September Advisor
Allen Gingerich
Casting Dogs Where Guide Doesn’t Have Permission
Q: Recently, I drew out in cast, where unbeknownst to us cast members at the time, we turned our dogs loose in a woods where our guide did not have permission to hunt. The dogs were all struck when suddenly a four-wheeler could be heard speeding across the field towards us. Obviously upset, this guy started yelling at us that we do not have permission to be there. He advised us that he called the law and demanded we stayed put until they showed up. Our guide apologized for bringing our cast to this spot and admitted that he didn’t have permission. After a few choice words to the guide on our cast, the landowner seemed to have calmed down some. In the meantime the dogs did get treed and the landowner allowed us to go in and get them and by the time we got back out to the trucks, the game warden was there waiting on us. Thank goodness, the landowner was gracious enough to let us slide after discussing the situation and no one was cited for anything. However, this whole ordeal took a longtime and because of it we could not get our hunt time in before the scheduled deadline to return to the clubhouse. I feel that this is an issue that should be addressed and for the most part could be avoided if clubs were a little more concerned who they assign as guides. CA/MO
A: For most of us who hunt these darn coonhounds, at one time or another we have been in a situation where they, unfortunately, sometimes trail or end up where we don’t have permission to hunt. However, casting dogs in a woods or in an area where dogs will likely trail onto a property in a nite hunt where the guide doesn’t have permission is unacceptable. It’s certainly an issue that club officers should be concerned about when assigning guides at their events.
As a handler in a nite hunt, you shouldn’t have to worry about whether or not the guide has permission where he is taking you or, worse yet, casting your dog into a possible dangerous situation. The last thing anyone wants is getting lectured by an angry landowner and disrupting the hunt. UKC maintains that it is the clubs responsibility and is expected to assign guides who do have permission to hunt where they are taking their casts. Guides who are known to take casts in places where they don’t have permission should not be used or even considered. Club or event officials should be notified of any such situations and need to be concerned of any such complaints.
As a guide on a nite hunt, it is your responsibility to be considerate for the safety of the handlers and their dogs in your cast. Asking handlers to cast their dogs where you don’t have permission is unacceptable and you shouldn’t be disappointed when your guiding services are no longer needed.
UKC asks all club officers to be concerned of this issue and please address it at your club meetings and to also make sure the guides you assign have permission where they are taking your casts. Understand that placing your event participants in a situation where the guide does not have permission to be can be very frustrating and possibly dangerous when you don’t know how a landowner might react when he catches them on his property. During a nite hunt is not the time to find out that the guide does not have permission to be there!
Showing Dogs in the Proper Order
After a few recent complaints about dogs not being shown in the proper order it may be a good time to touch on the importance of dogs be called and shown in the proper order at bench shows. Most Bench Show Judges know these procedures well and follow them accordingly but it seems that according to complaints every now and then that a few tend to disregard them and call the dogs using their own procedure. Even though your entries at the local club level may be lower than the major events it is still important to follow the proper procedures.
Most handlers know the proper order in which dogs should be shown and will be ready to go when their class is up. As handler, it is their responsibility that their dog is shown in the proper class. Whenever dogs are not called and shown in the proper order, handlers may likely not be ready with their dog or could easily be confused in making sure their dog is shown in the proper class. Bench shows will go much smoother and without confusion when everyone is on the same page. These procedures correct and sequence of judging can be found on page 45 – 46 in your 2005/2006 Official UKC Coonhound Rulebook under UKC Bench Show Procedures and are to be followed accordingly.
Dogs Barking in Box That Are Not Part of the Cast
Recently I had an interesting phone call from a certain handler about a little situation he was involved in where one of the handlers in his cast took two dogs with him to the woods. Obviously, he was just hunting the one but whenever they would turn out, the dog that was in the box would bark non-stop throughout the hunt making it very annoying to say the least and difficult to hear the other dogs that were competing. From personal experience I can relate to the callers frustration when dogs in the box are barking while you’re trying to listen for your dog in the woods. Most times it happens when a dog is withdrawn from the cast but usually if a dog has a habit of barking in the box most handlers will be courteous enough to have a spectator, if available, stay back and keep the dog quiet so as not to bother the cast. If no one is available to keep the dog quiet then usually out of courtesy the owner or handler will stay there themselves.
Don’t think you will find anything in the rules to counteract such a situation and it seems to be a little inconsiderate and theoretically showing poor sportsmanship for expecting cast members to tolerate. The best solution might be, before you leave the clubhouse, to politely suggest that they leave the non-cast dog at the club.
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