Ruffed Grouse Society Field Trial

Our local chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society is running a field trial on June 6th in Montague. It sounds like it will be a lot of fun and I know for sure that MOOSE would kick butt... hint hint Jim

I will get more details together as it gets closer but know we have some avid hunters out there that may enjoy trying this out!

You got my attention but I need the rules!!

I am interested :-)
Moose was drooling

Let me know if you have specific questions on the rules as I don't know if they are posted anywhere online and then I can bring those up to the board members next time I see them or email them the questions. I don't know exact cost as of yet and I think that is getting ironed out over the next month or so.

My question would be how is a R.G. field trial run??

Here is what I do know.

It is open to 30 dogs. The dogs are run in braces. Meaning that they are run two at a time. At this point it sounds like the gunner may also be the dog handler but I am not sure on that. I would also assume that pointers will run with pointers and flushers with flushers. Only makes sense to me. I think they have 4 chukar planted in the field in hopes that each dog finds two. The dog does not have to be steady to shot. And for example say Moose points a bird and the brace mate backs him the handler of the second dog is expected to leash his dog so that on flush he doesn't steel Moose's retrieve. There is a point system. I don't know exaclty how it breaks down. But your dog (in a pointing dog run) gets points for the find(point), if they back the other dogs point, a retrieve to hand and how they work the field.

Does this information help?

I don't know yet what the names of the titles are but there are titles to be earned along with rankings nationaly for the national championship etc.

Send me the registration info. Sounds like fun.

According to the R.G.S. website trials consist of dogs that are not champion titled in any other hunting situations. So no UKC HR's, HRCH's, no AKC Master hunters, no APLA(American Pointing Lab ) titled dogs, no NAVDHA titled dogs etc.

As soon as I have registration info I will get it to you. I will have to check on the title thing. I wouldn't see why you couldn't run a dog who is already titled in other organizations. But I will check.

Sorry...jeff was logged in and I didn't notice. That was me writing above! :-)

So I have been given information on the running of the trial. Here is what I have :


1. Dogs will be run in twenty minute timed braces.

2. There will be two judges for the brace.

3. There will be two birds planted per dog prior to the start of the brace. The first brace will have eight birds planted on the course at the start of the trial.

4. Pointer Dogs and Flushers will be drawn to run during the same event

5. Once a dog & handler completes the two bird finds the dog will be leashed for the remainder of the trial period, the dog then can be used for backing or hup points.

6. Below is the rules for judging:
Brace:_______ Pointing / Flushing (circle one)



Dogs Name:____________________________ Breed:__________________

Handler’s Name:____________________________



(100) Response To Handler(Obedience)

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10



(100) Ground Coverage (Hunt)

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10



(100) Bird Finds

1. 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10



2. 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10



(100) Retrieves – If a safety is called, a score shall be given based of average scored retrieves. If no scored retrieves, a score of 75 will be given.

1. 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10



2. 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10



(100) Backs or Hups

1. 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10



2. 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10



GRAND TOTAL:_________



Notes:


LIABILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR RGS CHAPTERS

GUN DOG TRIALS


THE FOLLOWING REGULATIONS WILL BE ENFORCED FOR ALL RGS CHAPTERS HOLDING A GUN DOG FUN TRIAL OR THE RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY WILL NOT SANCTION THE EVENT UNDER IT’S NAME

1. All Participants will sign a liability waver form prior to competing, shooting for a handler and judging.



2. Gun Handling: All Guns Will Be Broke until the point or flush. Unsafe conduct will result in a disqualification.

• All participants will be required to wear hunter orange including judges. Orange hats will be required, judges will be required to wear a hunter orange vest and hat.
  

• Galleries are no longer allowed. These pose to much concern for accidents afield on the course. They can interfere with the shooters and the judges trying to concentrate on judging the dog not the policing of the gallery.
  

• The only people allowed in the field will be the dog handler, shooter and judges. People wishing to photograph will be allowed at only the judges discretion.
  

• Absolutely “NO ALCOHOL” on the premises at anytime!!
  

Minimum Entry Requirements For Gun Dog Fun Trials




1. Are RGS chapters that run these events required maintaining the same competition and judging standards for their events? No, Chapters can have variations with trial rules as long as the minimum entry requirements are met to send the top four gun dog placements to the “Ruffed Grouse Society’s Michigan Gun Dog of the Year” runoff.


2. Who is allowed to compete? All active RGS Members. (Participants can be signed up for active membership status the day of the trial. ) Youth 17 years of age & younger are allowed to compete, but must have an adult designate gunner present.



3. How many dogs can a participant register for a trial? Only two dogs can be registered per person, per division (pointing & flushing)



4. Can a dog place in more than one trial? No, once a dog has placed in one of the top four placements at any one trial it can not be placed again for that year. Reason, we want to keep this a fun event that will encourage our membership to participate in and also to maintain a certain level of standards throughout. We would like to encourage those that were fortunate to have their gun dog place to participate again in other trials for “the fun of it” if room permits. The dog would be scored by the judges, but not used for the placement score. All dogs that had placed or won at the previous year(s) trials are again eligible to compete in the upcoming year’s trial.



5. What gun dogs would be exempt from participating? The following trial placements or titled gun dogs are exempt from competing:

· Any dog with Field trial shooting dog placements or championship titles are not eligible to compete or any NSTRA titled gun dogs.

· NAVADA- Utility or Invitational Test

· UKC – HRCH-Finished

· NAHRA – Senior or Upland Hunter

· AKC – Master Hunter

· APLA – APR/Master/Grand Master



6. Can I use an electronic training collar at a trial? No artificial training devices are allowed including dummy collars.



7. Can I use a beeper collar or tracking collar? Yes, these are allowed along with bells. Absolutely no beeper collars are allowed that are incorporated in or with an electronic collar. Collar’s must be functional.



8. What could I be disqualified for at a trial or future events? Any participant that acts in a abusive manner toward his dog, a judge or another participant including profanity, would be immediately disqualified and removed from the event. Any participant that shows unsafe gun conduct will be immediately disqualified and removed from the event. Any dog showing repeated aggressive behavior would be disqualified and removed from the field.



9. All judges & trial managers decisions are FINAL!!




I haven't had the chance to read through it all. Please feel free to post questions. If I don't know the answer I will do my best to find out the answer for you!

how do we register??

Hmmm. Don't know. I will find out!

http://www.ruffedgrousesociety.org/pdf/09MuskegonMIFunHunt.pdf

Thanks for posting the link Brian. I hadn't had a chance to find that on their website yet.

Phoenix wrote:Thanks for posting the link Brian. I hadn't had a chance to find that on their website yet.

Now we need to fill the event with UAD dogs. Phoenix, Moose, Sky, Star(hopefully ), Misti, Indy.....

I would be very willing to sit down to a partridge meal!! In my opinion there is nothing tastier. Hope everyone is successful and bring home alot of birds.

The bird would never make it back to me with Phoenix! She likes to throw stuff in the air! lol! I don't know as well how she is at this point with gun fire. Maybe by then I will know.