Spring Coverdog Trials

[Steph]

Bump.

The Amateur Club has decided to go with continuous/multiple courses on wild birds for the hunting dog/gundog event. This makes it the premier Hunting dog/gundog event in Michigan. I am not aware of any other place that holds an event like this on wild birds.

Hopefully this winter breaks soon and the snow will be gone for the start of the trials.

Is this the 12/13th?

[Jakezilla]

No, the hunting dog will be Sunday April 6th

[Steph]

Thank you

[Jakezilla]

This was just posted on another site regarding the hunting dog event if anyone is interested in what it is all about. Some of this is a little outdated as it is a repeat from another year but the large majority of it is correct and I can answer any questions.

This stake is intended for new folks with pointing dogs to compete at Gladwin in a format same as a sanctioned grouse trial. We are not looking for a field trial dog in this stake, we ask the judges to simply determine, would I like to hunt this dog.


Beepers are allowed, no E collars. Trackers are allowed for recovery only, not for finding the dog on point. The cost is listed above.

Some of this is dated but the theme is current:

To the new guys competing or just visiting this weekend, here is some information on how things are run.
The Shooting Dog stake on Saturday & the Hunting Dog Classic on Sunday run on continuous courses thru the woods. These courses do not loop back to the beginning, the place where your truck is parked.
At the break away of each brace and thru out the brace the dogs lead, the handlers on foot are next, followed by the Judges on horse and then the gallery. You are welcome to walk; you’re encouraged to walk. It’s correct to be quiet and not interfere. When dogs stop on point the handler and the judge will go to the dog. We ask that the gallery stay on course, help control the horses and help the handler and judge back to the course after they are done flushing etc. It causes too much commotion for the gallery to go into the woods with a dog on point.

Some of us will stay back and not walk, we will move trucks to the end of the course being run and in most cases this will be the start of the next course. If you want your truck moved leave the keys in it. Usually in the hunt dog stake we get a bigger gallery than the other stakes. If possible please pair up or triple up with others for a ride to the various courses. Leave some trucks back at the Alibi; especially if you are done running and you don’t need your dog with you. This makes it easier on the folks moving vehicles. We move them is this order, handlers first, usually 2 trucks, the next brace mates next, the rest of the vehicles if we have enough help. If not we may leave trucks behind and you will have to catch up at some point.
There is an accurate map of the grounds accessed thru the links at our blog site. There aren’t bill boards in the woods advertising the start or end of each course but MOST of the courses have free standing signs or paint on trees with numbers. Find someone who knows where they are going and follow them or jump in and ride with them.

We will break for lunch around noon. Lunch is catered, it’s back at the Alibi and we request/require a donation, $5 (lunch is NOW included with an entry fee) there is a coffee can in the Alibi, clearly marked for your donation. These lunches are worth $5 and include pop and bottled water.

I’ll have the black GMC pickup with an ARE cap. In the back will be a cooler with pop & water. This is for all to share. We might have a little coffee in the morning and probably some donuts. If you bring beer, and that is encouraged, please bring a cooler full and be promiscuous with it. Bourbon is nice touch too, especially for the Judges. Knob Creek is a nice choice. I’m currently working thru a bottle of BASIL HAYDEN'S Kentucky Straight Bourbon. It’s real good. Cubed ice is preferred over crushed.

Look for Chris Demattio and pay your entry. It’s a widely held belief that luck shines down on those who pay before they run.

The weather forecast is sunny skies and heat. Bring water for your dog on course and maybe enough to wet the dog down before your brace and even a gallon jug to wet them down during the brace. That practice is perfectly acceptable. Each handler can designate one person in the gallery to be a scout, a person who can go into the woods and look for your dog if you have lost him or go in with you when the dog stops and you are trying to find him on point. That is a good person to carry that gallon jug(s) of water.

Most folks run bells. Beepers are fine too, but beepers without an e-collar. Trackers and Garmins are allowed but only for finding a lost dog. Once you use the receiver you are out of contention. You can’t win the stake, but you’ll find your dog. We haven’t had very many run off hunting dogs. I can’t recall any (but there had to be one)

Bring your dog to the start line on a lead. Both handlers will be in front, usually on each side of the trail. Some one will announce to the judges the names of the dogs and handlers. One judge will be assigned to each 2-some. If possible the judges will switch at the half way point. Most of the time the handlers and judges will be together the entire brace and both judges will see both dogs.

When the judges give the word let the dog roll. Walk the marked trail at a leisurely pace, a hunting pace. What ever you use to handle your dog when you hunt do it as required during your brace. Whistles, singing, hand signals. Don’t be too concerned with the other handler or dog. If the judges think your handling is interfering with the brace mate they will inform you. We will have a marshal (maybe 2) on each brace. They will help you thru the course; help you keep track of your dog. If you have any questions at any time, ask. Ask the judges, ask the marshal, ask some one who looks like they might know.

