United Mountain Cur Association

1. You must be a member in good standing to enter or handle a dog in an UMCA event. Dogs must be UMCA registered.
2. Casts shall consist of three dogs whenever possible. Two dog casts shall be used when necessary.
3. The cast must hunt two hours.
4. If there is a morning and evening hunt, the cast will be redrawn for the evening hunt.
5. When a dog is declared treed by the handler, the dog must hold the tree for two minutes.  When dog(s) are declared treed the cast may move at a moderate pace close enough to see the dogs working, but must wait two minutes after dogs are declared treed, unless all dogs are declared treed or hunt time expires before going to the tree.  Dogs must be showing treed within thirty steps of the declared tree.
6. To place in a UMCA squirrel hunt, the dog must have plus points. Cast winners place above non-cast winners.
7. The dog with the most total plus points in the hunt will be declared the winner of the hunt.
8. If there is a morning and evening hunt, your dog must hunt both morning and evening to place in the hunt unless it is advertised as two hunts.
9. If the scorecard does not come in before the deadline, the cast will be scratched.
10. There will not be any dogs out of one kennel drawn together for the same cast.  It is the owner's and hunter's responsibility to notify someone when signing up dogs for the hunt.
11. Points system: 100 points for the first tree, 50 points for the second tree, 25 points for the third tree.
12. All handlers, members, and spectators of cast must stay close together and not separate unless dogs split tree.
13. Absolutely no alcoholic beverages or non-prescribed drugs allowed on grounds or hunt.
14. No training collars are allowed.
15. Tracking collars are permitted.  The only way that a tracking system may be used during the hunt is on a time out. The majority of the cast must agree on a time out.
16. If a dog gets out of pocket the handler has one hour to recover his dog if time permits. The handler cannot ask to recover his dog if there is a dog, or dogs, treed.  After the tree is searched, all dogs will be leashed until the handler recovers their dog or the one hour is up.  If the handler is not back in the one hour time limit, the cast will recast their dog(s) and continue the hunt.
17. Combination dog will be awarded to the dog with the highest average placement in the squirrel hunt and coon hunt. If there is a mathematical tie, the positive points of the coon and squirrel hunts will be averaged. If a tie still remains after the two above methods, we'll flip a coin.

Handlers

Handlers must be a paid member in good standing.  It is the handler's responsibility to know the rules and agree to abide by them.  The handler also must agree to accept and abide by the decisions of the judge and master of hounds.

1. A handler may not scold, encourage, or punish their dog during the hunt.
2. All handlers and spectators must stay together on the cast. If dogs split tree, when the tree is closed, the handlers may go and leash their dogs.
3. A handler becoming loud or aggressive may be scratched regardless of the merit of their argument.
4. A handler may inspect the scorecard at any time providing the judge is not in the process of scoring the dogs.
5. A handler may ask for a time out to locate their dog if a dog is not treed.  The majority of the cast must agree on a time out.
6. If a dog gets out of pocket a handler has one hour to recover his dog if time permits.  If a handler is not back within the one hour the cast may recast their dogs and resume the hunt.


Scoring of Plus Points

1. Points will be awarded only when squirrel is seen by the majority of the cast members or a non-hunting judge.
2. For plus points to be awarded, the dog or dogs must be showing tree on arrival of the tree.
3. Points will be awarded only if the squirrel is seen in a tree within thirty steps of the tree where dog(s) are treed.  If a squirrel is caught on the ground, plus points will be awarded in the order the dogs were treed.  If a dog is not declared treed and catches the squirrel on the ground, that dog will not receive points.


Scoring Minus Points

1. When a dog is declared treed and leaves the tree a distance of greater than 30 steps.
2. When a dog trees and it it evident that a squirrel is not in the tree or in the immediate vicinity.                      3. When a handler calls a dog treed that is not their dog.  The first time they will be warned and the second time they will be minused their tree points.                                                                                                                           4. When a dog(s) are declared treed, one dog must bark every two minutes until cast arrives at the tree or all dogs declared treed will be minused their  tree points.

Scoring of Circle Points

1. When a dog trees and there is a hole, leafy tree, or nest in the immediate vicinity.


Dogs to be Scratched

1. Dogs will be scratched for fighting.
2. If a female is in heat, she will be scratched.
3. If a dog is baying or running domestic stock, that dog will be scratched.
4. Anytime during a hunt that a dog's score is three hundred minus, the dog will be   leashed and scratched.
5. If a handler is abusive in any way to a judge or his dog.
6. If a dog shows signs of aggression, however no fight ensues, the handler of the aggressive dog shall receive a warning from the cast judge.  If the dog continues to show signs of aggression after the warning, the dog at that time, if deemed necessary, can and will be scratched from the cast.


Time Outs

1. No time outs are to be called when a dog, or dogs, are treed.
2. A time out may be called if a majority of the cast agrees.


Searching the Tree

Five Minutes is allowed to search the tree after all dogs are declared treed and leashed.  If a dog arrives at the tree and trees after the tree is closed, it must be leashed also.
Spectators, handlers, and the judge are allowed to search the tree.  If a spectator sees the squirrel, he or she must show it to the cast or judge.

