Wildman Willie Is Worthy Of Photo Shoot
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Ronnie Stark poses with his prized Treeing Walker, Wildman Willie, during a photo shoot at Enid Lake. Willie is approaching 12 years old and still loves to tree a coon.
DAVE’S WORLD
By David Howell
I made an exception to my long-standing policy of politely declining photo shoots that are not newspaper related. Wildman Willie is a local legend in the coon dog world and he is approaching his 12th birthday. In dog years, we all know that is old. In coon dog years, that is ancient. I figured he was deserving.
Outside of official newspaper business, my photo shoots have been few and far between during the last 30 or so years. It seems like I have had a camera around my neck since I was a teenager when I started taking pictures for the Panolian in Batesville.
A couple of generations ago most small-town newspaper editors moonlighted in the photography business to help make ends meet. The editor already had the equipment, a camera and a dark room setup during the black-and-white days. Ed Shearer, the former owner at the Herald, spent many weekends at weddings and other events. My father also took professional pictures for most of my childhood, although that was after the black and white era.
I took wedding pictures one time after a considerable amount of arm twisting and, admittedly, they weren’t very good. It turned out that it didn’t haunt me, the bride and groom weren’t meant to be. There have been a few other random events I photographed for money, but very few. My wife complains that we have very few posed pictures of us together. I have a good edge in that conversation though, I have tons and tons of action pictures from countless family gatherings and outing.
Last fall I took some cotton pictures of my granddaughter. I got to thinking last week that my exceptions for photo shoots are grandchildren and coon dogs.
Ronnie had been wanting to get pictures of Willie for a while, realizing his time could be getting short even though Willie still enjoys a hunt on a cool night. Willie is a Treeing Walker and has racked up impressive wins, more than Ronnie can remember. He was Mississippi State Champion in 2019, placed in the top 20 in the Grand American, won the Winter Classic and, well you get the picture. Ronnie pulled out a few dusty trophies for the picture, a small sampling of his success.
Willie was hit by a car back in early 2021 while hunting in the Winter Classic Slam event, breaking his hip in four places. He spent the next six weeks inside Ronnie’s house recuperating before he was ready to get back to what he loves doing. Ronnie wanted a quick, easy hunt for his first turnout since the accident, but with a full moon the coon had other plans. Ronnie recalled it was a long, difficult track through some cutover and swamps and Willie never gave up, treeing the coon in a big cypress tree. Willie still enjoys hunting on a cool night and Ronnie explains he has a heart as big as Texas.
That big heart and Willie’s passion to hunt are what make him great. I dare say that few people have the privilege of hunting alongside a champion like Willie for more than a decade!
