I have competition hunted beagles for rabbits, hounds for coon and curs for coon and squirrel from Tx,Ok and La. and to do well in any of them comps you HAD to have a top dog were ever you dropped it period...
To touch on what Underdog said, I personally don't see anything wrong with head to head hunting as long as it’s done in a civil and professional manner.
Not everyone is cut out for it. That’s why some coon hunters classify themselves as pleasure hunters and others lean more towards competition hunter. Also some dogs are sold as pleasure hunting dogs and others sold as competition dogs. I could see individuals losing their tempers, but head to head comps are done with every other type of dog hunting. Why not hog dogs?
I don't know anyone that hunts with allot of people, who's ever had a dog that hasn't been struck over some time or other. The key I think is having dogs that can be consistent and always compete / produce.
Eventually names are made and when people draw / hunt / compete with certain competitors they know that they are going to have a run for their money.
Every dog has its day and good dogs are where you find them.
