As they celebrate their 34th year, the St. Louisville Beagle Club stands as a testament to the enduring tradition of rabbit hunting and the positive impact a dedicated community can have on both its members and the wider community.
Jeremy Geiger, the 45-year-old President of the St. Louisville Beagle Club, located at 21875 Bell Church Road in Utica, recently reflected on the club's rich history and ongoing commitment to keeping the hunt going.
Geiger, a seasoned rabbit hunter since the age of 7 or 8, emphasizes the camaraderie and purpose that the club brings to Beaglers, providing a platform for both competition and pleasure formats.
“With the club aspect it offers a place for individuals or Beaglers, townsmen to come together and get together and run their dogs in competition and also pleasure formats,” Geiger told the Mount Vernon News.
Using beagles to hunt in the area goes back over 100 years and the St. Louisville Beagle Club has been hosting UKC licensed events since 1991, making them pioneers in organizing live events for beagles in the United States.
“It's a tradition rabbit hunting has been going on for years with hounds,” Geiger said.
The club's activities range from licensed field trials for hounds and hunters to team-based rabbit poundage hunts, where participants compete for prizes based on the heaviest rabbits harvested.
Geiger highlights that during trials, no animals are harmed, but the club occasionally hosts poundage hunts that involve the harvest of rabbits.
In recent years the St. Louisville Beagle Club has also hosted the Ohio State Championship.
“We have the UKC Ohio State championships we've been hosting in the last two years,” Geiger said. “It's a pretty good size event, the two day event that brings in beaglers from probably, you know, 4 to 6 states and the numbers hit 100 to 150 hounds entered at the weekend.”
The club's activities extend beyond traditional hunting, with events like squirrel derbies and fundraisers for charitable causes.
Geiger emphasizes the strong brotherhood among beaglers, who come together to support different causes and raise awareness for various issues.
“In the past year, we've had multiple benefits to raise money for sick children or even families in need,” he said. “We do that to raise money and, and bring awareness. Really, the beaglers are a strong brotherhood. Over the years they come together and you see various other clubs put on benefits.”
While the club doesn't have an official website, it maintains a presence on Facebook, where enthusiasts can stay informed about upcoming events and connect with the community.
Geiger encourages word-of-mouth communication and mentions a sign in front of the clubhouse, acting as a hidden gem for those seeking information.
Geiger expresses concern about the declining interest in the outdoors and hunting over the past two decades, attributing it to the multitude of options available in today's digital age.
“It's my personal opinion it has been kind of a dying sport over the years,” he said. “It seems that in the last 15 to 20 years, it seems like people have a lot of options and things to do other than just getting outdoors and hunting.”
“With electronics and sports, everything else it's hard to get people involved in the outdoors. So we try to offer that in surrounding areas and try to get youth and children involved as well as any other new adults that might be new to beagles and new to hunting with rabbit dogs. It's a good thing.”
Geiger acknowledges the dedicated efforts of the current 10 to 15 members who volunteer their time to maintain club grounds and organize various events.
Despite the trend away from hunting, the St. Louisville Beagle Club actively works to engage youth, children and new adults in the world of beagles and rabbit hunting.
The upcoming Squirrel Derby on Jan. 27 is expected to draw 20 to 25 participants, showcasing the club's commitment to encouraging the next generation of hunters.
The club remains active throughout the year, with meetings and various events, including the Annual Terry Sheldon Memorial Rabbit Hunt, Squirrel Derby, UKC trials and other club hunts.
Mark Jacobs, Secretary/Treasurer of the St. Louisville Beagle Club and founder of Reaper Valley Tactical, also shared insights into the rich heritage and diverse activities of the club, emphasizing its commitment to preserving the tradition of rabbit hunting and beagle field trials.
“We continue the heritage of the beagles and their field trials and just the rabbit hunting with dogs experience, keeping the bloodline genuine,” he said.
While rabbits remain the primary focus, Jacobs mentions the club's participation in diverse activities. This includes annual trips to Drummond Island for hunting snowshoe hare, a different breed compared to the cottontail rabbits found locally.
Jacobs said that during the off-season when rabbit hunting is not legally permitted, the club organizes field trials for dogs.
These trials include scoring based on the first dog to strike and the line the dog runs with the rabbits. The best dog from each cast advances to a second hunt, and the champion is determined based on the outcome of this hunt.
The club also hosts bench shows, evaluating beagles' physical attributes and behavior.
“Then at the end of the year you get 'Hound of the Year' based on points for different shows,” Jacobs said.
Jacobs proudly mentions the success of recent events, such as the poundage hunt held Jan. 13 where 131 rabbits were harvested by 17 teams, showcasing the club's strong turnout and commitment.
One upcoming event that Jacobs highlights is the Squirrel Derby, a squirrel poundage hunt featuring cash prizes for participants.
The event caters to both adults and children, with various classes and activities for kids aged 12 and under.
Jacobs underscores the importance of encouraging children to experience the outdoors and engage in hunting activities.
“Last year we gave away candy and shirts and had glow sticks and it was just a good time for all the kids,” he said.
The club's versatility reflects its commitment to providing a well-rounded hunting experience for its members.
