One-Hour Clock Starts Immediately After Time Out is Called; Other Coonhound News

Coonhound Advisor

January 15, 2018

Source: Allen Gingerich

As published in the December Coonhound Bloodlines 2017.

One-Hour Clock Starts Immediately After Time Out is Called

Q: During a hunt, two of the dogs bust out of where we turned them loose and get struck on private property where the guide does not have permission to hunt. The other two dogs have not opened, so we all agreed to call time out in the hunt. At this point, the cast is approximately 500 yards from the vehicles. One of the handlers left his tracking system in his truck, so he asked the judge to not start the one-hour clock until he got back to the truck and got his tracker. The judge granted that request and waited to start the time until the handler called him on the phone and told him he had his system in hand. Its always been my understanding that the one-hour clock should start immediately after time out is called regardless of anything else. Please clarify the rule.

A: Rule 6(f) states that a dog will be scratched; {For delaying completion of cast for one hour after time out is called during the hunt in accordance with Rule 7.}

The latter part of the rule references Rule 7, which allows time out to be called for various reasons. Those reasons/situations are noted under Rule 7. Trailing on to posted land is one of those, which allows a cast the option to call time providing a majority of the cast agrees.

The first part, and what is key in clarifying Rule 6(f), are the words used for one hour after time out is called. This means that whenever time out is called during a hunt, the one-hour clock starts immediately after time out is called and each handler must have his dog in hand and ready to continue with the hunt within one hour after time out was called. If the judge waited to start the time until after the handler walked 500 yards to the truck to get his system, he may essentially be giving the cast an hour and 15 or more minutes. The rule does not allow for more than one hour, after time is called. Of course, its always important for the judge to designate a location for the cast to be within that hour. Otherwise, any handler not back and ready to continue the hunt is scratched.

Wrong Dog Declared Struck Give Position to Deserving Dog if Called

Q: In a three-dog cast, and on the first drop, we had one dog open. Handler A calls his dog, followed immediately by Handler B. It was obvious that only one of the two opened. As the judge and the handler of Dog C, and it being the first drop, I didnt know which of the two dogs it was that actually opened. The dog in question only opened one time. Ten seconds later, we had a bark coming from a different dog to our left. Handler B said that was his dog that just opened, so I determined that he had in fact struck the wrong dog so I minused him 100. I then changed the strike positions to award Dog A 100 and Dog B with 75 on the card. The handler of Dog A questioned the change and suggested that Dog B should stay at 75 strike points. Please clarify.

A: Although Dog B may have initially been given 75 strike points on the scorecard, you were correct in changing that to 100 after you determined that Dog A was called incorrectly for that position. Some will argue that Dog B cant move up because strike positions dont reopen until after they have been scored. And that Dog Bs position was not actually scored until after Dog A was already on the card for 75, therefore, 100 would not be available to any dog until Dog As 75 strike points were scored. Under most general circumstances that would be true, but not in this scenario.

In this scenario, we have two handlers claiming the same dog for the same strike position. It was eventually determined to have been Dog B and not Dog A. Therefore, you are correct in minusing Dog A 100, but then deservingly awarding that first strike position to Dog B. If we try to come up with a reason to not award Dog B 100, under this circumstance, we are probably overthinking and not allowing common sense to prevail.

Majority Agrees to Allow Squalling with Dog Out on Trail

Q: Last weekend I was in a hunt where we had three dogs declared treed and were at the tree to score them. Dog D was out trailing. Next thing I knew, one of the handlers started squalling before the first two minutes had expired, so I questioned it and told the judge that its a rule violation. The judge stated that the handler of Dog D said he was fine with them squalling, and the other handler agreed, as did the judge, so that was a majority. I told the judge that it was not a voting situation and left it at that.

Heres the deal. Im aware that had I questioned it and taken it back to the Master of Hounds, it would have been overruled. If not, Im also aware of the procedures to take it as far as needed to get it corrected. However, questioning or making a deal of such a situation these days ultimately seems to make those who abide by the rules the bad guy. If clubs were a little more selective with who they use as judges, we would have less debates and situations like this in the woods. Especially those judges who have no problem with totally disregarding a rule if the rest of the cast agrees.

A: You said it, and we agree wholeheartedly. Solid judges eliminate most petty situations. We understand the frustration that sometimes comes with such a miniscule situation. Rule 6(u) clearly states that you cannot squall during the first two minutes of shining time when you have a dog out on trail that is declared struck. Youre right, its not a voting situation. Voting on this rule only confirms that you are considering disregarding the rule. Unfortunately, it sounds like thats ultimately what happened in your cast.

When it comes to ultimately being looked at as the bad guy, I can relate. Ive been there and done that. The fact is, sometimes that dog that is out on trail is so far away and couldnt hear a squaller if it ran through a 10,000-watt sound system. Regardless and with good reason, the rules committee chose to not throw any distances or any other exceptions into the rule because it eliminates the debates that would come with them.

We commend those who speak up when it comes to disregarding a rule, regardless of opinion. The best advice we might give, in terms of a response for any such ideas that might come up during a hunt, is to suggest that if you think a rule needs to be changed then propose a rule change in the appropriate form. Unless it changes, its what we must go by. Even I dont like every rule that we have, but it doesnt give me the authority to disregard them. Otherwise, it would make me one of those whatchacallits... crooks! So which is better? Being foolishly branded as unsportsmanlike for adhering to all written rules, or going along with it and falling into the ranks of that other term? Last I checked the definition of unsportsmanlike is, dishonest, unethical, bad, and a few other similar words. In other words, if thats what they are calling the good guys these days then forgive them for their lack of proper terminology.

Dog Leaves Tree Before It Can be Handled

Q: This is a situation that has come up from time to time and I would like to see UKCs official position on it. Lets say we have four dogs declared treed and we go into the tree. When the handlers are told by the Judge to handle their dogs, one of the dogs, well call him Dog D, cannot be caught and leaves the tree. The dog is not barking on trail, but just takes off and goes hunting. A coon is seen in this tree. I have two questions about this. (1) Should the dog be minused for leaving the tree, and (2) if not, how do you handle the strike points if the dog should open while the other dogs are still on the leash?

A: It is UKCs position that in order for a dog to be scored on the tree, the handler must be able to catch the dog and put it on leash at that tree. Otherwise, the dog will be minused his tree points for leaving the tree. If he goes on trail, just his tree points will be minused. If he comes back into the tree where a coon is seen, his tree points will be minused as well. Should the dog not come back to the tree, the three scored dogs are held on leash and Dog D is given eight minutes to open. If the dog opens the three scored dogs may be recast and compete for next available strike positions. If Dog D does not open within eight minutes, that dogs strike points are minused and then the scored dogs may be recast and all strike positions are open to all dogs.