From the February - March, 2007 Judges Corner

As I write this column it is mid January.  A new round of Judges Handlers Seminars has begun. Folks are thinking very serious about training and hunt tests will begin soon in several regions.  All this while many folks are enjoying, or in some cases lamenting the last few days of hunting season. I have a feeling it will be a very busy year for HRC and its members. 

 

If you are a licensed HRC judge, you should have received a copy of the new 2007 HRC Rules and Guidelines for Hunting Retriever Tests with your February – March issue of Hunting Retriever.  I was asked to mention that if a judge is on a family membership a rulebook will be sent to the judge directly from UKC in a separate mailing and should arrive shortly.   Each judge in the family will receive a rulebook.  Our judges licensing program stipulates that HRC judges take a written Judges Test every two years.  I noted in my last column that the new test would probably be up on the HRC website by the time the December issue of Hunting Retriever arrived.  I apologize to those of you who have been looking for it.  When UKC decided to send the new rulebooks with this issue of the magazine, it only made sense to delay posting the test on the website until everyone had their copy in hand.  So after a slight delay, for which HRC thanks you for your patience, the test is now on the HRC website.  Remember, getting our judges to give the rulebook a thorough read and becoming familiar with new rules and policy and procedure changes is the purpose of having a test.  Trust me when I tell you it would be difficult to score well on the 2007 Judges Test without the new rulebook in hand. You can find the test by following the applicable link on the HRC home page at www.huntingretriever.org.  In addition, if I am not mistaken, the test is printed in this issue as well.  HRC judges can study the test, and then go on line to complete and electronically submit it.  Or, for those without internet access, the test can be copied or cut from the magazine and mailed to HRC.  HRC is encouraging all judges who have accepted a judging assignment this spring to complete the test before they judge. 

By the way, I want to thank Bill and Cleo Watson who have once again agreed to score the tests submitted through the HRC website.  After grading each test, they report the results back to the judge then forward the score to Claudene to be recorded in the judge’s file.  As there are several hundred HRC judges who will take the test, the Watson’s work saves Claudene a tremendous amount of time, not to mention a few headaches in the process.  I should mention that although they grade it Bill and Cleo did not write the test.  What is the old saying?  “Don’t shoot the messenger”.   I’m hoping they will again keep track of how many times each question was missed.  It helps HRC to understand if there is confusion about a particular issue or where we need to focus our seminar instruction.  After a couple of hundred judges have taken the 2007 test, I’ll share those statistics with you in a future column.  Before getting to our scenarios in this issue, I want to mention a couple of more items about the new rulebook which might help when taking the Judges Test.  Those familiar with its format understand that our Rules and Guidelines booklet contains three basic categories of information.  Shaded areas indicate 1) Running Rules; and the rest of the information in the booklet is either; 2) policy or; 3) procedural in nature.  The policy and procedures sections contain information from both Hunting Retriever Club, Inc., and our affiliate, United Kennel Club, Inc.  The 2007 rulebook contains changes throughout in each of the three categories I mentioned.  These changes are denoted by an asterisk.  In addition to the running rules changes and polices voted on and approved by the HRC Board of Directors, the new book includes some additional policies from UKC which cover misconduct and discipline. 

 We’ll be focusing on the Upland Hunt Test in our scenarios in this issue.  Upland tests are becoming more popular and a number of clubs are doing a great job with them.  Many will be held in the next couple of months before weather allows regular hunts to begin in much of the country.  There are still some misconceptions and misunderstandings about the Upland that I hope I can help clear up with these scenarios.  Our first involves gun safety, which I thought was apropos in that we now have a Shotguns, Gun Safety & HRC Firearm Safety Policy in our new rulebook. 

 Scenario:

The Upland Hunt Test judges were briefing the two gunners who would accompany them and the handlers during the quartering and flushing portion of the test.  It was explained that the gunners would be positioned on either side of the handler and the group would proceed through the field line abreast with the dog working in front.  One of the judges said that after the dog flushed a bird, the handler would stop the dog and then shoot a popper at the bird.  He went on to explain that only then would the gunners be released to shoot their live rounds at the escaping bird.  The second judge spoke up to disagree with his co-judge about when the gunners could shoot, and asked the following question:

 Question:

 “I don’t think this is specifically covered in the rulebook, so why can’t we just let the gunners shoot when the bird is flushed and they have a clear shot at it? 

