Big Game Rules

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JUDGES MUST HAVE UP TO DATE CPR & FIRST AID CERTIFICATION.
ALL DOGS MUST BE ACH&BGA REGISTERED
Points shall be awarded as follows:

  • First tree - 125 points
  • First line - 100 points
  • Second tree - 75 points
  • Second line - 50 points
  • Third line/tree - 25 points
  • Strike contest - 125 points
  • Accuracy - 100 points - second place
  • Intensity - Judges choice
  • Dash to the tree one hundred (100) yards, 125 points, first dog to the tree.

Dogs shall be able to qualify for World Championship at any State or ACH&BGA sanctioned trial.
There will be 6 Lion Finalists in the World Hunt.
ACH&BGA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP LION HUNT RULES AND REGULATIONS

  • In order to complete any field trial, an ACH&BGA registered dog must be entered and have been placed in a prior trial.
  • A one hundred dollar ($100.00) entry fee to compete in World Hunt is required.
  • Trials shall be held February 1st through February15th, on Saturdays and Sundays, dependent upon snow levels. Dates may vary.
  • Deadline for entry into trials shall be 6:00 pm, one day prior to a scheduled trial. Sign up for any trial may be completed up to 60 days prior to World Championship.
  • Each Friday at 6:00 pm, a meeting shall take place to discuss rules, regulations and to draw casts.
  • Trial time begins at 6:00 am and ends at 3:00 pm.
  • No in-heat dogs may compete in World Hunt.
  • Judge shall be located in front of the cast in order to judge the tree.
  • Trial shall start over if dogs cannot hold game in tree.
  • Track locators may find a competition lion track, but aren't allowed to follow track and/or walk track out.
  • Poor sportsmanship is not tolerated, and will result in a disqualification of the weekend trial.
  • Poor sportsmanship is not tolerated, and will result in a disqualification of the weekend trial.

Examples include but not limited to the following:
• Beating or mishandling a dog.
• Fighting amongst the cast.
• Belittling or harassing fellow competitors.

  • Drinking or illicit drug use at trial cast is not tolerated. Judges are permitted to use communication devices for safety.
  • Cell and satellite phones and other communication devices may not be used by competitors until judge declares trial completed.
  • The cast shall follow from truck to track until treed.
  • Handlers shall not touch their dog, or any other dog, during the trial.
  • Minus points will be given for any dog touch, unless determined as unintentional by the judge.
  • Should interference occur by a private hunting party (not affiliated with the trials), a highway determined to be dangerous to dog safety, a railroad, or other deemed dangers to the dog or handler, the trial will be called a time out, and will restart a new track.
  • If an injury occurs to a handler, the dog may be handled by the judge, and the dog will be called as disqualified.
  • Handler's call on how an injured dog will be taken care of.
  • No person is allowed to leave the trial grounds without all handlers and dogs being present and accounted for.
  • Handlers must be 18 years of age or accompanied by an adult to compete.
  • Awards shall be given to 1st, 2nd and 3rd places.
  • Handlers must sign a liability waiver, holding ACH&BGA and affiliated handlers harmless from any accident, injury or death that may occur on the field.
  • There is to be no harassment of big game animals. All State and Federal Fish and Wildlife rules must be followed.
  • If handler does not show up for race or drops out, the next highest point dog takes that place.
  • If you miss a race, give a 60-day notification before event.

RACE DETAILS

  • First Strike must be called by handler and heard by judge to confirm first tree.

° Handler must turn loose dog that struck.
° Handler and Judge shall start time clocks.

  • Time starts when dog hits the ground.
  • Dog has 15 minutes to line out track.
  • ° Handler shall then let loose the pack.
  • If you call the first strike and dog does not follow track, you will be disqualified.
  • Judge and participant shall ride in back to witness strike.
  • Race will be timed by judge.
  • Bay up is considered tree.
  • ° Bear must be completely stopped.
  • ° No walking bears.
  • Any bear is considered game.
  • If dog leaves track for any off game animal it shall be disqualified. (Off game animal is considered any animal that is not bear).
  • If pack leaves tree you shall be disqualified.
  • 100 ft backup is required once you call strike.
  • If you pull dogs off for any reason other than wolves you shall be disqualified.
  • All participants must attend heats both days.
  • If dog is not treed by half hour after sunset, dogs must be pulled and clocks stopped.
  • If you call tree before dark its a valid tree.
  • If dog does not strike, you are allowed a "re-rig".
  • Only 6 dogs allowed per pack, including strike dog.
  • Two Judges per pack or per truck.
  • Every participant is required to have GPS.
  • Any questions shall be discussed between the two Judges to make the final call.
  • $100 required to challenge judge about rules.
  • If dog crosses over into the another hunters race, you are allowed a "re-rig".
  • Handler is allotted 15 minutes to line out track.

