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SHOOTING RULES
Gun Captains and all Guns should use these rules as a guide line. Each field or course will have it's own set of circumstances to review prior to setting rules for that Field Trial. Gun Captain and Guns should walk or be familiar with the course and grounds prior to Trial.
All Guns Constantly be aware of position of Judge/s, handler/s, shagger/s, dog/s, gallery. If you have been asked to gun, you have been around dogs long enough to read them. When a dog gets ‘hot’ clear your likely shooting area, set your feet, then confirm your clear shooting area on the flush.
Gun to be broke at all times dog is not under judgment. Walk to line with gun broke and unloaded.
Always be prepared to Fall. Carry gun at port arms whenever possible. No Shooting back. Back is a line perpendicular to the course. Exceptions stated under Wing Gun.
Shoot twice if the bird is not dead. Shoot twice on a bird the dog did not see flush. (This may help dog see the fall.)
Shoot birds moving in your direction. Back up, only after gun whose bird it is, shoots. (Cross shooting disturbs the timing of other guns) However, If the other gun has not shot, or your not sure of the other guns position, relative to the shot, and you have a safe shot which may be cross shooting, shoot for the dog.
Listen for instructions from the Judge, there will be times the Judge will say 'No' or 'No Shot'.
Stand still after shooting, and do not break gun, until dog is under handlers control. (Unnecessary movement or noise may cause dog to break or loose mark.)
Shoot to kill the birds for the dog, not for yourself, or to show off. Know the mark of every bird you see fall. (You may be asked, by the Judge, for the location of the fall.)
Do not look at dog coming in from retrieve. Turn body away from dog coming in. (Looking at, or facing dog may hinder a retrieve, or cause the dog to come to you instead of the handler.)
Do not speak unless spoken to. Speak only if invited to by handler or Judge. Do not carry on a conservation with bird shagger, other guns, Handler, or Judge. (You make break dog's or handlers concentration.)
Do not move from position during dog change. (You may flush birds)
Make no comments on dog. (You are not the Judge)
Do not move when Judge and or handler move closer to retrieve. (You need to keep your mark if it is needed, and you may flush birds, disturbing the retrieve.) Comment only on the mark of bird to the Judge, and only if asked. Do not comment on sex of bird, or if alive or dead. (You are not the Judge.)
When not gunning, keep your own council, it is not proper to comment on what you saw a dog or handler do while gunning.
Center Gun Is to shoot birds crossing in front, provided he/she has cleared the drop area of a dog. If a dog is, or very likely to, run into the possible drop area, pass the shot onto the wing gun, after giving a shot down the course to stop the dogs and alert the wing gun. Center gun to shoot on all going down the course shots. Center Gun will Not shoot back, even on the high ‘window’ shot. When one side moves down the course faster than the other, follow the faster side. Be aware of other side, when you are a flag or more down the course the back wing gun cannot shoot at birds flying down and towards the center, those are your birds after they pass you.
Wing Gun On runners move with the handler, do not move in front or lead. If the dog/handler moves around you, keep your position relative to a safe shot. Gun to be port arms, muzzle straight up at all times on runner. Do not run, walk fast, be prepared to fall and know how to control your gun if you do. In shooting back, be aware of the allowable angle as indicated by the Gun Captain, and always turn out to shoot. On passed birds from center gun or other wing gun, be aware of other dog's position, this is already a long retrieve, no need to ride it out to the limit. Keep pace with the handler or a 1/2 step behind, do not move with the dog. Walk the path which has been established by previous trips down the course. If you see a bird on the ground, keeping the correct pace with the handler, walk around it. If your side is dismissed, at the end of the course, or the end of the series, keep your position until other dog is finished. (All other dogs have 3 guns, why shouldn’t the last dogs in a series have 3 guns)
Gallery Gun Gun unloaded and broke at all times Be aware of what is happening. Be prepared to fill in when one side moves to far ahead. (What is to far will be outlined by Gun Captain.) Generally, the gallery gun moves to fill in on a down wind course at 2 or 3 flags. In a upwind course 1 to 2 flags. And in a cross wind, it depends if it's the up, or down wind side that is ahead, and how the birds are flying. Gun at port arms with muzzle up at all times. (Shots to be taken will be outlined by Gun Captain.) Generally only straight up, and straight to the side which is out front, and down the center of the course which is behind.
