The Big Pack Board of Directors of the National Kennel Club/American Rabbit Hound Association has developed the following policy statement:

 "It is our desire that the NKC/ARHA can bring a rabbit hound that will be exactly like the type of dog that you would select to take hunting. It is our intention, in interpretation of rules and policies, that all NKC/ARHA clubs will conduct competition hunts in a uniform manner. More importantly, competition events will remain a fun, family event that is free of dissent and preferential treatment for any person or group."

 I. General Rules for the Conduct of NKC/ARHA Sanctioned Hunts.

A. Sanctioned Hunts.

What constitutes a sanctioned Big Pack hunt?

a.      The hunt must be approved or licensed by the President or Secretary/Treasurer of the NKC/ARHA.
b.     The hunt schedule must be received at the ARHA office at least 30 days in advance of the hunt date.  The hunts will be advertised on the ARHA website and a link is on the appropriate division's Facebook page for upcoming hunts. 
c.       In order to schedule a hunt, the hunt application must be submitted to the ARHA Office.  The application must list the date of the hunt, the location of the hunt, the contact person for information about the hunt, the type of hunt (BP), whether a Bench Show will be held and the entry deadline. If a club is hosting a sanctioned hunt, which will be a one- or two-day event, no entries can be entered after the deadline on the first day.
d.       Unless specifically stated, all hounds entered in the hunt must be NKC/ARHA registered and their owner must belong to an NKC/ARHA club. When an individual becomes a member of an NKC/ARHA club, he/she forfeits all rights to pursue in a court of law, legal measures against the NKC/ARHA Big Pack National Organization, the National Officers, including, but not limited to, the President of NKC/ARHA, Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the Watchdog Committee, Committee Members, Chairman of the Hall of Fame Committee and Committee Members and Local Clubs, their Officers and Members.
e.      The hunt must be conducted under all NKC/ARHA rules, policies, and procedures. All clubs must obtain a permit or authorization from their State Department of Fish and Wildlife (if a permit is required in that state) for all sanctioned hunts to protect the out of state participants from receiving citations for not having a hunting license. Clubs that fail to do so are liable and responsible to pay for citations that are received by the out of state contestants participating in their sanctioned hunts.
f.        There must be a minimum of ten (10) hounds to conduct sanctioned NKC/ARHA Big Pack hunt. Since Big Pack Champion hounds and Big Pack Grand Rabbit Champions compete with open class hounds in NKC/ARHA Big Pack competition, this ten (10) hound minimum may be a mixture of open, champion or grand rabbit champion hounds. 
g.      The use of firearms, weapons, alcoholic beverages, marijuana, illegal or non-prescribed drugs is prohibited from all individuals participating in an NKC/ARHA sanctioned hunt.
h.      The Watchdog Committee has the authority, after thorough investigation of a protest charge or claim, with the approval of the NKC/ARHA home office, 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 hunt, in registration of a hound, the drawing or rolling of a hound during a hunt, the breeding of a hound, abusing/mishandling/endangering of any 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 (1) year.
i.        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.
j.        Any dispute or legal problems that may arise from any competition event that is not resolved by the Watchdog Committee would be litigated and resolved in the Circuit Court of Grainger County, Tennessee.

B. Hunt Limitations.

1.          Each member club must hold at least one (1) sanctioned hunt in a calendar year.
2.          A club may not hold more than eight (8) Big Pack sanctioned hunts in a calendar year. This number includes State, Regional and National events.

C.  Big Four, State and Club Hunts.

The Big Four (National Events) Big Pack hunts are the World Hunt, the Grand National, the All American and the U.S. Open. These four (4) hunts are two (2) day hunts. State hunts and club hunts will be one      (1) day competitions.

