Central Alabama Hunt Test

[digger]

Was suppose to go to AR.to start but got canceled I guese because opening dove season,so sending my 2 girl's to alabama.My trainer is bringing them.Just trying to get a little info,will run dog finished and one starteb.Kind of new to hunt test just wanted to know what to look forward to.

[Bobby Williams]

Digger who is your trainer?? I got all the judges for the hunt test. You should come yourself and have some fun. Started test is pretty simple the dog has to pick up four ducks. Two on land, not more than 75 yards, two on water, not more than 60 yards. Has to pick them up one and at time does not have to deliver to hand just general area. Finished has to be a pretty good dog to pass.I say pretty good travis dog might pass it so you can take it from there.If you need to know anymore let me know. [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[goosebruce]

The test you speak of in ark was rearranged to a better date in oct. We lost a club, (east arkansas), and languille took their date... So the aug 31st, sept 1st date (which was wrong anywho, they moved it to second weekend of sept last year), went to 3rd weekend in oct (I think). Hate we lost east ark, good bunch of folks and good grounds. So that left central al as the first hunt in the area this year... Central al, then old hatchie (corinth ms area), our test southern flight (como ms), west tn (covington tn), all in sept. Surely ya can make it to one of those! More in oct too!

As far was what to expect... a good time, good dog work, and the best folks in the world. travis

[chance]

The Jonesboro hunt is scheduled for October 12/13.
Bobby---we may just join you guys at CA. You have a lot of our judges there and we are anxious to get the season started.

[Labs & Ducks]

L'Anguille River HRC's test has been changed to October 12 & 13. All the other clubs GB menitoned are real good tests also. I'm planning on trying to make all of them. Old Hatchie will be in Adamsville, TN at Linda and Jeff Brewer's farm this fall (located in Adamsville, TN). It is scheduled for September 14 & 15.

Make sure and go to Central AL before coming to Old Hatchie. That way, you can maybe get two passes at Cent. AL and title at Old Hatchie.

When you title at Old Hatchie, you receive a complimentary BATH.

I'm sure others on here will attest to this!! [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

One thing for sure, you'll have a ball! [img]images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[Labs & Ducks]

Chance - we must have been typing at the same time!!

[digger]

My trainer is Ronnie Harwell at Yocnona Bottom Retrevirs.He is bringing my dog's Sadie finished and Stormy started,both should do good.I may try to come to some of the test closer to home i'm entered in the other test too.Stormy should get her's in 2 weekend's,hope Sadie can also she can do the work but i understand it don't alway's work that way.Ronnie say 's she is smoking right now.Mabey I will meet some of you guy's before long,it sound's like a good time.I would really like to hear back from yall after the test to get a differant opinoin on my girl's.

[Bobby Williams]

Goose you are right about one thing these ARE your kind of people. The test is being held on State Property. Prision Farm. You may see some of your kin foks thar they will all be wearing white with numbers on the back of their shirts and on their pants leg.
Seriously all vicheles are subject to be searched so don't bring any beer,drugs or guns. [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[Big Lou]

AS a new comer to these UKC events.....Where do I get entry information? What kind of gear do I need for the water contest? I would like to run my dogs in a UKC event to see what it is like. I have a senior AKC dog and a Junior AKC dog. At what level should I enter them? I have already registered them both with the UKC and have their cards and certificates.

[gator]

i got a few questions for ya'll...my pup will be a year old in sept. and he's pretty good...am planning on entering a couple of these this year (i have heard of a run at kearney park and would like more info)...anyway, what do ya'll mean, started and finished...and when ya'll say 4 birds, is that blind or not....like i say, my dog is young, he's my first, he's pretty good and most importantly i'm proud of him, i just would like to see what he's really made of...i was gonna get in w/ travis while i was up in oxford but i wouldn't have gotten to be much help and i don't like starting something i know i can't finish...but i'm stuck here for now and am looking forward to this stuff...later

[Bobby Williams]

