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-- Coffee Shop Philosophy (http://forums.ukcdogs.com/showthread.php?threadid=446289)

Folks I want everyone to know that I am not "slamming" or flaming the registries.....

They are not in the coon hunting, cat hunting, rabbit hunting, squirrel hunting, or any other hunting business......so in reality, it's not their battle to fight. And I for one don't believe for one minute that they SHOULD be off fighting these battles...that is our job as hunters and houndsmen!

I think that partnerships between the registries and the conservation organizations are the perfect marriage...and that should indeed happen. I mean after all if we can't support each other, we really don't stand for much!

I'm being blunt and to the point. If we as a group do not stand up for our rights, nobody else is going to. There are some very powerful organizations that are very well funded that would be happy to put us all out of the dog running business.....and we all need to work together.

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Joe Newlin
UKC Cur Advocate
Home of Oak Ridge Kennels

Btt.Went to my local coon hunters club the other night.It was there monthly meeting and the place was packed.Out of about 60 guys there was 4 coon hunters.Thats kinda of depressing.To join the club cost me $45 bucks and I'm on a 90 probation period.I joined to try and support the local coon club which now has me wondering.Where did all the coon hunters go?

Matt, was it a coon hunter's club, or a hunt/conservation club??? The 4 out of 60, has me confused if it was a "coon hunter's" club...

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David Schmidt
219-614-0654

Yes sir.Southern Ohio CoonHunters Club.All the other members present seem to be into card games and turkey shoots.

Well... at least they're donating to the cause!

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David Schmidt
219-614-0654

This is the first time I have read anything on this Coffee Shop Thread,, I think you have the right idea,, and correct foresight

OK, Coffee Shop patrons... we've had some intellectual debates on here, and all of you seem pretty forward thinking. So, why have only a few of you signed up for the National Hound and Tree Dog Association?

I'm not trying to guilt you into it, I'm more curious on your reason's for not doing so? You seem like a group of people that would embrace the idea of a national organization, so I'm wondering what the hesitation is...

As always... no right or wrong answer, just free-flowing ideas.

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David Schmidt
219-614-0654

*** Please read first post, prior to posting a reply.***

Let's blow the dust off the coffee shop, and open it back up for dialogue...

My last question seemed to hush the crowd, so any new topics? How about youth events, YEP or otherwise. For some clubs it seemed to be a shot in the arm, for others it seemed to struggle to get traction. Any thought on why???

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David Schmidt
219-614-0654

I know my club has tried to get a youth cast going I wish I could give you an answer but a lot of clubs are struggling just to keep adult members involved

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Save a coon hunt a walker

*** Please read first post, prior to posting a reply.***

Joe and I were discussing this over the weekend, and we were thinking of something a little different than a "cast" in a competition hunt. Instead how about a cheap ad in a couple local newspapers, stating that we're going to have an introductory coon or squirrel hunt to anyone that is interested? No scorecards, no competition, no pressure... just a pleasure hunt.

There was a church near me, in Indiana where the pastor and his son were both coon hunters, and they did this as part of a youth program each year. They would put together a dinner, and have a bunch of us coon hunters show up, to take kids to the woods. They even had a DNR officer donate his time to give a short speech on safe hunting and sportsmanship. And a fur buyer present for after the hunt, to explain fur buying and handling. It was sort of On-the-job training, for houndsmen!

They would have 20 plus kids show up each year, and for several of them, coon hunting stuck and they still hunt today.

So competition hunting for existing coon hunting youth is great, but how about events to get non-hunters interested in being hunters and houndsmen/women??? It may even get some of those non-competition hunters, involved in the club again...

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David Schmidt
219-614-0654

Dave,that sounds like a great hunt for a great cause.

Joe and I were thinking about replicating what we've seen work, at some of our affiliate clubs.

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David Schmidt
219-614-0654