AQH will not under any circumstances tolerate poor sportsmanship, mistreatment of a dog, unsafe handling of a firearm, alcohol or drug use or any other act that is un-becoming of a gentleman or a lady or that is a detriment to the Field Trial. Two hunters with two dogs will compete in a field at the same time.
Sec 1: Puppy division: Open to puppies up to 12 months of age.
Sec 2: Derby division: Open to any dog up to 36 months of age.
Sec 3: Gun Dog division: Open to any dog.
Sec 4: Sr. division: Open only to dogs over 8 years of age.
Sec 5: A dog can compete only one time per division per trial. However, the dog may compete in more than one division per trial, if age appropriate.
Sec 6: Scheduling of run times will be determined by a witnessed blind draw at least two days prior to the event.
Sec 7: All fields must be flushed prior to the field trial start by a non-competing dog or a four-wheeler.
Sec 8: A hunter may not use any objects to assist him/her to reach a dropped bird other than the one step and his arms length to pick up the bird.
Sec 9: A hunter may not lie down to reach a dropped bird. A partial retrieve will be scored if the dog has completed all necessary phases of the partial retrieve rule.
Sec 10: Hunter must make an attempt to flush the bird. After the three (3) second point is established and the dog does not move and the bird flushes, the bird can be acted on for a full score. Hunter must be in reasonable distance to the dog or in the area of dog; up to judge’s discretion.
Sec 11: If time limit has expired and a bird has been shot, the dog has a thirty (30) second grace period to complete the retrieve. If the shot bird is not picked up by the dog by the end of the thirty (30) second grace period, no retrieval points will be awarded. If the dog finds and picks up the shot bird but the retrieve is not completed to the hunter’s hand within the thirty (30) second grace period, the dog will be awarded points for a partial retrieve.
NOTE: If the time limit has expired while the dog is on point and no bird has been produced the handler must leash his dog immediately and (0) zero points will be awarded.
Sec 12: If a shot bird falls behind an obstruction that the dog cannot pass safely over or through, the hunter may help the dog over the fence and back and receive full points for the retrieval if the dog brings the bird back to within one step of the hunter. Once the hunter helps the dog over the fence, the hunter must now remain stationary until the dog retrieves the bird to within one step of the new position. NOTE: The hunter is allowed one step from this new position; however the pivot foot must remain stationary.
Sec 13: If a fence is used to divide fields and the hunter shoots a bird, the judge must witness the bird had fallen dead in order for the hunter to set the dog over the fence to attempt to make the retrieve in the field on the other side of the fence. Once the hunter helps the dog over the fence, the hunter must now remain stationary until the dog retrieves the bird to within one step of the new position.
Sec 14: Multiple birds flushed on point are only awarded (20) points for the point. The dog will be awarded multiple retrieves if more than one bird is bagged.
Sec 15: If the dog goes on point during a retrieve in bounds, the hunter may move to flush the second bird with no penalty on the first bird. However, he/she must use the second shooting spot as the stationary position for both birds. If no bird is produced the second shooting spot is still the stationary position for the first retrieve and the dog will be awarded a full retrieve provided the dog completes the retrieve to this new position.
Sec 16: Trees and bushes that are inside the boundaries are considered to be in bounds. If the judge witnesses that the shot bird has fallen dead and hung in an in bounds or an out of bounds tree/object and a retrieve is impossible, then the hunter will receive full points for the bagged bird.
Sec 17: A dog backing another dog on point is ineligible to receive points for a
retrieve. If the backing dog retrieves the down bird the pointing dog will earn points for a full retrieve.
Sec 18: Any female dog in season must be run last. The hunter must make the trial committee or field marshal aware of this. Failure to do so may result in the disqualification of the dog.
Scoring:
All scorecards must be signed by the hunter and by the judge. Scorecards are FINAL and the only additions/changes that can be made to the scorecard once signed is for a mathematical error, or a judge giving a hunter credit for something that the dog did not earn. If the hunter should have a protest, the hunter SHOULD NOT sign the scorecard until a final decision has been reached by the trial committee or field marshal, following the protest.
Sec 1: (0) No points will be awarded unless a bird is produced (bird seen by the judge) If a hunter gets no bird work in the allotted time limit, his final score shall be (0) zero.
