[Dean]

Once again, we are holdimg 2 basset events in Denver, PA on Labor Day Weekend. Thr East Regional and the PA Sfate Championship rabbit hunt Many of the top rabbit hunting bassets in the country will be running to see who is top dog.
Come out and watch bassets doing what they were bred for and what they love to do. No rabbits are killed. Just bassets leading the aerobic exercise classes for bunnies. Spectators are always welcome and anybody who wants can enter any basset. Neutered and un-registered hounds included -- no experience needed. Lots of fun for the hounds and many couch potatoes find that the chase is instinctive. For those who want to test their hound, we have a fenced starting pen.
We have a major cook-out on Saturday night -- join us for some basset field work, a conformation show and then good food.

 

[Midge n Hazley]

Dean,
I'm really interested in attending the event. Could you post more info or a link with the details? Thanks,

Barb

 

[Elvismom]

I would so love to see that! Even better I'd love to bring Elvis & Georgia, but it's just too far away.

It seems that there aren't many events like this in the southwest. I hope you guys back east realize how lucky you are!

Have a great time.

 

[Dean]

to elvismom --- how can you say we're lucky when you can't make it ?? how's that for a line of ------

Barb,
The hunts start at 7am -- to enter, get there before 7 ---- we will probably end about 4 pm - if the weather is too hot we might run early, shut down, then restart later when it cools. food on site both days -- cookout Sat. nite --- ample room for camping, motorhomes, etc. basset hunt-- this link has a map. ---AHBA is the website of the American Hunting Basset Hound Association.-- this will give you info on rules, etc.
Basically, we take small casts of hounds (3-6) to thr running grounds, turn them loose for one hour, then pick them up. There is a conformation show also. Novice hounds can go out Friday or after the hunts to work with experienced bassets.
For more info -- you can call me at 610-942-2840

 

[Elvismom]

Awww....I'm blushing!

Sounds like such a great day. How many hounds do you usually get? And how do you avoid having the rabbits get killed? We have a bumper crop of bunnies this year and I am dreading the day the houndies catch one of them.

Now we just need to convince one of the sports channels to cover it. Sure beats watching golf, in my humble opinion.

 

[Dean]

we are looking for about 50 hounds -- hard to tell with the gas prices and people coming from as far as FL, IN, MI.
Bassets do not catch rabbits. The purpose of the scent hounds is to keep tthe game moving. Rabbits are territorial and run in a circle, so if you are hunting, you wait where the hounds jumped the rsbbit.. Soon, the rabbit comes running to you. We just wave and watch the dogs. There are dumb or sick rabbits, but it is very rare for a basset to catch one.
Let your hounds try running one and they will most likely stay close and not get lost

 

[Elvismom]

That's interesting because mine most definitely have caught them. We have about 2 acres that are fenced in and right now overrun with rabbits. Elvis & Gerogia have caught and killed them on occassion. We don't let them keep their kill because the vet has warned us that rabbits in our area are carrying some disease that I can't remember.

I do know they are NOT happy when we dispose of their kills.

50 hounds chasing rabbits would be quite a sight!

 

[Guest]

Oh that sounds like such fun. But I have to make (via DH) So I guess we are going again to GABR. I love that oneI missed MBR's this year . <darn>. Every one going have fun. Tummy Boy's Mom

 

[Dean]

2 acres is small enough that bassets can catch rabbits, especially if they work together. At a friends starting pen, we had to get my two pups out because they started double-teaming the rabbits. When one jumped a rabbit and started running it, the other would try to cut off the rabbit by taking shortcuts. we got them brfore them caught anything. In about 30 years of running bassets, I have only seen about 2 rabbits killed.
We don't run all 59 hounds at once -- only 3 - 6 in a cast. In MA ai the fun hunt, we did have 40 some hounds on the ground at oncw, but most were couch-potato types that knew from nothing about hunting It is quite a sight when you can get about 6 - 8 good running bassets on one hare, Looks kind of like a furry caterpillar running through the woods. Jammed shoulder to shoulder and making quite abit of noise

 

[biscuit]

Elvismom, is it tularemia? We have tularemia here - I've even heard of some guy mowing the lawn who got tularemia when he hit a rabit and the bunny blood got on him.

I don't let my guys have rabbits either because of that, although I have caught them parading around with them before. They didn't kill the bunnies but the bunnies died shortly thereafter, no doubt from shock. :blink:

 

[Elvismom]

Nope, it's not tulemaria - but I still can't think of what it is. Soemthing that isn't easily transmitted to humans, but that can be deadly to dogs.

I can imagine 6-8 hounds on the chase baying their heads off! It must be a fabulous sight.

Luckily this late in the year the remaining rabbits are smart enough to avoid the hounds. The still congregate outside the fence and taunt them! Must be genetic.

 

[Terry]

In MA ai the fun hunt, we did have 40 some hounds on the ground at oncw, but most were couch-potato types that knew from nothing about hunting It is quite a sight when you can get about 6 - 8 good running bassets on one hare, Looks kind of like a furry caterpillar running through the woods. Jammed shoulder to shoulder and making quite abit of noise[/b]

When exactly is the MA fun hunt (sometime in the fall I think, isn't it?)? I need to know when so I can request the day off (in writing, three weeks in advance. :blink: ) I am DEFINATELY going this year. For several years I have had to listen to my friends tell me what a wonderful time they and thier Bassets have had at this thing, and I was VERY jealous. Is it only for Bassets, or can a pudgy little Basset-wanna-be Dachshand go, too? (She may not be pudgy then - she's been on a diet for the past month and has lost 1.2 pounds. I do believe I can see a bit of a waist and I KNOW she seems more active, despite the summer heat. B) )

 

[Dean]

The fun hunt is always the Sunday after Thanksgiving at The Pasquamanset Beagle club on Lucy Little Rd north Dartmouth, MA. Mike arruda is in charge of the event.
Lots of fun for the hounds--- fully fenced grounds, no hounds can get lost --- It can be wet, so wear good boots. It's a fund raiser for rescue, don't know about a weiner hound, but you might try convincing people she's a dwarf basset

 

[Terry]

don't know about a weiner hound, but you might try convincing people she's a dwarf basset[/b]

But she IS a dwarf Basset!!! You can tell by her appetite!

 

[pinehawk]

hey Dean do you have a list of motels with phone numbers i'm going to need a room or 2.post the info here so others may make plans also.this way you may get a bigger turn out.

 

[Dean]

use yahoo maps for Adamstown, PA and search for hotels and motels --- there are many .. The most economical seems to be Mountain Trail Motel --on rt 501, west and south of the club --with all taxes $64 --717-949-3575

We do have lots of room for camping, motorhomes, igloos, etc -- also bathhouse with 2 showers