All rules, policies and procedures listed in this document have been established by the ARHA Progressive Pack Board of Directors and the President of ARHA and are in effect as of January 1, 2009. The primary purpose of Progressive Pack Field Trials is to keep the beagle useful as a rabbit-hunting hound. 

NOTE: Gender. The personal pronoun "he" and the possessive pronoun "his" when used in these rules are not intended to indicate a male person or a male hound. They are used for the sake of brevity and may refer to a male or female. The word "chairman" may also refer to either a male or a female. 

ARHA CHARTERED CLUB RULES:

1.    Chartered clubs are to hold their elections by December of each year.  Form A is to be sent to the ARHA office by January 1, listing the type(s) of competition the club will hold, names of all officers, and addresses and phone numbers of these officers. 

2.    Each chartered club must have a liability insurance policy and a copy of this policy must be sent to the ARHA Office by January 1 of each year. New clubs, chartered after January 1, must have 1, 2, and 3 before they hold their first licensed hunt. 

3.    The annual charter fee is $50.00 and must be sent to the ARHA Office by January 1. The check is to be made out to the Progressive Pack Special Fund. (If the club also runs Little Pack competition the check should be made out for $25.00.) 

4.    If a club fails to comply with 1, 2, or 3 the ARHA President will cancel the clubs' hunts and /or cancel their charters. 

5.    With the exception of the US Championships, all hunts must be scheduled on a Saturday, Sunday, or a Federal holiday. No hunt shall be scheduled on Christmas Day or Easter Sunday.

6.    Each member club must hold at least 1 Progressive Pack Licensed hunt in a calendar year. 

7.    A club may not hold more than 8 Progressive Pack Licensed hunts in a calendar year. This includes State and Big 6 hunts. 

                  I.          Executive Board: 

A.      Duties of the Executive Board: 

1.    The Board shall work as an administrative board to carry out rules, policies and procedures that have been established by the Board of directors. 

2.    The Board shall approve expenditures from the Progressive Pack Special Fund. 

3.    The Board shall assign the host clubs for the 5 Regional Hunts, the United States Championships, and the State Hunts. 

4.    In the event that an elected ARHA officer, or elected committee member, can not (does not) complete his/her term of office, this Board shall appoint a person to serve in that position until the next Board of Directors meeting at which time the position shall be filled by election. 

5.    The Board shall assist all existing committees in carrying out their duties, if the chairman of the committee requests assistance. 

6.    The ARHA President, with the approval of the Chairman of the Board, shall appoint ARHA Representatives for the different areas of the country to help new clubs get started and to consult with existing clubs as needed. The Secretary/Treasurer shall pay reasonable expenses for the representatives in the conduct of their duties if the ARHA President or the Chairman of the Board approves these expenses in writing. 

7.    The Executive Board shall appoint the Certification Committees in each state. When it becomes necessary for a vacancy to be filled on a Certification Committee, such as through a resignation or disciplinary action, the Chairman of the Board and the ARHA President will collaborate and make the appointment. This is also true for committees in new Progressive Pack states or new committees within existing states. These appointments will be reviewed and voted on at the next meeting of the Executive Board. 

8.    Each State Certification Committee will be examined yearly and a vote taken on each by the Executive Board.         

B.      Members of the Executive Board:

 1.    The President of ARHA. 

2.    The Chairman of the Board of Directors. 

3.    The Secretary/Treasurer. 

4.    All regular members of the Watchdog Committee. 

5.    One At-Large member to be elected by the Board of Directors for 2-year term. 

6.    All chairpersons of other committees, whether these committees are elected by the Board of Directors or appointed by the Chairman of the Board, shall be ex-officio members of the Executive Board.         

C.      Meetings of the Executive Board: 

1.    The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Board. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board the ARHA President or his/her designee shall conduct the meeting. 

2.    The Chairman of the Board or ARHA President shall call all meetings, but all members of the Executive Board must be notified of the meeting at least 10 days in advance. 

3.    Normal decisions are made by consensus if it is evident that members present at the meeting are all in agreement; however, if it is evident that the item in question does not have 100% support, a formal vote (with motion and second) shall be held  

4.    If a formal vote is taken on an item a simple majority vote wins. 

5.    To conduct an official meeting, a quorum must be present. A quorum is 2/3 of the members of the Executive Board present. 

6.    In the event that it is impractical to hold an Executive Board meeting, the Chairman of the Board may solicit a vote by phone calls or mail vote to members of the Board. 

7.    The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep an official record of all proceedings of the Board and shall provide copies of the minutes to all board members of this board. 

D.      Progressive Pack Special Fund: 

1.    This fund is made up of money from the following sources; allocated money from charter fees, the $50.00 protest fees if the protest is disallowed and 50 cent for each hound entered in Progressive Pack licensed competition. 

2.    The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep the accounting for this fund and shall make an itemized financial report in writing at each Board of Directors and Executive Board meeting. 

3.    The Secretary/ Treasurer shall pay the reasonable expenses incurred in the normal operation of this organization. Expenses that the Secretary/Treasurer does not think are reasonable, large expenses, or expenses for special projects must be approved by the Executive Board. 

              II.          Board of Directors: 

A.      The Board of Directors shall be made up of the Presidents of all Progressive Pack clubs and all members of the Executive Board, whether elected or appointed, under these conditions; if an alternate (appointed representative) is to be an official voting member of the Board of Directors he/she must have a written proxy from the club President he/she is representing. This written proxy must be presented to the Chairman of the Board when there is a meeting of the Board of Directors. 

B.      Duties of the Board of Directors 

1.    The Board of Directors or the President of the ARHA shall set all running rules and scoring procedures for the ARHA Progressive Pack and the conduct of all Progressive Pack competition events Licensed by the ARHA.                   

2.    The Chairman of the Board, with the approval of the ARHA President, can call a Board of Directors’ meeting when he/she feels it is necessary.                   

3.    The President of the ARHA or the Chairman of the Board must notify each member of the Board of Directors, at least 10 days in advance of the meeting.                   

4.    There must be 2/3-majority vote of the directors in attendance at the Board of Directors’ meeting to change any running rule or scoring procedure. Club presidents may vote by mail on the published proposals. The President of ARHA has final veto power on all changes.                   

5.    Changes to the ARHA running rules and scoring procedures may be made only by vote of the Board of Directors or the President of ARHA. In some emergency situations, the Chairman of the Board or the ARHA President may solicit a vote of the Board of Directors by mail.          

C.      Duties of the Chairman of the Board:  

1.    The Chairman of the Board serves as an ex-officio member of all ARHA committees.                    

2.    The responsibility of the Chairman of the Board shall be that of taking the association forward, with the specific task of creating committees, appointing chairpersons of all committees and monitoring each committee’s effectiveness.                    

3.    After the election of the Watchdog Committee it shall be the duty of the Chairman of the Board to appoint a chairperson to head that committee.                    

4.    The Chairman of the Board shall conduct all Board of Directors meetings and Executive Board meetings.                    

5.    The Chairman of the Board shall assist the ARHA President, the Secretary/Treasurer and the ARHA Representatives in establishing new clubs and assisting existing clubs as needed. When possible, the Chairman of the Board shall attend State Hunts and Big 6 Hunts as an ambassador of the ARHA.  

6.    The Chairman of the Board shall serve as a representative on the ARHA President’s Cabinet, which is made up of representatives from Big Pack, Little Pack, Progressive Pack, and Gundog Divisions.         

7.    Concerning all committees and chairman appointed by the Chairman of the Board; the Chairman of the Board has the authority to remove from office any of his/her appointees if he/she feels they are not fulfilling their responsibilities in a responsible way. The Chairman of the Board shall give his/her reasons for removing chairman or committee members in writing to the Executive Board.  

8.    The Chairman of the Board should receive an annual gift of not less than $500.00 and not more than $1000.00 in December of each year provided funds are available. The amount is to be set by the Executive Board. 

D.      Secretary/Treasurer and Duties:  

1.    The Board of Directors at the bi-annual meeting shall elect the Secretary/Treasurer.  

2.    The Duties shall be: 

A.     Maintain the financial records for the ARHA Progressive Pack Special Fund. These records are open for audit at all times and will be audited when directed by the Chairman of the Board or the ARHA President. 

