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-- Ao (http://forums.ukcdogs.com/showthread.php?threadid=928521795)

Posted by Buckeye 01 on 09-01-2019 07:26 PM:

AO TRUTH

I have made the drive over to the AO more years than I can remember. I have only missed a few period, but I have not missed one in the past 20 years.

This year was hands down the smallest crowd I have ever seen at the AO. Cheap gas and a great economy, it blew me away. I was able to talk to many old friends that I make the trip over to see, and out of probably 15 that I asked, they all agreed that it fell off to a level none of us ever thought we would see.

The days of shoulder to shoulder walking traffic, vendors fighting for a space, and every big name stud dog in the country being proudly represented by their owner at a nice tent, appear to be over. Were vendors still there; yes, but not near the number of years past.

At one time the AO would run upper 7’s even 800 dogs not many years ago. This year only 526 dogs. Figures don’t lie. I really hope this year was a freak deal and next year is a massive rebound, because this year felt different and looked like a ghost town. Still had a good time. Until next year,

Keep em treed

__________________
RICHARD G. AKA BIG DICK

Posted by Preacher Tom on 09-01-2019 07:41 PM:

Just curious: What are the actual entry numbers for AO for the last 10 years?

__________________
Tom Wood

Posted by Surveyor on 09-01-2019 10:01 PM:

I've missed very few also and agree it was a much smaller crowd. It doesn't surprise me though and it's nothing UKC or anybody else did,there are just way fewer coon hunters every year and it's just a dying sport unfortunately and I don't see any way to reverse it.

__________________
Mike Sheppard
Sheppard's Northern Blue's
Home of UKC GR NT CH, PKC CH
2 time world finalist, 10th overall and high scoring Bluetick of the 2010 UKC World Coonhound Championship
NASHOBA VALLEY PIAZON, (RIP)
his littermate brother
UKC NT CH SHEPPARDS NORTHERN
BLUE LONER (RIP)
UKC GR NT CH RATTLERS BLUE SKY (RIP)
UKC Gr NT CH, PKC Ch Sheppard's Northern Blue Abbie, (PiazonxSky) UKC GR NT CH 'pr' Sheppards Northern Blue Punkin (PiazonXAlice) High scoring Bluetick of the 2015 (50th anniversary) Grand American, 2017 National Grand Nite Champion of breed, 2017 BBOA zone 4 Nite hunt dog of the year. Queen of hunt on 2019 Grand National Bluetick Reunion, 5th place and High Scoring Bluetick of 2019 UKC world Nite hunt Championship, 2019 Triple Crown Winner.
UKC GR NT CH 'pr' Mckintosh's Blue Flame Chopper
Gr Nt Ch Sheppards Northern Blue Goomba (Piazon X Dizzie) 14th place 2017 UKC world coon hound championship 100 purina point cast wins in 2018
and several other blueticks of lesser accomplishments

Posted by cole run on 09-01-2019 10:36 PM:

According to the entry list ukc has posted on the front page there were 602 entered

Posted by warn on 09-01-2019 10:37 PM:

I have been attending for over 20 years with maybe w years i didnt make it. It was by far the poorest attendance ive seen

__________________
if its there eventually it will look

Mark Warner

"HOME OF PREDAWN KENNELS"

http://www.tekonshathunder.homestead.com

Posted by Buckeye 01 on 09-01-2019 10:43 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by cole run
According to the entry list ukc has posted on the front page there were 602 entered

Total entered was 602. Total hunted/confirmed 526 as referenced on the posted results.

__________________
RICHARD G. AKA BIG DICK

Posted by Doug__Adams on 09-01-2019 10:48 PM:

I’ve been going for around 25 years straight. The crowds have slowly deminshed but this year was a noticeable decline for sure.. but like stated above it’s a dieing sport. Everybody chasing the $ and when they realize they will spend 10k to win 5k they give up and move on to another hobby. I’d say they will be moving it before long to try to boost numbers..

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Posted by Night Shift on 09-02-2019 06:16 AM:

I wonder if all the talk of PETA protestors being present scared some folks off. I never seen anyone but I did hear they were going to protest.

