Midnite Kennel

    The Midnite Kennel name started with this dog. Named after her mother, Rife's Black Midnite, owned by Freddie Rife. I met Freddie at a Kemmer hunt in Dayton, TN. I liked the looks of Midnite and told him if he ever bred her I'd like a black female. A year went by and Freddie called to say he had my dog. Enter Midnite's Shadow.

     I started Shadow on caged coons. She was game crazy from the start. Around 6 months old I decided to turn a caged coon loose to see if she'd tree it. Already treeing hang-ups I figured it was time. I enlisted my son to help hold her and I'd turn this big boar coon loose with a head start and see what become of it. This 'ol boar was a mean one, and weighed about 16 pound. I'd been training with him for a few days, which did'nt help his temperment! Anyway, I set the coon loose and told the boy to hold her till it got out of sight. We are doing this in a big field with tree line at the end. Well Shadow gets loose before the coon gets anywhere. She grabs the 'ol boy and he balls up on top of her head working her over! I hollered at the boy,"what happened?" She had broke free, and I figured I'd have a ruined dog. She was squallin', the coon was growlin', and I was in disbelief. Somehow she shook that coon off her head. They had rolled near and old wild cherry and up the coon went. Shadow hugged that tree and barked with every breath. A coon dog was born.

       I hunted Shadow on coon for awhile and my 'ol buddy Freddie asked if I'd like to have Butch, Shadow's sire. I'd hunted with Butch and knew he was a coon dog. Freddie placed in several Kemmer hunts with him. I knew he would help with Shadow's training so I bought him. They sure had me lookin' at lots of coon. 'Ol Butch really helped Shadow, but I was tickled when she started treeing in front of him.

       I'd squirrel hunted with a friend of mine who had a pretty good dog named Gizzmo. Leonard would let me take him to kill a few squirrels whenever I wanted. I decided to take Shadow and see what she'd do on a squirrel. She was around two now and had tree'd plenty of her own coons but never been on a squirrel. Well  I turned 'em loose and it was'nt long till Gizzmo made a tree. Shadow was at the tree looking up but had not sounded off. I searched the tree and found two near the top and shot one out. Shadow watched Gizzmo grab it. I shot the other and she grabbed it. After that she was tree for tree with Gizzmo. Now I got a combo dog!

      Shadow is a fast track dog that runs with her head up. She has winded lots of lay-ups. She's a medium hunter but will go to the game if need be. I'm more of a pleasure hunter but have competition hunted her a few times. She has a first place in squirrel and coon, N.K.C. hunts. And there's no doubt I could champion her. She's not perfect by any means but I like her. We've been through alot together. She broke her front leg on a coon hunt one night. But that never slowed her down. I even sold her once, but was lucky to get her back.

This is Shadow's sire Butch. (Tenn. Tige x Knotheads Cotton)

On the left is Midnite, Shadow's Dam. (Bruce's Rowdy x Bruce's Kate)

I am deeply indebted to this man. He has been a true friend. He is as honest a man you'll ever find, his word is solid! Thank you Freddie, for all you've done.

Mike Gibson of Franklin Co., Va. bought Shadow under the tree. She has a good home ridding the farms of coons, squirrels, and maybe a possum or two. (she is a TREE dog right? lol) Hope you enjoy her as much as I did Mike! Mike has expressed interest on breeding Shadow to LittleMan. I'll be snatching one of those pups up for sure!