World Reserve Champion Miss Long Bottom Juicy Fruit is surrounded by her owner, Paul Prince and handler, Tim Tucker. Others pictured include Paul’s daughter Carolyn; daughter-in-law, Juana Prince; grandchildren, Brayan, Rosa, Elian and Kenze; Tim’s girlfriend, Brittney, and daughter, Emalynn. | Clif Knight

Paul Prince of Hartselle added a coveted award to his long list of accomplishments as a coon hunting enthusiast on Oct. 27 as owner of the world’s best female coon hunting dog.

Prince’s Miss Long Bottom Juicy Fruit, a five-year-old treeing walker, claimed the Reserve Champion title at the 2012 PKC World Championship Coon Hunt at Salem, Ind. Oct. 22-27 She qualified for the event by winning 21of 26 of her previous open hunts and competed against 1,100 dogs for the world title.

Two days prior to the finals, Prince was inducted into the PKC World Hall of Fame.

Miss Juicy Fruit is currently being handled by Tim Tucker of Hartselle who played an important role in her world championship run, according to Prince.

“Tim’s one of the best trainers and handlers you’ll find anywhere,” Prince said. “He and Miss Juicy Fruit are real close and they work well together as a team.”

“She’s a special dog,” Tucker said. “and very consistent in everything she does.”

Prince is a lifelong coon hunter who has won many other awards, including a world championship, with his coon dogs.

“I can’t get around like I use to,” he pointed out “and when I hunt I have to do it from a truck or a four-wheeler.”

Prince said coon hunting is something that is getting a lot of attention nowadays.

“The sport is catching on with young people because PKC is offering many scholarships and conducting programs to promote the sport,” he said. “Anyone who is interested in becoming a member of the organization is welcome to contact me or any other PKC member.”