2026 NATIONAL RACE
- This race will BEGIN ON MARCH 2, 2026 and END ON FEBRUARY 28, 2027.
- The 2025 UHA Competition Season National Race will be based on dog earnings from cast win awards at UHA Open Events & Youth Open Events.
2026 NATIONAL FINALS HUNT
- The TOP 32 of the 2025 National Race will be qualify for the 2026 National Finals Hunt, once the 2026 competition season is complete and figured. Top 32 will compete for the National Escrow Fund from the open events held for the 2025 Competition Season, hunt money, as well as other awards/prizes.
- In the event any dog is tied in earnings at the end of the year, dog will co hold places. Meaning more than 32 could qualify. Throughout the year however, if dogs hold same amount of earning, it will be listed on the National Race in alphabetical order of breed being first, owners last name being 2nd, and dogs name being 3rd.
- The hunt will be held in the area/location where most of the dogs in the Top 32 are from, in premium hunting. Clubs within that are be allowed to bid if interested, if they wish. Bidding opens January 1, 2027 & closes January 31st, 2027. Only bids from club that host UHA Open Hunts in 2026 will be considered. The club that proposes the overall most prestigious experience for our Top 32 will be awarded the hunt, not necessarily the highest bid. We want to roll the red carpet out for out Top 32, so we will be looking to partner with a club eager to assist with that goal!
- National Finals will have 2 Nights of Qualifying in 2026. Night #1 Pre-Entry Fee will be $150 (Walk-Up $200). Night #2 Pre Entry Fee will be $200 (Walk-Up $250).
- UHA will open Pre-Entry’s to the Top 16 on February 15th, 2027. #17-32 can Pre-Enter beginning February 28th, 2027. Pre-Entry Deadline Ends March 5, 2027. Any dog or handler who chooses to or can not attend, will forfeit his/her spot. UHA will contact dogs in order of final standings to fill the Top 32.
- Fallout Exception! – “Make the 48!” If any dog becomes deceased, in season, injured, can’t attend, or chooses not to come will result in the next dog in line getting the opportunity. With the cut off being 48. Any dog placing #49 or greater in the 2026 UHA National Race will not get ANY opportunity to compete in the National Finals Hunt.
- PLEASE READ – FALLOUT EXCEPTION CONTINUED… If a dog doesn’t compete or show up. The next dog in line get the spot. This goes for pre-entry or walk-ups… MEANING… say night #1 dog #32 competes and does not advance on and then choose to NOT compete night #2 the next dog in line would be eligible to walk-up, again only to spot #48. MEANING… you could be eligible for the National Finals in 2026 up until the last second IF you place #33 – #48 !!!!
- The # 1 dog in the National Open Race will be declared the 2025 UHA NATIONAL RACE LEADER, and does not have to compete in the Top 32 qualifying nights, They will advance directly to Night #3 and will draw out at random with the winners from Night #1 & Night #2.
- The Number 1 dog of each Breed Race will be declared their BREED RACE LEADER. FROM ACTIVE BREED RACES ONLY! (SEE BELOW) Each Breed Race Leader does not have to compete in the Top 32 qualifying nights, They will advance directly to Night #3 and will draw out at random with the winners from Night #1 & Night #2.
2026 BREED RACES
- These races will BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2026 and END ON FEBRUARY 28, 2027.
- UHA recognizes the following as breeds: Black & Tans, Blueticks, Crossbreed, English, Plott Hound, Redbone, Treeing Curs, Treeing Walker
- For the 2026 UHA Competition Season there will be the following Breed Races: Black & Tan Breed, Bluetick Breed, English Breed, Redbone Breed, Treeing Walker Breed, and the TRI-Breed. TRI-Breed Race will consist of the Crossbreed, Plott Hound, and Treeing Curs.
- HOW TO HAVE A ACTIVE BREED RACE: Each breed race must have a total of 6 dogs with open event earnings won, to be an active Breed Race, and to send the Number 1 dog to Night #3 of the National Finals Hunt. Any breed who has less than 6 dogs with earnings won, will not be considered an active breed race, and will not send a dog to Night #3 of the National Finals Hunt.
- We will analyze the number of each breed in the TRI-Breed race, at the end of the competition season, and discuss if we need to separate any breed as their own race in 2027. We want everyone to have the opportunity to have an active Breed Race and every Breed Race to send their Number 1 dog to the National Finals. That is why in 2025 we will have the TRI-Breed Race.
- Each Breed is allowed to have a Breed Championship Hunt, in order to do so a club my host and organize a breed championship hunt, by providing a $250 added purse for the hunt, hunt will be a $100 Event Entry Fee. *80% Hunt Awards, 15% Host Club, 5% UHA. Only dogs of the same breed, can compete for each respective Breed Championship. UHA will coordinate with the club on total prize package.
2026 YOUTH HANDLER OF THE YEAR RACE / YOUTH NATIONAL FINALS
- THIS race will BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2026 and END ON FEBRUARY 28, 2027.
- The 2027 Youth Open Race will be split for the Junior Division and Senior Division.
- Earnings won at ANY UHA Youth Open or Open Hunt.
- The Top 9 of each division will meet at the end of the year to have a hunt off to declare an overall Junior Top Handler of the Year and Senior Top Handler of the Year.
- The Top 9 from each division will be determined, based on the Youth Handlers with the most open event earnings won for the year at UHA open and youth open events.
- Once the race is completed and finalized, UHA will contact and confirm the Top 9 for each division. UHA will attempt to fill the Top 9, in the event any of them cannot make it upon confirming. To do so, however, UHA will only utilize the Top 18. Beyond that, anyone unable to confirm will go in as a “NO SHOW SPOT”.
- The Top 3 dogs out of each Top 9 leaders (Junior & Seniors) are to be split and hunted in separate casts at the youth handler hunt off.
- The handlers that win the Youth Handler Hunt Race Hunt Off will be declared the 2025 Junior Youth Top Handler of the Year and 2025 Senior Youth Top Handler of the Year.
- Final 3 of each division must hunt it off to determine a TOP HANDLER OF THE YEAR. Each Top Handler of the Year, both Junior and Senior, will earn a spot in the YOUTH NATIONAL FINALS.
2026 YOUTH NATIONAL FINALS
WHO QUALIFIES?
- SUMMER SERIES WINNER
- FALL BREAK…DOWN SERIES CHAMPION OVERALL WINNER
- JR YOUTH HANDLER OF THE YEAR HUNT OFF WINNER
- SR YOUTH HANDLER OF THE YEAR HUNT OFF WINNER
- WILDCARD #1 JR DIVISION RACE LEADER
- WILDCARD #2 SR DIVISION RACE LEADER
NEW! 2026 LUCKY DOG HUNTS
- These hunts are limited in entries. With the minimum needed to have it being 9 booked, and the maximum being 16.
- Entry Fees may be $100 and up. UHA will provide payouts to clubs for $100, $200, $300, $400, and $500 entry fees at request. Anything above $500, please call 940-200-1596 to discuss and set up.
- 3 FREE TRUCK ENTRIES, VIA 3 JACKPOTS, FOR 3 LUCKY WINNERS IN 2026!
- VISIT uhahunts.com for FULL DETAILS!