B.      Receive and deposit monies from the ARHA Office (charter fees, entry fees ($1.00 per hound) and other money designated for the Progressive Pack Special Fund).  

C.      Receive and deposit Protest fees sent to him/her by the Chairman of the Board.                             

D.      All funds collected shall be deposited into the ARHA Progressive Pack Special Fund.  

E.       All of the above are operating funds for Progressive Pack and shall be used as follows: 

a.     Return $50.00 to persons who have their protest upheld. 

b.     Reimburse authorized persons for expenses incurred in doing their duties. 

c.      Pay other expenses as approved by the Executive Board.  

F.       Pay the expenses of the ARHA Progressive Pack Representatives that have been approved by the Chairman of the Board or the ARHA President.  

G.      It is the responsibility of the Secretary/Treasurer to keep club presidents informed concerning action of the Board of Directors, the Executive Board and the Watchdog Committee.  

H.      The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep an official record of all proceedings at the Board of Directors and Executive Board meetings and shall publish minutes of these meetings.  

I. The Secretary/Treasurer should be bonded to protect the ARHA Progressive Pack Special Funds. This bond shall be paid from the Progressive Pack Special Fund.  

J. The Secretary/Treasurer should receive an annual gift of not less than $500 and not more than $1000 in December of each year, provided funds are available. The amount is to be set by the Executive Board.  

E.            Duties and Procedures of the Watchdog Committee:         

1.    Enforce the ARHA Progressive Pack rules, policies, and procedures as they pertain to protest of rule infractions at licensed hunts.          

2.    If the protest of the Master of Hounds decision concerns a specific cast of hounds and involves the running rules, the protest must be made to the Watchdog Committee by a handler whose hound was involved in that cast. If the protest concerns the conduct of the hunt; such as illegal casting of the hounds, illegal assignment of judges, not holding to the entry deadline, etc, any hound owner or handler who is present at the hunt and has a hound entered in the hunt may file the protest.                    

3.    The Master of Hounds is the final authority at the hunt. If a formal protest of his decision is made to the Watchdog Committee it must be made in writing within 20 days of the hunt. The protest must state that this was a Progressive Pack hunt, give the date of the hunt, the name of the club hosting the hunt, the name of the Master of Hounds, the rule the protester believes was violated, and a short description of the situation that led to this formal protest. Club presidents have copies of the protest form that must be used if an official protest is made to the Watchdog Committee.                    

4.    Protests are to be sent to the Chairman of the Board and copies to the NKC/ARHA Home Office.                    

5.    The person making the protest must deposit a check or money order for $50.00 dollars when that person files the protest. The deposit shall be returned to the person who filed the protest only if the Watchdog Committee rules in his/her favor. The check or money order shall be made out to ARHA Progressive Pack Special Fund.                   

6.    The decisions of the Watchdog Committee are final and cannot be appealed.                    

7.    The Chairman of the Watchdog Committee shall inform the Chairman of the Board and the Secretary/Treasurer, the President of the club being protested all persons being protested and the person protesting a copy of the rule that was broken, and how the situation should have been handled in the form of a registered letter within 10 days of an official ruling of a protest.                    

8.    The Master of Hounds at the licensed hunt makes the final decision concerning protest at the hunt. The Watchdog Committee only becomes involved in the event that the Master of Hound’s decision is formally protested.                    

9.    Penalties that may be invoked by the Watchdog Committee include: 

a.     The final decision of the Watchdog Committee may affect a class, division, or the entire hunt results may be nullified.  

b.     If the Watchdog Committee finds a violation of the rules, the results of that hunt may be treated as a-non-licensed hunt. Example: Club A conducts a licensed hunt and a person protests the way the casting was done, the Master of Hounds denies the protest, and that person files a protest with the Watchdog Committee. The Watchdog Committee rules in favor of the person who protested. The Watchdog Committee may rule that the licensed for the hunt has been removed and that the hounds that placed in the hunt shall not receive ARHA or Hound Of the Year points. The Watchdog Committee has the authority to take any disciplinary action it feels is appropriate. 

c.      The Watchdog Committee is made up of 3 regular members and 2 alternate members. The Board of Directors at the annual meeting elects all members. All members of the Watchdog Committee must be licensed Master of Hounds before they start their term of office.  

d.     If a regular or alternate member of the Watchdog Committee is found in violation of the rules, the Chairman of the Board shall release him of his/her duties and that person shall never be permitted to again serve on the Watchdog Committee.  

e.     When the Chairman of the Watchdog Committee receives a protest, or he/she has another matter that needs to be discussed with the other members of the committee, he/she may arrange a conference telephone call with the members. In some cases the chairman may call a meeting of the members of his/her committee. The members of the Watchdog Committee are to be compensated for reasonable telephone expense incurred in the settlement of a formal protest. Such expense is to be documented and presented to the Secretary of PP for reimbursement. 

f.       An alternate becomes a regular member of the Watchdog Committee if a regular member resigns as a member of the committee, or a regular member is removed from the committee for disciplinary reasons. The Chairman of the Board decides which alternate becomes a regular member under these circumstances.  

g.     A member of the Watchdog Committee, while attending a licensed hunt, has the responsibility to privately inform the Master of Hounds of that hunt if he/she sees that the hunt is not being conducted according to ARHA Progressive Pack rules.  

h.     The Chairman of the Watchdog Committee shall inform the Chairman of the Board and the Secretary/Treasurer whenever an official ruling is made concerning a formal protest. 

i.        The Chairman of the Board and/or the ARHA President have the authority to request that the Watchdog Committee give an official interpretation of a Progressive Pack rule if there is a concern about the meaning of the rule. The Watchdog Committee has the responsibility to give this interpretation as soon as possible so that this information may be distributed to the club presidents and other ARHA officials. 

j.       The Progressive Pack Division shall uphold the bans by the Watchdog Committees of other ARHA divisions that is; if a person is banned from competition and participation in any other ARHA Divisions he shall have the same ban in Progressive Pack Division. If a person appeals this ruling it must be appealed to the ARHA President’s Cabinet. 

k.     Unsportsmanlike Conduct: The Watchdog Committee has the authority, after           thorough investigation of a protest charge or claim to disqualify a hound from past or future competition; to disqualify a handler from future competition; and to disqualify an owner from future competition for unsportsmanlike conduct whether such conduct occurs before a hunt, during hunt, in preparation for a hunt, in the aftermath of a hunt relating to the ownership of a hound, the registration of a hound, the drawing or rolling of a hound during a hunt, the breeding of a hound, or any other conduct which in the opinion of the Watchdog Committee amounts to cheating, sharp practices or unsportsmanlike conduct. The disqualification of said hound, handler or owner shall be for a term not less than one year. 

l.        If physical contact is involved. The individual that instigates the first physical contact is automatically banned for life; additionally, a person is allowed to defend himself/herself.  

F.            Rules Committee: 

1.    This committee is made up of 3 members appointed by the Chairman of the Board. They serve 2-year terms.  

2.    This committee shall be a standing committee that during the year collects recommendations for running rules or scoring procedure changes. This committee puts the suggested changes in proper order and presents them to the Executive Board.                            

3.    Note that the only recommendations that will be processed by the Rules Committee will be those submitted by ARHA Progressive Pack chartered clubs or Executive Board members.                            

4.    It will be the responsibility of the Rules Committee to update (and/or re-write) the tests for field judges and Master of Hounds to reflect any changes to the rules made by the Board of Directors. These tests are to be approved by the Chairman of the Board before they are distributed to Progressive Pack clubs.                             

5.    Note: Any decision made by a committee and/or board within the ARHA Progressive Pack structure shall be subject to review and possible revocation by the ARHA President.  

G.           Hall of Fame Committee: 

1.    The duties of this committee are to take nominations, make recommendations, and conduct a vote of the Board of Directors to elect the beagles to be inducted into the Progressive Pack Hall of Fame. 

2.    All beagles meeting the requirements as set forth in the criteria will automatically go into the Hall of Fame without a vote of the Board of Directors. Proof of having met the requirements must be received by the Chairman of the Hall of Fame Committee to be honored at the next Hound of the Year banquet. 

