Registered: Sep 2010
Location: New Paris, Indiana
Posts: 7076

For whatever reason, our UKC hunts this year have taken a drastic downturn in entries. Our RQE drew well, about like years past but the regular hunts are drawing half or less. The other clubs in our area, 5 or 6 of them, seem to be seeing the same thing.
At the same time, our hunts entries with the other KC have doubled and we have twice as many of them. And the thing I have been noticing is that at every event, half or more of these guys are commenting that they are there because they are trying to get their Hundred won on a pup or they are running for a ticket or trying to stay in the top 16 for a State Hunt invite. Last week, we had a guy drive nearly 300 miles for our regular club level open event and he surely didn't make that trip for the chance to win $72. As I looked around, I realized that the number of dogs there just for the fun of it was about the same as what we are getting for our UKC hunts, the rest are there trying to qualify for something.
So it seems clear that getting the numbers to your club requires INCENTIVES . These guys will jump at the chance to spend $100 to win $72 if it gets them in the race for the big prize.
In UKC, we take pride in being able to say our dog is qualified for the World Hunt, in the other one, you can be proud because your pup got its Hundred, won a ticket, is in the top 10 state race, going to the National.
I think UKC needs to get going and come up with new incentives to get the drive back into there customers to hit these hunts. Just putting that title on your dog isn't nearly enough anymore.

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Chattanooga, Tn
Posts: 22586

quote:

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Originally posted by JiM
...So it seems clear that getting the numbers to your club requires INCENTIVES ..... if it gets them in the race for the big prize.

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Very well put. Maybe UKC needs to let you write a column for the Bloodlines Mag.

UKC has attempted to do this by having the Grand Masters Invitational and Purina Nationals hunts. They also have the Performance Program and they are posting the Performance Points Standings now. But they don't seem to be catching on that well. Maybe they need to tweak the Performance Point Standings a little bit and turn it into more of a Race. They could maybe break it down a little more and update the standings more often and maybe have a year end hunt.

But at the same time the Big Yearly UKC hunts such as AO, GA, WC and Breed Days are drawing more entries than ever. But that isn't helping the local clubs/hunts. Maybe UKC should just stick with the Big Hunts and leave the local hunts to that other KC. What do y'all think?

Last edited by Richard Lambert on 08-27-2015 at 11:56 PM

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Registered: Dec 2013
Location: PA.
Posts: 1738

That is fortunate for your money Kc if it's working that way out there for you guys but it's the exact opposite where I am. My club has been trying to spawn more interest in PKC hunts for a couple years, right now we average 3-4 dogs per hunt. UKC has done great this year at our club one hunt in particular that numbers stick in my head for is July 17th (because I finished my dog to NiteCh that night) It was a Friday night poor boy with a RQE at our closest neighbor the very next night. I thought we'd be lucky to see 8-10 dogs that night, we ended up with 17 entries. That's a Friday night poorboy! and across the board i've been pretty impressed with UKC turn out at our club all year.

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Registered: Jun 2012
Location: IL
Posts: 241

I said awhile back that I wish they'd come up with new $ titles that people can put on there dog, and move the Grand Masters to a later date.


I also think it would be neat to raise the entry fee on the grands at A.O., hunt them all on Thursday, have a top 16 Friday, and a final 4 Saturday with an added purse to hunt for.

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Registered: Aug 2012
Location: MO
Posts: 284

Our hunt participation numbers are down across the board here in western MO. I think UKC would draw better if we had some kind of state race or big end of the year payout. The perm money is not large enough to keep people coming just for that reason. I like the idea of the super slams and I hope they can continue. I also think that right now there are to many hunts for the amount of hunters in our area. I would like to see less hunts with bigger numbers.

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Registered: May 2007
Location:
Posts: 1009

UKC needs to revamp the Performance Program to help the clubs draw hunters. Its time to increase fees across the board, have bred females get DNA certified and pay a fee, and make the minimum check dispersed amount at least $50. These changes alone should double point value. Pay a lil more now to win a lot more later.

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Shane

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Registered: Aug 2006
Location: Northwest Mississippi
Posts: 774

Luckily in Mississippi our numbers seem to actually be up compared to the last 4 or 5 years. We had 20 entries at a hunt this past Saturday. I'd say our local club averages 10 to 15 dogs. But I understand what you are saying. It would be nice to have more incentives.