1.    World Hunt
There shall be a Big Pack World Hunt held each calendar year in the month of March. It shall be the first weekend in March that has a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A hound must have placed in the top ten (10) in HGA in a sanctioned Big Pack hunt or top twenty (20) of a Big Four Hunt, within the prior twelve (12) month period, in order to be eligible to run in the World Hunt. Each club is encouraged to send two (2) judges to the World Hunt to judge if the host club needs them. Entry fee for both bench and field is Twenty and no/100s ($20.00) Dollar’s total. A complete set of trophies must be awarded at the World Hunt. At the World Hunt, there must be trophies given in Highest General Average for places one (1) through twenty (20). Awards for the four (4) categories (hunting, trailing, speed & drive and endurance) can be trophies, rosettes, plaques, or certificates. There must be ten (10) trophies, plaques, or certificates awarded in the male class and ten (10) in the female class for bench competition as well as a trophy or plaque for the Combination Winner and High Scoring Champion. Any beagle holding the title of champion in the field, from any registry, may compete in the World Hunt; however, these hounds must be registered in the NKC/ARHA before registration closes and a copy of the hound’s champion certificate must be provided. Hounds that Place in the top 20 of the world are eligible for the next world hunt. If a hound is in heat or injured/sick their qualification will carry over to the next world hunt.
2.    U.S. Open
There will be a U.S. Open held each year on the second (2nd) Weekend of February. There is no qualifying for the U.S. Open.  The objective of the U.S. Open shall be to compete beagles of all registries to benefit a designated charity each year. NKC/ARHA Big Pack Hound of the Year and Championship points shall only be awarded to NKC/ARHA registered hounds. There will be a Twenty and no/100s ($20.00) Dollar entry fee which covers both the bench and the field. At the U.S. Open, there must be a set of trophies awarded for Highest General Average places one (1) through ten (10). Places 11-20 will receive certificates and qualify for the next year’s world hunt. Only the top ten (10) will receive points towards the Hound of Year.
3.   Grand National
There will be a Big Pack Grand National held each year. It is recommended it be held in the fall. There is no qualifying for it. There will be a ($20.00) Dollar’s entry fee which covers both the bench and the field. It is recommended that the Grand National be held the last Friday and Saturday in October. At the Grand National, there must be a set of trophies awarded for Highest General Average places one (1) through (10). Places 11-20 will receive certificates and qualify for the next year’s world hunt. Only the top ten (10) will receive points towards the Hound of Year.
4.    All American
There will be a Big Pack All American hunt held each year. Its date is open and may vary depending on the club hosting the hunt. There is no qualifying for it. There will be a Twenty and no/100s ($20.00) Dollar entry fee which covers both bench and field. At the All American, there must be a set of trophies awarded for Highest General Average places one (1) through (10). Places 11-20 will receive certificates and qualify for the next year’s world hunt. Only the top ten (10) will receive points towards the Hound of Year.
5.  State Hunts
A State Hunt shall not be scheduled the same weekend as one of the Big Four hunts. No State Hunt shall be held on the same weekend as another state hunt and will be scheduled on a “first come, first serve” basis. Entry fee for all State hunts will be ten and no/100s ($10.00) Dollars which covers both field and bench. Awards for winners for both field and bench shall be at the discretion of the club hosting the event.
6.  Club Hunts
Entry fee for Club hunts will be no more than ten and no/100s ($10.00) Dollars which covers both field and bench. Dates and awards will be at the discretion of the hosting club. These cannot be held the same weekend as one of the big 4 hunts or state hunts.

D. Breed Inspector.

1.      Each club is to select a Breed Inspector for the hunt. This person is to be knowledgeable concerning breed standards.
2.      Any handler, judge or breed inspector may challenge the size of a hound within the first thirty (30) minutes of the hunt. Hounds that are challenged will be measured by the breed inspector and must be sixteen inches (16") or under at the withers in a natural stance.
3.      The Breed Inspector makes the final decision as to whether the challenged hound be allowed to hunt. Disqualified hounds will receive no refund.
4.      The Breed Inspector must measure all hounds that are entered in the hunt and to disqualify any hound(s) that, in his opinion, do not meet breed standards, or are over sixteen inches (16") at the withers. The Breed Inspector can make measurements. If no Breed Inspector is available, the highest club officer can make measurements.
5.      The Breed Inspector must have available for use an official measuring scale. An official measuring scale is any type of device that measures fifteen inches (16") and cannot be proven otherwise. It shall be that club's official measuring scale.
6.      The Breed Inspector shall determine whether a hound qualifies for NKC/ARHA registration. The Breed Inspector shall check AKC and UKC registration papers for hounds being registered and write the AKC or UKC registration number on the NKC/ARHA registration form.
7.      The club Secretary shall issue a form signed by the Breed Inspector stating that said hound has been registered with NKC/ARHA at the club on that date. This form shall be filled out in triplicate. The club shall retain one (1) copy. One (1) shall be sent to NKC/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 NKC/ARHA number. No hound shall be entered without an NKC/ARHA number or proof of registration unless he is registered at the hunt.

E. Breed Standards for NKC/ARHA Sanctioned Hunts.

1.      The NKC/ARHA registers beagles, bassets, and harriers; however, the three different breeds must hunt in different hunts. That is beagles hunt with other beagles, bassets hunt with other bassets and harrier hunt with other harrier.
2.      The hound must be registered with NKC/ARHA and the owner must belong to an NKC/ARHA club.
3.      To compete in NKC/ARHA competition, a beagle or basset may not be more than sixteen inches (16") at the withers as measured by the Breed Inspector.
4.      When being measured, a hound shall be standing in a natural, alert position with its head up, but not stretched upward, and with its feet well under the hound and forelegs vertical. The hound shall be placed on a non-slippery surface at floor or ground level. The hound shall not be required to be posed or set up as in bench show pose by the measurer.

F. Conducting the Hunt.

1.      All clubs must have a Master of Hounds and a Breed Inspector to conduct an NKC/ARHA sanctioned hunt. The highest Club official present can act as breed inspector.
2.      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 shall forward to the NKC/ARHA office all of the money that is required by the NKC/ARHA for sanctioned hunts.