3.    All beaglers meeting the requirements as set forth in the criteria will automatically be nominated and placed on the ballot to be voted on by the Board of Directors.  

4.    The Hall of Fame Committee shall also take nominations for beagles that do not meet the criteria, and by a unanimous vote of the Hall of Fame Committee, select 1 beagle and 1 beagler from these nominations to be put on the ballot each year. Note: only 1 beagle and/or beagler may be put on the ballot each year through this method. The Committee does not have to select a beagle and/or beagler each year.  

5.    The Hall of Fame Committee shall receive nominations during the month of May. The ballots shall be mailed along with a self addressed and stamped envelope, to the club presidents during the month of June. The ballots shall be mailed back to the Hall of Fame Committee before July 31st and will be counted in August. To be elected to the Progressive Pack Hall of Fame a beagle, or beagler, must receive a 2/3-majority vote of the ballots returned to the Hall of Fame Committee.  

6.    Any beagle and/or beagler that is elected to the Progressive Pack Hall of Fame shall be inducted on January 1st of the following year. Each beagle and/or beagler will be honored at the Hound of the Year banquet. Note: Once a beagle and/or beagler has been elected to the Progressive Pack Hall of Fame the title cannot be taken away, unless it is proven that he/she was elected illegally.  

7.    Any beagle inducted into the Progressive Pack Hall of Fame as a Competition Hound must be a Progressive Pack Rabbit Champion. Any beagle inducted into the Progressive Pack Hall of Fame, as a Producer must have produced at least 1 Progressive Pack Rabbit Champion.  

 Criteria for Progressive Pack Hall of Fame CompetitionHound. The hound must have a total of 50 points and all points must come from Progressive Pack competition.

 

Criteria for Hall of Fame Reproducers, 125 points needed.

 

 

Criteria for Progressive Pack Beagler Hall of Fame, 125 points needed. 

 

8.    All points must come from the Progressive Pack Division Only. To total points, take the point amount and multiply it by the number of years (or number of times) you have done this. If a hound is co-owned, the points are equally divided according to the number of co-owners. 

          III.          General Rules for the Conduct of ARHA Licensed Hunts     

A.      Licensed Hunts:                  

1.    What constitutes a licensed hunt?                  

a.     The hunt must be approved and licensed by the President of the ARHA. 

b.     The hunt must be listed in the ARHA Hunt Schedule in The Rabbit Hunter magazine at least 1 month before the hunt is held. 

c.      Hunts listed in The Rabbit Hunter magazine must list the date of the hunt, the location of the hunt, the contact person for information about the hunt, the type of hunt (LP, BP, PP, Gundog Brace or Pack), whether a Championship Class will be held, whether a Grand Championship Class will be held, whether a Bench Show will be held, and the entry deadline. 

d.     All hounds entered in the hunt must be ARHA registered. 

e.     The hunt must be conducted under all ARHA Progressive Pack rules, policies, and procedures. 

f.       There must be a minimum of 10 Open Class hounds to conduct an Open Class ARHA hunt. There must be a minimum of 3 Rabbit Champion hounds to conduct a Rabbit Championship Hunt. There must be a minimum of 2 Grand Rabbit Champion hounds to conduct a Grand Rabbit Championship Hunt.  

B.      The Big 6 Hunts are the United States Championships, North Regional, South Regional, East Regional, West Regional and the Everett Morgan Classic. 

1.    No Progressive Pack hunt shall be scheduled the same weekend as the US Championship Hunt. 

2.    The dates of the Big Six Hunts are to be set by the Executive Board. If possible, 3 of these hunts are to be scheduled in the Spring and 3 are to be scheduled in the Fall or Winter. 

3.    The US Championship Hunt will be conducted under the Standards for Conducting the US Championships that have been developed by the Executive Board. In the future the Executive Board may develop standards for the conduct of the other Big Six hunts. If these standards are developed, the other hunts will be conducted under these standards. 

C.      The use of firearms, weapons, alcoholic beverages, and illegal drugs are prohibited from all individuals participating in an ARHA licensed hunt. This includes judges, club officers, handlers, owners and spectators. 

            IV.          Judges 

A.      All judges must be ARHA Progressive Pack certified. An ARHA certified judge is one who has studied the rules and passed a written test with at least 85% correct, must be 16 years of age, and who has had at least 3 experiences as a judge at a fun hunt or as an assistant judge at a licensed hunt. The Master of Hounds shall have a list of all Progressive Pack certified judges. Any new judge, not as yet on that list must, show the Master of Hounds his or her judge’s card before he or she is allowed to judge. Note: The Club President, Secretary, or Master of Hounds must supervise the person taking the judge’s test. This is not an "open" book test.                  

B.      A Progressive Pack field judge shall not judge A. his own hound, B. any hound he has owned in the six months prior to the hunt he is judging. In reference to rule IV. B., the date of ownership of the hound is the day the hound was sold (or given) to the present owner. If there is a question, the new owner must produce a dated receipt from the previous owner, or a written and dated statement (or a copy of the transfer papers), verifying the date that the hound was sold or given to him. The new owner can compete the hound in ARHA competition even though he is waiting for the official paperwork from ARHA, C. any hound owned by his blood, step, or in-law relatives. D. any hound owned by a member in his/her household, E. or any hound he carried to a field trial and entered on behalf of another person.  

C.      A club must provide at least 1 judge per cast, but may elect to have more than 1 judge per cast. 

D.      The judge shall be responsible for making all calls in the field and recording the scoring on a scorecard or scoring booklet. 

E.       The judge’s decision in the field is final; however, a handler may appeal the judge’s decision to the Master of Hounds. 

F.       Before the hounds are cast in the field, the judge shall instruct the handlers and spectators and tell them what they can and cannot do during the cast.  

G.      The judge shall tell the handlers and spectators the exact starting time of the hunt and shall announce to them when there is a time out. 

H.      In the event that a judge cannot finish a cast due to sickness or injury, the cast is called in time-out and the cast will return to the place of drawing to be re-assigned another judge by the Master of Hounds. The scoring that has previously been compiled and the time elapsed will remain in effect. The new judge will complete the remainder of the unfinished cast. 

I.        A judge who is abusive, uses abusive language or strikes a Master of Hounds, handler, or spectator shall face whatever penalties that are set down by the Watchdog Committee. If it is proven that a judge has not judged by the rules, he/she shall face penalties set down by the Watchdog Committee. Note: This rule applies if an official protest has been filed against the judge. 

J.        While in the field judging any cast of dogs, all judges are not to carry cell phones with them. 

                V.          Scorecard and Protest 

A.      At the end of the cast the judge shall return to the cast area (where the hounds were turned loose) and total the scores in the presence of the handlers when possible. He/she will then announce the placements and offer the scorecard to the handlers for their initials or signatures. 

B.      The handler may lodge a protest with the judge by not signing the scorecard. 

C.      When a handler signs the scorecard he forfeits his/her right to protest, unless the score has been changed after he/she signed the scorecard. This applies only to a handler whose hound’s placement changed as a result of the score being changed. 

D.      If a handler protests and does not sign the scorecard, the other handlers who agree with the judge’s decision shall sign the scorecard. 

E.       If no protest is made by a handler, all handlers must sign the scorecard. 

F.       All protest must be made to the Master of Hounds by the protesting handler within 15 minutes after both have returned to the clubhouse or staging area. 

G.      All protest shall be settled in a private conference involving the Master of Hounds, the judge involved in the protest and the handler who is bringing the protest. The other handlers may be called in individually by the Master of Hounds as witness to explain or substantiate what happened. No spectators shall be called as witnesses. In case of a protest, if at all possible, the cast should not be re-run. However, if the Master of Hounds decides that the only fair solution is to re-run the cast, then he has that option. 

H.      The Master of Hound’s decision is final, with the exception of the appeal (formal protest) to the Chairman of the Board within 20 days of the date of the hunt. 

            VI.          Master of Hounds 

A.    Each club is to select a person to serve as Master of Hounds. This person is to be knowledgeable in ARHA rules, policies, and procedures for conducting ARHA Licensed hunts. Starting January 1, 1997, persons wishing to become Master of Hounds must take the Progressive Pack Masters of Hounds test. Persons who were already Progressive Pack Masters of Hounds (before January 1, 1997) do not have to take this test unless they wish to. 

