UPLAND HUNT TEST
(*Revised January 1, 2009)

*ELIGIBILITY

*A purebred dog of an eligible breed of any age or sex may participate. It is not necessary to have earned Championship points in any other Regular Hunt Test category prior to participating in the Upland Hunt Test category.

Dogs entered in an Upland Hunt test may also participate in a Regular Hunt Test on the same date. 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 Upland 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.

JUDGES

There will be a minimum of two (2 Licensed OR 1 apprentice + 1 AA) Judges OR a maximum of three (2 apprentice + 1 AA) Judges for each Upland test flight of a maximum of a 30-dog field.

HANDLERS

At the retrieving line, voice or whistle commands may be used to encourage the hunting retriever. The Handler shall not intimidate the hunting retriever at the retrieving line. No Handler shall possess any training aid or equipment that could intimidate the hunting retriever in any manner. Training aids include, but are not limited to whip, prod, cane and quirt. On the Judges’ signal, the hunting retriever is to be released by the Handler, or perform as otherwise directed by the Judges. The Handler should bring the hunting retriever to and from the retrieving line, off lead. Handlers are expected to conduct themselves in a realistic hunting manner and should display true hunting form. It is highly encouraged that all Handlers take and pass a province or state certified hunter safety course.

SHOTGUNS, GUN SAFETY & HRC 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 shot- guns 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.

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 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

The Upland Hunt Test will be conducted according to the rules already established in this rulebook for the Finished Hunting Retriever. Plus, the changes or additions to these rules which follow:

1. The Upland Game Test shall consist of a simulated walk-up hunt, a quartering test, and an optional tracking test. The Upland hunting dog must be steady to wing and shot. Honoring of another dog is required. During this test the dog will be required to locate and retrieve game, as the Judges shall direct.

2. Quartering. The dog hunts in a radius ideally 10 to 30 yards to the front of the Handler.

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. However, when conditions exist that prohibit the use of natural flushes (e.g., weather, poor birds, insufficient cover, etc.), such devises may be utilized but must be sufficiently camouflaged. When such devices must be used, the live bird is released (or thrown) in full view of the dog.

The live bird is flushed (thrown or released) in full view of the dog. The distance from the bird to the dog should be within scenting distance when the bird isreleased. The dog is required to be steady to wing and steady to shot. The dog should immediately return to the previous hunting range upon being called and/or whistle commanded by the Handler. The Handler will shoot the gun (popper), and the gunners may kill the bird. If the dog does not immediately return to the hunting area, the test is failed.

The dog should be eager to hunt all available cover diligently and be under control. The intent of the quartering test is not to demonstrate running a pattern, but to demonstrate a natural tendency to hunt and be under control.

In the Upland Game Test, quartering, tracking and walk-up can all be combined at the discretion of the Judges.

Walk-up. A quiet, unobtrusive reminder to sit is acceptable as the bird flushes or is shot. Great care must be exercised by the Judges that this does not carry over to intimidation.

Each Upland Gun Dog must be presented with a minimum of two (2) birds to “flush” in the quartering test. 3. Tracking. If the Judges use a drag scented path, it should not be less than forty (40) yards in length nor more than seventy-five (75) yards in length. It should also contain at least one distinguishable change in direction.

IMMEDIATE FAILURE

The 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 is unsafe in handling a gun.

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

See Championship Points for more information.