Glossary Of Nite Hunt Terms
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Advisor
Nickname for the column appearing in COONHOUND BLOODLINES magazine that serves as the official interpreter of UKC Rules and Policies.
Aggressive Behavior
Behavior displayed by a dog directed towards another dog or dogs that would be considered bad tempered. Face barking, growling, and snapping would be considered forms of aggressive behavior.
Attempting To Fight
A scratchable offense that requires two important elements before it is a violation. A dog must be showing “aggressive behavior” and in doing so, the dog must be “interfering” with another dog.
Authority Of The Judge
1) A time period reference that begins when the Judge is handed the scorecard, and ends when the Judge turns the scorecard in to the Master of Hounds.
2) In the case of hunting vs. non-hunting Judges, they have different levels of authority in scoring dogs and handling questions on a cast.
Babbling
Considered a fault, babbling is defined as when a dog barks three times or has been struck where no track is evident. In its most common form, it takes place right when the dog is turned loose and consists of a dozen or less excited barks as the dog is leaving the handlers.
Cast
1) A collective term for the group of four handlers and four dogs competing in a nite hunt.
2) The act of turning dogs loose to go hunting.
Deadline
There are two very important deadlines in conjunction with nite hunts.
1) The entry deadline is the time by which all entrants must be in line to enter at the entry desk. If the deadline is missed by even a minute the entry cannot be accepted.
2) The deadline to return scorecards is the time that the scorecard must be returned to the Master of Hounds. Late scorecards cannot be accepted for placement in the event.
Deleted Points
Deleted points are those that get a line drawn through them and do not count for nor against a dog, not even in tie breaking situations. There are three common instances in which points are deleted. Scoring strike points for a dog shut out on strike, scoring dogs returning to a previously scored tree, and scoring tree points for a dog when the dogs have not moved and game is caught.
Eight Minute Rule
Commonly referred to as the “eight minute rule”, 4(e) requires that one of the declared struck dogs must open at least once every eight minutes or the strike will be considered finished and minused.
Formal Complaint
A form which when properly filled out and submitted allows any owner or handler to appeal a decision made by the Master of Hounds. Not to be used for situations covered under the misconduct guidelines, the formal complaint form must be requested, by name, from the Master of Hounds. Failure to file a Formal Complaint results in the Master of Hounds decision being final.
Free Cast On Wild Game
The method of hunting by which it is understood that licensed hunts are conducted. Hounds must be cast in search of wild game. Striking game from boats, vehicles, or in enclosures is not considered free casting and is not permitted.
Handler
The person responsible for striking and treeing the dog and participating as a cast member in the scoring of a cast.
Interference
1) A mistakenly used term that pertains to the situations for which a time out may be called.
2) A factor that must be present in order to scratch a dog that is showing aggressive behavior for attempting to fight.
Master of Hounds
The licensed official responsible for seeing that the hunt is run in a manner that is fair to all and that everyone is treated in a fair and equitable way. The duties of the Master of Hounds include overseeing the draw, answering questions and resolving disputes and completing post event paperwork.
Nite Hunt Rules
The running rules that appear in the Official Coonhound Rulebook and on the back of each scorecard for Nite Hunt events. The rules are reviewed on a biannual basis by the six chartered breed associations of UKC.
Open
The word “open” in the Nite Hunts, and coon hunting in general, refers to the action of a dog barking on trail. Hounds participating in Nite Hunts are required to be open trailers, meaning that they bark on trail.
Pitch
Pitching a dog is a slang term for when a handler strikes a dog that is not opening, or trees a dog that is not yet treeing. It is a form of cheating that should be closely monitored by Nite Hunt Judges.
Place Of Refuge
This refers to places where raccoons go to elude the dogs other than in a tree. Holes in the ground, stump piles, old barns, junk cars or farm machinery would all be considered places of refuge for a coon.
Position
A dog’s position is the order in which he was struck in or treed in. Next available position is the next position after the last one that is being held.
Scratched
Dogs that are scratched are considered to be eliminated from placement in the event. All of the reasons listed in Rule 6 are scratching offenses, as are some of the situations referred to in other rules. Of these many reasons that dogs can be scratched from an event, only those dogs scratched for fighting must be reported to UKC. Voluntarily withdrawing from a hunt is also considered a scratch.
Shining
The act of searching a tree with lights to find the raccoon is simply referred to as shining.
Shut Out
If a dog is not struck in on trail before another dog in the cast is declared both struck and treed, that dog is considered shut out on that strike.
Split
A) When dogs tree on separate trees from one another, it is referred to as being split treed.
B) When a Judge cannot determine which of two handlers struck or treed their dog before the other, the points may be split. Points may also be split in situations where all dogs are released on a track prior to free casting for that track.
Spectators
Someone that accompanies a specific handler on a cast. Spectators are strictly regulated in licensed events. A back-up handler is also considered a spectator.
Strike/Struck
When a handler informs the Judge that his dog is opening on trail, and commits his dog to that track, it is called striking the dog. A dog must be struck on or before it’s third bark, or it will be scratched.
Squalling
A sound made either by one’s own voice or by mechanical means that imitates a coon in distress. The sound is considered very helpful in locating coons while shining a tree.
Trash
Also referred to as off-game. Any game other than coon is considered trash in a licensed event. Champion dogs are scratched for running or treeing off game.
Two Minutes
A) The amount of time during which a declared treed dog must bark at least once.
B) The amount of time allotted to the handler holding first tree that he may shine the tree alone.
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