B.    The Master of Hounds must be licensed by the ARHA. 

C.    The Master of Hounds shall act as the final authority in the selection of methods of hunting, location of hunting areas, selection of cast by draw, appointment and assignment of judges, and supervision of all functions associated with the hunt; including the resolution of any protest from the handlers concerning judge’s decisions. He/she is also the final authority concerning protest involving bench shows. 

D.    The Master of Hounds must announce when entries are closed and no entries shall be accepted after this announcement has been made. Note that this rule includes bench show entries. 

        VII.          Breed Inspector 

A.    Each club is to select a Breed Inspector for the hunt. This person is to be knowledgeable concerning breed standards. The Breed Inspector must be licensed by the ARHA. 

B.    The host club has the option of whether or not to measure the hounds before the hunt; however, any handler may challenge the size of any hound in his or her cast, and such hound must be measured before advancing any further in the hunt. All hounds must be present at the staging area before they are taken to the field. Any challenge to the hound’s size must be done at the staging area. (Note: This challenge may take place at the beginning of any series before the hounds go out in the field.) If a hound is measured earlier during the day of the hunt it does not have to be measured the second time that day. 

C.    The Breed Inspector makes the final decision as to whether the challenged hound shall be allowed to hunt. 

D.    The Breed Inspector has the right to measure any hound entered in the hunt or show. Any hound over 15 inches tall at the withers is disqualified. 

E.     The Breed Inspector must have an official measuring stand available for use. 

F.     The Breed Inspector shall determine whether a hound qualifies for ARHA registration. The Breed Inspector shall check A.K.C. registration papers for hounds being registered and write the A.K.C. registration number on the ARHA registration form. 

G.    The club secretary shall issue a form signed by the Breed Inspector stating that said hound has been registered with ARHA at that club on that date. This form shall be filled out in triplicate. The club shall retain one copy. One shall be sent to ARHA for registration. The third is to be given to the dog’s owner to be presented at subsequent hunts until the owner receives the official ARHA number. No hound shall be entered without an ARHA number or the above proof of registration. 

    VIII.          Conducting the Hunt 

A.      All clubs must have a Master of Hounds, a Breed Inspector and Club President or Secretary present at the hunt to conduct an ARHA Licensed hunt. 

B.      The club Treasurer, or another person appointed by the club President, must collect all money for entry fees and keep an accurate accounting of this money. He/she shall forward to the ARHA office all the money that is required by the ARHA for licensed hunts.                  

C.      Cast

1.    No cast shall be made until the Master of Hounds has announced that the entries have been closed. This announcement must be made precisely at the advertised entry deadline. 

2.    All handlers/owners must be present with their hounds at the place of casting at the prescribed time. No cast shall be held up, or re-scheduled, because a pre-entered hound and/or handler are not present at casting time.  

3.    Judges for each cast, and cast areas, may be assigned and announced before the cast is drawn. If a judge’s hound is drawn out in the cast he is judging, his hound must be rolled into another cast because he cannot judge his/her own hound. The judge may have his hound rolled into the next series (those cast not going out first) if his/her hound is drawn out at a time he has to judge. Judges for each cast may be drawn out after the casts have been drawn out in any series.                       

4.    Cast shall be determined by random selection methods to insure that all hounds have equal opportunity to win the event. The casts must be drawn by using the hounds’ numbers. A non-hunting person, the Breed Inspector, or someone knowledgeable of the drawing process shall conduct the drawing. A bingo selection method may be used.                       

5.    Separate drawings shall be made for Open Class, Rabbit Champion, and Grand Rabbit Champion. 

6.    All cast of hounds are made up without discrimination to sex and size. Each initial cast in the open class is to be made up of 4 to 6 hounds. Later casts may be from 2 to 6 hounds. Champions may run with 3 to 6 hounds per cast. Grand Champions may run with 2 to 6 hounds per cast. 

7.    If an owner or handler acting on behalf of the owner draws 2 or more of his/her hounds out in the same cast he/she may elect to leave all hounds in the same cast or have the number of the second hound held out until that cast is completed. The number is then placed back in to be drawn into another cast. This process is called "rolling the hound". In other words, the owner need have only 1 of his hounds in a cast, provided the number of hounds he has entered does not exceed the number of casts. If there are to be 5 casts and an owner has 4 hounds entered, and he/she is judging a cast. He/she has the right to have 1 of his/her hounds drawn into each of the other 4 casts. If 1 of his hounds has not been drawn into a cast, the last slot is left open and filled when 1 of his/her hounds are drawn. If an owner has 2 hounds not yet drawn out when the next to the last cast is being drawn, he is to speak up and then the last slot in that cast is left open. The drawing continues for the next cast and when 1 of his/her hounds is drawn, it is placed in the slot left vacant. The same principle applies if an owner has more than 2 hounds entered. If 2 owners each have 2 hounds not yet drawn when the next to the last cast is being drawn, the last 2 slots in that cast are left open until 1 hound from each owner is drawn. The same principle applies if 3 or more owners are affected. In order to roll a hound, the owner/owners name on the hound’s registration papers that you are wanting to roll, must match exactly. Example: Owners name on the registration papers and at the NKC Office of the 2 hounds that are wanting to be rolled are John and Bill Smith. These 2 hounds can be rolled. If one of the hound owners is John and Bill Smith and the other hound’s owner is Bill Smith, then the hounds cannot be rolled! The owners must match exactly. 

8.    The hound must hunt in the cast into which it was drawn. If a hound is scratched at the cast pole, leaving a disproportionately small amount of hounds in one cast, the Master of Hounds has the authority to rectify the situation, in the most feasible manner, to create a more equitable number of hounds in each cast. Example: Seven Champions are entered in a hunt. A cast of four and another cast of three have been drawn and report to the cast pole. One hound from the cast of three is scratched at the cast pole. The two remaining hounds are combined with the cast of four and run as a six-hound cast. The two judges may co-judge or the Master of Hounds may determine which one will judge the cast. 

9.    The drawing of casts must be open to all handlers or the results are void. 

10. A hound’s number may be rolled forward or backward. Also, 1 or more slots may be left open to be filled later, when 1 or more owners have 2 or more hounds that have not yet been drawn. 

11. All judges and handlers should be attentive during the drawing of the cast. No hound may be rolled to another cast after the final number has been drawn. If a judge has a conflict after the final number has been drawn, another judge must be drawn. 

12. At no time shall a judge take a cast of dogs into the field without at least one handler.

            D.      Identification of Hounds in the Hunt 

1.    All hounds must be marked in such a way that the judge can identify each hound without the handlers having to report to the judge which hound is his. 

2.    An approved method is to use color-coded collars at least 1 inch in width made of day glow fabric, or other fabric that is clearly visible. The judge should assign the collars at the casting stakes to match, as well as possible, the collars already on the individual hounds. 

E.       Awards 

1.    Each club that host a licensed hunt must present a minimum of 5 awards to the top 5 finishers in the Open Class, but may present as many as they see fit. 

2.    A first place award must be given in the Champion Class and a first place award must be given in the Grand Champion class. However, a club has the option of giving out more awards if it desires. 

3.    The awarding of prizes that are donated by dog food companies is left up to the discretion of the host club, rather than based solely on the order of finish of the hounds. 

4.    No cash prizes may be awarded without the permission of the ARHA. 

5.    No Calcutta, Shotguns, or other significant awards may be given. 

6.    ARHA does not prohibit raffles at hunts. 

F.       Reporting Hunt Results to the ARHA 

1.    The Secretary or President of the host club shall issue Approved Certificates to the owners of the top 10 hounds in the Open Class and up to 10 winners of the Rabbit Champion Class, and the Grand Rabbit Champion Class. Certificates shall also be issued based on the Bench Show rules. 

2.    The President or Secretary of the host club must fill out a hunt results form and mail it within 15 days of the hunt to ARHA. The white copy of the winner’s certificate must be sent to the ARHA office with the hunt report form for every hound that placed in the field or on the bench. 

3.    If these procedures are not followed, the club hosting the hunt could face penalties as seen fit by the Watchdog Committee. 