3rd Series Most situations will be the same as wing guns. On a runner, both guns move with handler, keep in mind the wind, (where the bird is likely to fly) and gallery position.
Gun Captain Ask guns before Trial so they can be prepared with food, water, footwear, clothing.. List guns in the catalog, it is a privilege and an honor to be asked to gun, let that be reflected. Be available at all times during the Trial to deal with situations which may arise. Have second team of guns in the gallery before the last dog is run in the previous stake so there will be no waiting. Review with all guns what the rules of the day are so there are no questions. Watch the guns so you select guns for 3rd by how they have been shooting. Confer with the Judges what the rules of the day are so they don't scowl at the guns when a shot is, or is not, taken, which may conflict with that persons experience.
Overview Be rested, and in shape. Eat small amounts of food during the day rather than large meals. Have plenty of water, and drink it! (A full stomach requires large amounts of blood to digest, it removes blood from your muscles and brain and it will slow your reflexes. Plenty of water keeps your muscles hydrated, and keeps you from tightening up.) If you miss two easy shoots take yourself out. Don't let misses cloud your concentration for the next shot. (Nobody is 100%) keep in mind all times you are shooting for the dog and handler you are not shooting for yourself. Shoot in your comfort zone, do not get into a 'long' competition.
Running With Gun: Do Not Run! Walk fast, Carry Port Arms. If you need to cross a ditch, etc. Unload! Always rember SAFETY is the number one consideration.
Spaniel Field Trials are steeped in tradition, if you are asked to gun, you are part of this grand Gentle sport. Behave and Perform your job with the respect it deserves.
Addendum to the Above Heartland Club Guidelines, which came from Input from many experienced gunners from Minn and across the Nation, and from other Gun Captains. Which were first published in 1995 by the Heartland Club,
Drinking: It Should, go without saying, that the responsible consumption of alcohol, should be a standard procedure. There is No Way! That one can ‘close down the bar’ on a Sat night, and be prepared to gun on a Sun Morning.
If you want to have a Drink, do so, Only after ALL shooting, is done for the day, and all guns are put away. If you are on some medication, which has the possible warning of ‘hyperactivity, or drowsiness’ may occur, do Not Gun.
Be discreet in your personal habits, remember, Perception, is often a more powerful view, than fact.
Safety is the Number One Consideration
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BASKET CARIERS
You have been asked to carry the 'Bird Basket'. You are probably new at carrying the bird basket; this is why you have received this set of guidelines that reflect the importance of this position. Your charge is to provide a depository for dead or live birds that the Judge hands you. You will be provided with a basket which straps on like a backpack, and a 'bag' or gunnysack. This can be, at times, difficult work, but also very rewarding. Your 'reward' is having the second best seat in the Field Trial outside the Judge.
You will walk the course, behind the Judge, in the same footpath the Judge walks. If you see a live bird on the ground you will walk around it, without drawing attention to it. After the dog flushes the bird, and after the dog has been released to the retrieve, you may start walking to the Judge, (when the dog is moving away from you). If you have not reached a position of about 4 -6 feet behind the Judge before the dog has reached the fall, stop. Do not walk when the dog is coming towards you while returning from the retrieve. Finish walking to the Judge after the Judge has the bird. (In a short while you will be able to time this out perfectly)
If the bird falls behind the line, do not move until the Judge has the bird, turn away from the dog, but keep an eye on the Judge, he may ask you to move, but this is rare.
When you get to the Judge, turn around so the basket faces the Judge, and he/she will drop the bird in the basket. In the case of a trap, (dog trapping a live bird) hold open your 'bag' and the Judge will place the bird inside. If a bird is wounded, most of the time the Judge will dispatch the bird and place it in the basket. In the rare case the Judge hands you a wounded bird you will humanely dispatch it and place it in the basket. (If this is the case, you will be provided with a tool, and instructions) Do this turned away from the dog.