G. Identification of Hounds in the Hunt.

1.      All hounds must carry plainly painted, dyed or bleached numbers on both sides with numbers corresponding with that issued at entry desk.
2.      The Secretary of the hosting club will issue Numbers. Only the numbers 01 to nine hundred ninety-nine (999) will be legal for a sanctioned hunt.

H. Collars.

1.      Tracking/GPS collars can be used.
2.      Shock collars can be used to stop an off-game chase, or to retrieve a dog from out of bounds, if it is used in any other manner the hound is to be scratched.

I. Hunting Denied

The Club has the authority to refuse entry of any dog without current NKC/ARHA paperwork or any dog, owner or handler that has caused trouble at a previous hunt. Any handler or owner who physically or verbally abuses any person associated with the hunt, or dogs that have been reported for fighting three (3) times will be barred from all NKC/ARHA events for a period of one (1) year to life. The Club must send a report to the NKC/ARHA office within ten (10) days. For any unregistered dog, the owner may complete a registration application at a hunt, prior to the entry deadline, to be submitted to NKC/ARHA with the hunt results.

II. Big Pack Champion and Grand Champion

A.     Champions
The NKC/ARHA will conduct a program to allow hunters to make their hounds into Big Pack Rabbit Champions, Big Pack Grand Rabbit Champions, Bench Show Champion and Grand Bench Champion. NKC/ARHA clubs that run the Big Pack must hold at least one (1) Big Pack sanctioned hunt each year but may not hold more than eight (8) Big Pack sanctioned hunts each year. A club may hold as many non-sanctioned fun hunts as it wishes.

B.      Big Pack Rabbit Champion
Any NKC/ARHA registered hound can earn this honor by having one (1) first place and one (1) top 5 in two different clubs, in an NKC/ARHA sanctioned Big Pack hunt and accumulating two hundred fifty (250) points. Points are awarded as follows: Points are to be determined by the number of hounds entered in the hunt. The first-place hound will get as many points as there are hounds entered. For example, if there are fifty (50) hounds entered, the first place hound will receive fifty (50) points, the second place hound would get ninety percent (90%) of fifty (50), the third place hound would get eighty percent (80%) of fifty (50), the fourth place hound would get seventy percent (70%) of fifty (50), the fifth place hound would get sixty percent (60%) of fifty (50), the sixth place hound would get fifty percent (50%) of fifty (50), the seventh place hound would get forty percent (40%) of fifty (50), the eighth place hound would get thirty percent (30%) of fifty (50), the ninth place hound would get twenty percent (20%) of fifty (50), and the tenth place hound would get ten percent (10%) of fifty (50). This would break down as follows if there were fifty (50) hounds entered:

1st place. . .  . . . . . . . . . .  50 points
2nd place.  . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 points
3rd place .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 points
4th place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 points
5th place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 points
6th place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 points
7th place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 points
8th place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 points
9th place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 points
10th place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 points

Clubs will not have to figure these points but merely record the order of finish and mail hunt results to NKC/ARHA Office. Hounds can earn Rabbit Champion and Grand Rabbit Champion in Big Pack competition. Big Pack Rabbit Champions and Big Pack Grand Rabbit Champions will run against open class or non-champion hounds.

C.      Big Pack Grand Rabbit Champion
Big Pack Grand Rabbit Champion is the highest honor a hound can receive in NKC/ARHA Big Pack. This title is earned by having three (3) first place wins in sanctioned Big Pack hunts after the hound has made Big Pack Champion. After making Big Pack Grand Rabbit Champion, hounds with those totals will be allowed to run against Rabbit Champion and open class hounds.

III. Protests

Any owner of a hound entered in the sanctioned Big Pack hunt can file a protest with Master of Hounds within thirty (30) minutes of the posting of the score sheet. The decision of the Master of Hounds is final except when an appeal is made to the NKC/ARHA Big Pack Watchdog Committee.

IV. Awards

A.      The awarding of prizes that are donated by dog food companies is left up to the discretion of the hosting club, rather than based solely on the order of finish of the hounds.
B.      No cash prizes may be awarded without the permission of the NKC/ARHA.
C.      No Calcutta, shotguns or other significant awards may be given unless given specific permission by NKC/ARHA.
D.     NKC/ARHA does not prohibit raffles at hunts.

V. Reporting Hunt Results to the NKC/ARHA

A.      The Secretary or President of the host club shall issue winner certificates to the owners of the top ten (10) hounds in the hunt. Certificates shall also be issued to Bench Show winners.
B.      The certificates shall list the date of the hunt, the name of the club hosting the hunt, the name and NKC/ARHA registration number of the hound, the place that the hound finished and number of hounds in the hunt.
C.      The certificates should also state that this was a Big Pack hunt.
D.     The President or Secretary of the host club must sign the certificates, and they should be mailed to NKC/ARHA within thirty (30) days of the hunt.
E.      If these procedures are not followed, the results of the hunt shall be void.