Tie breaking procedures

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

1. You must be current paid member in good standing to enter or handle a dog in a UMCA event. Dog must be UMCA registered.
2. Cast shall consist of three dogs whenever possible and a two dog cast may be used when necessary.
3. Each hunt shall last two hours.
4. In the event of two dogs owned by one kennel draw out together, these two dogs will not be allowed to hunt together. They will be redrawn.
5. Cast winners always place over non-cast winners.
6. To place in a UMCA coon hunt, the dog must have plus or circle points.  If the total score is zero or minus, the dog will not be placed in the hunt.
7. When a dog is declared treed by the handler, the dog must hold the tree for three minutes.
8. If a scorecard does not come in before the deadline, the cast will be scratched.
9. All handlers and members of the cast must stay close together and not separate unless dogs split tree.
10. Absolutely no alcoholic beverages or non-prescribed drugs allowed on the grounds or hunt.
11. Each handler is responsible for the honesty of the scorecard and will sign the scorecard certifying it upon completion of the cast.
12. Combination dog will be awarded to the dog with the highest average placement in the squirrel hunt and coon hunt. If there is a mathematical tie, the positive points of the coon and squirrel hunts will be averaged. If a tie still remains after the two above methods, we'll flip a coin.

Handlers

Handlers must be a paid member in good standing.  It is the handler's responsibility to know the rules and agree to abide by them.  The handler also must agree to accept and abide by the decisions of the judge and master of hounds.

1. A handler may not scold, encourage, or punish their dog during the hunt.
2. All handlers and spectators must stay together on the cast.  If dogs split trees when the tree is closed, the handlers may go and leash their dogs.
3. A handler becoming loud or aggressive may be scratched regardless of the merit of their argument.
4. A handler may inspect the scorecard at any time providing the judge is not in the process of scoring the dogs.
5. A handler may ask for a time out to locate their dog, if a dog is not treed or struck.  The majority of the cast must agree on a time out.
6. If a dog gets out of pocket a handler has one hour to recover his dog if time permits.  If a handler is not back within the one hour the cast may recast their dogs and resume the hunt.


Scoring of Plus Points

1. For plus points to be awarded, the dog must be showing treed within 20 steps.
2. 100 points first tree, 50 points second tree, 25 points third tree.
3. Points will be awarded only when coon is seen by the majority of the cast members or a non-hunting judge.
4. Points will be plus if a coon is seen in a tree touching the one that the dogs are treed on.
5. If coon is caught on the ground, points will be divided among all dogs that have been struck in.


Scoring of Strike Points

1. 25 points for first strike, 15 points for second strike, 10 points for third strike.
2. A track shall be declared ended and points minused if no dog barks for a period of ten minutes or if the dogs return to the handlers.
3. After a dog is declared treed, there are to be no more strike points awarded.                                                                4. Dogs do not have to be called struck when barking on track.

Scoring of minus points

1. When a dog is declared treed and leaves the tree.
2. When a dog trees and it is evident that a coon is not in the tree or in the immediate vicinity.
3. When a handler calls a dog treed that is not their dog.  The first time they will be warned and the second time they will be minused their tree points.
4. When a dog(s) are declared treed, one dog must bark every two minutes until cast arrives at the tree or all dogs declared treed will be minused strike and tree points.
5. When a dog(s) are declared stuck they must bark once every ten minutes or the track is declared ended and all dogs struck in are minused their strike points.  If a dog returns to it's handler it is minused as well.

Scoring of Circle Points

1. When a dog(s) trees and there is a hole, nest, or leafy tree in which a coon could be hiding.


Dogs to be Scratched

1. Dogs will be scratched for fighting.
2. If a female is in heat, she will be scratched.
3. If a dog is baying or running domestic livestock.
4. If a handler is abusive to their dog, cast members, or judge.
5. Anytime during the hunt that a dog's total score is 400 minus, the dog will be leashed and scratched from the cast.
6. If a dog shows signs of aggression, but no fight ensues, the handler of the aggressive dog will be warned.  If the dog continues to show signs of aggression after being warned, if deemed necessary, the dog can and will be scratched from the cast.

Time Outs

1. No time outs are to be called when a dog is treed or struck.
2. A handler may ask for a time out to locate their dog.  If a dog is not treed, the majority of the cast must agree on a time out.


Tie Breaking Procedures

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

 
Tracking/Training Collars

1. Tracking collars are allowed. Receivers must not be turned on unless time out is called or hunt is over.
2. Training collars are not allowed.


Searching the Tree

Ten minutes is allowed to search the tree after all dogs are declared treed and leashed.  Handlers, the judge, and spectators are allowed to search the tree.  The majority of the cast, or a non-hunting judge, must see the coon.

Scorecards

Scorecards must be completed and signed by each handler before being turned in by the deadline previously established.  Failure to turn in scorecard will disqualify the cast.

Complaints

Complaints must be made within fifteen minutes of turning in the scorecards to master of hounds or committee.  All cast members need to be present for the complaint.