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SEASONED HUNT TESTS
(*Revised January 1, 2007)
PURPOSE AND PHILOSOPHY
This hunt test is for Seasoned Hunting Retrievers and Handlers. It duplicates actual hunting conditions throughout the local area. Judges will look for style and natural ability and evidence that the Seasoned Hunting Retriever exhibits a reasonable degree of control. These hunting tests have longer retrieves on both water and land than Started Tests. The Seasoned Hunting Retriever must be steady on line and retrieve to hand. The Seasoned Hunting Retriever in these hunting tests usually has a couple of seasons of hunting experience, and more training.
ELIGIBILITY
Any hunting retriever or purebred Gun Dog of any age or sex may participate. This is the next step for hunting retrievers that have earned the maximum Championship points in the Started Hunt Test category. It is not necessary to have earned Championship points in the Started Hunt Test category before participating in the Seasoned Hunt Test category. Hunting retrievers with Championship points earned in the Finished Hunt Test category may not be entered for points in the Seasoned Hunt Test category. No hunting retriever may participate in two different hunt tests per Licensed Hunt. Bitches in heat will not be allowed on the Hunt grounds.
Dogs may participate in this category without being UKC
registered. Non-UKC registered dogs participating in the Seasoned category have 60 days after passing the test to become UKC registered and have their Championship points applied to their record. A fee will be charged by UKC
for application of points to a dog’s record if not registered within 60 days.
DESCRIPTION
The Seasoned hunt will have five (5) tests. These five tests shall consist of at least the following: (1) a doublemarked land retrieve, (2) a double-marked water retrieve, (3) a walk-up, or tracking, or quartering test, (4) a blind land retrieve, and (5) a blind water retrieve. Part of the test must include a diversion. Failure of a hunting retriever to pass any of the hunting tests will not prevent the hunting retriever from participating in subsequent tests unless the Handler is unsafe in handling a gun.
HUNTING TESTS
The hunting test must duplicate actual hunting conditions. Practical hunting distances must be used in all Seasoned Hunting Retriever Tests. Dead pheasants, pigeons, ducks or other game birds must be used for all hunting tests, except for shot flyers or upland game tests, to gain Championship points.
JUDGES
Judges will provide an explanation of each hunt test objective to the Handlers. Judges will “pass” or “fail” a hunting retriever based on its ability rather than the Handler’s expertise. The Judges must follow the Seasoned Hunt Test Rules and Judge’s Guidelines. Gunners and Bird Boys shall be placed at the Judge’s discretion. There must be at least two Judges, one of which must be licensed or AA Licensed if one is an Apprentice Judge. The Judge’s decision is final.
HANDLERS
At the retrieving line, voice or whistle commands may be used to steady the hunting retriever. The Handler shall not intimidate the hunting retriever at the retrieving line. The Handler shall not have any training aid to intimidate the hunting retriever; i.e., whip, prod, cane, quirt, dummy, weighted or shock collars or other similar equipment at the retrieving line. On the Judges signal, the hunting retriever is to be released by the Handler or as otherwise directed by the Judge.
The Handler must keep the hunting retriever on lead to and from the retrieving line. A hunting retriever that breaks away and runs into the working area of another hunting retriever may result in disqualification. Handlers are expected to conduct themselves in such a manner that they do not disturb game or the Hunt. It is recommended that all Handlers take and pass a province or state certified hunter safety course.
*SHOTGUNS, GUN SAFETY & FIREARM SAFETY POLICY
*Hunting Retriever Club, Inc. adopts the policy of the International Hunter Safety Association (available on the Club CD or www.HuntingRetrieverClub.org). All HRC Judges are required to PROVE safe each firearm used in their Hunt Test. HRC strongly recommends that all participants at a HRC/UKC Licensed event have an approved Hunter Safety Course.
Only authorized guns will be allowed in the test area. Authorized guns are those shotguns inspected and found to be in proper working order and approved for use at the test site(s) by a hunt official(s). All shotguns are assumed to be loaded with live ammunition and must be handled accordingly. The Handler must hold the shotgun in a safe hunting position. During test simulations, when directed by the Judges, the Handler must shoulder the shotgun, aim, track and shoot at the top of the arc of the thrown bird. Mishandling of firearms will result in immediate disqualification of both Handler and hunting retriever. If pump or semi-automatic shotguns are used, a plug must be in the magazine, limiting the gun to a total of three shots.
