Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Dickerson And Dog win Coonhunting Competition

Matt Dickerson, a 15-year-old youth from Gurdon, is participating in his fourth Joy Dog Food National Youth Coonhunting Competition. Dickerson won the 1995 youth world hunt.

He is a sophomore at Gurdon High School, and he is one of dozens of youth from throughout the United States who has spent their summer working to secure a spot in the National Youth Coonhunting Competition.

Dickerson, the son of James and Kin Dickerson, has been coon hunting his whole life and is active with the Whelen Springs Coon Club. His future plans include possibly studying wildlife biology at Henderson State University. He also enjoys sports and bull riding when he is not coon hunting.

Dickerson and his dog, Big John, will compete in Professional Kennel Club-sanctioned events during the next few months. The top 20-point leaders in the U.S. as well as the regional and state champions will qualify to participate in the final competition in late October.

The top four hunters win Joy Dog Food scholarships to continue their education after high school.

'This competition is the most important event that my company participates in each year," Chip Kohser, president of Best Feeds, the company that makes Joy Dog Food, said. "By rewarding these young people with scholarships we can reinforce the value of hard work and discipline that coon hunting demands."

Coon hunting requires teamwork between the handler and the dog. The dog starts by locating the raccoon's scent and then tracks the animal. The dog must trail the raccoon to a tree and remain there until the handler arrives. Raccoons are not harmed during the hunt.