Late Event Reports Reminder, Other Coonhound News

Coonhound Advisor

June 22, 2016

Source: Allen Gingerich

As published in May 2016 Coonhound Bloodlines.

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 they dont always help to get reports turned in on time. Dont be surprised or disappointed if UKC starts taking stronger actions against clubs who dont 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 off their reports at the first of the week following the event. UKC and your event winners will greatly appreciate it. Thanks to the majority of clubs who do just that!

Off Game in a Live Trap

Q: I have what is likely a dumb question, but here goes. I was in a hunt this past weekend in a three-dog Nite Champion cast. Halfway through the hunt, one dog was withdrawn, leaving two dogs to finish the hunt. On the very next turnout, the two remaining dogs shot down the woods about 500 yards and load up and start treeing. Both dogs were declared treed. After 10 minutes of walking getting to them, we arrived to find them treed on a live trap on the ground. In the trap was a squirrel. I was the judge on the cast and, to be honest, my head was spinning trying to come up with the right call. Im well aware that you cant score a coon in a trap, but this one had off-game. I ended making the call to scratch the dogs, one of which was my own.

After thinking about it more, Im really second-guessing my call in the woods. Reason being, points are deleted if a trap or a cage has a coon it, so why would it be scored any other way regardless of the species of game in then trap or the cage? All three of us handlers discussed it at length and we all saw it both ways. If scratching was the wrong call, then I really hate it for the other guys dog.
L. Thompson, South Carolina

A: Theres currently no reference of it in the rulebook, but youre right, UKC maintains that points should always be deleted in the case of dogs treeing on a locked live trap or a cage. It is also UKCs position that the game being held in the trap or cage does not make any difference. Although youll probably never see that happen again, its one to keep in your back pocket for future reference. While were on the topic, lets further clarify that it doesnt matter if the trap is holding a raccoon, off-game, a scent rag or nothing at all. Delete the points and go on.

Den Tree Holes Must Be Visible

Dear Advisor: Please elaborate on when to minus a tree or to circle a tree. There is a lot of variation from club to club, and also with a single club. The rule says to minus when you can clearly see no coon is there. Points should be circled if coon could be there but is not seen. Some say you have to see hole to circle. Some say that hole has to be larger than a soda can. If you have hunted very much, you can about tell if it could be a den, but not always see a hole. Some holes cannot be seen unless looked down on. Enlarged sections on trunk of tree or large limbs are usually hollow.
LCS, Missouri

A: I agree with you that some dens do not have a hole visible from below. However, it is my personal opinion that the only way to be truly consistent from cast to cast, under the pressure of competition, is to say that there must be a visible hole. Nite hunt rules rely on those involved to use good judgement, and the premise that honest hunters take their minus when they have it coming. I like to believe that most trees are accurately scored, partly because you have competing hunters on the cast who, when holding last and last, would just as soon see you take a minus, and partly because I am somewhat optimistic that most hunters are honest.

This situation reminds me of a state that has a law whereby it is legal to kill raccoons year-round if they are doing, or about to do, damage. Guess how many are turned down because they dont look like they are about to do damage? If all big trees with big limbs start to be interpreted as den trees, minus points will go the way of the passenger pigeon.

Questions and Emotions

Q: Why is it that certain handlers always tend to get bent out of shape when something they dont like happens during a hunt? 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 its the procedure used to correct it, so its a good thing and the way it should be. However, handlers conducting themselves in an unsportsmanlike manner during the process is unacceptable.

We shouldnt be too quick to judge ones opinion because handlers dont always see things exactly the same, provided the opinion is not obviously biased and based on personal agendas. Whats 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 thats a non-hunting judge or a hunting judge, they should demand control of the cast at all times. Its pretty simple. Start with a warning first, if necessary. Now youve put the ball in their court, and its 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. Theres 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 new hunters and the younger generation. So for those who cant seem to keep their emotions in check, we can ignore it and ultimately take the stance that its 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.