ALBANY, GA -
You might hear some howls around town this weekend because South Georgia is going to the dogs.
The United Kennel Club's 25th annual Winter Classic is bringing more than a thousand coon dogs and their owners to Albany and surrounding communities.
The hunts kick off Friday night.
It's safe to say, there may be a lot of nervous raccoons in the region as the dogs prepare to take to the woods. The event grows a little each year, last year bringing as many as 15,000 hunting dog enthusiasts to our region.
It will be a howling good time this weekend at the Exchange Club Fairgrounds as thousands of dogs and owners stream in. Norman Bartlett's dogs were up early to get a prime spot, under cover.
"We'll get down here where we can meet everybody and look at the dogs and pick out good places to hunt and tie our dogs and everything," said Norman Bartlett of Cullman, Alabama.
Dogs in tow this morning vendors from 26 different states were streaming into the fairgrounds, unpacking for the weekend after the long drive.
"Took right at 9 and a half hours for the trip and everything," said Tim Bowlin of Tennessee.
The events will include the south's largest two day bench show and two separate one night hunts although the UKC uses that word "hunt" loosely.
"When we say hunt, we mean that term very loosely because we're testing the dogs instincts, we take no game and no firearm is used," explained Tanya Raab, UKC V.P. of Media Affairs.
They'll be using land from Folkston to Pavo, all over south Georgia, giving hunters a good look at south Georgia's resources.
"Without the landowners we couldn't put this event on, they are a huge help to us they allow our hunters to go out on their land and it's a huge help for us," said Raab.
Hunters are hoping mother nature won't be too rough, and that with some signs of improvement in the economy, vendors sales won't leave them howling.
"Sometimes you make some money, it's like the economy it's up and down some times, most of the time you'll make your gas money back anyway," said Bowlin.
Making the trip to south Georgia, something to bark about.
Hunters made sure to book their hotel rooms early, because they fill up fast.
Nearly 700 dogs will participate in the hunts and more than 300 are expected for the bench show.
The public is welcome to head to the fairgrounds to learn more about the sport and coon dogs.
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