Registered: May 2016
Location: Palatka, FL
Posts: 5106

My opinion on a sad situation. First of all the group of hunters and people in Union that brought this hunt to the area and a couple other large events. Such as PKC hunts and CHKC (4 or 5 years) ago deserve a lot of credit. I was there at a participant in the first larger CHKC and PKC hunts. I was also there for UKC events as a Vendor.
Union is a lot closer to me that Salisbury but my preference is SALISBURY for several reasons.
Union has some limitations with hotels. Get one late and you are staying 20 or 30 miles away. Not saying anything about the quality of food or hotels right in the area. But the selection is not the same as Salisbury.
For the UKC hunts I think it is advertised correctly but it is misleading for vendors. When I was there it was advertised as a coon hunt, squirrel hunt and rabbit hunt. Because the squirrel and rabbit events were down the road you never seen a lot of the rabbit hunters or squirrel hunters.
Like I said, it is a sad situation and like many other businesses in the country. You move your location and the business falls off and never recovers from it. I had a old picture pop up on my Facebook page this weekend from 5 years ago in Salisbury set up at SETWD and the ground was covered with snow and we had 5 times the sales we did in Union on a sunny day. The Grand American then SETWD just two months later is probably a little more than the economy can stand in that small an area.
There were several other things mentioned in these post that contribute to the decline and it just how the consumer is spending their money these days. My top competitors (vendors) have never been to a Coonhound event. Coonhunters forget that the ones there like Johnny Dalton are there bringing people to the hunt and promoting the hunt. But if someone can stay home and not wear out equipment traveling and sell just as much. Staying home is a business model that is being considered by some. Especially as the number of people attending continue to fall off. It is a snowball headed downhill. At every major hunt after a couple years there you generally know where to go look for old time friends. It's just the faces you use to looked up at Salisbury, are not even there.
Friends coming together visiting year after year means something to many. More than the win, more than what you sold there.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Weyers Cave Va
Posts: 13413

Great post Bruce!!!

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Dennis Robinson
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Registered: Apr 2015
Location: church hill tn
Posts: 5738

I think you hit a home run with the old friends concept, some things are just more than a hunt or place to buy supplies, it's a place to VISIT with FRIENDS. Years ago that was EXACTLY what the HUNTS were all about, even the local club hunts.Tar and a lot of us old timers have long lamented the loss of the fellowship and family entertainment the HUNTS used to offer. Hunts were a place to VISIT old friends in our sport take the family, eat and have a great time. WE need to rethink what these HUNTS mean to us, make them special again, starting with the local clubs and going to the Major Hunts. Our hunts are way more than just a place to hunt a dog, they are a place to make new friends, visit with old friends and promote our sport. You don't have to hunt a dog to go to a hunt and support the club, visit with friends and have a good time, something a lot of us have let slip by, including myself. I plan on attending a bunch of hunts this coming year just to VISIT and support the Clubs, something We ALL can do. Dave

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Registered: Nov 2005
Location: Elgin,S.C
Posts: 203

I hunted Walker day's for the 1st time. Heck it was the 1st time I've hunted ukc in at least 8 yrs.Got friends that's board members. These guy's work hard. I'm not far from union. If they move it I know I want go back.I was a guide and judged Friday and Saturday. Had great cast. Meet guy's from Georgia, Tennessee, and west Virginia. I thought 100 Friday night and 97 Saturday was a good turnout. They had a 2 night pkc legacy hunt bout 3 hours from union. That could've possibly hurt numbers. I would've been there myself. But I wanted to try Walker day's. Wanted to see how cast would go with the new rules in ukc. I had a good time.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Weyers Cave Va
Posts: 13413

The pkc hunt being close to setwds is nothing new, when it was in Salisbury the pkc hunt was closer than that.

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Remembering Our Past......
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Ch.Swampmusic Lil Bit Sassy
Ch.Swampmusic Misty Shadow
Gr.Ch.Swampmusic Boone
Gr.Ch.Swampmusic Pride
But Looking To The Future...

Nt.Ch.Gr.Ch.Swampmusic Big Hoss




Dennis Robinson
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Registered: Nov 2014
Location: Central Virginia
Posts: 155

Was this year the final year for the contract at Union?

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Ryan Morris

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Registered: Jan 2009
Location: Rocky Mount, VA
Posts: 1281

I went Friday for the first time since it moved to Union. Talk about a disappointment! There was 1 stud dog in the barn. In the main vendors "shed" about half were hunting vendors. I would say there were 5 or 6 bigger vendors. Maybe a dozen dog traders along a single row.

The part that left a sour taste in my mouth was that they were charging a couple of dollars at the gate for entry for anyone, regardless if you were on foot or in a vehicle.

It was sad to see! I won't be going again unless it changes location.

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GrNiteCh PKC CH 'PR' Candy's Stylish Swag 2014 VA State PKC top 10 and 2022/2023 Super Stakes Sire & 2022 UKC Performance Sire
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Registered: Oct 2005
Location: Kenbridge,va
Posts: 3045

quote:

---

Originally posted by deadeye ruck
I went Friday for the first time since it moved to Union. Talk about a disappointment! There was 1 stud dog in the barn. In the main vendors "shed" about half were hunting vendors. I would say there were 5 or 6 bigger vendors. Maybe a dozen dog traders along a single row.

The part that left a sour taste in my mouth was that they were charging a couple of dollars at the gate for entry for anyone, regardless if you were on foot or in a vehicle.

It was sad to see! I won't be going again unless it changes location.

---

Simon kinda wish you could have stayed around till Saturday..Crowds were much better ..Im afraid the stud dogs didnt show up ..Times have changed..These boys are winning world hunts and still competing with their dogs..They draw semen and keep getting on...Its no telling how many cast Kevin has competed in with Bank and J.R and them fellows with Willy..I asked J.R to come and showcase theirs and his response was we are gonna be showcasing pups at another hunt ...Hope this event as any event we go to but reality is they may not..Still gonna try and promote them.

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