 Answer: 

I know for a fact this question has been raised at more than one Upland Hunt Test.  It’s also been the subject of some heated debates at a couple of our Judges Handlers Seminars.  The short answer to the question is one word:  Safety, Safety, and Safety!  Okay, that’s three words but the word bears repeating a hundred times if that’s what it takes for some people to get it.  I’m a Hunter Safety instructor for the state of Illinois.  One of the first and most important realities we teach our students is that once they pull the trigger of a gun the bullet or shot can’t be brought back.  You’ve might have heard somewhere about a dog being inadvertently shot in the upland field.  I have talked with more than one eyewitness who recounted stories of such a tragedy.  In one case, a hunter I know recalled helping a sobbing dog owner, still in shock, get back to his truck. The man had just killed his own dog by accident.  None of us ever wishes to experience something like that firsthand.  Thankfully, I know of no such incidents at any licensed HRC event.  We have an excellent record due to the emphasis we place on gun safety in our rules, regulations, policies, and judges training and the efforts of our HRC judges and hunt test officials. Before beginning to give you a more complete answer to the question posed in this scenario I want to briefly mention HRC’s Upland Hunt Test Guide.  This document can be described as a comprehensive overview of the HRC Upland Test for judges and handlers.  It has some great information on gun safety at Upland Test and information for clubs on topics such as obtaining quality game birds and keeping them in top condition, etc. The Upland Guide is available to download from the HRC website.  

 The Guidelines for Judges and Conducting Events section of our rulebook, item 6 states; “Safety should be the Judge’s main concern in setting up the most realistic hunting tests for the dog and Handler.”  In addition to a thorough handler briefing, gun safety considerations make it imperative that there be a gunners briefing at any HRC event where designated gunners are to be used. This is true especially in tests where live loads will be fired.  While a full and complete explanation of a proper Upland gunners briefing is probably beyond the scope of this article there are some thoughts and observations I’d like to share with you.   

I as well as several experienced Upland judges I know prefer that Upland Hunt Test gunners be dog owners if possible, or at minimum have some experience Upland hunting with flushing dogs.  The sharpshooters from the local gun club might work out just fine, but I have seen more than a couple that showed me that moving through a field with a group of people and a working dog seemed “foreign” to them, for lack of a better word.  A crack shot that handles their gun safely, who is conscious of the dog, listens well to instructions,  and understands that killing the birds is secondary to our test objectives is of course the perfect gunner.  Gunners who can’t get past the thought that they were brought to the event to kill the birds are best used in situations such as a shot flyer station, well away from judges, handlers, and the dogs. 

 Those words might seem harsh and I apologize if anyone takes offense.  On second thought, I don’t apologize for my pessimistic attitude in general about gunners I am unfamiliar with.  Within the last twelve months I have witnessed the following at HRC Upland Hunt tests:  1) a gunner who shot a bird on the ground; 2) a gunner wearing heavy gloves and walking with the gun pointed toward the ground that pulled up directly through the dog to point at a bird after taking the safety off; 3) a gunner shooting at a bird that had turned and flown back behind the judges; 4) a gunner that shot directly over a handler’s head who, when admonished for it explained that he knew the handler and he was about deaf anyway; 5) a gunner who just would not wait for the handler to shoot before firing: 6) a gunner who insisted on shooting at every bird, including the ones flying toward the other gunner on the opposite side of handler; 7) a gunner who shot with a breaking dog running toward the bird; and 8) a gunner who shot at a bird that he himself flushed accidentally. These items were in addition to the times I observed gunners carrying their firearms with muzzles pointed back toward people behind them and gunners standing around the line waiting for the next handler with live loads in a closed breech.  The good news is that judges, clubs gunners and hunt committees are gaining more experience with every Upland test.  Please remember that gun safety, especially where live loads are used, demands that we all stay constantly vigilant.  By the way, we always say one judge should watch the dog and the other the throws at a regular hunt test.  At the Upland I’ll add this – each judge should watch the gunner on his or her side of the course until satisfied the gunner is safe and following instructions.    

