Safety Rules

All participants must be at least 12 years of age and be able to show proof, upon request, of completion of a Hunters Safety course from their state of residence.
All participants must wear high visibility blaze orange or green; i.e. a cap, vest, or other article of clothing as an outer garment.
12 gauge shotguns will shoot no more than 2 ¾ inch shells containing no shot larger than #5. 20 gauge shotguns will be allowed to shoot 3-inch shells containing no shot larger than #5.
Events held on WMAs will require non-toxic shot.
Safety is the responsibility of the participant at all times, unsafe handling of a firearm or inappropriate behavior will be grounds for disqualification without refund of entry fees or any other compensation.

Making the Finals

Assuming there are enough entries to fill four fields in each division, the top three scores from each field on Saturday will qualify for the finals which will be run the following morning, Sunday, beginning at 8:00 am.
If there are only enough dogs entered in either division to support the running of only three fields, then the top four scores from each field will qualify for the finals.
If there are only enough dogs entered in either division to support the running of only two fields, then the top six scores from each field will qualify for the finals.
At the calcutta there will be a "Lucky Dog" drawing. Any dog that competed on Saturday, but did not qualify for the finals is eligible to purchase a raffle ticket for the "Lucky Dog" drawing. The raffle tickets will cost $10.00. One dog will be drawn from each division and the winning dogs will be entered into the finals. The cost of the ticket covers the winning dog's entry fee for the finals.
An additional spot in the finals for each division will be auctioned off at the dinner, Saturday night. Any team that ran during the event Saturday, but did not qualify for the finals is eligible to bid for the fourteenth spot. The bidding will begin at $120.00 which will cover the entry fee for the winning dogs.

Hunt Rules

Scoring will be as follows:

A: 10 points for each bird in the bag (maximum of 60 points)

B: 5 points for each point or flush (maximum of 30 points)

C: 5 points for each retrieve (maximum of 30 points)

D: 5 points for each shell remaining (maximum of 30 points)