            IX.          Progressive Pack Running Rules And Scoring Procedures 

A.      All points are plus or minus points. 

B.      A rabbit is defined as a Cottontail, Hare, Snowshoe Hare, Jack Rabbit, Swamper or any subspecies of these.  

1.    The judge does not have to see the rabbit to award points.                   

2.    If the judge is aware that the hounds are running a tame rabbit no scoring shall take place and the judge shall call a time out and move the hounds away from the area. No hound shall be penalized for running tame rabbits. If a judge determines it was a tame rabbit the hounds have been running, points scored on the tame rabbit shall remain on the scorecard. 

C.      Strike 

1.    Definition: A strike is 3 or more barks from 1 hound after the hounds have been released in the field. This hound is said to be "on the clock". 

2.    If no hound is on the clock, strike points must be awarded if a hound jumps the rabbit. Example: A) Hound A jumps a rabbit from his setup. Even though Hound A did not bark on the track before he/she jumped the rabbit, he/she is still awarded the strike points. In this situation the hound shall receive 20 strike and 20 jump points even though he/she did not open until after the rabbit was jumped. B) Let's say that the dog that is hunting hard in the brush pushes a rabbit out the other side. The rest of the pack sees the rabbit and the race is on. How do we score this? In this example, the hound hunting hard and pushing the rabbit out of the brush should be awarded 20 strike and 20 jump points even though the hounds that were out in the open barked first. C) Hound A jumps a rabbit from his setup. Even though Hound A did not bark on the track before he/she jumped the rabbit, he/she is still awarded the strike points. In this situation, the hound shall receive 20 strike and 20 jump points even though he/she did not open until after the rabbit was jumped.  Once again the rule says, "If no hound is on the clock, strike points must be awarded if a hound jumps a rabbit. The hound that is out there hunting hard makes good things happen and should be  rewarded. The key to this rule is the judge must see this happen. 

3.    In the event that 1 hound strikes but another hounds jumps the rabbit, the hound that struck shall receive 20 points and the hound that jumped the rabbit shall receive 20 points. 

4.    A hound that opens on the track and is struck by the judge does not have to jump the rabbit to receive his/her 20 strike points, provided another hound jumps, or produces the rabbit within the allotted time of 4 minutes. Example: Hound A barks 3 or more times on a track. Hound B harks in and barks and, in the judgment of the judge, produces a rabbit; Hound A shall receive 20 strike points. 

5.    Strike points can be given just once on each rabbit. A "dead track" would have to be announced and the strike jump reopened, before an additional strike could be awarded. 

6.    The hound that opened and has been struck by the judge shall receive 10 minus points if no hound in the cast jumps or produces a rabbit within 4 minutes. 

7.    If no hound is on the clock, no strike or jump points shall be awarded if a rabbit is jumped by a judge, handler, or spectator and the hounds are called in and placed on the track. 

8.    After a hound has opened (3 or more barks) and the judge strikes that hound, the judge shall give that hound 4 minutes to produce the rabbit. If no rabbit has been produced at the end of the 4 minutes, the judge shall announce time has expired and shall ask the handlers to move their hounds to another area. He/She may or may not request the handlers to leash their hounds. In this case the hound that was struck receives 10 minus points. 

9.    A hound that opens on a track and is struck by the judge shall be given 10 minus points if that hound quits that track within 4 minutes. Example: A hound opens on a track giving three or more barks, then looses interest and leaves the area where he struck. The hound would be minused immediately when he/she left the area, where he/she struck. The four minutes is no longer a consideration. Even if other hounds are working the line, the hound that is on the clock receives a minus if he/she looses interest and leaves the line. If no other hound is working this line, the strike and jump can be declared open, after the hound is minused. If other hounds have opened on this same line, the hounds must be moved to a new area. 

10. The judge shall give the hound that is struck a full 4 minutes on that track no matter what the other hounds in the cast do. However, if the judge determines that another hound has jumped the rabbit that was struck, he/she may request the handler to get his/her hound up to the one running the rabbit. The hound that is on the clock receives the strike points. 

11. The judge shall award 20 points for a successful strike. 

12. In a situation where the judge cannot determine which hound barked on the strike, he may ask the handlers which hound barked. If the majority of the handlers agree on which hound opened first the judge shall award strike points. These may be minus or plus points depending on whether a rabbit is jumped or produced within the allowed 4 minutes. ** In a situation where the judge cannot identify which hound opened 3 times, and no owner/handler claims the dog, the judge at his/her discretion can either start scoring from the first check if all hounds hark in and go, or call time out and move the hounds to a different location. 

13. In a strike situation, if no hound is struck in, and a hound catches a rabbit, even if the hound did not bark he/she gets credit for a strike and a jump. In a strike situation, if one hound is struck in and another hound catches a rabbit (unless the rabbit was already flushed from a set up) the hound that catches the rabbit is credited with a jump even if he/she does not bark. The hound that was struck in gets credit for a strike. In the event a nest of baby rabbits is found by a hound, a time out is to be called, the hounds are to be leashed and moved to a new area. No strike or jump points are to be awarded on baby rabbits still in the nest. 

14. See XI.B.2. Concerning a strike that occurs in the last four minutes of a cast. 

D.      Jump 

1.    Definition: A jump occurs when a rabbit has been flushed from a setup. 

2.    A jump occurs only at the beginning of a chase. No jump points shall be awarded except at the beginning of a chase. 

3.    Only one jump may be scored on each rabbit. A "dead track" would have to be announced and the strike and jump re-opened, before an additional jump could be awarded. 

4.    The judge may be unsure of which hound actually jumped the rabbit and may not award any jump points. Example: Hounds A, B, and C go under a brush pile and a rabbit runs out of the other side of the brush pile. 1,2, or 3 of the hounds may have actually jumped the rabbit, but the judge cannot determine this, so he/she does not award points. 

5.    The judge shall award 20 points per jump per rabbit, if he can determine which hound jumped the rabbit. 

6.    The judge does not have to see the rabbit on the jump to award 20 points. 

7.    If no hound is on the clock the hound that jumps the rabbit shall receive strike and jump points and shall receive check points if he/she carries the rabbit by him/herself because the other hounds in the cast do not pack up and run the rabbit with him/her. The judge shall instruct the handlers of the other hounds to bring in their hounds and place them in the chase with the hound that first jumped the rabbit. Example: Hound "A" jumps the rabbit and follows track. (The moment the rabbit is jumped, the judge must instruct the handlers to get their hounds in the chase.) No other hound joins hound "A" in the chase, so he/she is running the rabbit solo. Hound "A" has a         breakdown in the forward progress, but then regains the line, by giving mouth and making forward progress. Hound "A" is scored 10 points for a check each time it is evident that he/she has had a breakdown in the forward progress, but then recovers the line, by giving mouth and making forward progress. Hound "A" shall receive 20 strike points, 20 jump points and 10 points for each check. In this case, the judge shall continue scoring hound "A" on checks. 

8.    If hounds jump a second rabbit during the chase and the pack splits, the judge, if knowing which rabbit was the original rabbit he gave the hound strike points for, shall continue to follow that rabbit and request the handlers to catch the hounds that split and return them to chase the original rabbit. 

9.    Any hound that does not hark in, or join the chase, once the rabbit is jumped, shall not be scored even if he produces another rabbit. The judge shall judge the hound that jumped or produced the rabbit first and the other hounds that are in the chase. Example: Hound "A" drifts away from the pack. Hound "B" jumps or strikes a rabbit and the chase is on. Hound "A" jumps a rabbit after Hound "B" has already jumped or struck a rabbit first. Hound "B" is scored and Hound "A" is not. 

10. If the judge does not see which hound jumped the rabbit he/she may, if he/she chooses, ask the handlers to identify the hound that jumped the rabbit, but he/she shall not award any jump points unless the majority of the handlers agree on which hound jumped the rabbit. 

11. No hound shall be awarded jump points on a rabbit that is jumped by the judge, handlers, or spectators. 

E.       Checks 

1.    Definition: A check occurs when it is evident that there is a breakdown in the forward progress of the chase. The hounds do not have to cease barking in the check area, for it to be considered a check. (See rule IX.F.6. Note: concerning hounds barking in the check area.) If it is evident that no hound is making forward progress on the line, then a check has occurred. A hound must claim the check, by giving mouth and making forward progress. At a check, hounds should first work close to where the check occurred, then extending the search further a field to regain the line. Note: A check is not determined by elapsed time. Forward progress has no pre-set distance. 