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Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Canton, Ga
Posts: 847

This is an interesting topic so I will put my two cents in. We are seeing the same thing in my area. For example, I went to a double header money hunt this past Friday night. I couldn't believe it but we had 16 dogs early and 8 dogs hunt late even with a 1:00am start of the late hunt. We had guys show up from three different states! The next night we had a local ukc at what I would consider the strongest ukc club in our area that has always hunted 20-30 dogs. They had 3 casts on Saturday night. Now two nights later on Monday, we had a money hunt at my club. We generally draw anywhere from 4-8 dogs on average. We had 12 dogs Monday night. Like you say Jim, we had 1 guy show up needing to get his $100 won to hunt the world hunt, another needing his $100 for the fall SS, several show up that don't normally that are in the state race needing some more money for that. We even had 2 hunters show up that were 99.9% in the past ukc hunters that said they were trying it out. So the point is their were a lot if reasons for guys to be their that equaled higher attendance. All my dogs are titled out in Ukc so what reason do I have to ever go to a ukc hunt right now? I'm not gonna get a new pup just to hunt ukc. So if you like your dog and you like the hunts you only have 1 option once it's finished in ukc.
Another issue I see for ukc is lack of marketing or excitement to let it's members market by word of mouth for them. What I'm getting at is I personally couldn't tell you the first single thing about Grand Masters?? or Purina Nationals??. I hit the hunts steady all year round yet I've never heard a mention one about them except here or there on this message board. I don't know how you qualify, what you win, or anything else about them. So if the hunters around me aren't talking I'm gonna conclude that they aren't real familiar or real interested about them either. They may be the best thing since sliced bread but if you don't market in some fashion you will never get them to reach their potential.

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Registered: Jul 2014
Location: IOWA
Posts: 958

Just my thought. I have not hunted for more than 15 years, but I got back into it 3 years ago and I can稚 believe the drop in entries for both PKC and UKC. The hunters are not there like the 80's and 90's. I think that if I could go to a PKC hunt and spend $60 on a tank of gas $30 on a entry and win some $$ back that is better than doing the same in UKC and only getting a win slip.

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Registered: Aug 2006
Location: Northwest Mississippi
Posts: 774

RRiley made a good point. I have a dog that is barely 2 years old and is only a couple wins away from dual grand. I dang sure am not about to get another dog just to hunt UKC. I will be spending all of my time hunting $KC. I'm not a dog trader and I don't go through a dozen dogs a year. I'm lucky enough to have raised one that I really like that can win, so, good Lord willing, I will have him for another 11 or 12 years. But we will be done with UKC except for the big hunts soon. I hate that, but that's the way it is.

Who am I kidding, I'll have another pup in a few years, but you get my point!!

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Registered: Dec 2013
Location: PA.
Posts: 1738

I'm all for increasing the performance program. I also thought Todd had a very good idea a few weeks ago about having a "champion" class where GrNites competed against NiteChs for different levels of Grand (that got mixed responses) The one I do not understand is you guys that keep beating the drum for regular money hunts like the other two $KCs. You keep siting the fact that there's to many hunts, you want less hunts with more attendance. I have no idea how creating another PKC knock-off is going to help that situation. When it comes to hunting for a $72 pay out I do have to think "go hunt that Kc if it makes you happy". Why would you want to see UKC, PKC and CHKC all competing for the same attendees?

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: North GA
Posts: 14395

Last ukc hunt I went to a couple week's ago had 26 dogs. 5 or 6 from our club went there. Do you think 5 or 6 of them will show at ours tomorrow night. NO!. Folks dont get out of there backyards much in ukc nowdays unless something big is gave away. Where as in pkc. Always something on the line for most folks around here.

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Registered: May 2008
Location: nw ohio
Posts: 823

heres my two cents worth on the hunts. we as hunters that hunt both kc's go for a title on our hounds cause it looks good to the next perspective buyer of the hound whether nite ch or grand nite ch. once i put a title on the hound im gonna be hunting him for the money prizes. that trophy dont pay me hauling him cross country. some cash and a chance for bigger money is always enticing to competitors. look at your super slam results ,the hunters are not afraid to throw a little cash at something worth their while. sitting on your hands (ukc) is only leaving you behind in a chance to broaden your horizons and too many hunts scheduling on the same nights, with in a few miles from each other is splitting the attendance per club, clubs that fall close in milage from each other should try to organize together with ukc s input to keep up there attendence. to many times i see were five clubs all less than a forty five minute drive from each other are holding hunts on top of each other that month. and hear hunters say (not gonna make the hunt this week i'll go next week we got five hunts this month.) make these hunts so the guy doesnt want to miss it this weekend youll see larger turn out. if you dont try to one up the next kc. your just sucking hind tit.