E: 1 point for each minute of time not used

F: up to one point for dog performance based on judge’s opinion

A team will consist of two (2) hunters and one (1) dog. A dog can run once in both the singles division and the doubles division, but must consistently compete as either a flushing dog or a pointing dog throughout the event.
Run times (hunt times) will be drawn prior to the start of the contest. All running times are approximate, teams will be moved up as necessary to keep the event running in a timely manner. Teams must check in and sign any required waivers at least one hour prior to their scheduled start time.
Participants (Hunters) must hunt together behind the dog. Hunters must walk through the course. NO RUNNING IS ALLOWED.
The hunt shall begin from a designated start area, and only that start area. The hunt shall end when six (6) birds are in the possession of the hunters, when thirty (30) minutes has expired, or a team is out of shells. Time will be added to the score only if six (6) birds are bagged. If a team is out of shells they cannot bag a bird and no remaining time shall be counted for their score. Teams that request to stop their hunt prior to obtaining six (6) birds will forfeit all remaining time and it shall not be counted in their score.
Each hunter will be limited to the use of six (6) shells. One shell will be counted as fired from either of the two guns should it not be fired during the hunt. (Each hunter is required to shoot at least once.)
There shall be no training aids attached to the dog during the hunt. Dogs are permitted to wear a loose fitting identification collar. Any team wanting to run their dog with a training aid attached will be allowed to run, but will not receive a score for their run.
A bird flushed within the boundary of the course but dropped out of bounds must be retrieved by the dog only and returned in bounds to be counted. A bird flushed out of bounds must be dropped in bounds to be counted. If a dog is out of bounds on point, one hunter may proceed to flush the bird, but that hunter cannot fire his or her gun at the bird. Uninjured birds from another field must land in your field before it can be shot to be counted as a legal bird. No pass shooting is allowed.
All birds must be off the ground and flying before they can be shot. No birds may be shot on the ground unless expressly requested by the JUDGE in the event of a running bird that will not fly and cannot be caught by hand.
A dead bird from a previous run will not count for any points.
Pointers are expected to remain steady on point until the hunter flushes the bird. The dog is not allowed to flush the bird. The dogs must retain a non-advancing point for a total of three (3) seconds for the dog to be given credit for a point. The Judge will announce "pointed bird" to the competitor after the dog has met the requirement. In order to be given credit for a pointed bird, the dog still must not be the cause of the bird being flushed. Once the handler makes an attempt to flush the bird, the dog is allowed to move, as long as the dog is not the initial cause of the bird being flushed.
In the pointing division a bird that has left the nest can be caught by the dog and will be counted as a caught bird. If the dog catches the bird within two (2) steps of the hunter, the bird must be retrieved further than two steps away for the retrieve to count. All thrown birds must be dead. A hunter may not throw a live caught bird and then shoot it. When the bird is bagged, a shell will be taken from the hunter with the most remaining shells. If both hunters have the same number of remaining shells, the shell shall be taken from the dog handler. The dog gets the point if he was steady and the retrieve if made. At the judge’s discretion, a bird may be picked up if it refuses to flush. The bird then may be dispatched and thrown for the retrieve.
In the flushing division, the dog must flush the bird. The hunter is not allowed to put the bird in the air.
In the flushing division a trapped bird will count, the dog will receive points for the flush, the retrieve if made, and the bird will count as bagged. One shell will be taken from the hunter with the most shells, or if both hunters have the same number of shells, the shell will be taken from the dog handler.
In the flushing division retrieves must be made to hand. In the pointing division a retrieve is counted if the dog brings the bird to within two normal steps of the hunter. The hunter is not allowed to shorten the retrieve by taking steps towards the dog. In both divisions the dog may retrieve to either hunter.
Judges may call a safety if they determine that the shot will endanger an observing party, the gallery, a judge, or another hunter (other than his own teammate or dog). When a safety is called, full points will be given for the retrieve and the bird. One shell shall be counted as fired from the hunter with the most shells in his possession or from the handler if both have the same number of shells. Safeties may be requested by either hunter but will only be allowed at the discretion of the judges. If a hunter fires after a safety has been called it may result in disqualification. If the safety is called on the sixth bird, the clock will stop as soon as the hunters have the dog under control at heel.
Absolutely no person may protest a run other than his or her own run. The protest must be filed with the hunt chairman within one hour of the completion of the run. CHECK AND SIGN YOUR SCORE SHEET WITH THE JUDGES IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOU RUN. Scoring problems will be settled by the official score sheet.
Dogs may not be called back to a bird if a bird is seen in front of the hunters but behind the dog. The hunter may go around the bird and then hunt their dog back to the bird, or they may wait for the dog to return to them with no verbal commands or hand signals.
Dogs will be placed on leash when the hunt has finished and will immediately proceed to the nearest border of their field by the most direct method so as not to disturb any birds that remain in the field.
All dogs must be on leash or boxed when not being hunted. Please air your dog away from the designated hunting area.
Dogs interfering with a hunt in another field may be disqualified. The hunt being interfered with will be awarded full points as awarded in a safety if the bird leaves the field. If the bird does not leave the field and you have time to hunt the bird you will be expected to continue the hunt. If in the opinion of the judge you do not have enough time to hunt the bird in the time remaining all points will be awarded as in a safety.
Each team will be required to report to and stay in the designated staging area of their field at the beginning of the running of the dog that they are to follow. Teams will not be permitted to view the bird plant prior to their run or view the running of the dog immediately prior to their scheduled run.
Ties will be broken by the following: 1. Bird Count 2. Points or Flushes 3. Shell Count (shooting accuracy) 4. Retrieves 5. Time 6. Dog Performance
Females in season will not be allowed in the contest. Full refund for dogs in season will be given. Should a female come in season after qualifying for the finals she will be allowed to run, but will automatically draw the final position of the day and must be kept boxed and well away from any other contesting dog until her run time.
Judges will not be subjected to any abusive behavior of any kind.