You need to be aware of which direction the wind is coming from. If your course has a down wind, (wind at your back) you need to stay 3/4 to 1 flag behind the Judge. (The smell from the quantity of birds in your basket, even the basket itself, may confuse the dog thinking you are what he/she is questing for, thereby interfering with a efficient pattern). The same holds true of any kind of crossing down wind, where the smell of your basket could be carried down the course. Better to be to far back, than to close.
In an upwind, (wind in your face) you can be 1/4 of a flag behind the Judge.
When the handler, Judge, and gun leave the course on a 'runner', stay put. This will help the Judge know where they left the course, and will know where to return to. Keep an eye on the Judge, sometimes he/she will motion you to come out to pick up the bird.
Never let the 'bag' carrying the live traps, touch the ground on the course at any time.
At the end of the course deposit your dead birds where told, and put your live 'traps' in the marked cage. Don't just dump the birds on a pile, place them neatly in a row. (This helps cool the birds faster, and makes a more dignified presentation of the game).
If you overhear any conversation between the Judge and Handler, keep it to your self. Do not speak unless spoken to. Do not carry on a conversation with a gun, handler, Judge, or people in the gallery.
And enjoy the view! Thank you for helping out the club by your valuable service of carrying the 'basket'.
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TO THE SPECTATORS
Ethics and good sportsmanship require the hunter dispatch the game as quickly and humanely as possible. Sportsmanship also demands the retrieval of all shot game. To that end these dogs are trained.
This Field Trial is a competition, and a collection, of the best trained and best bred dogs in the area. Three 'Series' are run with the dog. The first two are run in a 'Brace', which are two dogs running at the same time, one on each side of the 'Center Line' flags. The third series is one dog at a time. Some of the requirements to complete the 'Stake', and have a possibility of placing are; Finding game by covering the course in an orderly manner, and using the wind to an advantage in the pattern of covering the course. The dog is not allowed to 'Poach' which is putting up game on the other side of the course. The dog must be 'Steady To Flush', so when the dog forces the quarry to fly, the dog waits for the command to retrieve, or continue on. The dog must be 'Steady to Shot', so when a bracemate flushes a bird, and it is shot, that dog waits, allowing his bracemate to retrieve the bird. Most importantly, the dog must retrieve to hand, all shot game. Each time a dog fails to accomplish one of these tasks, it is dropped, and only the dogs that have completed the above tasks, move on to the next series. The third series are the best dogs of the day, and the top four will place.
As you can see, this is all deeply rooted in hunting, and you will see the important role, well trained, and well bred, dogs play in a quality and ethical hunting experience.
The group of spectators following the dogs in the field is called the 'Gallery', and in the gallery the 'Field Marshall' who announces the dogs as they come up to the 'Line', will also keep you in line. As live ammunition is used in a Spaniel Field Trial, it is imperative, you listen to the Field Marshall's instructions!
Do not applaud, or make unnecessary noise while in the Gallery, especially while the dogs are working the course. All dogs entered must be on a leash when not running. Absolutely no dogs allowed on the grounds which are not entered in the competition.
To those wishing more information on English Springer Spaniels, and Field Trials, please contact a Heartland club member, they will be happy to discuss your questions.
Enjoy,
The Field Trial Committee
MHESSC
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Field Trial Secretaries
A ‘File’ using Microsoft’s “Access” Program has been developed.
This is a blank file, which, if you Have, and are familiar with the program ‘Access’, you will find Very Usefull, for doing a catalog, running order, mailing labels, and other things needed for a Field Trial .
The cost is Free, we ask that you pay a small fee of $5.00, to cover the cost of the mailing, and the CD disk it will be placed on.
To get your copy of this program, please e-mail here.
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Field Trial Chairs
The Heartland Club started this checklist in 1992. This Checklist Comes from several years of people doing this job. We, here at the Heartland club, have been keeping this list of things to do, and it is passed to each new chair, and each year, each Chair may ad to this list of things she/he have done.