VI. Field Trial Rules and Regulations.

A.     Hunt Officials

1.      The President of the host club is to select a person to serve as Master of Hounds. This person is to be knowledgeable in NKC/ARHA Big Pack rules, policies and procedures for conducting NKC/ARHA Big Pack sanctioned hunts.
2.      The hosting club must furnish at least four (4) non-hunting field judges. Judges for the Big Four events or those designated by the Big Pack Board of Directors must be approved by the Big Pack Board of Directors.
3.      The Secretary of the hosting club will record all entries and shall announce when entries are closed and no entries shall be accepted after this announcement has been made. As soon as the entries are closed the Secretary should make a numerical list of all entries and present it to the Master of Hounds for roll call.

B.      Master of Hounds

1.      The Master of Hounds shall be appointed by the President of the hosting club, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of the hosting club.
2.      The Master of Hounds shall call all meetings of the judges and act as their Secretary. The President, at his option and under his power of NKC/ARHA Big Pack Rules, Policies and Procedures appointment, may appoint a qualified person to assist the Master of Hounds in the Judges’ Meeting. Such person shall work only under the specific instructions of the Master of Hounds.
3.      The Master of Hounds shall give the handlers any information they may need as to direction to enable them to keep within reasonable distance of the hounds. He shall instruct handlers and outsiders not to converse with, or in the hearing of judges, about the work done, or the merits or demerits of any of the competing hounds. It shall be his duty to report any and all infringements of this rule to the President. The offenders will be subject to expulsion from the grounds. The Master of Hounds may ride to the hounds and shall direct the handlers and assist the judges in every proper way possible.
4.      It shall be the duty of the Master of Hounds to notify, by conspicuously posting at headquarters, the evening before, the hour and place of starting the following day. He shall blow his horn at the end of each day’s hunt signaling that the hunt has been called off according to the rules governing it.
5.      The Master of Hounds shall have the authority to order removal from the hunting ground, any hounds affected with a contagious disease or any bitches in season.
6.      The Master of Hounds shall see that the numbers are painted, dyed or bleached distinctly on the entries and shall call off the numbers or have them checked in by the judges under his supervision at or before each cast.
7.      The Master of Hounds shall strictly prohibit all persons from blowing horns on any pretext whatsoever, until the hunt is called off.
8.      The Master of Hounds shall place the judges to the best advantage in his discretion.
9.      The Master of Hounds shall have no voice in any question in regard to scores or eliminations in the Judges’ Meeting. He may be consulted on all questions in general but shall not offer any suggestions, in any particular case, until after the score is given and no score shall be changed on his account.
10.  The Master of Hounds must not allow judges to compare notes one to another at any time. Any discussion of hounds must be after the Master of Hounds calls the hound’s number in the Judges’ Meeting, and no hound shall be discussed by the judges before this.
11.  The Master of Hounds must be accurate in setting down scores at the meetings.
12.  The Master of Hounds may score hounds in the field, but he shall not enter hounds in the hunt nor be interested in any way in any hounds so entered.
13.  It shall be the duty of the Master of Hounds to see that these rules are strictly followed and trials shall be judged under these rules and not what any Master or Judge feels the rules should be. It shall be mandatory for the Master of Hounds to review the running rules and regulations at a Judges’ Meeting prior to the beginning of a field trial.
14.  In case of extreme emergency, such as hounds on dangerous highways or irate landowners, which endangers the safety of a large number of hounds or the safety of the general public, the Master of Hounds and the President may jointly order the hounds picked up under the supervision of the Master of Hounds and recast at that day’s casting grounds under the Master of Hounds' supervision.
15.  No game shall be released at that day's cast after the cast has been made.
16.  The Master of Hounds may order that a scratched hound be crated that is in the immediate area of major highways, railroads or a population center that could endanger the lives of other hounds or people.

C.      Assistant Master of Hounds
The Master of Hounds, at his option, may appoint. Two (2) assistant Master of Hounds whose duties shall facilitate in every way the running of the field trials, and they shall work on specific instructions from the Master of Hounds. The Assistant Master of Hounds shall further have the duties and rights accorded to judges in scoring or eliminating hounds.

D.     Field Trial Judges

1.      The President of the hosting club may appoint, from day to day, one or more Field Masters, whose duty it shall be to handle the field hunters to the best advantage of the hunt.
2.      The number of Field Judges shall not be less than four (4). No Field Judge, Master of Hounds, Assistant Master of Hounds or Field Master can enter hounds in the hunt nor be interested in anyway in any hound so entered.
3.      No person shall act as a judge at the field trial of the NKC/ARHA World Hunt unless he or she has formerly acted as judge at a field trial run under the rules of the National Foxhunters Association or NKC/ARHA Big Pack.
4.      The judges will be subject to the general rules of the NKC/ARHA and report for duty each day to the Master of Hounds.
5.      Should an appointed judge be unable to fill his engagement or become disabled, the President may or may not fill the vacancy, as he sees fit.

E.      Roll Call

1.      Any hound failing to answer roll call on the first day of any hunt shall be eliminated. The daily score sheets are to show “Failed to Answer.”
2.      On each day of the hunt, all hounds must answer roll call, or they will be eliminated.
3.      Tailgating or casting from trucks and trailers shall be permitted at all NKC/ARHA Big Pack trials.

