Handler Declaring Inactive During the Hunt, Other Beagle News

Full Circle

May 19, 2016

Source: Allen Gingerich

Late Event Reports Reminder

All clubs are reminded to send their reports in to UKC in a timely manner. While UKC already has late fees that are assessed to any late reports, it seems that doesn’t always help to get reports turned in on time. Don’t be surprised or disappointed if UKC starts taking stronger actions against clubs who don’t send their reports in on time, starting with not confirming future scheduled events until all reports are received.

Please make mention of this at your next club meeting and get those reports in on time. All clubs should make it a habit of sending their reports the first of the week following the trial. UKC and your event winners will greatly appreciate it. Thanks, to the majority of clubs who do just that!

Handler Declaring Inactive During the Hunt

Q: Last weekend, we had an older gentleman draw out in my cast who was having a hard time getting around in the field. We scored three lines on the very first rabbit we ran, but this gentleman could not get to us in time to witness the scoring on two out of those three lines. Him not making it to the line in time had no bearing on scoring the dogs because we had a majority present each time.

After scoring those three lines and handling the dogs he asked me, as the judge, to just make him inactive so that he would not keep us from potentially missing out on scoring lines the rest of the hunt. I told him that, as I understood the rules, he would have needed to do that when he entered the dog that morning, and he would need to be considered as an active handler for the whole hunt. There was some debate on this afterwards, and I just need to know for future reference if it were to come up again.

A: Good call on your part as the judge. You are correct in that any handler wanting to be inactive must advise the entry takers of that when they enter their dog. This was discussed and decided on by the rules committee that, before passing it as a rule, the handler must decide on this option before the hunt and at the time of entry. Rule 13 (b) states, {A handler must advise entry takers and declare themselves inactive at the time of entry.} This then applies throughout the whole event. There are no provisions or exceptions provided otherwise.

“Majority of Cast” Does Not Apply When Non-Hunting Judge is Used

Q: In a Winner’s Pack, where non-hunting judges are being used, the dogs all strike in and jump a rabbit out of a thicket. Three of the four handlers see the rabbit, but the non-hunting judge does not. The dogs trail the rabbit to a place of refuge, and the track is considered dead. Here’s the question. May the strike points be plussed due to the fact that a majority of the cast saw the rabbit?

A: The first thing to keep in mind, whenever non-hunting judges are being used, is that “a majority of the cast” should never come into play. That’s also the case when it comes to seeing a rabbit that ends up in a place of refuge. A non-hunting judge is the one that needs to have seen it in order to plus strike points in accordance with Rule 3 (d).
Rule 3 (d) states, Points will be plussed {on strike, when rabbit is jumped and seen by non-hunting judge or majority of the cast if hunting judge is used, but goes to a hole or a place of refuge before completion of circle.} The key item in the rule, again, is “non-hunting judge”.

A hunting judge is not being used so “or majority of the cast if hunting judge is used,” does not apply. The same is true for any other situation when non-hunting judges are used. In other words, you won’t find any specific item in the rules that suggests otherwise.

Repercussions for Having the Wrong Dog Measured

Q: What is the consequence for an individual found guilty of having the wrong dog measured for the sake of entering a dog in the event that is right at 15 inches or slightly taller that is sometimes measured out?
A: Suspension. Two-year vacation. Not worth taking the chance.

Questions and Emotions

Q: Why is it that certain handlers always tend to get bent out of shape when something happens during a hunt that they don’t like? Many times these same individuals can show their true colors in front of the Master of Hounds and nothing is done to stop it. Why do some of these handlers keep getting away with acting so unprofessionally time and time again?

A: Handlers having the opportunity to question a call is not intended to be a bad thing. Sometimes the wrong call is inadvertently made, and it’s the procedure used to correct it, so it’s a good thing and the way it should be. However, handlers conducting themselves in an unsportsmanlike manner during the process is unacceptable.

We shouldn’t be too quick to judge one’s opinion because handlers don’t always see things exactly the same, provided the opinion is not obviously biased and based on personal agendas. What’s never okay is to go to emotional extremes, getting all bent out of shape, and letting your rear end do the talking.

The better question is, why are judges and officials not taking a firmer stance on such issues? Every cast has a judge assigned to it. Whether that’s a non-hunting judge or a hunting judge, they should demand control of the cast at all times. It’s pretty simple. Start with a warning first, if necessary. Now you’ve put the ball in their court and it’s up to them to control their emotions and remain part of the cast or not. If not, then the judge has done everyone a huge favor by scratching the individual for unsportsmanlike conduct. Further, if scratched for it, the judge should take the initiative to write the individual up for unsportsmanlike conduct upon returning to the clubhouse. There’s a Misconduct Form in every clubs supply packet for things like this. It may not end up in a suspension, but it certainly gives UKC documentation when it comes to justifying “vacation time” for habitual offenders.

Not only is such conduct detrimental to the sport, it is also a bad example for the younger generation. For those who can’t seem to keep their emotions in check, we can ignore it and ultimately take the stance that it’s okay, or we can do the whole sport a favor and deal with it appropriately. UKC encourages the latter. It will go a long way in promoting professional sportsmanship.