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Coon dogs gather for bench shows, nite hunts
By Connie Beard
Published March 11, 2010
Coon dogs — and their handlers — will pack into the Lamar County Fairgrounds this weekend to show off their skills at a breed show and a coon hunt for points.
The American Heritage Hunt, sponsored by the Texas State Coon Hunters Association, begins at 4 p.m. Friday with a bench show. The final awards will be handed out in the early hours Sunday following a Nite Hunt.
Coon hunters have been meeting in Paris for 10 years, following short stints in both Hearne and Crockett before finding a home here.
“Paris has been our host for 10 years. They have good hunting grounds and the people are good up there,” said Cathy Stephens of Hearne, president of Texas State Coon Hunter’s Association.
Stephens said the association votes each year to decide where they will hold their meet.
“Nobody can come up with a better place (than Paris). The accommodations are wonderful and the fairgrounds, too. And Tim Masters goes out of his way to help us,” Stephens said.
The event has hosted more than 100 dogs at previous competitions. There will be seven coon dog breeds at the show including English, Plott Hound, black and tan, Bluetick Coonhound, Redbone Coonhound, Treeing Walker Coonhound and a new category this year — American Leopard.
There are two bench shows planned — 4 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday. A children’s bench show follows the 11 a.m. adult show. These are the best events for the public to come to, according to Stephens. There is no charge for the public to attend.
Handlers will take their dogs around the show ring then stack them on the bench. Judges look at how the dogs handle themselves and go over their teeth, eyes and conformation. Spayed or neutered dogs may not compete.
Nite hunts will be held Friday and Saturday. These hunts take place in the woods around the area and in Southeast Oklahoma. The hunts are coordinated with the local group, the Red River Valley Coon Hunters Association.
A cast of dogs (four dogs and four handlers) receive individual scores for various categories. The first dog to bark, the first strike, when a dog trees, and when the tree is declared — visible coon (plus points), possible coon (circle points), or no coon, which results in negative points.
“These are scent dogs and this time of year we’ll probably be picking up female coons,” Stephens said.
The female will leave her den tree, run from tree to tree — leaving her scent as she goes — to throw the dogs off track. Once a dog trees a coon, the handlers and judges wait five minutes, then search the tree and assign points.
Coon dogs and their handlers will arrive from all over Texas in addition to Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri.
“That’s another good thing about Paris, it’s close for people in all these states,” Stephens said.
A concession stand will be open for refreshments during the entire event.
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