Hunting Sense

When asked why people hunt raccoons with hounds, very seldom will they say for money. The majority of people who coon hunt do it for the simple pleasure. Nothing quite compares to listening to the sound of hounds on a track or locked down treed on a clear, starry night. And for those who are a little more competetive, they can find an avenue to showcase their coon dogs talent and abilities.

Many Kennel Clubs, such as UKC (United Kennel Club), AKC (American Kennel Club), NKC (National Kennel Club), and ACHA (American Coon Hunters Association), register dogs as well as hold sanctioned events such as Bench Shows and Night Hunts. Dogs registered in these compete for points and titles that will be added to their registration papers. Having participated in events put on for three of these Kennel Clubs, I can honestly say that it adds an entire new thrill to hunting with hounds.

But for those out there who would like to make money doing something they love, there’s a way to do it while hunting. The PKC (Professional Kennel Club) is a chance to win money instead of points, and degrees are earned based on the amount of money won. It could truly be called ‘The Major League of Coon Hunting’ just as it states on their website.

Like all sanctioned events of the Kennel Clubs I’ve listed, raccoons aren’t killed during PKC hunts. Dogs track and tree the coon and then points are awarded or minused upon visual confirmation of the coon being in the tree. The competetion is about the dogs ability to track and tree coon, not kill them.

Although PKC hunts, like any other sanctioned hunt, is fun, there is also more competetion than when hunting for fun. This may be even more so for the PKC hunts since money is involved instead of just points. The one PKC event I participated in didn’t seem any different than any other hunt I had been to though, so it is just something to keep in mind.

If you want to try to make a little money while hunting your dogs, then it may be worth checking out the PKC. While it isn’t for everyone, it is definitely a new take on the sport of coon hunting. What’s better than spending a night out hunting and having fun with a possible chance of bringing home some extra cash? Check them out.

hunting, coon hunting, Kennel Clubs, coon dogs, competitive hunting