Sec 2: (20) Twenty points will be awarded for each three - second point after the hunter has called "Point”. A point is considered a “Good Point” after the hunter has called “Point” and the dog has been stationary for 3 seconds. The judge may award a “Good Point” as soon as the hunter calls “Point” if the judge has observed the dog pointing for 3 seconds prior to the hunter calling “Point”. To be credited with the score of 20 points for a “Point” the hunter must call point. Multiple points will not be awarded to the dogs score if the dog relocates on the same bird. No points will be awarded if no bird was produced. Only (20) points will be awarded if the point produces more than one bird.
Sec 3: (10) Ten points will be awarded for one “Back” per dog, per run. After the hunter has called “Back”, the hunter may then whoa his/her dog. The backing dog must remain motionless after the hunter calls “Back” with no assistance from the hunter other than the command whoa, until the pointing dog moves or a bird leaves the nest.
Sec 4: (9) Nine points will be awarded for a Safety at the discretion of the judge.
Sec 5: (2) Two points will be deducted for each time the hunter misses.
Sec 6: The dog has to establish a “Good Point” as called or as recognized by the judge on a bird before the hunter will be permitted to bag that bird or zero (0) points will be awarded for the sequence and a shell will be deducted if the bird was acted on.
Sec 7: Bumped birds (-5) points When a dog bumps a bird it will result in a deduction of 5 points.
Sec 8: Interference (-5) any dog that interferes with a dog on point or retrieve will result in a 5 point deduction.
Birds:
Sec 1: A bagged bird must be in-bounds when pointed.
Sec 2: If a bird enters into the field of its own accord, this bird is then considered a legal bird.
Sec 3: If a bird is unintentionally pushed into the field by an out-of-bounds dog or if a hunter leaves the field to retrieve an out of bounds dog and accidentally flushes a bird back into the field. That bird becomes a "Marked Bird" and the hunter has to keep his dog off of the bird for three minutes and then hunt the bird for a full sequence.
Sec 4: No points will be awarded for a cold, dead bird retrieved from out of bounds.
Sec 5: An out of bounds dog may point a bird that is in bounds.
Sec 6: The whole bird must be completely out of bounds before the bird cannot be scored on. If the bird is standing on or directly above an out of bounds stake, fence or line when pointed by a competing dog, that bird is considered to be IN BOUNDS.
Sec 7: Pointed Dead Birds will be scored as a point and a safety. The bird must be a whole bird.
Sec 8: The hunter MUST make an attempt to flush the bird. If after the attempt to flush the bird fails to fly and the judge sees that the bird cannot or will not fly, the hunter, designated shooter or the dog may pick up the bird and the sequence will be scored as a safety.
Sec 9: A trapped bird is a bird that has been caught (trapped) by the dog before leaving the nest, which results in (0) zero points for the sequence. If the bird has gotten up, has moved, fluttered or is moving; the bird by definition has left the nest.
Sec 10: It is considered un-sportsmanlike for a hunter to intentionally injure a bird while attempting to flush the bird. EFFECT: the sequence will be scored as a zero (0).
Sec 11: The bird planter shall mix the bird planting to the best of their ability so that the birds are not planted in the same spot each time.
Safety
A GOOD, SAFE SHOT IS ALWAYS the responsibility of the hunter.. Failure to display safe shooting or gun handling practices while competing in an AQH event is grounds for immediate disqualification. This is left solely up to the judgment of the judge, trial host, field marshal or trial committee.
Sec 1: No bird in flight may be shot unless it is safe to do so. A Safety shall be called for ANY unsafe shooting condition involving potential injury to any person, dog, or personal property.
Sec 2: The hunter or judge may call a Safety. The final decision as to whether the Safety will be allowed will be left up to the judge's discretion. NOTE: It is possible though NOT LIKELY for two or more Safeties to be awarded if multiple flushes occur and there is no safe shot on any bird.
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Sec 4: Running by any hunter is prohibited during the field trial. It is the hunter's responsibility to control him or herself from running.
EFFECT: The first warning assessed to the hunter; zero (0) points will be deducted. For the second warning to the hunter a five (5)-point deduction will be assessed. For the third warning, the hunter WILL BE DIS-QUALIFIED.
Sec 6: As long as the hunter has a shell in his/her gun, a Safety can still be awarded.
