ORIGINAL MOUNTAIN CUR BREEDERS ASSOCIATION SQUIRREL HUNT RULES

General Rules:

  1. Only Registered Original Mountain Cur Dogs can be entered.
  2. There shall be two or three dogs in each cast with only one handler per dog.
  3. If there is a morning and evening hunt, the cast must hunt two (2) full hours in both hunts.
  4. The dogs will be re-drawn over in the evening hunt.
  5. In the event of no plus points scored, the most circle points and the least minus will be declared the winner.
  6. The dog with the most total points in the hunt will be declared the winner of the hunt, and must be a cast winning dog.
  7. To place in an OMCBA Squirrel hunt the dog must have plus or circle points. If your total score is zero or minus, your dog will not be placed in the hunt.
  8. If there is a hunt in the morning and the evening, your dog must hunt both morning and evening to place in the hunt.
  9. In the event of 2 dogs owned by the same kennel draw out together, these dogs will not be allowed to hunt together. They will be re-drawn.
  10. During the hunt, the majority of the cast must agree to either walk or stand. This may change throughout the hunt.
  11. POINT SYSTEM: First tree= 100 points. Second tree = 40 points. Third tree=25 points.
  12. ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL OR UN-PRESCRIBED DRUGS ALLOWED ON GROUND OR HUNT.

SCORING OF PLUS POINTS

  1. Points will be awarded only when a squirrel is seen by the majority of the cast members or a non-hunting judge. (The squirrel must definitely be seen)
  2. The dog that trees first is the only dog awarded 100 plus points even if another dog trees within 30 normal steps and also has a squirrel.
  3. If a squirrel is caught on the ground, points will be issued among all dogs declared treed.
  4. Points will be plus if a squirrel is seen in a tree within 30 steps of the tree where the dog(s) is (are) treed. When available a tape measure should be used. (90 feet)
  5. For plus points to be awarded, the dog must be showing tree to the satisfaction of the judge on the arrival of the tree.
  6. No plus points will be awarded for flying or ground squirrels. (Northern Red (Pine) squirrels may be scored)

SCORING OF MINUS POINTS

  1. If a dog moves over 30 normal steps away from the tree when it is declared treed, it will be minus unless squirrel is seen timbering and dog is following. In this case, dog must show cast where squirrel stopped. When available a tape measure should be used. (90 feet)
  2. When a dog trees and it is evident that a squirrel is not in the tree or the immediate vicinity, points shall be minus.
  3. When dog or dogs are declared treed one dog must bark every 2 minutes until the cast arrives at the tree or all dogs declared treed would be minus.
  4. If the dog is smelling the ground when the cast comes within 30 steps of the treed dog. The Judge will announce the start of the 15 second rule. The dog must show treed by barking up or looking up within the 15 seconds or the dog will be minus the points it was treed in at.

SCORING OF CIRCLE POINTS

  1. If the squirrel is unable to be found due to being in a leafy tree or if there is a nest or hole in the immediate vicinity where a squirrel could be hiding.

DOGS TO BE SCRATCHED

  1. Dogs will be scratched for showing aggression, growling, or fighting with other dogs on the 1st offense. The second offense committed by the same dog will result in the dog being banned from all future OMCBA hunts, this pertains to the primary aggressor.

TIES ARE TO BE BROKEN

  1. Dog with the most circle points
  2. Dog with the most first plus trees
  3. Dog with least minus points

TIME OUTS

Only a judge may call time out. Time-outs may be called when the judge feels that it would be beneficial to the successful completion of the hunt. No time-outs are to be called when dog(s) are declared treed.

HANDLERS

Must be a current member of OMCBA and be in good standing. It is the handler’s responsibility to know the rules contained herein and agree to abide by them. The handler also agrees to accept and abide by the decisions of the Judge and Master of Dogs.

A handler must conduct themselves as a gentleman and sportsman at all times. A handler becoming loud, aggressive or belligerent may be scratched regardless of the merit of his argument. A handler displaying unsportsmanlike conduct or failing to abide by these rules should be reported to the Hunt Director for a disciplinary hearing.

Any handler may not scold, encourage, or punish his dog during the cast.

A handler my not leave the cast for any reason except to go to their dog on a separate tree after the tree is closed. The Judge may give a handler permission to leave the cast to search for their dog during a time out. The handler must return to the cast after 30 minutes with dog or they are scratched.

Handler Interference:   Any handler found guilty of interfering with another handlers dog in any way that would affect their ability to compete may be subject to disciplinary action.

Disciplining of Dogs:  No handler may not scold, encourage or punish his dog during the cast.

