<P> To train Old Dan and Little Ann, Billy traps a raccoon with the help of his grandfather and uses its pelt to teach them to hunt . During their training, their personalities become apparent: Old Dan is brave and strong, while Little Ann is very intelligent . Both are very loyal to each other and to Billy . </P> <P> On the first night of hunting season, Billy takes Old Dan and Little Ann out for their first hunt . He promises them that if they tree a raccoon, he will do the rest . They tree one in a large sycamore, which Billy had previously nicknamed "The Big Tree". As he tries to call them off, they look at him sadly and he cuts the tree down, which takes him two days and costs him blistered hands . In the end, when he's about to give up his effort, Billy offers a short prayer for strength to continue . A strong wind starts to blow and the tree falls . Old Dan and Little Ann take the raccoon down . </P> <P> Billy, Old Dan, and Little Ann go hunting almost every night and become well - known in the Ozarks . Billy and his grandfather make a bet with Rubin and Rainie Pritchard that Old Dan and Little Ann can tree the "ghost coon". It leads them on a long, complicated hunt, and Rubin and Rainie want to give up . When they finally have it treed, Billy refuses to kill it . Rubin then orders his dog, Old Blue, to attack Old Dan, who is smaller; and Rubin starts to beat Billy . Little Ann helps Old Dan, and together they injure Old Blue; Rubin runs to attack them with an axe, but he trips, falls on it and kills himself . </P> <P> Billy's grandfather enters him into a championship coon hunt, putting him against experienced hunters and the finest dogs in the country . Before it starts, he enters Little Ann into a conformation contest, where she wins the silver cup . On the fourth night of the hunt, Old Dan and Little Ann tree three raccoons, making it to the final round . The sixth night, they tree one before a blizzard hits . Billy, his father, grandfather, and the judge lose sight of the dogs . When they finally find them, Billy's grandfather sprains his ankle . They build a fire, and when Billy's father chops down a tree, three raccoons jump out . Old Dan and Little Ann take two of them down, and chase the third to another tree . In the morning, the hunters find them covered with ice circling the tree . That raccoon wins them the championship, gold cup, and $300 of jackpot money . </P>

When does where the red fern grows take place