Well here goes. Started is for young and inexperienced dogs and handlers too for that matter.A started dogs has to pick up two single marks on land 75 yards max. and two birds on water 65 yards max. It is not recommended that a started handler handle the gun if he or she does they will be graded on gun safety. In started there is no blind retrieve, you may hold your dog, the dogs do not have to deliever to hand. That is pretty much what a started dogs in HRC has to do. AKC is a litte tougher I understand. Season dogs have to run a land and water blind no longer than 40 yards. Season dogs have to be steady at the lind, the handler has to handle a gun and can be disqualified for gun safety. Season dogs have to run double marks on land and water. They also get a devirsion bird. Finished is a lot tougher. I would suggest if at all possible for you to come and watch or go watch one where you can train for what might be thrown at you. I understand there will be a training session at the Mossy Oak outlet sometime in August get in touch with some one and they will help you. This is a very condensed version of what will happen.
You can log on to www.huntingretrieverclub.org and get a better idea of what to expect. If you have a question just post it here and I will try and answer it or e-mail me. Good luck. [img]images/smiles/icon_cool.gif[/img]

[goosebruce]

Ok, I'll try to explain the test levels... hrc (ukc) & akc....

Started- 2 singles on land (75 yards max) 2 singles on water (60 yards max). Seperated by 90 degrees (no tight falls). Deliver to area of handler & can hold dog to steady. Someone else shoots gun on the line for dog. Camo is worn by handlers & judges, and their is a duck call from the hidden wingers in field to attract dogs attetion. Jr. level at akc is a little longer, delivery to hand is required, no shot at line, instead in field, camo isnt worn by anyone typically, and you might get a shot flyer (live duck killed for dog as a mark). Things that dogs typically fail for... not used to having birds thrown for them out in field, not used to ducks, not exposed to decoys, dogs that simply wont mark, and in akc with a flyer, a dog that wont pick up a flopping duck.

Seasoned (hrc) & senior akc is mid level... Excuse me if Im not perfect on akc descriptions... Anywho.. Seasoned test consists of a land double (100 yards max) a water double, a walk up bird (dog walking at heel, a hidden bird comes out and the handler shoots, dog is expected to sit next to handler until released, whistle sit ok), a diversion bird (dog returning with bird, and you kill another bird, doesnt automaticly fail a season dog for switching, but is a markdown), a 40 yard water & land blind, that is run seprate from marks (i.e. the marks can't influence the blind, or be incorprated with the blind). handler shoots the marks, the blind, the walkup and diversion. Camo is worn, and judged on gun saftey. Senior akc is similar, but blinds are 100 yards, and they add an honor, but no gun shooitng on line, shots are in field. Senior marks will have a flyer somewhere in it, and you are more likely to see a lil concept in senior marks (have seen an inline, with the blind off the back of one of the gun stations, with a dry shot from the flyer station while running blind...lot tougher than any seasoned blind Ive ever seen!). Reasons dog fail seasoned mainly... water blind, water blind, water blind, land blind, wont swing with gun to see second mark, break on walk up). Senior... I havent watched enough to tell, but Im sure the blinds, and the honor get most.
Finsihed & master... Finished dogs see a triple on land & water (125/100 yards) and a land & water blind (100 yards) that is incorprated in marks. Expect diversions on any bird back, posion birds, some concpet n marks, blinds through cover you might not always be able to see your dog, breaking birds, dogs working remotely, honor handlers shooting as well, and sometimes their dogs picking up a bird. Might be treestands in flooded timber, coffin blinds inrice fields, edge of a big rolling field, stickpond duck shoots, you name it, Ive seen it in a finished test. Master tests have 3 series, and take 2 days. The rule book says marks shouldnt normally be over 100 yards (I think, maybe 125), but the word normally gives some judges liscenes to ill... Expect long marks, tight marks, and marks that have a lot of concept. Masters typically have a land series, water series, and a land water combo. A lot of series have a double blind, that will be TIGHT to the marks. Expect channel blinds, and blinds that require a lot of, hit that point, go over that log kind stuff. A master test is either a great test, or a bunch of crap thrown together depending on what judge set it up (my limited experience and opinion).
AKC has callbacks, ifn your not playing anymore, you dont get anymore birds. HRC you get all your birds, even if your out. AKC has guns in field and flyers. HRC you shoot the gun. HRC has more duck hunt to it, AKC has more dog training to it. Both are fine ways to spend a weekend and the best thing you can do for your hunting dog.
HRC also has a program known as the upland test. Dog has a walkup (often with an honor incorprated, 2 dogs 2 handlers walking up). Dog works for handler with a popper gun, and 2 gunners walking 10 yards to each side, and 2 or 3 judges walking behind them. Dog is released to quater a field, hunting advabile cover till he flushes a live planted bird. Can stop bird on a whistle for the flush, but preferable if dog sits to flush. Handler shoots popper to make it a legal flush, and gunners kill bird if they can. 2 flushes, walk up and an honor. Great fun, and your dog just went hunting... they love it.
Top of the game... The hrc grand is a twice a year hunt test for Hunting Retreiver Champions only. 5 series, with the 5th being an upland series. Callback on every series, these tests are no holds bared. 150 yard blinds and marks, quads are legal, flyers are legal, anything goes. Tests are tight, and judged on a point system. Marginal work might be carried one series, but the points required to get through next with the addtive point system takes the marginal dogs out. These are the best hunting dogs in the world. Tight blinds where dogs are often out of site, big marks, everything totally hidden. AKC has a master national test similar.. a dog has to pass like 6 mh tests in a year to quailfy, and must quailfy each year. Tougher to quailfy for, but the test is really a 5 day mh test, and akc has no title to reward the dog that has passed the mn. Its not advertised as a step up from their top level , like the grand is.

