~ PKC Open Event Reminders ~

[Jerry Moll]

If you attend the large PKC Added Purse Open Events, please keep these things in mind and you will have a much more enjoyable hunt.

• Judges, be sure everyone’s current cell number is on their entry slip
• Use a pen on the scorecard, do not use a pencil
• Be sure EVERYONE OUT OF THE WOODS SAFELY BEFORE YOU LEAVE the woods
• If your cast hunts more or less than the required hunting time, the winner is not eligible for the Final Four, only a cast win
• You may not score any tree with less than three voting members present
• If a cast member leaves your cast with less than three cast members, unless in an emergency, it may be misconduct
• Your cast may not continue with less than three voting members, you must call time out and call PKC Staff
• You may not change the judge of your cast without calling the PKC Staff
• Make sure the score is accurate before signing the scorecard
• If your cast gets down to only one dog remaining, the dog must stay treed for the full five minutes on every tree

Stay with your cast! Unless there is an emergency, always stay with your cast the entire hunting time. Even if you withdraw your dog, you are still a voting member of the cast. There will be times when handlers will try to talk you into withdrawing and leaving. They will tell you that it's the "Sportsman" thing to do. It is not! This is not fair to the remaining casts out there competing with four dogs in the cast. Stay with your cast, make sure the score is accurate. Your buddies that are hunting in other casts will appreciate it!

4.B. Remaining With Cast - Each handler shall be required to remain with the cast for the entire hunt, which includes scoring all pending trees, even though his/her dog may no longer be a part of the cast, unless all remaining handlers agree to his/her leaving. A handler may not leave the cast for any reason except to go to his dog on a separate tree after the tree is closed. Departing from a cast without unanimous cast member permission and/or leaving it with less than the three (3) cast member at all times requirement, may subject the exiting handler to disciplinary charges. The judge may give a handler permission to leave the cast to search for his/her dog during time-out. A cast is not considered officially over until all pending trees are scored.

Guides must guide "Unassisted". It is against PKC rules for a handler to put himself down as a guide, but then have someone else guide the cast. Pay attention if the Hunting Guide you draw out with is accompanied by a “spectator”, or meets one along the way. It should be obvious to all cast members who is actually doing the guiding, the Hunting Guide or a so-called “spectator.” If you know of any member violating this guiding policy, please report it to the PKC Staff immediately.

[Jerry Moll]

If a dog is going straight toward a busy highway with 3 minutes left in the cast (3 dog cast) and the handler leaves the cast to hurry and go get it, is that considered an emergency? And the 2 other cast members have told you it is fine with them for you to go get your dog.

7.E. Keeping Cast Together - The cast must stay together and all cast members will go to all trees unless dogs are treed in different places. All cast members must walk at a pace that all handlers can maintain. Handlers should allow judge to reach tree first. Dog(s) declared treed must be showing tree. A handler may leave the cast to go to a split tree when time is up or when all dogs have been declared treed (except in a one-dog cast). A minimum of three cast members must be present to score each tree. A handler going to a split tree must leash his/her dog and wait for at least two (2) more members of the cast to come and score the tree. Any handler leaving the cast except to go to a separate tree may be scratched from the cast.

15. TIME-OUT
A majority of the cast must agree on time-out. Unless absolutely necessary, time-out should not be called unless all dog(s) are close enough to be handled. If time-out is called, it will apply to all dog(s) in the cast. Time-out will be a maximum of one (1) hour. Less than one (1) hour, by majority vote of cast members, may be allowed if necessary to make the deadline at the club. A place for handlers to return must be designated. At the end of time-out, handlers must have their dog in hand at the predetermined location and be ready for recasting.

3.E. Number Of Cast Members Required For Voting/Scoring - If one (1) member of a four (4) dog cast is scratched or withdraws with unanimous cast member permission and leaves the cast, the cast then becomes a three (3) dog cast with two (2) now being the majority of the cast required for voting. (No tree may be scored with less than three cast members present.) The scratched/withdrawn cast member leaving the cast cannot certify the scorecard for the remaining hunting time or scoring. Time remaining in the cast (if any) should be noted at the time it becomes a three (3) dog cast. Should any cast become less than a three (3) dog cast, the Hunt Director or a member of the PKC Staff must be contacted to determine who should serve as the third required voting member of the cast. *Note: A cast is not considered officially over until all pending trees are scored.

4.C. Dog Withdrawn By Handler - No handler may withdraw their dog without first handling it, unless all cast members and judge unanimously agree and give permission. If any cast member objects to the dog being withdrawn, he/she must state a legitimate reason as to how it could negatively affect the outcome of the cast. Handler(s) objecting for an invalid reason may be subject to disciplinary action.