Every kennel has at least one solid hound that stands out above all the rest, mine was Spanky. This was a hard one for me. I thought Bandit was tough a few years back but this one hurts. I knew the old boy was not gonna be around for ever but he has been my most faithful hunting partner the last 13 years. Sometime during the night last monday Spanky passed away. I found him in the morning laying in the box.
One thing about Spanky he had his bad days like most hounds but his good days out weighed his bad 10 fold. He had a tremendous heart and was the type of hound that would go till he could not go no more. Days when he could not put an end to a track you would not find him back at the rig you would find him laying under a tree on the mountain.
Spanky probably taught more hounds in my kennel how to hunt then any other. He was a tremendous trail hound and once he hit the wood he was there for good. I'm very fortunate that he taught Jazz and Clyde the ropes and they could not have had a better mentor.
These last 2 years he was not the same hound but he still looked up at you through his eyes and you knew that he knew that his days in the field were done. My most memorable days in the field were spent with this wonderful hound under the tree.
He has given Tammy and I soo many great memories and I could not be more happier knowing the last lion he was under was Tammys. I tried keeping him in shape by roading him but unfortunately it still was not the same. Every morning I left to go hunting this past season he would stand at the kennel door and howl till I pulled out the driveway.
We had some great nights coon hunting with guys like Travis, AJ, Scott B and others. Will not forget the points race Travis and I had for coonhound of the year a few years back with it coming right down to the last night of hunting.
I took him bear hunting with me to Idaho this past weekend hoping to get him under one last tree but that was not in the cards. I did get him cut loose and he spent the better part of the day on the mountain but never made the tree. I can only hope that when he went to sleep last night he was dreaming of that tree.
Spanky just over a year old out on a training day.
Spanky treeing on one of his first lions with Groom Creek Breeze the winter of '97.
Spanky with one of his first bobcats the winter of '98.
Spanky treeing a friends lion on opening day of '98 season
Spanky treeing Scott Becks lion
Spanky showing his love for the Forest Service
another of Spankys signature trees
Last lion of the '99 season
Spanky and Bandit on Lances Lion
Spanky and Bandit on Josh's lion
Spanky with his son Norm and Jazz
I have albums of photos of this old boy and will cherish them for years to come.