__________________
Jason Smith
Home Of
National GrNtCh GrNt GrCh Dark Side of Skuna River

Gr Nt Ch Maniac's Dark Side of the Moon

Posted by tony.beals on 09-02-2019 07:08 PM:

Re: AO TRUTH

quote:
Originally posted by Buckeye 01
I have made the drive over to the AO more years than I can remember. I have only missed a few period, but I have not missed one in the past 20 years.

This year was hands down the smallest crowd I have ever seen at the AO. Cheap gas and a great economy, it blew me away. I was able to talk to many old friends that I make the trip over to see, and out of probably 15 that I asked, they all agreed that it fell off to a level none of us ever thought we would see.

The days of shoulder to shoulder walking traffic, vendors fighting for a space, and every big name stud dog in the country being proudly represented by their owner at a nice tent, appear to be over. Were vendors still there; yes, but not near the number of years past.

At one time the AO would run upper 7’s even 800 dogs not many years ago. This year only 526 dogs. Figures don’t lie. I really hope this year was a freak deal and next year is a massive rebound, because this year felt different and looked like a ghost town. Still had a good time. Until next year,

Keep em treed

And the weather was perfect too

__________________
Tony Beals
Perrinton, Mi
(989) 763-4725
MSG, US ARMY RETIRED
President of Michigan State United Coon Hunters Association

Posted by Rolin Blues on 09-02-2019 07:28 PM:

crowd

I would agree it had less people around than 3 yrs. ago when i was there, BUT to my 13 yr. old grand daughter, it was still like being at a STATE FAIR than going to a local hunt. All anyone can do is put on an event & hope people show up. It still was great place to pick up hunting supplies, have Garmin booth to up-date units in a matter of minutes & great food served each day. We are definitely coming back next year & Cub has already told his boss to plan on him being gone next year.

Thx to UKC & all local people involved in it for the great job they did. Take care, Ron.

Posted by Redneck Mafia on 09-02-2019 09:40 PM:

The place was still packed on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. The use of golf carts does keep the crowds more disbursed. I did talk to several vendors that were quite happy with the amount of business they were doing and several had sold out of certain merchandise.

__________________
Cheyenne & Jennifer Cummings
Seneca , MO
(417)317-4815
"TEAM MAFIA"
*NATIONAL GRNITECH GRCH GRNITECH(5) HALL OF FAME PKC PLATIUM CH REDNECK BACKWOODS SHACK
2014 OK STATE CH, 2015 MO PKC LEADER, 2016 PKC NATIONALS SEMIFINALIST, 2016 UKC TOP 20, 2O17 UKC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 3RD PLACE, 2018 PKC SENIOR SHOWDOWN TRUCK HUNT FINAL 4, 2018 MO PKC STATE CHAMPION, 2019 AUTUMN OAKS NATIONAL GRNITE CH, 2019 PKC WORLD CH SEMIFINALIST. 2021 PKC SENIOR SHOWDOWN TRUCK HUNT FINAL 4.
*PKC WORLD CHAMPION PLATNIUM CHAMPION GRNITECH SHACK'S HEATHER ISLAND SOUTHERN STOGIE
2021 OKLAHOMA STATE CHAMPION, 2022 PKC WORLD CHAMPION, 2022 MO PKC STATE LEADER PRO SPORT TRUCK WINNER

RIP
*GRNITECH PKC SCH REDNECK MAFIA PKC HALL OF FAME REPRODUCER INDUCTED 2022
*GRNITECH CH PKC SILVER CH REDNECK SHACK ATTACK aka TAC 2018 OKLAHOMA STATE CHAMPION, 2020 MO PKC STATE LEADER

Posted by sox12 on 09-04-2019 09:07 PM:

it seemed to me there were more campers to the north in the big field then before

__________________
George Steffes
Ph 419-212-2538
NT CH PR Southern Soggy Bottom Tilly { Gr ChGrNtCh Pr Ragged Ridge Ripsaw X Gr NT Ch Ragged Ridge Toadie }
CH Nt. Ch.PR Wandering Red & RR Bucksaw (GRCHGRNTCH Raged Ridge Rip X Grand Nite Raged Ridge Toadie )
GRNTCH.GRCh.PR Steffes' Whizz Bang[GRNTCH Big Walnut BooneXGRNTCH Raged Ridge Toadie]
GRCH.Wandering Red Pepper
GRCH.Wandering Red Honeys Sweety Pie