Sec 7: Hunter Safety
a) No bird is to be shot on the ground.
b) Blaze Orange Vest; Cap, or Coat must be worn during the trial.
c) All guns MUST have the shells removed and the chamber left open at all times except while competing.
d) All dogs must be leashed, staked out, in a vehicle or restrained in some manner (approved by trial committee or field marshal) unless competing.
e) If the hunter must help a dog over or through any obstruction, the hunter must give the gun to the judge unloaded, with the chamber open.
f) If the hunter must leave the trial grounds for any reason during the run, the hunter must give the gun to the judge unloaded, with the chamber open.
g) Only 2 3/4 inch shells will be allowed for 16 gauge and larger bore guns. 20 gauge and smaller bore guns may use 3-inch shells. Maximum size shot is six (6) shot for ANY gun.
Hunter and his Dog
Sec 1: It is each hunter’s responsibility to be in the blind on time. The decision on how many hunters are to be in the blind is left up to the trial committee.
Sec 2: No electric training collars, combination collars, check cords or any other training device will be allowed during the trial.
Sec 3: The dog's regular collar must not have any kind of prongs.
Sec 4: If a conflict occurs with starting times or fields, the next brace in rotation will be moved up, and the trial shall continue. AQH will try to make every attempt to make sure that this does not happen. The brace that had the conflict will move back into the regular rotation as soon as possible.
Sec 5: Any conflict with scoring will be taken to the trial committee.
Definitions:
Sec 1: Acted On: Acted on is when a hunter fires his gun at a bird for the purpose of bagging it.
Sec 2: Back: A back is when one dog honors another dogs point and holds his back until the pointing dog moves. A back is worth five (10) points and must be called by the hunter. Only one back per dog, per run will be scored.
Sec 3: Bagged Bird: A bagged bird is a bird that has been shot, retrieved, or picked up after a 3 second point was established, and in the possession of the hunter.
Sec 4: Caught Bird: A caught bird is a bird that has left the nest but does not flush high enough to allow the hunter to shoot, the dog catches the bird and shall be scored a safety.
Sec 5: Field Marshal: A field Marshal is a person appointed by the trial committee or host to oversee a particular field(s). A Field Marshal has the authority to make rulings on protests, changing of running order and to oversee the overall proceedings of the field to which he/she has been assigned.
Sec 6: Illegal Dog: Is a dog that enters into a field in which the dog is not assigned.
Sec 7: Interference: Any dog or person not assigned to the field in which the run is taking place enters into that field and distracts the legal dog in any way, flushes a bird from the field, or in the judgment of the judge, hinders the legal dog in any way will be considered interference.
Sec 8: Point: A point is awarded when the hunter calls "Point” and the hunter’s dog has been stationary for three seconds, and the judge has determined the point to be a "Good Point". In order for the hunter to receive points awarded for a "Good Point," the judge must see the bird.
Sec 9: Retrieves: There are two kinds of retrieves, a full retrieve and a partial retrieve.
a) A full retrieve is worth 10 points and is awarded when a dog brings the bird(s) back to within one step of the hunter.
b) A partial retrieve is worth 5 points and is awarded when a dog only partially brings a bird back to the hunter. To be scored as a partial retrieve, the dog has to have the bird in its mouth and make an attempt to bring the bird to the hunter (the dog must make a complete step toward the hunter with at least one foot).
Sec 10: Running: The definition of running is the hunter not having at least one foot on the ground at all times while competing.
Sec 11: Safety: A Safety can be called by the hunter or the judge. A Safety is called only when the dog, judge, gallery, or personal property would be in peril if the hunter would choose to shoot.
Sec 12: Time Limit: An AQH field trial will be run with time limit of (15) Minutes for Gun dogs (15) Minutes for Derby dogs and (12) Minutes for Puppies.
Sec 13: Trapped Bird(s): A trapped bird is a bird that has been caught (trapped) by the dog before leaving the nest. If the bird has gotten up, has moved, fluttered, or is moving, this bird by definition HAS left the nest.
Sec 14: Walking: The definition of walking is a hunter having at least one foot on the ground at all times while competing. The cadence of the walk should be heel - toe, heel – toe.
Field Trial Info
American Field Trial (Horseback)
N. S. T. R. A.
Sand Mountain
Hal Kirby 256-228-6885
Danville
Junior Smith 662-365-5398
Limestone
Ed Pearson 256-974-1895
National Bird Hunters
Lamar-Marion Chapter
Harold Boyette 205-486-6888