The test rules for the Upland Hunt Test states that when the bird is flushed the Upland hunting dog must be steady to wing and shot. The Quartering section of the rulebook goes on to say, in this order, that the after the bird is flushed, the Handler will shoot the gun (popper), and the gunners may kill the bird.  It’s pretty clear to me that this means the handler shoots first, and then the gunners are released to shoot if they have a safe shot.  Not convinced yet?  The rulebook goes on to say under the Guidelines for Judging Upland Hunt Tests, Item II – Quartering; “After the flush is made the dog should come to a stop on its own or on the command of the Handler. It is not necessary for the dog to sit, but it should come to a stop within a reasonable distance after the flush to allow the Handler and gunners a clean and safe shot.”  Therein lays the reasoning and logic behind admonishing the gunners to wait to fire until the handler shoots.  The Handlers should be briefed to never shoot until they have stopped the dog.  The Handler is taking responsibility and a large role in their dog’s safety by stopping it first, waiting until the bird is up and away from the dog, then shooting their popper, knowing that only then will the live rounds be fired.  If the gunners hold fire until the handler fires, chances are in most cases the dog will indeed be out of harm’s way.  Of course the judges and gunners should always keep an eye open for the dog that breaks on the handlers shot.  Good gunners following a proper briefing understand not to shoot anytime the dog is chasing the bird, period.  As a judge, when I see a gunner glancing at the dog to check its steadiness and position before shooting each time, I know the gunner gets it!  There is no reason for Upland gunners to shoot at a bird before a handler has fired! End of story.  By the way, I would encourage judges, marshals and other HRC test officials to take a close look at the new section on “Gunners” in the 2007 Rulebook. Now let’s take a quick look at another scenario that involves a portion of our Upland Test that some judges and clubs seem to be struggling to understand or accept. 

 Scenario: 

The two licensed Upland judges arrived Friday afternoon to set up the upland test.  The hunt committee promptly produced two remote release boxes and informed the judges that they wanted the launchers used because “we always use them, and it insures consistency for all the dogs”.  The judges quickly informed the hunt chairman they were going to set up natural flushes and would only use the launchers as back up at the end of the field.  As you might expect, a rather intense discussion ensued. 

Question: 

What does our rulebook say about this situation?  

Answer: 

Our rulebook says quite a lot actually.  This or something like it has happened at Upland Hunt tests on more than one occasion.  To be fair to everyone, I could have easily reversed the situation and had the judges wanting to use remote releases and the committee wanting natural flushes.   

When I decided to present this scenario, I realized that it would be a little like picking up a stick and smacking a hornet’s nest, figuratively speaking. Many HRC members have strong feelings about the topic of remote launchers in the Upland, including myself.  Despite my personal opinion, which I’ll of course share with you forthwith, I promise a good faith effort at explaining the rulebook wording and intent on the subject.  I suspect I’ll be hearing from a few folks after this discussion.  If you take blood pressure medicine, now would be the time before reading further.   

There seems to be two distinct camps in our organization as respects Upland testing; 1) those who want natural flushes in our Upland tests, and 2) those who think it’s perfectly fine to use remote launchers.  Very few HRC members seem to be on the fence on this issue, except for perhaps the folks who want to use wire baskets only.  I have no problem with remote launchers and I believe they can have a place in training, and certainly have a place in our Upland Hunt Test program.  That said, our rulebook is very clear in stating that; “In all cases, a natural flush is preferred to the use of traps, pens, cages, or other devices designed to contain and then release birds during the quartering test.”  The role of these devices and when it’s okay to use them is clearly defined in the following rulebook wording:   “When conditions exist that prohibit the use of natural flushes (e.g., weather, poor birds, insufficient cover, etc.), such devises may be utilized.”  It is the intent of our rulebook that devices to restrain a bird or launch it are only to be used where natural flushes are impossible to obtain and where otherwise an Upland event would need to be cancelled!  Some people, who I know can read, are still insisting judges or hunt committees have the option to use such devices anytime.   These folks either have a reading comprehension problem or are electing to blatantly ignore the wording because they just want to use releases or baskets for some reason.  Some have argued that the wording, “When such devices are used the live bird is flushed (thrown or released) in full view of the dog” supports their argument that throwing or releasing a bird is fine and dandy.  Pardon the pun, but that won’t fly.  We’ve already established when and only when such devices are acceptable to use, and the word “flushed” is clearly being used euphemistically in the sentence.  The rulebook states “The Upland Hunting dog is expected to flush the bird”.  A dog does not flush a bird from a remote launcher – the operator does.  There is really nothing more that needs to be said, but of course that has never stopped me before and I have a few more comments.   