F.       Hound Owners, Handlers and Spectators

1.      Definition of a Handler. Any person who takes the hound into the field for a hunt, after the hound has been entered in the event.
a.      The owner or handler hunting a hound must not speak to or urge him on in any manner. Should any owner or his handler injure or purposely interfere with an opponent’s hound, he will be expelled from the association and all of his entries barred by the Watchdog Committee for a period of time.
b.      It shall be the duty of the Master of Hounds to instruct the handlers to refrain from discussing hounds good or bad qualities with the judges.
c.        Any handler, who uses abusive language, threatens or strikes a judge, Master of Hounds, Assistant Master of Hounds, another handler or spectator shall be banned from the NKC/ARHA competition for a period of not less than one (1) year by the Watchdog Committee.
d.      If a handler is banned from NKC/ARHA competition, his name shall be reported to the NKC/ARHA. After one (1) year, the 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 one (1) year is a hound owner, none of his hounds shall be allowed in NKC/ARHA competition during the year the owner is barred.

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

a.      The spectator is not part of the hunt. He is only an observer.
b.      A spectator who is abusive, uses abusive language, threatens or strikes a judge, Master of Hounds, Assistant Master of Hounds, handler or other spectator shall be barred from attending all NKC/ARHA competition for at least one (1) year.
c.       The Master of Hounds shall instruct spectators as to where he wants them to be in relation to the handlers, hounds and judges.
d.      Spectators cannot be called as witnesses in a protest situation.
e.      A spectator cannot talk to the judge, nor try to tell him how he should be judging the hunt.
f.        A spectator cannot touch a hound, talk to a hound or in any way encourage the hound when they are in the field.
g.      With the permission of the Master of Hounds, a spectator may help a handler catch his hound if the hound is in danger, if the hound is chasing a deer, fox or coyote, or at the end of the hunt.
h.      Lunch wagons, luncheons or picnics of any description are forbidden on the hunting grounds during the trials. Cooking on the hunting grounds is prohibited.

Handlers/Spectators are allowed into field for the First 2 hours of the hunt, but must stay on an established path. They must not interfere with the judging in anyway. The last 2 hours of the hunt, they may not go into field unless instructed to by the Master of Hounds.

G.     Limits of the Field Trial Territory
The Master of Hounds shall instruct the owners, handlers and spectators as to where they may or may not go in the field trial territory.

H.     Judging the Field

1.      Hounds will be allowed five (5) minutes after the cast before any may be reported by the judges for babbling.
2.       A hound left on a "jump" or thrown out "on a loss" shall not be penalized if it works diligently to "get in" and succeeds in a reasonable time.
3.      A hound "thrown out" or "coming in" and refusing to hunt or "hark" to others shall be reported for failing to hark by judges at their meeting. Judges shall attempt to ascertain what game the hound is failing to hark to.
4.       All hounds that run anything other than rabbit or hare shall not receive any points for running this "off game".
5.      Hounds running deer, fox or coyote may not be scratched but neither can they be scored. Judges should try to break up a deer, fox, or coyote chase.
6.      Hounds failing to hark to a known rabbit race may be scratched, at the discretion of a judge, as to whether the hound is in reasonable vicinity of such race.
7.      Any hound shall be scratched for babbling. Babbling is defined as giving false tongue to the extent of interfering with the chase.

a.      In the case of a hound babbling to the extent of interfering with hounds or the chase and seen by two (2) or more judges who agree that such is the case, that hound can be ordered tied up or crated by such judges.
b.      A hound shall not be considered as babbling should he be running as much as thirty feet (30') downwind from a track; or should he continue to give tongue a few times on a run-over; or should he give one (1) or two (2) eager mouths at a bad fence or stream when harking to running hounds. Except that, if a hound remain at a fence or stream and continue to give tongue, then he shall be scratched.
c.       Hounds guilty of such actions as running stock, stock paths, hound or horse tracks, backtracking, running a covered track, babbling at a fence, stream or indiscriminate babbling, shall be scratched.
d.      Hounds running deer, fox or coyote must not be scratched nor can they be scored. Judges must do all within their power to break up a deer, fox or coyote race. Hounds must be given reasonable time to hunt on after being scolded when spectators or judges are breaking up a deer, fox or coyote race.

