Mr. Moore
I have a question, What is it that you have done to making a judges job a little less hard and added any value to what we do,
Something I learned and taught is if you have a problem with it and can't make a feasible solution or recommend away to help solve the problem then you have accomplished nothing.
I know that I have helped a lot of hunters houndsmen and even a few that did not own hounds but ran regular with me or others and worked with us to catch up hounds and so on. They were asked or they volunteered or asked about judging hunts. I would take them running show them what hounds would get scored and which would not. Showed how to look at a hound and know he was hunting or trailing versus loafing or babbling or looking a tree to mark, I know of a few occasions I got a call and asked to judge and if I could bring extra judges. I would make a few calls and show up with 6 to 8 or more judges had I not put a little effort into showing them how to judge I know several hunts that would have had 3 or 4 rather than 12. I love judging hunts and over the last few months have spent over 250$$$ in gas for my truck and four wheeler. Pulling a trailer thirty 40 miles one way adds to the gas bill, I have had to turn down judging for that reason, That said There are plenty more judges that have spent 5 times that much. I enjoy judging and give all I have and can when I do. I judge s/d or HGA one two or three day hunts and I am judging some bench shows now, My love for running hounds and watching hounds work makes it worth the gas but with it at 4.oo $$$ a gallon My locations to judge are limited.
Something to ponder have you looked at what i am saying or thought about it at all up until now since its been stated, there are a lot of retired or out of work and cant work judges and age and injury puts a damper on things,have you considered that judging is a lot of work and though its nice to be recognized for judging the ones who get trophies are clapped for and talked to more than the judges, I promise you that the benefits behind judging the biggest one is being in on the action and getting to hear and score the hounds, After a hunt when you worked your butt off scoring hounds and to have hounds that you scored place makes it worth the while,
Now with that in mind instead of talking about not having enough judges at a hunt get out and do some judging yourself, If some of the ones complaining would get in there and judge it would take some pressure off the ones who are judging by getting a chance to rest a week because there are more judges at the hunts and last minute can you come judge tomorrow would be less often, If some of the judges at paradise could skip a hunt they may be more for the next, Yes Its true the Pen or association should be getting the judges all they can do is ask and see how many show. Before I started judging I had no clue and neither has the ones I got into judging. The way It was done I asked and went and learned. I have had hounds for 25 years and know what to look for in a good looking hound.
You stated you would not qualify let me ask you this do you own hounds and run trials, If yes then you are already going in the right direction, Have you asked to go to a hunt or two and go with an experienced judge to learn had you asked you would be more than qualified.
Just a thought has anyone ever considered passing a hat for gas for the judges or how about this reward the judges who turn in high numbers get the most crossings, The judges are there for the pen or association however with out them your hounds want be scored unless you partner up. either way if you got 10 or 20 or 30 judges the hounds get the same attention as any other hound its equal regardless. Yes I agree that 10 judges in 2000 acres is not near enough and there may have been hounds that did not get seen as much that's the name of the game.