2.    The judge shall award 10 points for a check. If one or more hounds over run a turn in the line, or lose the line, and another hound, behind them, turns with the line, or carries the line on beyond their point of loss, gives mouth, and makes forward progress, he must be awarded checks points. 

3.    The scoring of checks shall continue as long as the rabbit is running. 

4.    If the judge determines that the rabbit is holed up, or that the hounds have lost the rabbit and are unable to get started again, he shall announce that the rabbit is holed up, or that the hounds have lost the rabbit and are unable to get it started again, he/she shall announce that the track is dead and the hunt shall continue. 

5.    In a check situation, if a hound catches a rabbit that the judge believes is the rabbit the hounds have been chasing, the hound that catches the rabbit is awarded 10 points for a check even if he does not bark. If a hound sight chases a rabbit and the judge follows that hound, he shall immediately instruct the handlers to get their hounds up to that hound.  

F.       Scoring of Minus Points 

1.    If a hound opens and barks 3 times and no rabbit is produced within 4 minutes, the hound that opened first shall receive minus 10 points. If another hound jumps the rabbit or produces a rabbit within 4 minutes no minus points are given. 

A.      If a hound is not trailing, but is just barking and barks three or more times during a short time span, that hound shall receive minus 10 points for "pop-off" barking. He shall not be placed on the clock, or awarded a strike, unless he is working a track. 

2.    Any hound that accumulates 30 minus points during the cast shall be disqualified, regardless of how many plus points the hound has. Example: Hound A has 200 plus points, but accumulates 30 minus points. Hound A is disqualified. 

3.    All minus points shall be subtracted from the plus points to determine the final score of any hound in any cast. 

4.    Any hound caught backtracking on a trail 50 feet or more shall receive 10 minus points. Definition of backtracking is when a hound is clearly running and barking in the opposite direction on a line that has already been run by a hound or hounds. Barking while returning to the point of loss is NOT backtracking. 

5.    Once the race has started it is expected that all hounds in the cast shall pursue the rabbit along its established line of flight. Any hound that leaves this line after it has been established shall receive minus 10 points. This also applies to the hound that leaves the line and attempts to get    ahead of the pack or any hound that "skirts" difficult terrain. Note: if the hound passes other hounds, but is running the line, this hound is not minused 10 points. Note: At the beginning of the race quite often the hounds are scattered looking for game so the judge may, at the beginning of the race, request that handlers get their hounds in the race. There is no penalty for this. Note: Splits on a separate rabbit shall not be considered as leaving the pack. Note: A woven wire, hog wire, or similar type fence is not considered as difficult terrain. 

6.    All hounds must pack and stay in a pack "mode" until a check is made. Any hound that is disruptive in the check area and interferes with other hounds that are working the check area shall receive minus 10 points. Note: This rule is meant to apply to the hound that just runs around and barks within the check area, but makes no attempt to work the check. 

7.    Any hound that leaves the check area and is observed barking and pulling the other pack members away from the established check area shall receive minus 10 points. 

8.    Any hound that runs through the established check area, continually barking and leading the other hounds through the check area shall receive minus 10 points. Note: It is the intent of this rule to penalize the hound that continually overruns the check area and continues to bark. It is not the intent of the rule to penalize the hound that runs through the check area for a short distance, immediately stops barking when he realizes there is no scent, and returns to the check area to attempt to work out the check. It is also the intention of this rule to penalize the hounds that do not return to the point of loss on checks. 

9.    A hound that enters the check area, but makes no attempt to work the track shall receive minus 10 points. Note: It is the intent of this rule to penalize the hound that continually "feeds" off the work of the other hounds in the cast. 

10. Any hound that enters the check area and leaves making no attempt to work out the check shall receive minus 10 points. Note: This is to penalize the hound that does not return to the check area and work on solving the check. 

11. Any hound that slips out of the check area on the track refusing to bark until at least 50 feet from the other hounds will be minused 10 points. This is known as stealing the track or slipping the rabbit. 

12. Any hound that does not run up with the pack will receive minus 10 points for barking and pulling any of the other hounds out of the check area. 

G.      Reasons a hound may be disqualified 

1.    If a hound accumulates 30 minus points during 1 cast. 

2.    If a hound is fighting, or attempting to fight, with another hound in such a fashion that it prevents the other hounds from hunting. 

3.    If the hound actively pursues any game other than hare or rabbit, that hound shall be disqualified. The judge does not have to see the game to disqualify the hound. If the hounds are running a track, and the owner/handler scratches his/her hound prior to the judge deeming it to be an off game pursuit, that hound will be disqualified for an off game pursuit once the judge calls off game.  This rule is intended to stop the owner/handler from saving his/her hound from an off game prior to the judge making a final call. This rule does not apply to a hound that is determined to be in danger of being hurt or harmed. A hound shall be barred from all competitions in Progressive Pack ARHA licensed hunts for 1 year if he runs any games other than hare or rabbit 3 times in a calendar year. It is not the intention of this rule to penalize the hound that is merely harking in on another hound that is barking, smells around, and then returns to rabbit hunting. 

4.    If a female is in heat and is distracting to the other hounds. 

5.    If a male continues to try to mount a female that is not in heat, or tries to mount another male and interferes with that male’s hunting. 

6.    If a hound refuses to hunt for 5 consecutive minutes of any cast. Note: The judge must announce that the hound is being clocked for not hunting. 

7.    If the hound’s handler is drinking alcohol, using illegal drugs, engaging in abusive conduct or language, or interfering with the judge in his conducting the hunt. 

8.    If the handler touches his hound without the judge’s permission. An exception to this is if the hound is in danger. 

9.    If the handler carries on an argument with the judge. 

10. A hound that has been inspected by the Breed Inspector and found to be oversized shall be disqualified. 

11. All hounds called for must be present and accounted for at the clubhouse, or place of casting drawing, when the second, or later, cast are drawn out. Any hound not so present and accounted for shall be disqualified even if they are previous cast winner. In the event of this disqualification, the balance of the cast will be put down and run. No other hound shall be brought up to take the place of the hound disqualified. 

12. Any hound that has been disqualified in the field shall be leashed as soon as possible. The judge shall inform the handler the hound has been disqualified and the handler shall catch and leash the hound, while trying not to disturb the remaining hounds. 

H.      Time Outs 

1.    Only the judge has the authority to call a time out, but a handler may request a time out. 

2.    During a time out the judge shall tell the handlers to call in their hounds and leash them, and no scoring shall take place during the time out. Note: The hounds do not have to be leashed during a time out if the judge so declares. A time out may be called if the hounds go onto property where the judge and handlers may not be welcome. If the chase continues and returns to friendly territory the judge can note the duration of the time out and resume judging. A judge may also call a time out without leashing the hounds if he is momentarily incapacitated, or if the hounds are running in a totally inaccessible area. 

3.    If a rabbit is jumped, or struck, during a time out the judge may use this rabbit for the next chase, but no jump or strike points are awarded. 

4.    The amount of time used for a time out shall be added to the total time of the hunt. Example: A 1-hour hunt started at 9:00 AM. The judge called a 10-minute time out. Instead of the hunt ending at 10:00 AM, it will end at 10:10 AM. 

5.    Anytime a judge has a handler leash a hound that has not been disqualified he must call a time out. Once all of the hounds that have not been disqualified have been leashed, the judge may call time in and release the hounds so they can return to active hunting. 

6.    The judge shall keep an accurate record of the amount of time involved in the time out. 

7.    A judge must not allow the hounds to actively hunt during a time out, for the purpose of extending the hunt until a rabbit is jumped. 

I.        Dead Track 

1.    After a breakdown the judge shall announce to the handlers when he has determined that the track is dead and the chase ended. 

2.    When a track is declared dead the judge may request that the handlers leash their hounds to move to another area. The judge may, or may not, choose to call a time out. In either situation the scoring has stopped and does not commence until the judge announces that the hunt has again started or states that the strike and the jump are open. 