When your dog stops, the dog is on point, call point to the judge. They will jump off the horse and follow you to the dog. Make certain they are with you. Marshals may go to. Your scout can also go. The judges have to see or hear the bird go out to get credit for a find. Do what you would do when hunting (except shoot the bird) Flush for as long as you think necessary. Be cognizant that only hearing a bird fly is good enough. The more you talk while flushing the less chance any one has to hear. If you want to relocate your dog just tell the judge. If you release verbally tell him that’s what you will do. When a bird goes you can yell bird, point in the direction, it helps the judges. Then shoot the blank gun.

After a find you can release the dog to continue or you can collar the dog back to the trail, water the dog, etc. You don’t want to release the dog after a point and have the dog chasing after the bird that just left. If that is “normal” just collar the dog back to the trail and wait for the judges to mount. Don’t run ahead. The first one to the end of the course doesn’t win anything. Slow down thru good cover, speed up thru bad cover. Don’t bury your brace mate (take off) but when a brace mate goes to a dog on point you are not obligated to wait. Keep moving, the judge will go with you. You can slow down a bit but again, it’s not required to wait, the judges will keep you straight if this happens.

You can have a scout. If the dog is out of hearing range and you want someone to go into the woods and find him you can send a scout. There really isn’t much scouting in hunt dog, these dogs aren’t wild run off trial dogs (for the most part) A scout can go in on point to help find etc. The handler flushes.

At the end of the day we’ll return to the Alibi and I’ll bore every one with the canned speech and then we will name the winners, and take photos. It’s nice if lots of folks stay around for the photo shoot, not just the placements.

Saturday we will have a cook out following the day’s activities. The menu is grilled pork loin. We ask that you bring something to pass that would compliment the dinner.

That covers the main points. Just have fun, that’s what this is about. But it’s also competition. Grit your teeth and give us a show.

Good luck to all.


We give this to the judges as a guideline.

Michigan Hunting Dog Judging Guidelines

This is a wild bird trial in the woods in search of ruffed grouse and woodcock. The course's will be walking paths through the woods predetermined by very avid wild bird hunters and cover approximately 30 minutes each. The judges will be looking at the dogs ability to hunt each objective, to locate, point and hold to flush a grouse or woodcock. The manner in which each dog will do this in conjunction with the hunter (handler) is also observed. The range and rate of speed may vary per course, dog and handler. Bird finding is observed; does the dog search likely objectives to find and point a bird or is it just bouncing around and stumbles into a bird. We will be looking for intelligent application. We will be looking for dogs that work with the handler and obey commands. We will be looking for a dog that has enough stamina to make an all day hunt. All of these dogs are supposed to point birds, therefore the manner in which they go about finding them is where we do the judgment . Pointing multiple birds is a great thing but in the woods the opportunity may not be equally available in every covert. If we know a piece of cover held 5 birds and another piece only held one is it fair to say a dog is better that doesn't hunt but is walked into pointing five birds; or a dog that works his tail off to find the one bird in the lesser cover? What if the tables were turned , lets switch dogs and coverts. We can’t actually do that so we have to look at all aspects of the hunt. After the above items have been observed during the brace the Judges ask themselves, “Would I like to hunt behind that dog?”


When we as a group pick our judges we look at the dogs the judges hunt behind to distinguish the manner in which they will judge the events. Each of us hunt in our own special way and to say one way is better than the other is wrong. This is the only hunting dog trial in Michigan that is held on wild grouse in wild habitat. This is a fun trial to introduce new people and supply a venue that we can enjoy our hunting dogs in the off season, and gain some bragging rights, it is still a competition and we will not all go home with blue ribbons and trophies.

[Steph]

What is the entry fee and is it an all-age event?

[Jakezilla]

It is a non-recognized stake (no official American Field placement) open to dogs with no field trial shooting dog placements.

Rosettes and custom engraved marble plaques for all placements. $45 entry fee. I saw the plaques last year and they were really nice.

Judgement ceases at the flush so if your dog goes with the bird after you put it up you are still good.

[Jakezilla]

Come on guys, you have to admit that sounds like a lot of fun. Dogs, birds, Dog people, beer and some friendly competition.

[Steph]

Anything special needed to travel with your dog(s) into the US?

[Pointersrule]

Anything special needed to travel with your dog(s) into the US?

Not really....just have your up to date vaccination Papers with you and if you're bringing Dog Food with you.....it must be in its original un-opened Bag.

[little brit]

So just to be clear. I have a few Questions:

-This is for any breed not only pointers and setters.
-Cost is $45 each run or for all competition.
-Are guns needed for this if so how would you cross them into U.S.