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