FIELD RULES and ETIQUETTE
Objective: To provide safe and instructive opportunities in field discipline for bird dogs, handlers and shooters while working with live birds.
1. CONSUMING ALCOHOL ON THE TRIAL GROUNDS IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN.
2. All participants must be “members in good standing” of the club. Membership applications are available, and dues may be paid at the trial registration.
3. Unreasonable physical disciplining of a dog, as judged by the Field Chairman, at any time, may result in the individual’s elimination from the field.
4. All individuals in the field must wear Hunter/Blaze Orange vests.
5. A brace consists of two (2) handlers and their dogs working as a team to search for planted birds.
6. A second party may accompany a handler into the field with the permission of the Field Marshal. With the permission of the Field Marshal, handlers are allowed a “pinch” gunner who must be a registered member.
7. Braces are assigned to an individual not to the dog.
8. An individual may enter one or more dogs. But, no individual may enter more than two dogs in the first draw. When the applicant pool is insufficient to fill the brace field, then individuals desiring to run in additional braces may renter the entry “pool.”
9. Handlers must enter the blind five (5) min. before the birds for their brace are planted. Anyone not in the blind 5 min. before the start of their brace may forfeit their entry fee and opportunity to compete.
10. Only six (6) light load shotgun shells of any gauge maybe carried by each gunner in the field. While in the field, the gun shall be unloaded until the location of the pointing dog is reached.
11. A brace may be in the field for no more than thirty (30) minutes, or the harvest of 4 birds, whichever comes first.
12. Bird Handlers must wear gloves when planting birds.
13. Six birds are planted for the first brace and four birds for each succeeding brace. This may very depending on conditions.
14. Running in the bird field may result in elimination from the brace by the Field Marshal.
15. When a dog "scoops" a bird, or the handler or dog picks up a crippled or a dead bird, one shot must be fired in the air to represent a bird harvested or the bird will not count as part of their bag.
16. A brace (see rule 5) may only harvest four (4) birds in any one brace. Taking more than four (4) birds is un-sportsmanlike and results in disqualification of the brace by the Field Marshal and may result in elimination from the trial. (4/03)
17. If the four (4) bird limit is filled prior to the end of the maximum allotted time (see rule 11), both dogs must immediately be leashed and the Field Marshal signaled to record the end of the brace.
18. When a horn signals the end of the brace, handlers must immediately leash their dogs and leave the field via the shortest route. This permits planting of the next brace's birds and keeps the event in motion.
19. Dead birds are returned to the Field Marshal for disposal.
20. Shooting in the direction of the gallery, brace mates or any individuals may result in automatic elimination from the trial at the discretion of the Field Marshal or Event Chairman. If a pointed bird flies in an unsafe direction, the gunner should call “safety.” “Safety” counts as a find and kill.
21. Placement ribbons are awarded for the best performance. Derby Dog Ribbons shall be awarded in each field to the highest individual scoring dog under two years of age (not a brace score/shared score) having found at least one bird. If there is a tie for the derby dog, all tied participants shall be awarded a derby dog ribbon.
22. The best performances are determined by the number of birds harvested with the least number of shells fired in the shortest amount of time (See point system below).
POINT SYSTEM: Number of Birds Harvested X 100 =_____
Number of Cartridges Remaining _______ X 5 =_____
Number of Minutes Remaining X 20 =_____
Total Score
23. “Sweeping” the field of remnant birds is only permitted after the trial awards ceremony is performed. When “Sweeping” no more than one dog per handler is allowed.
24. The executive committee will address violations of fun trial field and etiquette rules. Members in violation will have opportunities to explain or justify behavior. Punishment is at the discretion of the executive committee and may include loss of membership. (4/03)
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