Uncle Earl's Hog Dog Trials is a yearly hog-dog baying event held in the 4th 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 and Blackmouth Cur. Begun in 1994, the event was named for three-time Louisiana governor "Uncle" Earl Long, an avid stockman and boar hunter who was born in Winnfield in 1895.[1]
In 2011 a new corporation was formed to take over the event and a new board was created to run it. 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 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. Louisiana bans hog-catching but permits this event after the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals worked on the law that exempted Uncle Earl's.[1]
People attend the event from as far away as Canada, England, and California.[2]
