Donald Hickman 1940-1995
Adelheide von Spurlaut 1979-1995
by John Jeanneney
Don Hickman was one of the founders of Deer Search, and he served
as president of the Organization during the critical years when the legal structure was
being developed in New York State so that tracking wounded big game could become a
licensed activity. Adelheide was his brilliant tracking dog whose many difficult deer
finds converted skeptics into believers. What Addie accomplished helped generate the
enthusiasm which Don directed into building the Deer Search.
Don died on April, 31, 1995 and Addie was put to sleep
shortly afterward. Addie was 16 and Don was 55. It was a ripe old age for a dog and a
tragically short life for a man. They were buried together and a Deer Search era ended
with them. Before writing of Don's individual accomplishments we should first look at man
and dog together and what they were as a team.
Addie was brilliant but high-strung; with a handler less
patient and skilled she probably would have accomplished very little. Don was able to
recognize her gifts of nose and intelligence, and he realized that she would settle down
eventually with experience and maturity. The two came to understood one another. When the
scent was lost they would sometimes work the check for a half hour. When Addie had
rediscovered the line she would give her yip-yip signal, "I've got it," and off
they would go again. In 1989 Addie became the second dog to be inducted into the Deer
Search Hall of Fame.
Addie's exploits became famous in the Hudson Valley and her
accomplishments became a major factor in the development of Don's own life. Secure in what
he could accomplish with his dog and well aware of the potential that Deer Search had for
deer hunters, Don grew from a rather shy man of few words into a relaxed public speaker
who could hold a large audience with his wounded deer and tracking dog stories. Because he
felt so strongly about ethical hunting, and presented his thoughts so clearly, he inspired
this sensitivity in others.
In the field Addie and Don were a tireless team. Both had
the essential combination of drive and stubbornness required to successfully track wounded
deer. They took an incredible number of calls together, frequently two and even three in
the same day and evening. Many times these evenings stretched to midnight with Don knowing
that he must be up at 4:30 in the morning to go to work. You had to love the sport and
crave to find the deer on a cold rainy night when lesser men thought of crawling onto a
warm couch before the TV set. Don and Addie needed no inducements and no comforts. When
they had to, they could run on pure adrenaline.
Don and Addie set an example to handlers. More than any
other Master Handler Don got apprentices out in the woods so that they could see what a
great dog could do, and so get hooked on the sport. Competitive and strong
"egoed" as Don could be, he would let new handlers work his own dogs, or he
would let the apprentices' new dogs struggle and find deer that would have been puppy play
for Addie. Don understood that the best in us lives on through others.
Through the year Addie did get a few days off when she was
not blood tracking or training for the field trials at which she excelled. Don never
seemed to take time off. As our representative in conservation politics and as an
administrator Don was certainly our most effective president. Don was our chief negotiator
in discussions with the DEC on the Deer Search Amendment and the implementing regulation.
This was a process which extended over several years.
Don's contacts and friendships within the Federation of
Dutchess County Sportsmen's Clubs and the New York State Conservation Council helped to
keep the sportsman's lobby in New York solidly behind Deer Search. Politically this had a
real impact on the DEC and the New York State Legislature.
As Deer Search President Don thought ahead; he reminded
committee chairmen when something was due or needed to be done. When it came to Deer
Search Don never went "on vacation." He was never caught unprepared or unaware
of what was going on. Don spent countless hours on the phone maintaining communications
and camaraderie. His life made a difference, and he became a part of all of us. |