RIP
GR.NT.CH.GR.CH.PR Steffes wandering Red Tinkerbell {GRCHGRNTCH Raged Ridge RipsawXGRNTCH Ragged Ridge Toadie]

Posted by Dave Richards on 09-04-2019 09:38 PM:

While the numbers may have been down, the quality was up. Yes, I mean quality, just look at all of the positive comments regarding the sportsmanship displayed by the hunters. I will take this anytime over large numbers, there may not be as many hunters these days, but the ones hunting are a first class bunch. I can honesty say that back in the day of large numbers of hunters and dogs that it was a cutthroat, slick handling type of hunts. While there were not many $ hunts in those days, lots of paid handlers wer around trying to get first place wins anyway they could. I hunted against several of those types, absolutely no real sportsmanship existed. I am excited with these hunters of today that let their dogs do the talking. Dave

__________________
Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

Posted by Buckeye 01 on 09-05-2019 01:49 AM:

Re: AO

quote:
Originally posted by Dave Richards
While the numbers may have been down, the quality was up. Yes, I mean quality, just look at all of the positive comments regarding the sportsmanship displayed by the hunters. I will take this anytime over large numbers, there may not be as many hunters these days, but the ones hunting are a first class bunch. I can honesty say that back in the day of large numbers of hunters and dogs that it was a cutthroat, slick handling type of hunts. While there were not many $ hunts in those days, lots of paid handlers wer around trying to get first place wins anyway they could. I hunted against several of those types, absolutely no real sportsmanship existed. I am excited with these hunters of today that let their dogs do the talking. Dave

It is nice to hear that few, if any complaints were had during the hunt. That paints a positive image of the hunt for upcoming years and the sport in general. I don’t think that it really makes the overall attendance of the event any less important though. Attendance, not so much in the form of hunt entries, but general tourism of hunters visiting.

In regards to sportsmanship, I think it correlates directly with hunt format. 10 years ago, participating in Autumn Oaks was a interesting spectacle to put it politely. No Grand Sixteen format created a breeding ground for cheating, bribery, and aggressive cut throat cast. Unrealistic scores were the norm to try to get that coveted National Grand Nite title. The NTCH and Registered cast were not as bad with multiple placements being available, but the GRNT was savage.

Any time a hunt, whether it be UKC, xKC, xKC, or xHKC, is held that is not in elimination style format, the integrity of the event is instantly at stake in my opinion. I always have said the most enjoyable cast are the ones where you just have to beat the dogs you draw. That is not to say the same level of unsportsmanlike conduct cannot be in found in an elimination style event, but I think when you eliminate the concept of having to blow up a big score, the integrity of the hunt is much more likely to remain intact.

Look at xKC’s open events scores compared to prohunts etc. A certain degree of this could be attributed to a non-hunting judge, maybe even a large degree, but overall it’s the fact that they got to have a big score to make that final four. It can be comical to look at the scores of warm up open events right before a big event at the same location and watch the scores plummet.

The Grand 16 format was the best thing that happened to the AO in my opinion, and UKC is on track to become one of the most talked about KC’s in a positive light of any of the KC’s currently in existence right now.

__________________
RICHARD G. AKA BIG DICK

Posted by Dave Richards on 09-05-2019 04:12 AM:

Buckeye01

The numbers may never be like yesteryear numbers, but that does not define the quality of today's hunts. I agree that the elimination style hunts are the best way to define the true champion. I sure hope all the big hunts go to this format, as it is the only way to have a true champion. Score based placement his not equitable or fair to every cast, some casts are hunting in thinner coons, etc. All any dog can ever do is WIN their cast, I think more of a Champion that has won every cast to become Champion, that a dog that won 1 cast with a big score hunting only against the dogs in that cast, Determining a winner on a 1 cast score was never a valid way to determine a Champion. Dave

__________________
Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

Posted by Dave Richards on 09-05-2019 04:12 AM:

Buckeye01

Sorry, double post

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Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

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