SaberTails
ISummer2014
www.pbgv.org
39
abouthowPBGVswork.Itisalwaysgreattocatchupwith
friendsinourchairswaitingonourdogs’turnatthechase.
TheCarlisleBeagleClubletususeboththeirfieldswhich
allowedustorunmorethan50dogs,whichrequireddouble
theeffortstocoordinate.Inaddition,theCarlisleBeagle
Clubmadeourmeals,lunch,breakfastanddinnerone
night,whichIcanonlydescribeasthebesthomecooking
—besidesmygrandmaandthekitchencrewattheIndiana
hunt!TheHuntCommitteedidanoutstandingjobkeeping
thingsrunningsmoothly.Doublethedogsmeantdouble
thehandlers,whichledtothelargesttwo-dayraffleIhave
everseen.IwasjustsadMichaelEdwardsandhispossewon
almosteverything!
Fromahuntingperspective,thecoveronbothfields
wasplentifulandtherabbitswereholdingtight,butthe
experienceddogspushedthemouteventually.Andwhat
rewardwhentheydidandourPBGVscouldchasedown
laneafterlaneandpushthemoutofanotherbriar.Ithas
beengreattoseesomanyPBGVsimprovetothislevelover
thelastthreeyears.Nearlyeverypackwasabletorustleup
atleastonetokeepthepackmotivated.Iamprettysure
judgesneededsomerestafterallthosehillworkoutschasing
afterdogsandrabbits.IknowIdid!
AsforHarveyHoundandme,itwasadreamcometrue
tohavethehoursspentinfieldspracticingrecall,taking
dozensofhoursofnoseworkclassesandallthemilestoget
totrialspayoff.Itisafardifferentplaceforbothofusnow
thatwebothknowwhatwearedoingwhenwecrossover
thatgateintothefield.
BobCohenandSusie
HavingpassedherHuntingInstinctTest
onherfirsttrybackinNovember,Ihad
highhopesthatSusiewouldearnalegor
twotowardahunttitleinCarlisle,Pa.
Well,let'sjustsaywehadfunandSusie's
onlyhuntlegsarethefourunderher
whichshemovessoquickly.She'safast
littledog!Shedrewaplaceinthesecond
packonSunday,thefirstdayofthe
event.Shespenthalfofherhourjust
havingagoodtimerunningaroundthe
mowedlanesinthefield.Thesecond
halfofthehoursheseemedtogetmore
seriousandstartedworkinginthebrush.
Buttherewerenoresultsforherorthe
otherdogsinhergroup.
Theonlytimeourdogsgotexcited
waswhentheyheardthebarkingofother
dogsonthescentjustacrossthefencein
theadjacentfield.Sotherewererabbits,
butnotfoundbyourpack.
Thenextdaytheluckofthedrawhad
usatmid-day,withnobetterresults.
Whilethedogsrelyontheirinstinctto
hunt,thereisagreatdealtobelearned,
also.Susieneedsmorepractice,and
learning,atanotherhunttest.
TheCarlislesiteisagoodone,and
withinareasonabledistanceforalotof
clubmembers.Itwouldbeniceifthe
clubcouldhostfuturehuntsthere
regardlessofthelocationofthenational
specialty.Mostofusstayedatabudgetmoteljustaboutfive
minutesaway,andtherewasmuchcamaraderiebothatthe
motelandatthebeagleclub.Theeventwasarelaxedand
funtimeforthedogsandtheirpeople.
BruceandElainaToenjesandBijou
Afriendofourssaysitisagooddayatahunttrialwhen
youseeyourhounddosomethingyouhaveneverseen
before.Ourhoundrodefortwodaysinthecar,andthen,
withoutanypractice,hadfabulouspackrunsontwofields
thatwerenewtoher.Wehadneverseenthatbefore.
Wecouldnothavebeenmorepleasedwithourpack.The
houndsinourpackliveinthreedifferenthomesinthree
differentstatesandcomefromthreedifferentbreeders,but
theycametogetherandworkedlikeateam.Theyearnedthe
highestpackandindividualscoresofthetrial.Itwasthe
bestwehaveeverseenfromthem.
Weenjoyedspendingtheweekendwithourgoodfriends.
Itwasalsonicetomakenewfriendsandseesomanynew
dogs.Hopefully,thoseofyouwhowerenewtoahunttrial
willreturn.Evenifyourhounddidn'tchasearabbitorpass
itsHIT,don'tgetdiscouraged.Itwasonlytwoandahalf
yearsagothatourMirepoixBijoupassedherHIT,anditwas
anotheryearbeforesheearnedherfirstleg.She'scomea
longwayinthelastyearandahalf.Wehaveseenherdoa
lotofnewthings,andwehavehadalotoffunalongthe
way.Wehadtwogooddaysatthenationalhunt.
I