8.      A hound that shows no inclination to hunt may be reported for loafing by the judges at their meeting and be disqualified.
9.      In conjunction with the rules specifically mentioned herein, a hound may be eliminated for any misbehavior in the field when in the opinion of the judges such misbehavior is a fault which could mar the characteristics of an ideal Field Champion which might become detrimental to the chase.
10.  Judges shall use due discretion in scoring or scratching hounds and where reasonable doubt arises of either the good work or faults of hounds, shall question the score of such hounds until such time as the judges may become convinced of the value of the work.
11.  The hunt must be called off automatically after running a minimum of four (4) hours hunting each day or sooner upon vote in the field of the Master of Hounds and majority of judges.
12.  If before the four (4) hours are up, the Master of Hounds finds that, due to unfavorable conditions, hounds cannot trail or run a rabbit or hare, he should try to contact a majority of the judges and call off the hunt.
13.  Judges' watches must be synchronized with that of the Master of Hounds each day (preferably at time of cast).
14.  When work or faults are observed in the field by a judge, the exact time must be recorded and recorded along with his recommendations based on the observations. The importance of recording correctly, both the exact time and the quality of the work observed, cannot be over stressed.
15.  Should a pack become divided, the judges must separate and carefully note the work of each pack.
16.  The judges should follow the hounds after the cast as closely as they can, but they must not carry the hounds off or out of the territory they wish to hunt.
17.  When a hound cries a cold track, other hounds that cast wide, hunting for the warmer scent of the rabbit may be scored for Hunting. The judge must record the time when recording a hound’s work.
18.  Any hound that is crated by its owner or crated by a Judge is scratched, no matter the amount of time he is in the box, and cannot be cast anymore that hunt.
19.  Any hound deemed, by a hunt official, to be in danger or out of bounds that is picked up by a handler or official, must be immediately returned to the casting area and reported to the Home Plate Judge.

VIII. The Four Classes.
The four (4) classes for scoring hounds may be defined as follows:

1.      Hunting. A hound that persistently hunts a rabbit or hare as the case may be. (Note: A harking, following or drifting hound should not be scored as a hunting hound.)
2.      Trailing. When a trail is struck and a hound starts working the line, hounds must give tongue. No hound should be scored for trailing a track without crying it and steadily progressing on a track. Hounds shall be scored for hunting if it quits tonguing the track and hunts for a warmer scent.
3.      Speed and Drive. When a rabbit is started and the pack is running, the judges should endeavor to get to the pack and score all hounds showing Speed and Drive.
4.      Endurance. Endurance is one of the most important characteristics of a good rabbit hound.

IX. Home Plate Judge.

A.      The Master of Hounds shall select, from the list of proposed judges, a Home Plate Judge, to be approved by the President. This judge is to take the number of any hound returning to the casting grounds, the time it came and how long it stayed. He should take notes on the actions of such hounds and report it to the judges in their meeting.
B.      Should a hound return to the casting ground before the hunt is called off, it should be the duty of this judge to urge such a hound to continue hunting. The judge should, in all fairness to the hound and owner, call the hound away from the crowd and give him every opportunity to recast. If the hound then refuses to hunt, it is the duty of the Home Plate Judge to recommend to the judges that the hound be scratched.

1.      The Home Plate Judge shall score hound work that comes under his observation in the field.
2.      The Home Plate Judge shall kennel, in a truck provided for that purpose, or turn over to their owners, all hounds loafing around the casting grounds when the said judge becomes firmly convinced that such hound shall be eliminated for loafing.

X. Judges’ Meeting.

A.      The judges shall hold their meeting daily and as soon as possible after each hunt. No person other than the Judges and the Master of Hounds shall be present at their meetings. The President, at his option and under his power of appointment, may appoint a qualified person to assist the Master of Hounds in the Judges’ Meeting. Such person shall work only under the specific instructions of the Master of Hounds.
B.      The majority rule shall apply in all cases. The Master of Hounds shall preside as secretary at Judges’ Meetings. He shall keep in his possession, the score sheet, one other than the one that is posted. His private score sheet should be scored with indelible pencil. The Master of Hounds shall call for scores and register on the score sheet the majority vote of the judges. There shall be kept an individual daily score sheet, upon suitable forms provided by the Secretary, showing the number of hounds, the name of the judge, or judges, who scored or scratched the hound, the various times the hound was scored, his total possible score, and the score finally voted by the judges. These sheets shall be kept confidential by the Master of Hounds in his custody. If, within ten (10) days from the time of posting the final score sheet, no formal protest has been filled with the Secretary, then the Secretary shall destroy them; otherwise, they shall be preserved for such action as the Board of Directors may take. The final decision must be rendered in writing to the President or Secretary, who shall announce the result and make awards.
C.      When the Daily Score sheet is finished, the Master of Hounds shall post it on the bulletin board at headquarters after the Judges’ Meeting each day. This sheet must state the score of each hound up to that time.

XI. Scoring in the Judges’ Meeting.

A.      Decision
The decisions are to be made under four (4) headings as follows: Hunting, Trailing, Speed and Drive and Endurance. Ten (10) places are to be awarded in each of these four (4) classes.
B.      Scoring
The scoring must begin with a minimum of ten (10) points and may be increased consistently in multiples of five (5). Scores shall be called for by the Master of Hounds in the order of roll call as follows:

1.      "No.1. Is there any reason why you judges would eliminate this hound?" If the majority of the judges vote to eliminate No.1, the Master of Hounds rules a line across the score sheet.
2.      The cause for elimination is recorded in the column for that purpose. In case No.1 is not scratched, the Master of Hounds then asks for this hound’s score in hunting.
3.      The number of points each hound scores is determined by a majority vote of the judges. Each judges’ vote is not necessarily added to the other. Each judge having observed the hound, recommends the highest score he thinks this hound should have, and the highest score agreed upon by the majority of judges will be the hounds score in the Hunting class for that day. Trailing, Speed and Drive and Endurance scores are then taken up in the order mentioned and decided in an identical manner.
4.      No one judge can give a merit or demerit to any hound in any class. It takes the majority vote of the judges to score either way.