3.    When a dead track or a time out has been called and it is evident that 1 or more hounds have left the hunting area, the judge will instruct the handlers of the hounds that are missing that they have 5 minutes to catch their hounds and return to the cast. At the conclusion of the 5 minutes, the judge will instruct the handlers of the hounds caught to re-cast their hounds. Scoring will resume even if the missing hounds are not back in the cast. If and when the missing hounds return, they will be allowed to re-join the cast and scoring. This provision does not apply to hounds having left the area pursing trash animals or birds. 

                X.          Handlers and Spectator 

A.      Definition of handler: Any person who takes the hound into the field for a hunt, after the hound has been entered in the event. 

1.    Distances between judge, handlers, and spectators, is at the discretion of the judge. 

2.    All handlers must stay in a group. If a handler does not stay in the group he shall be warned by the judge and, on the second offense, the judge shall disqualify the hound. 

3.    The handler shall not direct any questions to the judge regarding scoring until the cast has ended. 

4.    The handler shall identify his hound when asked to do so by the judge. 

5.    The handler shall not tell the judge how to score. 

6.    The handler shall not call or encourage his hound unless he is permitted by the judge to do so. Rule Interpretation: During the hunt, the handler cannot use a controlling device to assist his hound in hunting. This includes whistles, using his VOICE, (whistling, hissing, calling, etc) using hand signals, to direct his hound. The handler may use these methods only if the judge tells him to CALL IN his hound. 

7.    Any handler who uses abusive language, threatens or strikes a judge, Master of Hounds, or another handler shall be banned from Progressive Pack ARHA competition for a period of time determined by the Watchdog Committee. 

8.    If a handler is banned from Progressive Pack ARHA competition, his name shall be reported to the ARHA. After 1 year this handler may apply to the club that banned him for reinstatement, which may or may not be granted. If the handler who is barred for 1 year is a hound owner, none of his hounds shall be allowed in Progressive Pack ARHA competition during the year that the owner is barred. 

9.    After the cast is over and the judge presents the scorecard, then the handler may ask questions about the cast and the scoring of the cast. 

10. If the handler does not agree with the judge and wishes to protest, he should not sign the scorecard. See section IV concerning protest. 

11. If a hound is running a second rabbit, other that the one the pack is running or the hound has wandered away at some distance from the other hounds before the race has started, the handler may ask the judge’s permission to catch his hound and put it back in the pack. Note: The handler is allowed to leash his hound to return it to the pack. No time out is called unless the judge instructs a handler to leash a hound. 

12. A handler is permitted to handle more than 1 hound in a cast. 

13. Tracking collars are not considered to be controlling devices. If a tracking collar is to be used the handler must leave the searching equipment in the vehicle until the judge gives him permission to use it, or his hound has already been disqualified. The handler is to report to the Master of Hounds before the hounds go out in the field that he plans to use a tracking collar. The Master of Hounds shall inspect the equipment. In the field, before the hounds are released, the judge shall inspect the tracking collar. If a handler is caught cheating and is using the collar as a shock collar (or dummy shock collar) the hound is disqualified, the handler shall be reported to the Master of Hounds, and this handler shall face penalties as set down by the Watchdog Committee. 

14. A handler is not permitted to catch his hound and lift it over a fence, or other obstacles, unless directed by the judge to do this. 

B.      Definition of spectator: A spectator is a person who goes into the field to observe the hunt. 

1.    The spectator is not part of the hunt. He is only an observer. 

2.    A spectator who is abusive, uses abusive language, threatens or strikes a judge, Master of Hounds, handler, or another spectator, shall face whatever penalties are set down by the Watchdog Committee. 

3.    The judge shall instruct spectators as to where he wants them to be in relation to the handlers and himself. 

4.    Spectators cannot be called as witnesses in a protest situation. 

5.    It is up to the judge whether or not to allow spectators to ask questions during the cast. Spectators should not tell the judge how to judge the hounds. 

6.    A spectator cannot touch a hound or in any way encourage the hound when they are in the field. 

7.    With the permission of the judge, a spectator may help a handler catch his hound if the hound is in danger, if the hound is chasing off game, or at the end of the hunt.

             XI.          Running Time 

A.      Before a hound is declared to have placed in the final cast in a licensed hunt and receive Progressive Pack ARHA and Hound of the Year points, it must have been judged in active hunting for a minimum of 2 hours. At small hunts all other positions will be placed by using the Progressive Sequence Method after their initial cast, unless the Master of Hounds announces, prior to the running of the first cast, that the second place hounds will be run. Note: In the event all but one cast of hounds are disqualified, then those hound’s final placement, will be according to the way they placed in their cast. In such a case, the two-hour minimum running time would not be applicable. Other unforeseen situations, of this type, may arise necessitating a decision by the Master of Hounds. His decision will be final so long as it is consistent with the general parameters of the rules. 

1.    Exception: In a Rabbit Championship, or Grand Rabbit Championship hunt, if there are 6 or less hounds entered in the hunt, the active hunting time shall be a minimum of 1 hour.  

2.    In a Rabbit Championship or Grand Rabbitt Championship hunt, and there being more than one cast of hounds, the hounds called for must hunt 1 additional hour. The other places shall be decided using the progressionary sequence method. 

B.      All hounds entered in a Progressive Pack ARHA licensed hunt must hunt a minimum of 1 hour in the first series, unless the hound minuses out, or is scratched, or disqualified.

 

1.    All cast shall be run for one hour with the exceptions as noted in XI.B.2. and XII.F. If a cast is terminated before the allotted time has expired, the judge must record the elapsed time. 

2.    If a hound is struck in by the judge (on the clock) in the last 4 minutes of a cast, the cast shall not end until the hound on the clock has been given his full 4 minutes no matter what. All scoring that takes place during this 4-minute period of time shall be recorded by the judge. Example: Dog A is put on the clock at 59 minutes into the hour. That means this cast will end at 1 hour and 3 minutes. Dog B jumps the rabbit at 1 hour and 1 minute. Dog A will receive 20 strike points and Dog B will receive 20 jump points and the Field Judge will continue to record plus and minus points on all dogs until 1 hour and 3 minutes have passed. Dog C at 1 hour and 2 minutes skirts around and does not follow the line. Dog C will receive 10 minus points. Dog D at 1 hour, 2 minutes and 30 seconds leaves the race to run a deer. Dog D will be disqualified. If the rabbit is produced then the Field Judge shall not call a dead track until the end of the 1 hour and 3 minutes.  

        XII.          Breaking the Ties  

A.      Casts that have been run for 1 hour and no rabbit has been produced, and no plus points having been scored, excepting the final cast, shall have the tie broken by the judge awarding 10 points to 1 hound, that in his judgment, hunted and handled the best. This provision is not optional with the judge. 1 hound must be chosen. Any hound with minus points shall not be awarded the 10 points for hunting and handling, except in a cast where all the hounds finish with minus points for the total score. Note: This decision is based on the hound’s performance while they were hunting, not on a handling demonstration after the time has expired.  

B.      If this the initial cast for the hounds and Paragraphs A and E have been applied, and the cast winner being determined by the awarding of hunting and handling points, the judge will place the balance of the hounds according to the manner each hunted and handled. 

C.      All hounds finishing a cast tied for the cast win shall be placed back in the drawing to go out in subsequent casts. This is done in all casts except the final cast for each hound. Once a hound has been eliminated, it will not continue in competition except as noted in Paragraph D below.  

D.      At small hunts where there are a minimum number of hounds entered, all hounds tied for second and lower cast finishes that must be used to determine the final top ten placements will be afforded the same considerations of all hounds tied as stipulated in Paragraph C above. 

E.       Paragraphs B and C will apply to all casts except the final cast of the hunt for each respective hound. The composite of each score does not matter at this point. Example: Hound A has 80 plus points and no minus points. Hound B has 90 plus points and 10 minus points. Both hounds have 80 points total. Both hounds will continue in competition provided there are subsequent casts to be run. 

F.       If the hounds in the final cast are tied at 0 points at the end of the cast, the time shall be extended for an additional 30 minutes. Only the hounds tied at 0 will continue. Hounds with minus points will be placed under paragraphs G and H. If no rabbit is produced or scoring recorded at the end of this additional 30 minutes then paragraph A will apply. 

