THE BIG MEADOWS UPLAND BIRD
CHAMPIONSHIP RULES
(Singles)
Safety Rules
1. 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.
2. All participants must
wear high visibility blaze orange or green; i.e. a cap, vest, or other article of clothing as an outer garment.
3. 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.
4. Events held on WMAs will
require non toxic shot.
5. 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.
Hunt Rules
1) Scoring will be as follows:
a. 10 points for each bird
in the bag (maximum of 30 points)
b. 5 points for each point
or flush (maximum of 15 points)
c. 5 points for each retrieve
(maximum of 15 points)
d. 5 points for each shell
remaining (maximum of 15 points)
e. 1 point for each minute
of time not used
2) A team will consist of
one (1) hunter and one (1) dog. A dog can only run in one division, and only
once in that division.
3) Run times (hunt times)
for the preliminary runs 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.
4) Run times (hunt times) for the finals will be POSITIONS
not TIMES. If you are not in the field, ready to go, when your position is called,
you will be moved to the bottom of the list with a 5-point penalty. (This will
not apply if you are hunting in another field.)
5) Participants (Hunters) must hunt together
behind the dog. Hunters must walk through the course. NO RUNNING IS ALLOWED.
6) The hunt shall begin
from a designated start area, and only that start area. The hunt shall end when
three (3) birds are in the possession of the hunters, fifteen (15) minutes of time has lapsed, or a team is out of shells. 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 three
(3) birds will forfeit all remaining time and it shall not be counted in their score.
7) The hunter will be limited
to the use of six (6) shells.
8) There shall be no training
aids attached to the dog during the hunt. This includes a collar of any type. Any team wanting to run their dog with a training aid attached will be allowed to
run, but will receive a score of “0” for their run.
9) 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, the hunter may proceed to flush the bird, but he/she hunter can
not fire his 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.
10) All birds must be off
the ground and flying before they can be shot. No birds may be shot on the ground.
11) A dead bird from a previous
run will not count for any points.
12) Pointers are expected
to remain steady on point until the hunter flushes the bird. The dog is not allowed
to flush the bird.
13) 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.
Particular to the BIG MEADOWS UPLAND BIRD CHAMPIONSHIPS, at the judges discretion the bird may be picked up if it refuses to flush. The bird then
may be dispatched and thrown for the retrieve.
14) In the flushing division,
the dog must flush the bird. The hunter is not allowed to put the bird in the air.
15) 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.
16) In the flushing division
retrieves must be made to hand. A hunter is not allowed to shorten the retrieve
by taking steps toward the dog.
17) 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.
18) Judges may call a safety
if they determine that the shot will endanger an observing party, the gallery, or another hunter (other than his own teammate
or dog). When a safety is called, full points will be given for the point/flush,
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 hunters have an equal 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.
19) 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.
20) 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.
21) 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.
22) All dogs must be on leash
or boxed when not being hunted. Please air your dog away from the designated
hunting area.
23) 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.
24) Teams will not be permitted
to view the bird plant prior to their run, and will be in the designated area prior to the plant in their field.
25) Ties will be broken by
the following:
a. Bird Count
b. Points or Flushes
c. Shell Count (shooting
accuracy)
d. Retrieves
e. Time
26) 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.
27) Judges will not be subjected
to any abusive behavior of any kind.