After being around some hunt tests, it doesnt take long for your views of a 'finished' working dog to totally change. You soon routienly see dogs do things you didnt know dogs could even do. Testing a dog isnt training, in fact, it errodes your training... but it is the catalsyt for your training, and it gives you a way to see how your training is, before those few morning every year in a duck blind. When a dog has done it in hunt tests, the switch to a duck blind is a snap. My duck season never closes now, and my dog hunts every day. travis

[gator]

ddddaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuuuummmmm! whew, i had no idea it was so involved...thanks bobby and goose...i am definitely interested, but it would probably be better if i saw one or something near it like you guys practicing before just to prepare my pup so he or me for that matter, doesn't get embarrassed...anything like that going on soon? heck goose, my idea of started, seasoned, and finished has already changed just from you and bobby's description...he's good, steadiness is not a problem, but i dunno, you never can tell...well, i'm game...and interested...please keep me up to date, later

[gator]

hey, i was just outside playing w/ my dog and i remembered that i forget to ask something...how much talking, whistle blowing, etc. are you allowed to do while your dog is working...i talk to mine the whole time encouraging him...i don't guess he really needs it but i've done it since he was a wee pup and just never have stopped...or say he overruns or doesn't run to a dummy/duck, are you allowed to holler NO! or blow whistle to get him on-track?

[goosebruce]

If you have to blow a whistle or stop your dog because he overran a mark, thats considered handling on a mark. First and foremost, retreivers watch things going down and bring them back. Marking tests are just that, to see if a dog can mark, and they are held in the upmost regards in hunt tests. Generally if you handle on 2 marks at any level you'll be out in either game (that means a total of 2 marks in the land & water series).
In hrc, you may quietly speak to your dog, reminding him to sit, and telling him swing with you (heel here to swing for the marks). In akc, once you call for the birds (singal you are ready), you can't speak to your dog again until the birds are down and the judge call dog... They have shots in the field to get the dogs attention, where in hrc the dog is swinging with you.
If you don't regulary work around other dogs, and a pumped up atmosphere... you need to before going to a hunt test. Nothing on God's green earth is as exciting to a dog as a hunt test, and your well behaved pooch becomes a monstor. Find a club in your area, or at least a training group, and do some training around a big bunch, and see how it effects your dog. You'll be shocked. Plus side to all of that, a dog that can keep it together in that kind of atmosphere, is a pleasure in a duck blind.

In akc, if you where to say NO loudly to your dog, you'd be told to pick him up. In hrc, odds are you'd be warned. Yelling no to a dog is a sure sign hes out of control, or lost, and isnt looked good upon in any game, no more than it would be by your hunting buddies in a duck marsh. Hunt tests are for testing dogs, no corrections are allowed. No ecollar, no choke chains, no heeling sticks. Those are things you train with, and a test is just that, to test your dog. Thats why I said testing errodes your training, putting your dog in a very exciting situtation where you cant correct him... so do your training before hand, and only test once you have passed the level of work your training for. Makes it a LOT more fun, not to be worryed if ya got nuff dog. travis