National coon-hunting competition coming to state

BATESVILLE — The United Kennel Club will hold its Winter Classic Coon Hunt in Batesville.

The three-day event had been held in Albany, Ga., for the past 25 years.

The event will be held on its traditional weekend, from Jan. 25-27, 2013, at the civic center.

Officials tell the Panolian the Winter Classic typically draws 600 dogs that are divided into four-dog “casts.”

Each cast hunts separately, with a guide and judge. The judge records each dog’s performance on a score card. The cards from the highest-scoring dogs in each cast are then compared to determine first through 10th place from all the entries.

Only UKC-registered dogs are allowed in the competition. The recognized breeds are Bluetick, Treeing Walker, English, Red Bone, Black and Tan, Leopard and Plott.