C.      Hunting Class
No hound, during the first hour of hunting in any one day’s hunt, shall be voted more than ten (10) points for his work done within that hour; no more than fifteen (15) points for Hunting during the second (2nd) hour; no more than twenty (20) points for Hunting during the third (3rd) hour; and no more than twenty-five (25) points for Hunting during the fourth (4th) hour. The perfect hound can score only seventy (70) points in Hunting in anyone day.

D.     Trailin
Strikes, Checks, and Jump’s will be awarded under the Trailing Category. Hounds can only be scored for their best Trailing score in a twenty (20) minute interval with a Jump and thirty (30) points being the max.

1.      Strike-10 Points
A hound shall be awarded Strike points when the hound gives tongue on a trail, while making reasonable forward progress. He or she does not have to produce the rabbit, but other dogs in the area should join in on hunting or trailing and help produce the rabbit in a reasonable time (3 minutes). If no rabbit is produced, no trailing points shall be awarded. Hounds can be awarded hunting points if he/she quits tonguing the track and hunts for a warmer scent.
2.      Check- 20 Points
Check points shall be awarded when the pack has broken down for a minimum of ten (10) seconds and one dog picks up the point of loss. In cases of overrunning a rabbit, the dog that picks up the loss and straightens out the chase shall also be awarded Check points.
3.      Jump- 30 Points
Jump points will be awarded when a judge has visually observed a hound producing a rabbit.

E.      Speed and Drive
 The hound leading the pack shall be scored thirty-five (35) points, the second hound shall be scored thirty (30) points, the third hound shall be scored twenty-five (25) points, the fourth hound shall be scored twenty (20) points. Other hounds in the pack shall be scored fifteen (15) points each. No hound shall be scored more than thirty-five (35) points in anyone interval of ten (10) minutes. Hounds shall only be scored for their best position during a ten (10) minute interval. A hound running a rabbit alone may be scored a maximum of twenty (20) points if so recommended. If, at any time, a judge falls to get the first hounds running a rabbit at a crossing he must disregard that crossing and try to score the hounds at another crossing. Whenever a judge fails to get the number of any hound in the order of that hound’s position at a crossing, he must stop with the last hound scored successively and try for another crossing.

F.       Endurance

1.      All hounds that finish in a field trial and have scored in either Hunting or Trailing AND have also scored in Speed and Drive during the entire hunt, with a sum total of forty (40) points or more, will automatically earn an Endurance score of one-fourth (1/4) of his or her total score across the board, beginning with ten (10) points, adding in multiples of five (5) where permissible–to be computed only on the final day on the hounds that finished the Trials. Each day’s score will count but figured only on the last day. The Endurance score will be figured on the last day and the total posted on the Daily Sheets in the Endurance column before making sum total of all scores and before starting to figure the Highest General Average.
2.      To get an Endurance score, hounds must have scored in either Hunting or Trailing as well as having scored also in Speed and Drive, during the entire trial. Therefore, no hound can have an Endurance score which he or she has not earned.
Examples:
*Hound No.5: 10 in Hunting, 10 in Trailing, 15 in Speed and Drive. This hound has scored across the board but he has less than the sum total of 40 points, so this hound is not eligible for an Endurance score.
*Hound No. 20: Could have no Hunting, no Trailing, 200 points in Speed and Drive; therefore, he would have no Endurance score.
*Hound No. 30: 10 in Hunting, 20 in Trailing, 15 in Speed and Drive, a total of 45 points in the entire hunt. He would get the closest 1/4 of his entire score - 10 points in Endurance.
*Hound No. 40: 60 in Hunting, no Trailing, 90 in Speed and Drive, a total of 150 points in the entire hunt. His Endurance score would be 35 points.
*Hound No. 50: No Hunting, 50 in Trailing, 125 in Speed and Drive, a total of 175 points. The closest one-quarter (1/4) in round figures - 40 points in Endurance.
*Hound No. 60: 95 in Hunting, 65 in Trailing, 200 in Speed and Drive, a total of 360 points. This score rounds out in one-quarter (1/4) to 90 points in Endurance.
All hounds get the Endurance they earn. They must earn the score they are allowed (to be figured on the last day).

G.     Scoring Method
The same scoring method shall be followed as many days as judges’ order stake to continue. When the judges are ready for final decision the highest scored hound in Hunting is winner of the Hunting class. The highest scored hound in Trailing is winner of the Trailing class and likewise in Speed and Drive and Endurance. Hunting class shall be finished before starting on Trailing then Speed and Drive and then Endurance in this order as one class has no bearing on any other class.

