UKC strike and speed and drive points

WilsonLance · Post by **WilsonLance** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 11:11 pm

I would like to see UKC change the strike and speed and drive points system to where they are both 25 point incriments or they switch them to where strike points are 15 point incriments and speed and drive are 25 point incriments, because the way it is now they are making breeders breed just for a first strike dog. I dont think in my opinion that is what makes a rabbit dog, it is how it runs the track. MY OPINION ONLY! Let me know what you think.

mike crabtree · Post by **mike crabtree** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 4:40 am

If you only care about how a dog runs a track you must not gun hunt much. If a dog dont jump a rabbit it never will get to run a track.

Redtick · Post by **Redtick** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 8:21 am

I have often seen the strike points turn into minus points in UKC casts. I don't see UKC competition breeders breeding mouthy, go no where strike dogs like some of the other registries seem to breeding for. In fact, I see alot of UKC beagles having to have the track up running before they strike in. To me, UKC beagles seem to be bred fairly tight mouthed and wouldn't be considered top strike dogs as compared to beagles in other registries. I think the 1st strike dog should get 25 more points than the next dog. Or, if they don't circle the rabbit or quit the track, 25 more minus points.

WilsonLance · Post by **WilsonLance** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 6:53 pm

I do gun hunt alot, and a dog that can jump a rabbit and run it isnt what I was meaning. I meant that a dog that babbles or opens without having a rabbit. Havent you ever hunted with a babbler? If he gets any help before time catches him, your beat! You can't hardly beat a first strike dog no matter how good a track yours runs. Unless you can beat him on a bunch of lines.

tommyg · Post by **tommyg** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 8:04 pm

The hound has 3 min to produce that rabbit once struck in,if it don't it should be minused. Babbling is barking where no track is evadent,like a hound happy barking going to a dog that has struck in 50 yds away. It takes a hound that is honest with its mouth to win consistantly,and of corse a good jump hound. Speed is good as long as they can handle the line,if not they don't win.

Incahoots · Post by **Incahoots** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 8:21 pm

My dogs are true mouthed they will not open till a rabbit is there and moving. That imo is an advantage over a babbler in a hunt. If one of my dogs even whimpers he's struck in no second thought. I see guys struggle deciding to strike in or not and in all honesty I get a giggle over it. Some get burned and minused and others lose spots striking in more often then gain an advantage. A babbler can get lucky some times but not all the time and taking a minus right off is usually the end of that dogs hunt. I may at times lose a spot on being struck in but I'd rather know when my dog opens he's struck in then those guys that look like their gut is turning trying to decide what to do. lolol

A babbler is at a huge disadvantage with my dogs as they will check the spot the dog is at then head out to hunt a rabbit up. That leaves the babbler on their own. Now I understand some dogs aren't mature or soloed enough to develop this type of "independance". Please note my dogs will pack just fine also but if theres no rabbit around the babbler they wont assist him in getting the rabbit up. Like I said before a babbler may win some strikes here and there but more often he'll eat some minus points if judge knows the rules well.

Redtick · Post by **Redtick** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 9:19 am

In all honesty, a babbler sometimes can get lucky on a UKC cast and the other dogs find a rabbit before it gets minussed. But, more often than not, the 3 minute rule and the 1 minute check rule will draw the dog minus points and they can add up quickly.
I have seen more babblers get rewarded in casts I have been on in other registries. This is just my opinion, there are many others who see it differently.
All my current beagles are tight mouthed, they don't open until they have the rabbit running. It sure cost me strike points at times but I want beagles that if they open 3 times, they will show me the rabbit consistantly. That is the type of beagles I am trying to develope.
Hey, Incahoots, are those your beagles on http://www.huntingfootage.com ?

Incahoots · Post by **Incahoots** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 4:14 pm

Yes, those are my video clips! I have more fun trying to get some decent clips then gunning rabbits anymore lol. I just use a small digital camera the biggest problem I've found is being able to shrink them down without distorting them. That one "snow" clip with the building unshrunk is 96 mb then had to shrink 96 mb down to 4 mb it's pretty distorted full size (96 mb) is crystal clear. It's fun taking clips and something to play with year round, kinda addicting.

Redtick · Post by **Redtick** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 9:20 am

Yes, I carry my camcorder alot more than I carry a gun these days. My problem with downloading and uploading videos over the internet is that I have a slow 56k internet connection. I generally reduce the file size as low as I can. I certainly lose some picture quality but at least I can get them uploaded in less than a hour. I really like the http://www.huntingfootage.com site and plan to post some more beagle footage there soon. If fact, I am looking into renting some online storage and posting a lot of video stuff folks can download. I think it would give me an edge on pup sales

.