hunt test / field trials

[AspenBud]

Put another way, you take Shadow Oak Bo and run him in the woods against Terhaar Elvis and my money is on the cover dog to put in the better showing. I would put money on Bo in the South over Elvis.

[jetjockey]

I meant in the peticular venue the dogs run, and was refering more to HB dogs.  The top dogs can win in the prairies on pheassnts, sharptail, or chickens, the tighter cover of the South, and the rolling hills of PA and Ohio.  Put them out West, and they'd win there as well.  Cover dog is a totally different ball game.

[AspenBud]

I meant in the peticular venue the dogs run, and was refering more to HB dogs.  The top dogs can win in the prairies on pheassnts, sharptail, or chickens, the tighter cover of the South, and the rolling hills of PA and Ohio.  Put them out West, and they'd win there as well.  Cover dog is a totally different ball game.

Gotcha

[Don Fischer]

Im lookin around and it doesnt look like theres much of any pointer tests ,trials,nastra ,national bird dog challenge events in western washington any more. Am i missing something ?

Those dog's in the avatar look like retriever's? If so, I don't know where you could enter them in a trial or test. From about April until the end of may there are normally pointing dog trials going on somewhere every week end in Ore. Check with the North West Field Trial council. If you are thinking of running retriever's in them, I doubt they will let you. Last year during the summer there were a number of pointing dog test's on Sauvies Island and at Scatter Creek. Sept to the end of October there will be some trials, not a whole lot. Last two plus years a STR club held a trial on the Buckhorn Ranch near Condon. The Region 10 trials were there last two years and there's trials up at Sunnyside each spring and fall. Unfortunately they are predominately horse back trials and if you have your own horse, it get's pretty expensive. On the other hand, the Ore Britt Club has had a few waling trials each year at Boyce Corrals near Madras and on Sauvies Island. Years ago when I was doing it, I asked why the trials ended in Oct. I was told bird season was here and they couldn't get enough entry's to pay for the trial.

[constructeur]

Makes you wonder if more people in the PNW would get into pointing dogs and trials if the prices were not so high.

I think it's more complicated than that but cost is probably a factor, yes.

Access to property, the daily commute/grind for most, costs of the whole 'experience', etc., and a lack of interest in the sporting breeds from the general public, a large portion of the public that think hunting is cruel (even sporting dog owners); where I live it's more likely that I'll see a GSP or Visla as a running mate to some foxy yoga gal as opposed to a hunter/dog trainer/trailer.

; My personal story is that at the end of the day I'm just a boot hunter that's in to versatiles. With a family, the last thing I'm going to do is drive all over Oregon or Idaho for NSTRA because it's expensive and I'm not into doggy hunting races. I'll do that to shoot birds, but not for trials.

a little story about the declining of public interest in hunting both here and in Europe: http://pointingdogblog.blogspot.ca/2015/03/here-and-there-part-one.html

A link to the referenced article on the lack of interest in AKC, and it's possible future demise: http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.ca/2014/02/the-akc-announces-demise-of-organization.html

I see a number of breed clubs waning as well.

I recently was looking at some old station wagons and saw that many 50's models had the option of a gun sleeve that clipped behind the seat. The days of factory options like that are gone.

Shooting wild pheasants or ducks in the suburbs of Seattle. Gone.

Finding training property in the metro area without paying a heap, or belonging to a group that has a connection. mostly Gone.

The economic activity that has brought most of us a comfortable life has swept away a pastime many of us enjoy.

For me, from here on out, it's about connecting with folks (NAVHDA, VHDF, AKC hunt Tests), and focusing on what I feel is good dog work, and helping people new to versatiles sort out what 'step next' is in their training. Bracing/backing, steady to wing, shot, fall, blind retrieves, not breaking...all that stuff that most folks don't seem to care about (from what I've seen in the field). The long drives and gas $$$ are saved for the actual hunting season that way.

[Happy Gilmore]

There are plenty of free places to train. There are a lot of options for local events to give yourself a comparison against which you evaluate your own training abilities and areas where you may be weak and need to improve.

Meadowbrook has all sorts of room. Cherry Valley, Ebey Island, Stillwater, Skagit, Fort Lewis(HUUUGEE areas) Scattercreek and even more down south and further North.

