Big Dog
Thanks for all the e-mails you have sent me and the time you've spent sharing of your experiences with various lines of dogs.
I went to the Big Pack hunt here at Baileyton, Alabama and they turned loose 80 plus one time. They were not broken down in 13 or 15 inch. All ran for 4 hours. There was no picking up of any dogs. Some, a few, quit and came in and were loaded.
They said they turned loose over a hundred the year before.
There were a lot of family participating folks there with good dogs from South Carolina. Maybe you Bootleg? A lot had locators on their dogs.
Saw and heard some real good dogs, some not so good, and I especially liked the Maple ? or something like that. When he came by, I pointed at him and someone said his name was Charlie.
I picked him to win and had a friendly bet with my friends, but he didn't. He sure looked like a winner to me, and was built like I like.
Sure were a friendly and good fun loving bunch of folks and they all seemed to know each other from other trials.
I would go again next year, it is a sight seeing 80 tails all up in the air going across a field.
big pack
Moderators: Pike Ridge Beagles, Aaron Bartlett
big pack
To Bootleg - They just started a new Little Pack club down in Walhalla SC. They will have their firs trial this fall. You ought to come on down and bring some dogs. I know all of those guys as they always come to the trials at our club because it is the closest Little Pack club to them.
Big Dog
Big Dog
Black and Tans, Blue Ticks, and a few others bringing smoke
I have been to several Big Pack Trials and I find them to be very exciting. Usually the first half hour is pandamonium, but then the dogs settle down and you get some exciting non-stop action. The dogs run for 4 hours. If a dog returns to the gallery or casting area and lingers the Master of Hounds will pick the dog up. It is a real test of Speed and Stamina. Dogs are judged on hunting, trailing and speed.
Big 4 hunts last 2 days. That is the real test of endurance. I can run my dogs usually 5 days in a row hunting, but 2 days of this pressure can wear the best dogs out. Two things if you try it.
1. Do not take a dog that may even think about running dear. If ten or so dogs take off on a dear race it is a real temptation if your dog is not 100% broke.
2. I would not run in this event without tracking collars. If you do you may lose your dog, period. Just too many dogs with too much going on.
I now need a favor. If anyone has RJ Spiveys address or e-mail I would really appreciate it if they could email me it. He has done very well this year and I would like to send him a congratulations.
Folks I never been treated better than the folks from Big Pack. In the evening the whole family comes out and brings lots and lots of homeade dishes, and it is a real feast. Then cards and good natured fun till the weee hours of the morning. Try it, I think you will go back.
Big 4 hunts last 2 days. That is the real test of endurance. I can run my dogs usually 5 days in a row hunting, but 2 days of this pressure can wear the best dogs out. Two things if you try it.
1. Do not take a dog that may even think about running dear. If ten or so dogs take off on a dear race it is a real temptation if your dog is not 100% broke.
2. I would not run in this event without tracking collars. If you do you may lose your dog, period. Just too many dogs with too much going on.
I now need a favor. If anyone has RJ Spiveys address or e-mail I would really appreciate it if they could email me it. He has done very well this year and I would like to send him a congratulations.
Folks I never been treated better than the folks from Big Pack. In the evening the whole family comes out and brings lots and lots of homeade dishes, and it is a real feast. Then cards and good natured fun till the weee hours of the morning. Try it, I think you will go back.
To Big Dog, You will have to e-mail me directions and dates on these hunts in Walhalla. I would like to go see a little pack trial to see how they are run. All I have ever run is Big Pack. I really enjoyed running the Big Pack, The numbers have just fallen off in the last 4 years to almost nothing. At one time every Big Pack trial had over 100 hounds at one point in the early 90's they were having as many as 200 hounds at some hunts. The last 2 hunts we had in January 2004 we only had between 35 and 45 hounds at each. I think peoples interests have changed and some peoples age have finally caught up with them. I have not been to Baileyton Alabama since 2001. I did enjoy the hunts there. There are some great people there, ex. Mr. Thrower. They also have little pack hunts there as well. Of all the hunts I went to I think I enjoyed the ones at Little Mud Creek Beagle Club the most. I never went when I didn't feel at home.
Thanks,
Michael
Thanks,
Michael
Bootleg72,
Do you know anyone who might have RJ Spiveys address or email. My wife sent me a magazine and he won the Hound of the year and I wanted to congratulate him.
He took a lot of time with me and helped me out at every trial he was at. I really felt he would have been just as happy if my dogs won if it was a good race. Just a great guy. Something that we need in the sport.
Do you know anyone who might have RJ Spiveys address or email. My wife sent me a magazine and he won the Hound of the year and I wanted to congratulate him.
He took a lot of time with me and helped me out at every trial he was at. I really felt he would have been just as happy if my dogs won if it was a good race. Just a great guy. Something that we need in the sport.