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Last edited by gasserdogs on 08-27-2015 at 06:36 PM

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Registered: Jul 2003
Location: Dellwood Fl.
Posts: 585

Keep in mind that the "races" end soon ( year runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30) Attendance usually spikes this time of year as everyone wants to get the last few dollars won on their dog.

I believe the #'s are better due to the competitive nature of the races, breed races, state races, ect.

To the person about the performance points being increased to keep up... Simply won't work, because after a few hunts, the dog is granded out and when he shows up to a ukc hunt to compete, he will be the only one there... Everyone knows it's not the money... Guys spend $30 on gas, $5 on a couple gatorades, $30 on entry fee and even if they win sometimes its only $45 or so.............................. .The MAIN reason us idiots will spend $100 to win $50 is the competitive nature and status of the state/breed/ect races..

I really like the UKC hunts as well... and I, unlike some, value the titles, but the fact of the matter is that when you have a pretty nice dog, the hunting opportunities are shortlived ( except for the major hunts). I recently finished a dog from Nt. Ch to Grand Night in around 35 days ( 5 nt. ch. wins ). I don't say that to brag, only as an example of why guys like me go to win a few $$... The shelf life of the UKC hunts for the grand Night has run out.

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Registered: May 2007
Location:
Posts: 1009

A $240 Performance point is more enticing than a $120 one. Everybody's gonna pay em up anyhow, what's $20-$30 more bucks for a shot at $100s more at the end of the year.

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Shane

Last edited by shane_atchison on 08-27-2015 at 06:58 PM

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Registered: Mar 2014
Location: Coastal Georgia
Posts: 294

I think the older hunters don't care much for another trophy. Also, I just bought another dog and had the papers in front of me doing the ownership transfers. Wrote a check to to UKC for $55 and two other KC's totaled $30.

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Registered: Dec 2003
Location:
Posts: 2199

Good post Jim!! All this needs brought up and voiced on before its to late. I also agree on the perf program. It needs totally redone.

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Registered: Jul 2012
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 139

I can come up with 8 people in my area that were very active in the hunts a couple years ago, that do not even own a hound now. I can think of at least 3 more that own hounds, but for whatever reasons have stopped coming to any hunts or only a couple a year. At the same time, only two or three new hunters have replaced them.

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Registered: Dec 2013
Location: Nichols Ny
Posts: 1566

Not to down play UKC hunts. But in general around here you have better dogs in $kc and the other c&kc. The other note that will say is that there seems to be better sportsmanship on the dark side as well.

I also like the fact all dogs draw out together. The silver gold platinum champs all go out with the registered dogs. That helps too.

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Registered: Jul 2012
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 139

A few months ago I was at a UKC hunt. The HD asked a local hunter if he was going to hunt. The hunter asked, How many dogs were entered. The HD answered 2. The hunter said , I don't guess so, not enough PP points available. This kinda makes you wonder, if the PP can hurt attendance at the local level a little.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: North GA
Posts: 14395

How many coon dog litters are reg with ukc every yr? Anybody know?

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Registered: Jan 2004
Location: North MO
Posts: 2353

What is UKC really offering at these little hunts?

A hunt title? Well what's that mean since there is not very many dogs to compete against. With only two dogs to beat, how hard is to finish a dog to GR? It not hard, and if its not hard, what does it really mean?

Means nothing to me.

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Chattanooga, Tn
Posts: 22586

quote:

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Originally posted by Casey Bigelow
..................... .The MAIN reason us idiots will spend $100 to win $50 is the competitive nature and status of the state/breed/ect races....

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Registered: Jan 2012
Location: Goshen,Ohio
Posts: 2679

When I get a dog that can win a hunt like a true coondog.I'll be at every hunt I can.These automatic strike dogs that bark non-stop all night are just painful for me to listen to.The only 2 hunts I've hit this year my ears were bleeding so Id rather pleasure hunt.See more coons and waist less gas.Jmo

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Registered: Jun 2012
Location: McRae Ar
Posts: 3701

The other Kc's have had just as bad of turn outs the rest of the year. PKC's yearly races end September 30th and these guys are trying to finish them up. UKC has missed out on some great business opportunity sticking to traditions of what has always worked for them. Times are changing and so is our sport.

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