To minimize the possibility of an accidental discharge of a firearm while handling a dog during an UKC/HRC LICENSED test, Handlers should not be given more poppers, or permitted to load more poppers into the shotgun than are required to complete any given segment of a test. More poppers may be provided and/or loaded at a Judge’s discretion if they are required by the logistics of the test. However, gun safety must be a priority consideration at all times.
HUNTING EQUIPMENT
Hunting equipment such as boats, decoys, duck blinds, calls, etc. will be used in these tests. The Seasoned Hunting Retriever will run without a collar, except where prohibited by local ordinances.
SPECTATORS / GALLERY
Reasonable silence, good manners and sportsmanlike conduct are required of all spectators. Any spectator interfering with any test will be directed to leave the hunt grounds. Spectators shall not have on white or light colored attire that might interfere with a dog’s performance. No Seasoned dogs that are participating are allowed to watch from the spectator’s section.
*LIGHTNING SAFETY POLICY
The HRC Lightning Safety Policy (available on the Club CD or on the HRC website at www.HuntingRetrieverClub.org) will be followed at all HRC licensed events.
*TEST RULES
I. The maximum land test distance will not exceed one hundred (100) yards, but may be shorter. The maximum water test distance will not exceed seventy-five (75) yards, but may be shorter. *The land blind retrieve maximum test distance will not exceed sixty (60) yards. The water blind retrieve maximum test distance will not exceed sixty (60) yards.
II. During all five hunting tests, hand signals, or voice or whistle commands may be used by the Handler to encourage the Seasoned Hunting Retriever.
III. The Seasoned Hunting Retriever is required to be steady at the retrieving line. At the retrieving line the hunting retriever may be touched to steady, but when the Handler signals “ready” the hunting retriever should not be touched again.
If a Seasoned Hunting Retriever leaves the retrieving line before being signaled to do so, it must be stopped and return to heel. Failure to stop and return to heel upon command will be considered an uncontrolled break. Excessive or consistent creeping by a Seasoned Hunting Retriever will be treated as a controlled break and the retriever must be brought to heel on the Judge’s command. The judges will give a lower score to the Seasoned Hunting Retriever for a controlled break.
During hunting tests, the Seasoned Hunting Retriever may be placed a reasonable distance from the Handler at the retrieving line.
IV. The bird must be delivered to hand.
V. Testing will consist of double marks for both land and water. The Handler cannot point out either the Bird Boys or Gunner’s location for the Seasoned Hunting Retriever prior to the bird being thrown.
VI. No Seasoned Hunting Retriever test will have triple marks.
VII. A diversionary bird can be thrown after the walkup, blind, or last retrieve of a double mark. If a Seasoned Hunting Retriever switches to the diversionary bird, it will not fail but will be scored lower by the Judge. The hunting retriever shall retrieve the diversionary bird.
VIII. The Seasoned Hunting Retriever can be cast from the retrieving line a maximum of two (2) times. If a Seasoned Hunting Retriever is unproductive after a second attempt, the Judge will instruct the Handler to pick up their hunting retriever and that the test is failed.
IX. Gunners and Bird Boys must be inconspicuous and blend in with the local hunting conditions. When Bird Boys and Gunners are hidden, an attention getting shot or shots may be used or a duck or goose call may be used before the birds are thrown. A shot must be fired when the bird is at the top of its arc.
X. Blind retrieves should be through easy cover and relatively open water. A dry shot popper shall be fired by the Handler in the direction of the blind while the dog is at heel prior to the dog’s running the blind retrieve.
XI. Judges should courteously advise Handlers of desirable dress, if necessary.
XII. Judges should advise the Handler, if necessary, that continuous failure to demonstrate true hunting form with the shotgun and safety could result in failure of the test or disqualification.
XIII. Judges decisions are final.
IMMEDIATE FAILURE
The Seasoned hunting retriever shall immediately fail the test if a Gunner or Bird Boy is required to help or assist in any way. A bird unfit for the table resulting from hard-mouth shall be grounds for failing the test. Failure to pass any hunting test will not prevent a hunting retriever from participating in subsequent tests unless the Handler uses a gun in an unsafe manner.
CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
See Championship Points for more information.
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