In these, specially bred and equipped dogs caught and held the hog by the ears before the animals were quickly separated by a person who hog-tied the pig.
Judges for these contests deduct points for improper behavior such as biting the hog or failing to bark, and award points for proper behaviors such as coming close to the front of the hog and maintaining steady eye contact with it.
These main bayings events have sometimes been augmented with catch competitions, where "catch dogs" bit and held the hogs' ears to maintain control, and then a human lifted the pig by rear legs and turned onto a side and hog-tied the pig.
Recreational hunting is predominantly orchestrated on an ad-hoc basis while effective pest control operations are well thought out and planned.
The tools recreational hunters use: guns, bows and knives are inefficient as they are used as a test of skill and competence, not for eradication.
The trials were first organized in 1995 as part of the celebration of former governor and well-known hog hunter Earl K. Long's 100th birthday.
In these trials, a group of five judges scores the dogs' skill at baying the hog (cornering it and causing it to stand still).