The purpose and philosophy of our HRC program at all levels involves testing retrievers afield under actual hunting conditions and evaluating them on qualities desirable in a hunting retriever.  I would ask you to ponder the following question. If we desire steadiness to wing and shot when a dog is in the upland field, can we test for that trait using artificial methods? Consider the following.  I have seen dogs turn away from a box launcher when it released the bird, or just sit on the sound of the launcher, never having even seen the bird fly up.  I’ve seen some come running back to the handler having no clue where the bird went after the box went off.  One handler at a test asked if the judges still considered it a break if the dog ran toward him when the box released the bird, I suppose in lieu of a normal break where the dog chases the bird.  I don’t have time to even get into soft, creeping flushes or dogs that have to be coaxed to flush a bird because of the pressure they’ve received around a box launcher.  My co-judge and I failed a dog at an Upland test once that clearly acted afraid of a live bird walking around on open ground in front of it.  The brave little chuckar just dared this dog to come after it and the dog would not do so despite pleading by the handler to fetch it up.  What if this bird had been launched from a box and the dog sat on the “flush”? If the gunners had either missed it entirely, or killed it and the dog retrieved it, I suppose the dog would have passed.  The dog clearly did not deserve championship upland points that day. If an individual wants to only use remote launchers or wire baskets to train their dog that is their prerogative.  They might even believe they have a trained upland dog.  The bottom line is avid upland hunters in HRC know that only a dog that hunts diligently and shows steadiness to wing and shot on a natural flush falls into that elite group of animals.   

A good upland dog works with enthusiasm at both finding and flushing game.  Therein lays one of the problems with box launchers.  They are inherently unsafe in that they can easily and severely injure a hard charging dog if the operator hits the release too late.  Wire baskets remove the safety problem and are much better than box launchers.  They keep the bird from running off, but because some birds think they are safe behind the wire there can still be problems with getting the birds to flush out of the baskets.  Because the bird is confined, wire baskets fall into the same category as box launchers and are not a substitute for a natural flush.  The word consistency was mentioned in the scenario description.  There is little that is consistent when actually upland hunting.  Birds run, cripples or weak birds are encountered that flush poorly and birds hide in cover and are caught.  A well trained upland hunting dog deals with these things and forges on much as do dogs at our regular hunts, which are not exactly bastions of consistency. When I hear proponents of remote launchers use the word consistent, I really think they mean convenient.  It’s much easier to use a launcher or other device that contains the birds than to make the effort to plant birds properly for a natural flush.  Nobody said it was easy to put on a quality hunt test of any kind.  If a club needs assistance in any aspect of the Upland, they can consult the Upland Test Guide I mentioned earlier, or contact any number of individuals that would be glad to offer advice. I know a couple of HRC members who I believe could get a Dokken pheasant to flush! 

I’ve hope you’ve enjoyed this discussion as much as I’ve enjoyed writing about the Upland.  There is much more to be said, especially regarding fair evaluation of the Upland dog’s performance.  Perhaps I’ll cover things such as calling a no bird, and properly evaluating steadiness in a future column.  I wish all of you and your retrievers the best of luck during the upcoming hunt test season.   

We hope the “Judge’s Corner” will both entertain and inform you.  Please send your questions and scenarios to Tim at:

 judgescorner@huntingretrieverclub.org