Registered: Aug 2004
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 1559

It's nice to see so many threads on youth events, hopefully the turnout with be much greater than the one held here in New Hampshire this year, very disappointing to say the least.
I took a ride over (60 miles) to donate some dogfood and when I pulled in I thought I was there on the wrong day. In years past it's been a great day for the kids with plenty of events and fun but this year there were no kids to participate.
By the time the events were schedule to start there was one entry in the field trial, one in the water race, I'm assuming one in the bench show (I did not stay) and to my knowledge the hunt was canceled.
I realize that coonhunting is basically a dying sport in this part of the country but THIS IS HORRIBLE!!! I realize that people get busy (as my own daughter was that day) and that times are tuff on some but man what's next?
I have begun "rounding up the troops" to see what we can do to get clubs to attract participants and also have been weighing other options to try and generate entries to the local events, if we don't I think we're in big trouble. jmo, wd.

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Registered: Nov 2005
Location: New Market Va
Posts: 4670

Well I'am Very Sorry to Hear This "WD" .. I hope to See 15-20 Kids today at a Fieldtrial and its not a Youth Trial .. Just lots of Youth Activities and Partisipation..

Worst Part I know of Several Fokes in NH that should have been their with their Kids or Not .. !!

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Registered: Feb 2006
Location: BRIGHTON, TENNESSEE 30 miles north of Memphis
Posts: 2169

That's a shame it did not have a turn out. All we can do is be thankful that these clubs are giving these kids a place and an opertunity to showcase thier hounds with other youth houndsmen. Hopefuly they were all being able to do something else with family and friends. Better luck for a larger turnout next year.

We have been to 3 youth events this year and all 3 of them were jammed up with youth ! The kids all had a wonderful time ! We are missing one today in MO that we should be at. It just didn't work out that we could go.



Thanks to the clubs for making these youth events possible !!

After seeing your post Steve, I wanted to add:

A double thanks to the clubs that are holding regular events, but adding in things that the kids can take part in. Something as simple as a treeing contest just for kids, and making time for a bench show just for the kids, is all it takes to keep these kids wanting more !!

We have been to clubs this year that had several events just for the youth on regular event days...

Treeing (barking) contest
Tree Style Contest (Who had the best looking tree style)
Roll Cage
Bench Show
Coon Squal Contest
Dash race

All of these where here and there, JUST FOR THE KIDS !!

And the winners were even given awards. It doesn't take much to print out a nice award from the home computer and printer that can be hung on thier walls or put in a photo album.


Sabrina Smith
Critter Creek Redbone Kennels
Brighton, Tennessee

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Registered: Jan 2006
Location: Everywhere
Posts: 2708

Hey Wayne, Long time no talk, I cant wait till Nick is older so he can participate in the youth events. I actually haven't been to any clubs in a while now. As you know I dont comp hunt but if Nick want to I'd try er out. Maybe he'll be the one to get Cruise his GrNt title lol.

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 1559

Pretty disappointing to say the least. I think ALL of us houndsmen in New England need to put our heads together and come up with a solution to the problem. Whether someone competes or not, if WE don't support the sport it will disappear before our eye's in an instant. Everyone can blame it on the economy but I personally don't think that is the entire problem.

I bet Nick is a "little man" by now huh? wd

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Registered: Jan 2006
Location: Everywhere
Posts: 2708

Yup, Nick is growing like a weed! Getting tall, running around and talking, laughing. Best thing ever!

I hate to break it to you but the day will come when there are no hound clubs around here. The turnout has always been low. It's a shame, but it'll happen. The reason isn't the economy...the problem is people. There are allot of good people at the clubs, working hard trying to get them to succeed..but there are just as many jerks wrecking it for everyone. The last event I attended, I felt alienated. As I stood around waiting for my win slip, I was able to hear the "click" of people talking (not mentioning names but you were not there). Their entire conversation consisted of them bashing everyone else, and their dogs. I haven't been to an event since..I mean why support that kind of behaviour? If I were a newbie thinking about getting into hounds and over heard that garbage I would have walked out and taken up golf instead. To many people fighting and back stabbing each other. Why does it matter to some people how some other guys dogs hunt or look?? There's too many clicks that dont get along with the other clicks, and that'll be the down fall of it around here. The coon hunters, the show people, the water racers, the bear hunters, the comp hunters, and the pet owners need to all get along if anything is going to work. Again, some do but too many dont.

Also, we dont need to focus on the "youth" of the sport as so many claim we need to. Yes, we need to support the youth but it's the new guy or girl that needs support too. I dont care if you're 50 years old...if you're just starting out you need help just as much as a youth. When I was new and green you took me under your wing, and I've always appreciated that. It's hard getting started. Too many people sit back and dont even think of helping the young guy or girl just starting up....it's sad. It's those newbies that drive to clubs and spend money, and can help out with a club.

I could go on and on about the breed bickering, the judges that arent qualified or have hidden agendas, the back stabbing. All I can say is it's a shame, and a slap in the face to the few that work their butts off trying to make a club succeed.

For the record, I'll gladly take an adult or kid out hunting anytime they can make it. I dont know it all, or have the best dogs, but I enjoy a nice night out alone or with people, treeing coon. Here's another thing people need to take a step back and remember...they're just dogs. You cant tree a coon every night out. If you cant have fun out there even when you dont tree something you need to find something else to do. I think the kids need to be kept away from the competition hunts so they can first just enjoy going out at night and treeing coon..or not treeing coon too LOL..just as important. They can compete later...or never if it's not in them. Just enjoy hunting first.

Wayne if you have ideas on how to get stuff working again and need help just let me know. It's going to take allot of work.

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 1559

You are right on the money with that post.

I think it's the same in everything...you got to find a positive somewhere and do your best to make it work. wd

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Registered: Aug 2008
Location: maine
Posts: 208

back in the 70's and early 80's i used to go to alot of clubs and there was lots of ppl and lots of nice hounds there but back then coon was worth alot of money so everyone had dogs then the money wasnt there so guys sold there dogs so clubs went down hill but i think the most fun was when i took my son and daughter out nights running coon just the other night i had guy stop here wanted to know if he could go run coon with me when he was a kid he went with us said he had a blast years ago so now he wanted to go again he never forgot it so thats why anytime someone wants to tag along i take them

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