To the people eating breakfast inside the clubhouse, the noise outside was music to their ears.

The commotion outside started with one dog barking, and soon an entire chorus of baying hounds filled the valley deep in the Pigeon Hills. It was music to about 50 men, women and children gathered last weekend at the York and Adams Beagle Club on Orchard Road near Thomasville, for a field trial and hunting test for -- of course -- beagles.

The trials, which started Friday, were conducted over three days. The first day, the test was run at York-Adams. Saturday everyone moved to Jacobus Beagle Club and Sunday, back to York-Adams.

AKC-qualified judges measure a beagle before it can compete in the field trials. The dogs were entered in four classes: male and female 13-inch and male
AKC-qualified judges measure a beagle before it can compete in the field trials. The dogs were entered in four classes: male and female 13-inch and male and female 15-inch. (For The Evening Sun -- Bob Marchio)

It was obvious handlers enjoyed the fellowship with comrades from as far away as Maryland and Virginia, but the dogs appeared to be happy and anxious to show their ability to track down rabbits.

The trial is nothing new to York and Adams -- the club has been in existence since 1939. President Sam Lauchman said the initial purchase was a 40-acre farm. The house became the clubhouse. Over the years, Lauchman said, four additional farms were purchased, giving the club members a total of 325 acres.

The grounds are fenced allowing members a secure area to run their dogs. Mowed paths run over the hills, which boast large feed and cover areas that allow York and Adams to manage an excellent rabbit population.


Beagles, according to the American Kennel Club, are sturdy hunting dogs with a "merry personality," which makes them among the most popular dogs in the United States. A breed that goes back centuries when larger dogs tracked deer, and the smaller dogs went after rabbits for English gentlemen in the 1500s.

Today's beagle comes in two height varieties, 13 inch and 15 inches. Looking like a small foxhound, they are mostly tricolored -- black, brown or red, and white.

Last weekend's trials were a sanctioned AKC event. Dogs are divided by male and female in each of the two height classes. Before each event, the dogs are measured by volunteer AKC-qualified judges. Each dog will wear a different colored collar to allow judges to easily identify the animals as they run through their trial.

The beagles are sent out in packs of about eight followed by their owners and a pair of AKC judges. The dogs are turned loose in a strip of brush and cover followed by the judges studying their actions in the hunt.

The varying tones of their baying tells everyone they have picked up the scent. Judges are looking for the dogs that are quickest to strike and follow a scent.

Dogs are "picked up," eliminating them from the trial. Through the weekend, eliminations were made with the top three dogs in each pack awarded points. The dog with the highest number of AKC points is crowned champion at season end. It is only a chase -- no rabbits are harmed.

York-Adams also runs trials under Pennsylvania Beagle Gundog Association rules, which uses a slightly different scoring method.

Lauchman said the membership stands at 65, and the club is looking for new members. Prospective members must have a beagle or a coon hound, be committed to work and maintain a specific amount of points to keep their membership. Interested persons can contact membership director Tim Kane at 846-7666.

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Flying squirrels: After reading last week's column on flying squirrels, Mike Spyker of York sent this email:

"A number of years ago, (in Huntingdon County), on the opening day of deer season a "leaf" kept blowing by the large chestnut oak I use as a deer stand. However, it was a perfectly calm, foggy day with absolutely no wind. Was beginning to think I was hallucinating from getting up so early.

"After the third or fourth occurrence, I slowing leaned forward and came literally "nose to nose," with a small squirrel with enormous eyes. The entrance to his den was at eye level on the opposite side of my tree. This activity continued for most of the day. The following day I carried my camera, and of course, the flying squirrel was nowhere to be found.

"The following summer the area was clear cut, and the chestnut oak along with it. Have not seen a flying squirrel since."

Block shoot: The McSherrystown Fish and Game Association will hold an all-money block shoot on Sunday, Sept. 15. Registration opens at noon, and the shoot starts at 1 p.m. Refreshments will be available.

Bob Marchio writes about the outdoors for The (Hanover) Evening Sun. Reach him at