Handler Leaving Cast:  A handler may not leave the cast for any reason except to go to their dog on a separate tree after the tree is closed. The Judge may give a handler permission to leave the cast to search for their dog during a time out.

Inspection of Scorecard:  A handler may inspect the scorecard at any time. Provided the Judge is not in the process of scoring dogs.

Spectator Participation:  The local club may decide and announce if spectators will be allowed on casts, if agreeable with cast members.  If spectators are allowed to help search trees they will search all trees equally. However, spectators cannot score any trees.

Signing the Card:  Handlers shall be responsible for the honesty of the scorecard and will sign the scorecard certifying it upon completion of the cast.

Tracking and Training Collars:  Tracking Collars are allowed. Handheld receivers are also allowed to be used during the hunt. Handlers should make every effort to stay in the middle of the dogs in order for everyone to hear their dog. Tracking Collars with training and/or toning abilities are strictly forbidden and handlers caught using training/tracking collars will be scratched.

SEARCHING TREE

Five (5) minutes are allowed to search the tree after the tree is closed and the cast has arrived. If a dog arrives at the tree after the tree is closed it must be handled.

Spectators, Handlers, and the Judge are allowed to search the tree. If a spectator sees a squirrel, they MUST show it to the judge. Vine pulling, bush shaking and pecking on trees are allowed to the satisfaction of the judge. This is not allowed if another dog is out hunting unless permission is given by handler(s) of the dog out hunting. Running objects in dens or holes is not allowed. No climbing trees, no slingshots or baseball bats are allowed.

TREEING

When a dog is declared treed by the handler, the dog must hold the tree for two (2) minutes. After 30 seconds, 2nd tree points (40) are no longer available.  A dog declared treed on that tree after 30 seconds will receive 3rd tree points (25 points). After one minute, no additional dogs may be declared treed within 30 steps of the tree.

After dogs(s) are declared treed, the handlers(s) shall move at a moderate pace toward the tree if it is evident that it will take longer than two (2) minutes to arrive at the tree.

Handlers may not enter the search area (30 steps from the tree) until the tree is closed (2 minutes).

No jogging or running at any time to a dog declared treed.

After 2 minutes, and upon signal from the Judge, handlers should leash their dogs. A search for the squirrel is to be conducted. Five (5) minutes are allowed to search for the squirrel.

If a dog is tracking on ground the Judge will announce the start of the 15 second rule. The dog must show treed by barking up or looking up within the 15 seconds or the dog will be minus the points it was treed in at. The judge upon arrival at the tree should observe and make sure all dogs declared treed are showing tree before handlers leash their dogs.

All handlers and members of cast must stay close together and not separate unless dogs split tree.

If dogs tree on separate trees that are over 30 normal steps apart this will be declared split tree and points will be awarded separate. In case of a split tree, the first dog called treed will be scored first. The dog called treed second, handler will be allowed to go to the tree and wait for judges and cast to arrive and search their tree. Dogs may be re-cast only upon the Judges signal that they are NOT leash locked.  (Dogs are not leashed locked if there is one dog at large).

Any handler calling a dog treed that is not theirs will be minus 100 points on the first offence. The second offence scratched from the hunt.

A single squirrel will only be scored once per tree. (2 dogs cannot receive 100 points for the same squirrel)

OFF GAME

Dog seen running off game by majority of cast or non-hunting judge will be minus 100 points for each offense. Dog treeing game other than grey, fox, or red squirrels will be ignored.
Dog returning to tree that has been scored on, handler must leash dog and recast (no points).

BREAKING OF RULES

If the handler is reported to the hunt master of OMCBA for breaking the rules intentionally, the handler will have to come before OMCBA board of directors for a hearing. If found guilty they would be barred from OMCBA hunts from 1 year to life.

SCORECARDS

A handler may inspect the scorecard at any time provided the judge is not in the process of scoring dogs. Scorecards should be completed in the woods, signed by each handler and returned to the hunt director by the deadline previously established. Failure to turn in a scorecard will disqualify a cast. Each handler is responsible for the honesty of the scorecard and will sign it upon completion of the cast.

COMPLAINTS

Complaints must be made to the Hunt Director within thirty (30) minutes of returning to the hunt headquarters. If the Hunt Director is not immediately available, the complaint should be registered with a designated OMCBA officer. The handlers and judge should be present when complaints are registered. The decision of the Hunt Director will be final.

Visitors, Spectators and Guests  All are welcome at OMCBA hunts. Please follow the directions of the judges and Hunt Director.  Children may not throw object or be a distraction when on casts.