XII. In Case of Tie in Classes.

A.      Ties shall be untied completely through the ten (10) places in each of the four classes. Should two (2) or more hounds be tied with the same score in anyone class, the hound having the largest total daily score in all classes shall be adjudged winner of that class; the hound having the next largest total score shall be second, and so on. Should a tie exist between two (2) or more hounds with the same score in any one class and are also tied in the total daily score in all classes, it shall be untied in the manner as prescribed for untying the Highest General Average.
B.      No ties shall be untied by a vote of the judges except in the case of a tie where two (2) or more hounds are tied in all four (4) classes, and then a vote of the judges shall untie the tie.

XIII. Highest General Average.

A.      After all four (4) classes have been finished for each hound the Highest General Average shall be figured.
B.      The Highest General Averages of the hounds for the first ten (10) places shall be determined as follows:

1.      The hound scoring highest in each class shall receive a weight or points of one hundred (100).
2.      The hound scoring second (2nd) in each class shall receive a weight or points of ninety (90)
3.      The hound scoring third (3rd) in each class shall receive a weight or points of eighty (80).
4.      The hound scoring fourth (4th) in each class shall receive a weight or points of seventy (70).
5.      The hound scoring fifth (5th) in each class shall receive a weight or points of (sixty) 60.
6.      The hound scoring sixth (6th) in each class shall receive a weight or points of fifty (50).
7.      The hound scoring seventh (7th) in each class shall receive a weight or points of forty (40).
8.      The hound scoring eighth (8th) in each class shall receive a weight or points of thirty (30).
9.      The hound scoring ninth (9th) in each class shall receive a weight or points of twenty (20).
10.  The hound scoring tenth (10th) in each class shall receive a weight or points of ten (10).

Each hound's general average shall be arrived by adding together the points received by the hound in each class.   For example, consider the first hound on your daily score sheet. If he won Hunting, he starts with one hundred (100) points. If he is second in Trailing, he gets ninety (90) points additional; third in Speed and Drive, he gets eighty (80) points additional; and second in Endurance, he gets ninety (90) points additional. Therefore, the No.1 hound scores three hundred sixty (360) points towards Highest General Average. The No.2 hound perhaps scores second in Hunting and gets ninety (90) points. He does not score in Trailing, but is second in Speed and Drive and fourth in Endurance. Making him a total of two hundred fifty (250) points towards Highest General Average. Suppose No.3 hound scored fourth in Hunting, fourth in Trailing, first in Speed and Drive, and third in Endurance. He would then receive three hundred twenty (320) points towards Highest General Average.

Thus, the scores for Highest General Average are figured all the way through the first ten (10) places. The hound with the highest points is given first (1st) place, next highest given second (2nd) place, and so on to the tenth (10th) place. Revert to Daily Sheets for scores in untying all ties.

XIV. In Case of Tie for Highest General Average.

A.      In case of a tie, the highest scored hound in the Hunting class of hounds tied shall be the winner, if they remain tied in Hunting, and then Trailing shall untie the tie.
B.      In the event said hounds remain tied in Trailing, then Speed and Drive shall untie the tie.
C.      In the event there is no Speed and Drive score, there will be no Endurance score. But in the event said hounds remain tied in Speed and Drive, the Endurance shall untie the tie. In the event said hounds remain tied in Endurance, the latest hound scored in Hunting shall untie the tie; if still tied, the latest Trailing score shall untie the tie; if still tied, the latest Speed and Drive score shall untie the tie.
D.     The perfect score is four hundred (400), which means first (1st) in each of the four (4) classes.

XV. Hound of the Year Points.

All hounds running in ARHA/NKC sanctioned hunts are eligible to compete for the Hound of the Year title.
Hound of the Year points will accumulate from January 1st through December 31st of each year. HOY Points are awarded as follows: Points are to be determined by the number of hounds entered in the hunt. The first-place hound will get as many points as there are hounds entered.

 For example, if there are fifty (50) hounds entered, the first place hound will receive fifty (50) points, the second place hound would get ninety percent (90%) of fifty (50), the third place hound would get eighty percent (80%) of fifty (50), the fourth place hound would get seventy percent (70%) of fifty (50), the fifth place hound would get sixty percent (60%) of fifty (50), the sixth place hound would get fifty percent (50%) of fifty (50), the seventh place hound would get forty percent (40%) of fifty (50), the eighth place hound would get thirty percent (30%) of fifty (50), the ninth place hound would get twenty percent (20%) of fifty (50), and the tenth place hound would get ten percent (10%) of fifty (50). This would break down as follows if there were fifty (50) hounds entered:

1st place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 points
2nd place  . . . . . . . . . . . .  45 points
3rd place  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 points
4th place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 points
5th place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 points
6th place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 points
7th place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 points
8th place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 points
9th place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 points
10th place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 points

Clubs will not have to figure these points but merely record the order of finish and mail hunt results to NKC/ARHA Office.

 Club/State hunt Points = number of hounds in the hunt.   Big 4 Hunts points=2x number of hounds in the hunt.