Uncle Earl's Hog Dogs Trials
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Uncle Earl's Hog Dogs Trials is a yearly hog-dog baying event held in the third weekend of March in Winnfield, Winn Parish, Louisiana at the Winn Parish Fair Grounds involving big boars and for the most part, Catahoula Leopard Dogs.
Contents |
[edit] History
Begun in 1994, the event was named for Earl K. Long or "Uncle Earl" who was born in Winnfield in 1895. Long was the brother of Gov. Huey P. Long. Earl Long was an avid stockman and boar hunter.
[edit] About
In this particular event, dogs are judged on their containment and control of the boar and their style of baying. The better "hog dogs" bay directly at the boar's face to gain control of the boar. The sharpest voices are considered best. Two dogs compete and the one with the sharper or more shrill voice will be judged as having the better bay. If a boar runs from the the dogs, they may nip the boar to make him stop. The dog has 10 seconds to stop and contain the boar and begin baying again. A significant number of points can be lost by the dog if the boar is not contained within 10 seconds.
People attend the event from as far away as Canada, England, California.[1]
[edit] Safety
Dogs are outfitted with Kevlar vests, chest armor, and extra-wide collars to protect them from any major injuries.
