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I judged possibly 100+ nt ch, RQE, and one gr nt ch cast over the years and only had one bribe offered (which I didn't take). I have seen lots of poor sportsmanship, some lieing, etc; but really very little. I have heard plenty of accusezations but few had any grounds.

Bribes

I can honestly say I have never even considered giving a bribe for a cast win, it is not because I haven't had the oportunity. It doesn't happen often but it has come down to me and another cast member left in the cast and the other guy starts talking about how he wished he had enough money to buy some new tires for his truck. If that was what he was wanting, he sure had to look somewhere else. I can honestly say I never won a cast except when all of the cast members were present and were satisfied that my dog won. I can also say I never won alot of casts. It isn't a dog power thing, I am not a good handler.

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My name is Dave Haugh and I approve of this message.

90% got there titles from cheatin'???.......

come on now.........most on here know that I don't competition hunt anymore because it became "not fun" because of the jerks...............but 90%???...........maybe 20%.............how do worthless dogs make grand nite...........all ya need is a "me too" hound with a good handler, and for the handlers with the "coondawgs" to just hesitate a second when they locate a tree...........I have recently judged and guided several GOOD nite and Grand Nite Champions..............but also a FEW that cheapened the degrees.

I put the post (Poll) on this board because of this very reason. I have read it said that I "must be jelouse of a dog with a title", I have read suggestions that I need to get a better dog and quit worrying about it.

I put the post out there because the question exists. I put the post out there because I own dogs that win with some frequency, and for one I am tired of being grouped together with the minority of dogs that fall in the cracks and don't deserve the title.

Owning an open registered dog with a couple of wins on his way to a Nt Ch degree, and a Nt Ch dog well on her way to Gr Nt gives me the right to say I am not afraid to turn my dogs loose with anyones any night, and I would welcome the opportunity to prove to UKC, or anyone that wants to bring thier boots and lights that my dogs can and will tree a coon, stay until I get there and do so in a manner that would please most any knowledgable coon hunter.

My dogs have earned every championship point by winning hunts by treeing real live coon.

My new motto "ain't skeered of a certification judge, are you?"

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Joe Newlin
UKC Cur Advocate
Home of Oak Ridge Kennels

This turned out to be a little more than I was looking for. I think the rules we have now (for UKC hunts) are not perfect but if you have a good honest coon hound you can do well in the hunts. I have hunted with a few grand nite champions that even Old Timer would enjoy hunting with and they do very well in the hunts. These rules were written many years ago by coonhunters and have changed very little since then. Most of the people that vote on the rules every year have been around for many years and know what a coonhound should be.
Maybe I'm worried about nothing but I was just wondering what will happen when most of the people voting on the rules are people that don't hunt except for when they are in a nite hunt or getting a dog ready for a hunt. You know, the ones that buy pups from an "all grand" litter without knowing or careing if they are from an "all coon dog" litter. Coonhounds may be the only breed of hunting dog left that has not gotten derailed by competition to the point that you can't hunt with them any more.

I make no accusations here, just stating what I know. Last hunt I was in, I stated to the "judge" that the conduct of our cast was "not right" and that it was unfair to other casts. His response," Just how many ways do you think those other casts are 'screwing us' "??????????? Master oh hounds shrugged it off.

Also probably my LAST outing. Before ya'll get on here and say that "I am part of the problem", I did bring it up to master of hounds.

I just am now making a choice to "run with a better pack".

I go to quite a few hunts but not as many as some. The thing I see more than anything is the buddy system .I drew a three dog cast this month and had to hunt with two brothers. Now they didnt just out and out cheat but they did try to push me around. Then when I told them that I wasnt going for it they told me I was getting cocky. Now everything turned out OK. I lost the cast but I think they got my point and everything went smooth after that.The problem I have is people not wanting to take minus. They dont realy bend or twist the rules they just want on up to something they no is wrong. They wont to play blind and def unless its someone elses dog then they can see and hear everything.It isnt that hard to make a nite ch with a me to dog but your stepping into a different playing field when you try to make it grand. One last thought; why would someone want to hunt a me to dog, are they proud when they win? Dont get me wrong I dont think that most of the titled dogs are conterfit, I think most of them are nice hounds. Its hard to make a dog grand and every one that has a real one should be proud.