FIGHTING DOGS

  • Dogs at fault for fighting shall be disqualified.
  • If Judge cannot determine which dog started the altercation, each fighting dog shall be disqualified.
  • Praising dog when doing well is permitted.

by GSM on 3/21/21

JUDGES MUST HAVE UP TO DATE CPR & FIRST AID CERTIFICATION. ALL DOGS MUST BE ACH&BGA REGISTERED Points shall be awarded as follows:
  • First tree - 125 points
  • First line - 100 points
  • Second tree - 75 points
  • Second line - 50 points
  • Third line/tree - 25 points
  • Strike contest - 125 points
  • Accuracy - 100 points - second place
  • Intensity - Judges choice
  • Dash to the tree one hundred (100) yards, 125 points, first dog to the tree.
Dogs shall be able to qualify for World Championship at any State or ACH&BGA sanctioned trial. There will be 6 Lion Finalists in the World Hunt. ACH&BGA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP LION HUNT RULES AND REGULATIONS
    • In order to complete any field trial, an ACH&BGA registered dog must be entered and have been placed in a prior trial.
    • A one hundred dollar ($100.00) entry fee to compete in World Hunt is required.
    • Trials shall be held February 1st through February15th, on Saturdays and Sundays, dependent upon snow levels. Dates may vary.
    • Deadline for entry into trials shall be 6:00 pm, one day prior to a scheduled trial. Sign up for any trial may be completed up to 60 days prior to World Championship.
    • Each Friday at 6:00 pm, a meeting shall take place to discuss rules, regulations and to draw casts.
    • Trial time begins at 6:00 am and ends at 3:00 pm.
    • No in-heat dogs may compete in World Hunt.
    • Judge shall be located in front of the cast in order to judge the tree.
    • Trial shall start over if dogs cannot hold game in tree.
    • Track locators may find a competition lion track, but aren't allowed to follow track and/or walk track out.
    • Poor sportsmanship is not tolerated, and will result in a disqualification of the weekend trial.
Examples include but not limited to the following: • Beating or mishandling a dog. • Fighting amongst the cast. • Belittling or harassing fellow competitors.
  • Drinking or illicit drug use at trial cast is not tolerated. Judges are permitted to use communication devices for safety.
  • Cell and satellite phones and other communication devices may not be used by competitors until judge declares trial completed.
  • The cast shall follow from truck to track until treed.
  • Handlers shall not touch their dog, or any other dog, during the trial.
  • Minus points will be given for any dog touch, unless determined as unintentional by the judge.
  • Should interference occur by a private hunting party (not affiliated with the trials), a highway determined to be dangerous to dog safety, a railroad, or other deemed dangers to the dog or handler, the trial will be called a time out, and will restart a new track.
  • If an injury occurs to a handler, the dog may be handled by the judge, and the dog will be called as disqualified.
  • No person is allowed to leave the trial grounds without all handlers and dogs present & accounted for.
  • Handlers must be 18 years of age or accompanied by an adult to compete.
  • Awards shall be given to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
  • All handlers must sign a hold harmless waiver, holding ACH&BGA and affiliated handlers harmless from any accident, injury or death that may occur on the field.
  FINDING AND IDENTIFYING TRACK
  • Handlers shall not disturb track to the extent that it is not recognizable.
  • Track spotters are allowed on the field two hours prior to the start of the trial.
  • Numbers shall be drawn at the Friday night meeting to determine "track-walkers" who will lead dog on track first. The hunt master shall line up handlers and dogs, and give count down to release.
  • Handlers' tracking collars shall be programmed to the judge's GPS device.
  • Handlers may use their own GPS during trials, but official competition results and readings are to be taken from the judge's GPS only.
  • Handler's may use e-collars set on "tone only".
THE RACE
    • "First Tree" must be called by handler and heard by cast and judge to confirm first tree. Judge may also verify by use of his GPS hand-held device.
    • Dogs may circle tree one time to check track.
    • If dog leaves tree before two minutes the dog shall be disqualified.
    • If dog leaves track for any off-game it is disqualified.
(Off game is defined as any animal not a mountain lion) No handler may pass the judge, and only walk as fast as the slowest member of the trial. No one may left behind. Dog is required to stay and bark tree for two minutes after game is seen.
  • Once treed for two minutes, judge shall call for handlers to handle their dogs.
  • There will be two judges per cast in finals.
  UNEXPECTED EVENTS
  • If wolves enter a trial, all dogs shall be called back to group as quickly as possible.
  • If game leaves tree, the tree shall be determined to be a dead tree, and a new run will begin. First tree must be called by handlers.
SPLIT TREE
  • Should a split tree call occur, the cast shall proceed to first called tree.
  • If it is determined that there is no game in first tree, dog shall receive minus 125 points.
  • Cast shall then proceed to second tree.
BAY UP IN CONFINED AREAS
  • Confined area is defined as a cave, rockshelf, or any area with only one exit.
  • Once a confined area has been determined, trial will be called a time out and judges will call for the dogs to be handled. Circle points will be given to the dog.
  • Once dogs are handled, the trial will be cancelled and a new trial shall begin.
  • If handler decides to pull his dog from bay-up and majority of cast vote to try to tree game, handled dog shall be called as disqualified.
  • Should a dog become wounded , that dog may be pulled at handler's discretion. Dog shall then be determined to have been pulled from the entire days trial.
FIGHTING DOGS
  • Dogs at fault for fighting shall be disqualified.
  • If Judge cannot determine which dog started the altercation, each fighting dog shall be disqualified.

