On October 17, 2004 Mike Polinsky, Jeff Schoonmaker, Johnny Wilhelm and I headed once again to our annual hare hunt in Athens Maine. We met at Mike’s house at 8:30 a.m. for a long 7 hour ride from New york to Cedar Mills Farm perviously owned by John and Donna McDonald, now own by Mike and Terri Stasiowski. We took ten hounds along on the trip. Mike took Maple Ridge Blue Max ( Farbers Indian Outlaw X Three Jays Jack’s Midnight). Johnny took (Seven by Nines Sweet Missy) Missy a litter mate to Max and Seven by Nines Miss Molly (Country Boy Runner X Lonesome Creeks Tricki Nicki). Jeff took Chestnut Ridge Moose (White Path Stanley X Branko’s Dear Abby). Who by the way took 2nd place in last years Nationals in the fifteen inch male class. Chestnut Ridge Hammer a nice running sixteen month old pup (Beyors Big Sid X Jenny Brook Jenny) and Chestnut Ridge star a fifteen month old pup (FC Hardenburgs Baby Blu X Branko’s Dear Abby). I took four hounds, Jenny Brook Blue a female litter sister to Moose. Jenny Brook Kate a litter sister to Hammer, Jenny Brook Dottie (Fleet Foot Tracker X Hardenburgs Miss Maudie) and Jenny Brook Jenny (IFC Country Boy Runner X FC Lonesome Creek Hare Razer). We arrived around 4:00 p.m. nervous not knowing what to expect from the new owners. We had three great years with the McDonald’s. I can tell you that we were not disappointed. The cabins were the same and the food was excellent! We kenneled and fed the hounds and then went down to our cabins and unloaded our things. We still had some time left before dinner so we went down to the local store and bought our licenses. Monday we were all up before 5:30 a.m. chomping at the bit to hear some great runs. We were also sad because our hunting and running partner, the guy who always booked our hunts Andy Krom was on his way to Bagdad on the first day of our hunt. What Luck! The trip just didn’t seem the same without him. Andy made all of the arrangements for the hunt before he was activated by the Army. We took four hounds for our first days hunt. We always try to match them up by speed and ability. We took Moose, Blue, Max, and Kate and went to one of our favorite spots. Moose got the first start of the trip and was soon joined by the other three. They were a little wild for the first hour or so, then they settled down and pounded all day. We started the first hare about 7:30 a.m. and around 4:00 p.m. Jeff and I put Moose and Blue back in the box and let Max and Kate stay down.. those two young hounds pounded for another two hours. We down them at 6:00 p.m. and were really impressed at what a nice job these two young hound did. Last year when we ran in this area there was snow on the ground and you could see pretty good. But this year the ground was bare and visibility was poor. We ran for 10 ½ hour and only took two hares. But what a beautiful day. On every trip to Maine I tell the guys to keep their eyes peeled for Moose Shed Antlers. Two years ago Jeff found a huge shed. This year Johnny found a real beauty. Day two was another beautiful morning, clear, high in the 30’s. we took Jenny, Dottie, Hammer, Missy, and molly. On our way to the second place we were going to hunt we saw two young bull Moose walk across the road in front of us. I got some great video footage of them. About another mile down the road we saw a cow cross the road. I prefer to carry a video camera and record our hunts. After we get home I’ll make a copy for everyone. We hunted a spot called Wil’s Rock. What a great day, the dogs ran non stop for nine hours, and we killed seven hare. The third day of our hunt we hunted a place we call The Willows. We took Jenny, Star, Kate, and Max. We arrived at the Willows around 7:30 a.m. and within five minutes we had our first start of the day. What a great run, out of hearing and back, then they crossed the road into a patch so thick you can hardly get threw it, and a shot is almost impossible. We move in to try and take the hare, then heard a coyote howl on the ridge top behind us. About two minutes later we heard him again and he sounded a hundred yards closer. Then the hare went back across the road in the direction of the coyote. We all came back out of the thick patch to the road. Johnny and I ran up the road to get between the coyote and the dogs. When the coyote howled again he was really close to the running hounds and Johnny shot into the air. After the shot we didn’t hear the coyote anymore. The next circle Mike shot the hare and we loaded up the dogs and moved to another plantation. We let the hounds out and within a few minutes we had a hare started. The dogs pounded all day in and out of hearing. We ended up shooting seven hare and a partridge. On our way back to the truck we had all the dogs on leads except Jenny. Then we heard her open back down where we shot the last hare. We put the other three dogs in the truck and headed back toward Jenny. We all caught a glimpse of the hare then finally he came past me flying and I shot and missed. Then a few minutes later Jeff killed the hare. I was glad because it was starting to get late. Back at the truck we had just enough time to take a few pictures. On the fourth day we took Moose, Dottie, Missy, and Molly. Today we went to a new area. When we cut the dogs loose, within five minutes we had a hare started. The dogs ran hard all day and I got Mike on video with a nice kill. We only took four hare today, but the dogs ran really hard for over eight hours. Day five we took Jenny, Kate, Max, Hammer, and Missy. We hunted another new area today and you couldn’t ask dogs to run any better than they did today. They pounded all day in and out of hearing. We shot five hare and were on our way back to the truck with Missy and Hammer on a Lead. We were close to the truck when Kate open up followed by Max and Jenny. Johnny and Jeff put Missy and Hammer in the truck then cut back down into the woods to try to take the hare. After a couple of large circles I shot the hare. Mike caught Max and put him in the truck. Before I could get Kate and Jenny. We heard Jenny open on another hare followed by Kate. They smoked that hare until dark. Out of all the hare we ran all week that was the one I really wanted to shoot. But there just wasn’t enough daylight left. It was dark when I downed Kate, and Jeff downed Jenny. Saturday, day six we only hunted a half a day so we could get an early start for our long ride home. Today is another beautiful day. We hunted what we call the grassy road. We hunted Jenny, Kate, Star and Max. we let the dogs out about 7:00 a.m. and within five minutes Max opened and the race was on. Once again I got Mike on the video with another hare. Although his first shot he killed a tree, the next shot connected. I’m sure this would have been our best day had we hunted all day. We ended our morning taking five hare. Around 11:30 a.m. we caught the dogs and headed back to camp to pack the truck and say our good-byes. What a great week we had. The weather was beautiful, the dogs ran excellent everyday, the food and lodging was outstanding. Every year we choose what young hound gets our most improved of the trip. This year I would have to give it to Kate and Jeff’s Star. These two young females just kept getting better with each hare shot in front of them. This was Johnny’s first hunt with us in Maine and I’m sure it won’t be his last. Although we had a great week, I know we all missed our partner Andy Krom. I know he will be reading this article, so buddy keep your head down and your _ _ _ too! P.S. I’d like to congratulate Andy and Harry Snow Jr. with winning this years Nationals in the 15” male class with Hardenburgs Baby Blu. I’m sure that made Andy very happy, Blue is really his baby. Any of you Beaglers out there with a little extra time on your hands can drop Andy a couple of lines or E-Mail him. I know he would love to hear from you. Bagdad is a long way from home and he probably won’t hear a hound run for eighteen to twenty-four months. That’s a long time for someone who lives and breathes Beagles. ...........BillWilhelm..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................MSG KROM, ANDREW C. C MATT - 98TH DIV. - KMT B OIF 2 (CAMP CALDWELL) APO - AE 09392 E-MAIL ak123dk@aol.com

This article is also published in the Feb. 2005. Better beagling magazine