Its a big commitment to train dogs to a level of any standard. It isn't for everyone. Money, space and time doesn't equate into the reality of the reasons why you "can't" do it or are not "interested".

It doesn't cost a lot of money. Plenty of folks have proven it can be done for free. What it does take is a commitment of time and energy. Not to mention, help developing the skill.

[jetjockey]

Happy.  Is it just me, or does it seem like finding training birds (not pigeons) is pretty tough in the PNW?  Doesnt the state have a ton of regulations on raising and releasing birds to train and hunt over?   Here in GA, the only thing you have to do is prove you purchased the birds, or raised them yourself.  And a receipt is all you need to prove you purchased the birds.  It's really easy, but you also only see bob whites being raised.

[Happy Gilmore]

not any that I've seen. I keep about 10-20 ducks, banty chickens and 10-30 pigeons at all times. couple of pheasant to round it out. pigeon suppliers are well protected secrets. not really any restrictions on using farm raised birds. youre supposed to have your game farm receipt from who raised the birds (if game birds) but, I've never been asked for one at a trial, test or training on public land.

just like training dogs. People who don't want to put in a little effort aren't going to be rewarded. 

i have two guys within ten minutes who raise chukar and pheasant. Drive 1.2 hours for all the pheasant I could use. Drive 3 hours for a big pheasant and chukar guy. Drive 5-6 hours for two more options on ducks, pheasant and chukar.

[jetjockey]

Do the game birds have to be banded?

[Happy Gilmore]

Do the game birds have to be banded?

I don't think so. Ducks have their toe clipped off.

[Happy Gilmore]

the rules are buried somewhere in here... don't have time to dig it out today

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=232-12-027

[Happy Gilmore]

http://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=232-12-037


game birds just need a receipt per this WAC

[addicted2hunting]

not any that I've seen. I keep about 10-20 ducks, banty chickens and 10-30 pigeons at all times. couple of pheasant to round it out. pigeon suppliers are well protected secrets. not really any restrictions on using farm raised birds. youre supposed to have your game farm receipt from who raised the birds (if game birds) but, I've never been asked for one at a trial, test or training on public land.

just like training dogs. People who don't want to put in a little effort aren't going to be rewarded. 

i have two guys within ten minutes who raise chukar and pheasant. Drive 1.2 hours for all the pheasant I could use. Drive 3 hours for a big pheasant and chukar guy. Drive 5-6 hours for two more options on ducks, pheasant and chukar.

well....hook a brother up! I could use about 20 chukar right now... pigeons in the NW are a pretty easy commodity...

[Happy Gilmore]

not any that I've seen. I keep about 10-20 ducks, banty chickens and 10-30 pigeons at all times. couple of pheasant to round it out. pigeon suppliers are well protected secrets. not really any restrictions on using farm raised birds. youre supposed to have your game farm receipt from who raised the birds (if game birds) but, I've never been asked for one at a trial, test or training on public land.

just like training dogs. People who don't want to put in a little effort aren't going to be rewarded. 

i have two guys within ten minutes who raise chukar and pheasant. Drive 1.2 hours for all the pheasant I could use. Drive 3 hours for a big pheasant and chukar guy. Drive 5-6 hours for two more options on ducks, pheasant and chukar.

well....hook a brother up! I could use about 20 chukar right now... pigeons in the NW are a pretty easy commodity...

Right now you probably need to drive to Pendleton for Chukar

[addicted2hunting]

not any that I've seen. I keep about 10-20 ducks, banty chickens and 10-30 pigeons at all times. couple of pheasant to round it out. pigeon suppliers are well protected secrets. not really any restrictions on using farm raised birds. youre supposed to have your game farm receipt from who raised the birds (if game birds) but, I've never been asked for one at a trial, test or training on public land.

just like training dogs. People who don't want to put in a little effort aren't going to be rewarded. 

i have two guys within ten minutes who raise chukar and pheasant. Drive 1.2 hours for all the pheasant I could use. Drive 3 hours for a big pheasant and chukar guy. Drive 5-6 hours for two more options on ducks, pheasant and chukar.

well....hook a brother up! I could use about 20 chukar right now... pigeons in the NW are a pretty easy commodity...

Right now you probably need to drive to Pendleton for Chukar

oh ok. shoot me a PM with some contact info. I am getting 10 from a guy in this state in a couple weeks but its a last minute available amount left.