Side-by-Side Vehicle in Nite Hunts

As published in Coonhound Bloodlines June, 2016

July 13, 2016

Source: Allen Gingerich

Q: We have a couple guys in our area that have tried to convince our club that UKC has approved the use of side-by-side, all-terrain vehicles during the course of a nite hunt. They actually brought their side-by-sides to our last nite hunt. As a Master of Hounds, I try hard to stay up-to-date with UKC policies, but haven’t heard of any such a thing. They got a little upset that I didn’t let them use them at our hunt and said several other clubs are allowing it.

A: Good call. UKC has not approved the use of any such vehicles in nite hunts. That would be a pretty big deal if we did allow them and, given you try to stay up to date, your suspicions were spot-on. I’m not sure where that comes from, other than possibly the fact that we allow them on the grounds at Autumn Oaks? Facebook, maybe? Who knows?

Dog Not Yet Transferred to New Owner with Regard to Multiple Owner Entries

Q: When a new owner enters a dog that has not been transferred into their name in the event, is the event official required to split the entries when that same owner has another dog entered in the event? Here’s an example. Dog A is owned and registered to Allen Gingerich. Dog B is registered to Todd Kellam, but was recently purchased by Allen Gingerich. The Transfer section on the backside of the Registration Certificate shows that Allen Gingerich is the new owner of Dog B, but has not yet been transferred (registered) to him. May Dog A and Dog B be intentionally split or drawn to different casts?

A: Owners having multiple entries in an event may only be intentionally split if the dogs are registered in the same owner’s name. The registered owner is the name on the front side of the dog’s Registration Certificate. Multiple entries may not be intentionally split otherwise. The individual the dog is registered to is what the official must go by. Per the example given above, Dog A and Dog B may not be intentionally split or drawn to different casts.

Qualified, Selecting Judges and Honor Rules

Q: What if it’s the Judge’s dog?

A: That is a question that comes up a lot in regards to hunting judges. We can’t stress enough the importance of selecting qualified individuals to judge. The criteria of “qualified” must always come with more than having numerous nite hunts under the belt. Three must-have credentials include:

1. Have a good understanding of the rules.
2. Be unbiased.
3. Be trustworthy.

At the top of page 52 of your current Coonhound Rulebook, you’ll see the title of the running rules is, “Official Nite Hunt Honor Rules”, therefore, an important credential is that the judges “honor” the rules, as applicable, in every situation. The three listed credentials are a must. One without the other is no good.
Starting on page 67 of the rulebook, under the section of Master of Hounds/Hunt Director Guidelines, you’ll find references on how judges should be selected. The days of drawing four dogs to a cast and then selecting, or having the cast decide which one of the four will judge is unacceptable practice. That method MUST be a thing of the past!

There is a much better drawing system that is so much better for the club, the official, the hunters and the sport in general. Select the number of judges needed for each category and stick them to the scorecards first! This method, provided the club selects qualified individuals with the credentials required to judge, assures the club a much better hunt for everyone involved, not to mention fewer questions and issues.

You’ll hear some officials suggest this method takes too long. What? It doesn’t take any longer than any other! If UKC can do it at the Winter Classic with 450 dogs in the hunt each night, I’m convinced it will never be too much trouble at any other hunt. Please refer to the rulebook for more information on this drawing method.
Back to the question, “what if it’s the judge’s dog”? “If” event officials consider the comments above, then: If the judge struck the wrong dog then the same rule is going to apply to his dog as all other dogs. If it’s the judge’s dog that is not hunting, he’s going to start the clock as quickly as he will for any other dog. If it’s the judge’s dog that was off the tree, he’s going to give him his due minus. If the tree is slick, the judge is going to vote to minus the points even if his dog had first tree or is the only dog on the tree. If it’s the judge’s dog that was the aggressor, he’s going to scratch his own dog only for fighting. If there’s a handler in the cast that continues to stir up trouble, he’s going to take care of that problem. The judge is going to make sure the cast moves in to trees at a pace that is attainable by the slowest member of the cast. The list goes on and on.

UKC alone cannot fix judging issues. We need club officials and all judges to be on board and help us in this effort. When following the guidelines, and those selected judges meet the three most important criteria, you’ll find that problems on casts are diminished significantly. And most of those “what if it’s the judge’s dog” questions are eliminated.

Scratched for Fighting Before the Five is Up

Q: The five minutes is running on Dog A’s tree. Dogs B and C arrive, and a dog fight ensues. The cast rushes in to break up the fight and scratch the offenders. As they arrive at the tree, they see Dog A on the tree treeing, with Dogs B and C rolling on the ground fighting. The handlers of Dogs B and C immediately rush in and handle their dogs. Both of these dogs are clearly scratched in accordance to Rule 6b.

This very scenario happened at Autumn Oaks last year, and the two fighting dogs could not easily be broken apart. During the fray, Dog A was treeing steadily, but when the handlers were trying to break apart the dogs, Dog A was nearly frightened away. If Dog A is handled before the five minutes have elapsed, can his tree be scored?

A: It is certainly acceptable to go into a tree prior to the five being up when you have a dog fight break out, as you did; however, Dog A should not be handled. Not until the five has expired or unless all dogs in the cast are declared treed. UKC suggests that the cast should keep any disruptions of separating those fighting at a minimum to the best of their ability. Any dogs that are scratched from the cast may at that point be leashed and should be led away a short distance as quickly as possible, but keep the time running on Dog A. Again, with the intent of trying to keep any disruptions at a minimum for those still eligible for scoring at that tree.
If, for any reason, Dog A is frightened away because of any commotions or otherwise, the only acceptable course of action is to is minus its tree points for leaving in accordance with Rule 4c. There’s really nothing in Rule 8 that suggests calling time out in such a situation to be acceptable. It wouldn’t be any different if an aggressive dog chases another off a tree before you get there. They receive minus tree points regardless of why they left. Same thing applies here if Dog A were to leave for whatever reason including the fact that the cast went in and broke up a dog fight.