked
together and Bill hunted solo. We took our first bearings on the
fox from the parking lot, and the hunt was on.
Cary had chosen to hide at a canoe launch off of Bunker rd, just
East of M-99, South of Lansing, and 14.9 miles as the crow flies from
Theios. He was low in the river valley, and surrounded by trees, which
by the way, make excellent rf blockers, such that his 40 watt signal
from the car was weak but copyable, and he couldn't hear us simplex
until we got quite close. Similarly, we didn't pick up the signal from
the timed fox transmitter until we were about 5 miles from it. To make
matters more interesting Cary started hearing us stronger as we got
closer, and reduced his power, to the point that we lost him completely
for 10 to 15 minutes.

 Ralph and I took 10 or more bearings as we worked our way South-South
West, and all but the last 2 bearings were off by 15 degrees or more, apparently
from reflections. Bill's initial bearings were off by about the same amount,
and he initially thought Cary was in the Diamondale area. After driving south
a bit Bill took another bearing, indicating he was back in the direction of
Bath. Bill took several more readings that confirmed this and headed
off 180 degrees in the wrong direction. Eventually, Bill realized he had
problems with his quad, and stopped to repair it.
 After making the repair Bill showed up at the canoe launch in
record time, but not before Ralph and I had found Cary, and one of the
hidden transmitters. The other hidden transmitter was losing its
battery, and proved very challenging to find, as it would key up full
power for half a second then rapidly key and un key for 15 seconds.
I suggested that Cary switch it to low power, which he did while we
found the other fox, and the transmitter operated at low power long
enough for us to find it.

 Ralph and I came in low mileage, at 16.7 miles, and I doubt we could
shaved off more than 2 or 3 tenths of a mile. Bill pulled a Seaver
(N8SUA), and came in at 49.2 miles. Bill, I feel the need to reflect
some advice you gave me in a previous hunt: "If the signal keeps getting
weaker and weaker, you're going in the wrong direction" :-)
Did I mention the swarms of mosquitoes and poison ivy? There were
plenty of both. Dan, w8bci made a cameo appearance, and found Cary the
easy way by calling for directions, after we'd found him :-)
I'd like to point out that not many of you have been showing up
for hunts lately. I know, summer and schedules and holidays and work,
but this is the best weather we get for hunting. Remember I mentioned
this next January when urge to fox hunt hits again :-)
 Speaking of which, the next hunt will be Saturday, June 6th, following
the 539 breakfast. I hope to see you there. Tell a friend. better yet,
bring a friend, scout troop, what ever. See you there. Oh, if you'd like
to borrow some hunting equipment let me know, as I have some extra that
I'd be glad to lend out for the hunt.

 73, John AA8LF

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