The American Beagler Forum

If everyone that went to NKC would go to PKC here is how the World Hunt would have broke down money wise if you had the same turn out.

1st place would have paid 7500.00
2nd 5500.00
3rd 3500.00
4th 2000.00
and all cast winners would have won their enrty back.
Thats on a 50 dollar entry.
I cant see why NKC guys wont try this out, so much more to offer, Coonhunters have got it so big some of them are driving a new truck because of a win.
Guess I dont understand.

I would love to give it a look but there isn't even a club in my state. I don't have the money to start a club or promote it or I would think about it. I can attend more than a dozen of each AKC, UKC, or NKC trials a year within 3 hours from my house. I am new to the trial game and would like to give all formats a look and have looked at all except PKC because I would have to drive 5 or 6 hours one way just to take a look. Everybody and thier brother has a beagle in Michigan and there are a lot of very fine breeders up here. I don't know why the regisrty hasn't planted a club here??? I hope this helps you understand where I'm coming from.

Money often times brings out the worst in people. Just the competition of a blue ribbon and earning a title for a dog drives some men to cheat and turns people off from the trials.

When you put money in it, guys cheat even worse, steal, and in many cases with night hunts, fights break out and it becomes a very bitter environment.

I realize there are a few bad apples that spoil it for everyone, but the money has a drawing effect that brings in the fools.

All that said, Im not completely against it, but if its anything like the night hunts you can have it.......never seen so many crooks in my life. Some will even acknowledge they cheat if thats what it takes to win. They will strike their dog off yours, will tree their dog when its not even barking, and if the dog is not a complete fool, there is no way to prove it and they get away with it night after night.

All this really detracts from why I run beagles. I go to enjoy good hound work, the outdoors, fellowship, and some friendly competition. With money events the entry fee normally doubles, and the friendly competition often turns to bitter rivalry. Now that my kids are old enough and really excited about trialing, i want to show them a good fun wholesome time, not bitter rivalry for money.

I guess we all have a different perspective, and thats why we have so many formats. Attend the ones you like, and if demand warrants it, new clubs will open.

Mybeagles

Only Format or trial I ever Saw where a GUN was Drawn was PKC.......

I understand completely Big Mike.
As far as the cheating, and fighting I understand what you all are saying, I use to coon hunt to. The thing about the night hunts they are just that night hunts, you cant see whats going on out there with the dogs in the dark, its a little different with the beagles its day time and everything is scored by sight not by sound other than striking your dog. I know this year there was not one argument at the PKC world hunt, i think they have got a couple guys running it that will weed out the bad apples pretty quick.
Just thot I would throw out there what a guy could have made if he placed his dog at that big of a hunt in PKC.

I agree with TC and My beagles that kind of money in the beagles will only do bad things for our sport. There is already people that do what it takes to cheat. If you put a $7500 pot on top of it all you have is trouble in my opinion whether it is at night or in broad daylight.

TC wrote:Only Format or trial I ever Saw where a GUN was Drawn was PKC.......

tc ..the only reason a gun hasn't been drawn at an NKC event is because i didn't have one with me. But i agree with most, if their is money involved, it's crooked.

Guess you all have made up your minds, just thot I would throw it out there to let you chew on it a little.

Sorry swing but I agree with these guys too. IMO most of the guys that do it without having a pot to win are the ones you want involved in the first place. Throw in some money and you're gonna get everyone else including the "bad apples"...........again JMO.

i would like to try even a regular pkc hunt just to try it out but i dont think there are any clubs up my way. i have 4 nkc clubs within a .5 hr drive

Andrew and Big Mike, I think there is a few more clubs starting to open up and try it. I can tell you from what few PKC trials I have been to there has been no big problems at all, bout the only questions i have even seen were rule clarifications and it was settled ,I know some of the Indiana guys came out here to one of our bigger hunts and was very pleased, the only guys name I remember was Harold Jourdan, but I already knew him from NKC, I know Ron Orick tried it and I guess you could ask him about if he liked it, I think it is going to grow. I just think it will start growing once a few more clubs open.
At least they are working with it to make it grow.
I know they have two guys running it that are honest and will make sure everyone is treated fair

I understand the rules are simular, if the not the same as the UKC H&H format, but are the judges Hunting or non-hunting?

Hunting judges, and majority rules, if you are tied at a vote nothing gets scored

I run UKC HH and I can't imagine throwing money in the mix. Its bad enough for a trophy. They tried it around here and it failed.. disagreements every hunt.
Some coonhunters are driving new trucks, yes they are. What did they do to win them? I ran PKC coonhunts for a lot of years. Its a zoo. JMO,,

Why don't they take all that big money and hire a judge?