G.      All ties within the final placement must be broken by using the tie breakers in Paragraph H, except when the initial cast is also the final cast. All hounds must be ranked in order of finish before the Progressionary Sequence Method can be used. 

H.      If two or more hounds are tied with the same number of points and are being considered for final placement the tie must be broken as follows: 

1.    The hound with the fewest minus points. If this does not break the tie, go to #2. 

2.    The hound with the most jump points. If this does not break the tie, go to #3. 

3.    The hound with the most plus strike points. If this does not break the tie, go to #4 

4.    The hound with the most check points. If this does not break a tie, go to #5 

5.    If still tied after using the four tie breakers listed above’ the Master of Hounds must go back to the sores of the last previously run cast of each hound tied and use the tie breakers 1 thru 4 listed above. If still tied, the Master of Hounds must go to the second previous cast, provided there is one, and use the tie breakers 1 thru 4 again. This will be done as long as the tie remains and there are previous casts to be considered. Total points of any given cast are never used to break a tie. Steps 1 thru 4 must be used in that order. If this does not break the tie go to #6. 

6.    If still tied the winner shall be decided by toss of the coin.

                             Examples:

a.     Using the provisions outlined in Paragraph A, (no plus points scored) and this is not the final cast of the hunt for each respective hound, one hound will be declared the cast winner and will continue in competition. The balance of the hounds in this cast will be subject to the provisions of Paragraphs B and C.

b.     Any hound that is a clear-cut winner even with a minus, will not be superseded by a hound with no minus points. Example: Hound A comes in with 90 plus points and 10 minus points for a total of 80 points. Hound B comes in with 70 plus points and no minus points. Hound A with 80 points is a clear-cut winner even with the minus points.

c.      If there are an adequate number of hounds at any hunt that have tied     for cast wins to affect all top ten final placements, then no hounds other than these cast winners will continue in competition. 

I.        At small hunts where the first cast is also the final cast, after one (1) hour and no rabbit is produced, the time shall be extended an additional thirty (30) minutes. Only the hounds tied as zero (0) will continue. Hounds with minus (-) points will be placed under paragraphs G and H. If no rabbit is produced or scoring recorded at the end of the additional thirty (30) minutes, the tie shall be broken by the judge awarding ten (10) points to the one (1) hound, that in his/her judgement hunted and handled the best. This provision is not optional for the judge. One (1) hound must be chosen. Any hound with minus points shall not be awarded the ten (10) points for hunting and handling, except in a cast where all hounds finished with minus points for the total scores. The judge will place the balance of the hounds according to the manner each hunted and handled. 

    XIII.          Selection of Winners 

A.      No hound is moved up in the final 10 places to replace a disqualified hound. 

B.      In the event that a hound minuses out of the final cast that hound should be placed at the bottom of that cast and not minused out of the hunt as this hound has already won over some hounds that will place. If a hound is scratched for not hunting or running off game it should be disqualified from the hunt. (Note: minused out hounds are still subject to XI Running Time rules.)  

C.      The club hosting the licensed hunt shall conduct a series of elimination events. All casts shall run for a minimum of one hour, with the possible exceptions as noted in XII.F. The initial round of competition shall be known as, first series. All first series winners, including ties, will be drawn out in casts to run in second series. If necessary, third and subsequent series shall follow. To determine winners that are not determined by second or third rounds of competition, use the Progressionary Sequence Method. 

D.      Progressionary Sequence Method 

1.    This method is used to determine placement that have not been determined after the second (or third) round of competition. 

2.    The reasons for using this method are:

a.     Some casts may find several rabbits and have high scores, while other casts may find very few rabbits and have low scores.

b.     A hound that scored second in his cast should not be placed lower than hounds that scored third or fourth in another cast. 

3.    Example: In this example we are determining 3rd thru 10th places.

                             Steps: 

a.     Look at the second place finishers. Hound # 5 has the highest point total and is awarded 3rd place. Hound # 25 is placed 4th.

b.     Look at the third place finishers. Hound # 30 has the highest point total and is awarded 5th place. Hound # 9 is placed 6th.

c.      Look at the fourth place finishers. Hound # 16 has the highest point total and is awarded 7th place. Hound # 1 is placed 8th.

d.     Look at the fifth place finishers. Hound # 6 has the highest point total and is awarded 9th place. Hound # 20 is placed 10th.

 

       XIV.          Rabbit Champion and Grand Rabbit Champion Classes         

A.      When an open class hound has two (2) Licensed Club Hunt wins from two (2) different clubs, 100 points, with not more than 50 points coming from one (1) club; or a hound wins a State or Big 6 hunt and has 100 points (with not more than 50 points coming from one (1) club) the owner shall then be eligible to make application to the ARHA for Certification of Champion. NOTE: Hounds having one (1) win and the required 100 points prior to January 1, 2009 will be eligible to apply for Certification of Champion. Hounds having one (1) win and LESS than 100 points prior to January 1, 2009 cannot apply for Certification of Champion until they have the necessary 100 points and two (2) club hunt wins from two (2) different clubs, or one (1) State or Big 6 hunt win, and the required 100 points (with not more than 50 points from one (1) club).

 B.      Certification Test for Rabbit Champion

1.    Certification testing policies and procedures are published separately and are available from the ARHA office.  

2.    The Certification Committee will measure all hounds at the time of the certification test for Rabbit Champion or Grand Rabbit Champion. The height must be entered at the top of the Certification Test Form. 

a.     The committee shall have an official measuring device available on certification days. No hound shall be measured by the Certification Committee except on official certification days.  

b.     If it is determined by the committee that the hound is over-sized it cannot be awarded Rabbit Champion or Grand Rabbit Champion status. 

c.      To qualify as Grand Rabbit Champion a hound must have at least 3 first place wins in a Champion Class in Licensed hunts, 1 of which must be a state or Big Six hunt, or place first in at least 5 Licensed hunts in the Champion Class in at least 3 or more different clubs. In addition, a hound must pass the certification test. Certification testing policies and procedures are published separately and are available from the ARHA office. A hound will automatically become Grand Rabbit Champion by attaining 5 first place wins in the Champion Class, of which 1 of the 5 must the certification test if he qualifies this way. Note: This rule is retroactive and includes all hounds that met this criteria prior to 1/1/97. Note: The hound may continue to complete in the Champion class until the end of that calendar year. 

d.     In order to be awarded points toward Rabbit Champion a hound must compete in Progressive Pack ARHA Licensed hunts where there are at least 10 hounds entered. 

e.     Rabbit Champions shall be allowed to compete in all licensed hunts where 3 or more Rabbit Champions are entered. If there are less than 3 Rabbit Champions entered in the hunt, the Rabbit Champion Class cannot be run. 

f.       Grand Rabbit Champions shall be allowed to complete in all licensed hunts 2 or more Grand Rabbit Champions are entered. If there are less than 2 Grand Rabbit Champions the Grand Rabbit Champion Class cannot be run.                                     

g.     Verification of eligibility: When a hound is presented to a state certification committee for certification, the owner of the hound shall present to the committee all-necessary paperwork supporting said hound’s eligibility to be tested. The state certification committee then has the responsibility to verify the paperwork as being correct, accurate and complete. If there is a question about the paperwork, the certification committee must make the decision not to attempt certification on the hound that day. In the event that the state certification committee certifies an ineligible hound due to improper, incomplete or inaccurate paperwork; the hound, the owner, the hound handler and the certification committee members shall be subject to disqualification. 

h.     If a hound qualifies for Rabbit Champion or Grand Rabbit Champion certification during the calendar year, at the end of that year the hound must certify in order to run in a Progressive Pack Hunt the following year. The number of times a hound may attempt certification is unlimited. 

           XV.          Awarding of points at ARHA Licensed Hunts for ARHA Progressive Pack Champion status. 

 

1st Place                   40 points

2nd Place                  30 points

3rd Place                  25 points

4th Place                  20 points

5th Place                  15 points

6th Place                  10 points

7th Place                  10 points

8th Place                  10 points

9th Place                    5 points

10th Place                  5 points