For the ninth year, Winnfield is expecting around 5,000 hog dog enthusiasts to crowd into town for the Annual Uncle Earl's Hog Dog Trials March 20 - 23 at the Winn Parish fair grounds.

The hog dog trials began in 1995 as a part of the year-long celebration of the popular former governor of Louisiana Earl K. Long's 100th birthday. Individuals, civic organizations, and schools worked together to organize a year-long string of celebrations . The one that made the most impact was the Uncle Earl's Hog Dog Trials which surprised even the organizers its popularity.

"There is a long tradition of hog hunting in Winn Parish. At one time it was the primary means of putting meat on the table of many families here," said Claude L. O'Bryan, unofficial spokesperson for the event.

The Hog Dog Trials are built around what once was totally a wood's experience. Hog hunters would gather their dogs, usually a pack and head for the nearest branch or where they knew the hogs were spending the nights.

"They usually had two or three dogs that were good at trailing the hogs, finding them and then baying them," said Cindy Sneed, a journalist with Bayed Solid, the magazine that co-produces the annual contest. "When the dogs located the hogs, cornered them and had them standing still, a hunter would say the dogs were 'bayed solid'."

At that point, the hunters released their "catch dogs" to bring the animal down. Clearly noted in the rules for each event is the fact that no "catch" dogs are allowed at this show.

"Catch dogs are usually more aggressive than regular baying dogs," said Ms. Sneed.

There are five judges of each event with four above the action and one in the center of the arena. The judges look at how quic kly the dogs bay the hogs, whether the dog stays completely focused on the hog, how close each dog stands, and other criteria. They uses a ten point rule. The highest and lowest score are dropped and the remaining three averaged out to get a dog's score .

Another key focus for the promoters is the fact that they strive to maintain a family atmosphere. There will be no drinking of alcoholic beverages and even t-shirts with foul messages are disallowed at the arena.\tab A special focus for the contest is the Youth Bay where children between the ages of 8 and 15 get a chance to try their skills at hog baying. The prize for this event will be a scholarship.

"The amount varies from year to year," O'Bryan stated. \par Another popular portion of the Hog Dog Trials is the Calcutta. Before each event a Calcutta is held.

"Basically, that means you buy a dog that you are never going to own," states O'Bryan with a laugh.

Everyone is invited before each event to bid on a particular dog that will be participating in that even t. For instance, a bidder might specify he would pay $100 for a certain dog entered in the One Dog Bay. If that particular dog wins that event, the bidder gets a portion of the prize money for that dog. First, second and third place entries pay off in th e Calcutta.

There will be a gate fee of $5 per person with 12 and under admitted free. The books open at 6 a.m.

The event schedule begins Thursday, March 20 with the 1st Puppy Bay. Following this will be the 2nd Puppy Bay. The next event will be the 3rd-Old and Young. A young dog is considered to be 12 months old or younger.

On Friday, March 21 the first event will be the One Dog Bay with a charge of $55 per dog.

Saturday will host the Two Dog Bay with entry charge being $55 per entry

Sunday, March 23 will begin with the Youth Bay. The Second Event on Sunday will be the High Point contest. Eligibility for this even is determined by the highest scores from the One Dog Bay and the Two Dog Bay events held the previous days. The Third Event on Sunday wil l be the Best of the Best. Eligibility for this even is also determined by a dog's combined score from the One Dog Bay and the Two Dog Bay

"We invite everyone to come out and enjoy Winnfield's own special event, Uncle Earl's Hog Dog Trials," said O'Bryan. "We'd like to see everybody out there for the weekend."

Contest Rules
1) Good Sportsmanship. Family oriented event, no alcohol, no drugs, no catch dogs allowed. Open containers will be checked at gate as you enter the arena area.
2) Dog will be pre-registered for all events. (If any event has not reached its limit of entries, we will take entries in Winnfield. Just ask for details.) All entries must be sent by certified mail or any kind of overnight delivery. Accepted only February 19, 2002 through March 1, 2002. Any entry post- marked before February 19th will be returned, and any entry postmarked after March 1st will be returned. All entries sent through regular ( $.34) mail will be returned any time during registration. All entries sent o vernight or certified through the United States Postal Service may be sent to: Bayed Solid P.O. Box 130 Hall Summit, LA 71034. All other entries sent overnight by UPS, Federal Express, etc, may be sent to: Bayed Solid c/o Sharon Young Rt. 2 Box 114-A Coushatta, LA 71019. Please ask the person filling out your mailing label to put the time of your arrival on the label if possible. No Hand delivered entries. All entries will be posted daily, by order of post\-marks received for the day.
3) A dog may be entered in each event only once.
4) All dogs must be named through the mail. No buying spots without naming dogs. The dog named must be run, unless a statement from a veterinarian is brought to us on your vet's stationery, or if the dog is hurt during the tr ial and unable to run in any further events. Only then will dogs be substituted.
5) No refunds, no exceptions.
6) The running order for each event will be done by computer, prior to each event and posted during the calcutta. The only time your running or der my be changed is if you have two runs close together, within (4) runs of each other. We will change your order if this happens.
7) Five judge rule, high & low discarded.
8) A calcutta will be held for each event prior to each event. Calcutta will be split 75/25, paying 1st, 2nd, & 3rd places only.
9) No call out in any event. Each dog must be on a leash before you exit the gate.
10) Puppy bays-trophy and money 1st-3rd places.
11) Old & young, trophy and money, 1st-3rd places.
12) One dog bay and two dog bay: $1,000.00 added money, added directed to purse. 1st-5th money and trophy, 6th-10th, trophy only. Money split as follows: 45,25, 15, 10, & 5%. Calcutta paid same as #8.
13) Youth Bay-Official rules will be ran in the March issue for schol arship. AGE: not younger than 8 or older than 15 on January 1, 2001. If there is a question of age, we will need the child's birth certificate. No 1/2 pt for call out. A parent/guardian must accompany child in pen. Parent/Guardian may not give voice command to dog. Child must handle their own dog. Parent/ guardian may speak only for child's safety and after bay time is over to assist catching dog. One entry per child, dog entered only once. Also dog entered must be child's dog, not known as someon e's specific dog in baying competitions other than child's.
14) Best of the Best: consists of top scoring dogs out of the one or two dog baying. Winner takes all, cash and trophy. No voice corn\-mand may be given as you approach the pen or during the two m inute bay. Dog will be released within a ten foot circle inside the gate. Time begins when you release your dog. Handler must exit pen immediately. No call off pt. Pen workers will accompany you to retrieve your dog.
15) During all events: If you have a complaint about scores: tell scorekeepers within five minutes of post\-ing scores. They will call Jimmy and together you will talk with head judge.
16) 1/10 scoring system.
17) High Point/Best of Best determined by single highest score of one or two dog bays.
18) If your dog catches during any event, a break stick will be used to get the dog off.
19) Dog owners will be limited to five entries per event. GATE FEE: $5.00 PER PERSON, 12 & Under free.

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