CLUB RESPONSIBILITIES:

1) Club shall appoint an Event Chairperson to oversee the event; to include entry taking, assigning judges and filing event paperwork.

2) Club shall have a suitable starting point to allow all dogs to start at the same time.

3) All dogs, owners and handlers at the starting line are in charge of the Judge. The Judge must explain their system of starting so that each owner handler is familiar with it.

4)

a) All dogs must start from a starting box or line designed so that all dogs will released at the same time.
b) Dogs must pass between stakes that have been set at the water's edge and approximately 30 feet apart. Dogs failing to pass between the stakes will be disqualified.

5)

a) Dogs will be released simultaneously as directed and controlled by a signal from the Starting Judge.
b) Any dog released before the starting signal will be disqualified.
c) Dogs are not to be encouraged by their handlers after release.

6)

a) A line will have been previously placed across the pond near the end and close to the shore.
b) The first swimming dog (KEY WORDS: SWIMMING DOGS) to cross under this line will be declared the Line Winner.

7)

a) Dogs must swim (KEY WORDS: MUST SWIM) free and clear of the side boundary markers for the entire length of the pond to qualify for a Line or Tree decision.
b) Dogs can run out of the circle and return but must bark enough to satisfy the three Tree Judges to be declared a Tree Winner.

8) Club should have a minimum of 2 Line Judges and 3 Tree Judges. If line is close enough to the tree then judges can double as both line and tree judge.

9) Water Race: Club shall ensure water is deep enough for dogs to swim. Dogs must not be able to touch bottom with the exception of the starting point and exit point.

10) Club should draw a 15-foot radius (30 foot diametercircle around the base of the home tree.

11) Club should have a well-marked position to establish first line.

12) Coon scent, coon hide/carcass or live coon shall be used in accordance with state laws.

EVENT RULES:

1) All dogs entered must be ACHA registered.

2) All dogs entered will be randomly drawn into 3-dog heats.

3) No more than 3 dogs to a race at any time.

4) If an odd number of dogs are entered, refer to the night hunt draw out procedure. (For example: If 5
dogs are entered, there will be a 3-dog heat and a 2-dog heat.)

5) All dogs will be drawn by title - (Open vs. Open, Champion vs. Champion, etc.)

TITLES:

1) Dogs must win three (3)  first line and three (3) first trees and have a Mandatory first line and first tree with competition to achieve the title of Water Champion or Field Champion.

2) Water Champions or Field Champions must win 5 first lines and 5 first trees in elimination heats and 1 final first line and first tree to become Grand Water Champion or Grand Field Champion.

3) Grand Water or Field Champions must win 5 first lines and 5 first trees in elimination heats and 3 final first lines and trees with competition to become Supreme Water Champion or Supreme Field Champion.

4) At the club level each heat will have a first line and first tree.

5) In a World Championship, there will be eliminations to the finals with one World Champion.

1) Six dogs, maximum.
2) All dogs must be registered with ACH&BGA.
3) Owner(s) and Handler must be registered and current members of ACH&BGA.

4) Three hour hunt time.
     a) Time starts when dog is put on rig rack.

     b) If at the end of the 3 hour mark daogs are still running a bear, you are allowed an extra 30 minutes of hunt time.

5) All ACH&BGA big game bear rules apply.

6) All hunts must be scheduled with Jesse or Mel.

7) Dogs being tested must:

     a) Rig

     b) Start

     c) Must be bayed or treed.

8) If a dog can't start track or comes back, it is a fault. 3 faults and a hunt is over.

9) $25.00 fee per test paid to the ACH&BGA.

10) Upon successful completion of bear hunt test requirements, your dog will be awarded a certificate and title.

Pending as of 9/30/21.

Pending as of 9/30/21.

Printable Bear Hunt Rules
Printable Lion Hunt Rules
Printable Water Race & Field Trial Rules