MINNESOTA HEARTLAND E.S.S.C.
TRIAL CHECKLIST
Select Trial Chairman
One year in advance. The chairman will delegate responsibility to sub committees. Make final decisions, with input from committee. Chairman should not be doing things, Chair should delegate others to do, and in the event they do not do, then he/she must do. Chair assign jobs and check that they are performed. Chair can assign as many jobs as he/she wants. FT Chair selects Puppy Chair.
Puppy Chairman
The Puppy Stake Chair, runs, and delegates the entire Puppy Stake. They select the Guns, the Course, Stake the Course, Get the birds, Plant, Transport birds and be Game Steward. In other words, they do, or delegateEverything, to put on a successful Puppy stake. The Heartland club has found this is a Excellent way to ‘break’ in a new Field Trial Chair. As it gives that person a great overview of what goes on, and what needs to be done at a Field Trial. Bird Planting - Puppy Bird Planting vest. Pigeons preferably should be caught from flight pens the morning of use, in the dark before they fill their craw.
Select Field Trial Committee
Committee members must all be present during entire Trial time, (AKC rule) {as well as Pres., V.P., Sec., Treas..,} members may consist of heads of other committees. Minimum of 5 members, including Chair. Better to have 6.
Select All-Age Judges
At least one year in advance. all age judges MUST have 12 All Age Stakes between them. If one judge is new, the other must have judged 12 stakes.A new judge must have had 4 apprentice assignments, 1 judges seminar, and AKC will administer written test. Each Judge has a reputation of liking a certain style of dog. Select Judges which are compatible with each other. Consult with other members who Field Trial as to opinions of Judges.
Select Puppy Judges
If new judge, must fill out "new Judge form". No six Trial rule.
Select F.T. Secretary
If first time, must fill out AKC new secretary form. Call AKC 'Special Events Division' , request Spaniel Trial package 4 months prior. Application to hold trial, 3 months prior. Questionnaire for Premiums 2 months prior. One week after Questioner for premiums are sent out if "trial" and "Judges" approval forms are not received call AKC, every 3 days until you get forms back. Copy of Premium & Map (4) to AKC, at the time premiums are sent out to the public. Premiums, with cover letter listing hotels, food, arrangements, etc., and the headquarters motel, (which will have catalogs, running orders, and maps on the check in desk that Fri. night before 4:00PM) are to be sent out at to reach trialers at least 3 weeks prior to trial. Closing should be on the wed., the week before, that's 9 days before trial. Running orders sent out the day after closing. Strongly suggest all forms are sent to the AKC by registered, return receipt, with check. After trial, copy of Judges Book & Premium's in within 7 days. Check for $0.50 per all age dog run, (not puppies).
Put together catalog, Sell ads to pay for catalog. 30 to 40 entries, (including puppies) 75 catalogs. 40 to 60, 100 catalogs, 60 to 80, 150 catalogs, 80 to 100, 200 catalogs. These numbers come from the Heartland club experience, and talking to other secretaries. After trial, mail marked catalog to S.I.T.F., and Roxane Poray, 1759 Buelah Road, Churchville NY 14428, and advertisers/patrons not at trial. Send out after trial placements, and thank you letter, day after trial. Send running orders and after trial placements to everyone, that includes owners of dogs that the pros run and who generally don't come to trial.
Collect checks, make list of checks and what they are for, Ads, Entries, Patron, etc. Make a handout to sub committee heads if they haven't done that job before. So they know what to do.
F.T.S. cannot be the same as F.T.C. as per AKC rules.
Sending info to AKC. Copy and DCR. (Delivery Conformation Receipt) It is Cheep Insurance, to verify the AKC has received everything. If fact it is a good policy to send EVERYTHING, that goes to the AKC, via DCR. (As the AKC has been known to ‘say’ they have lost things)
Premium
To contain, date, location, directions, stakes, cost, schedule, prizes, officers, F.T. Committee, gun captain, Guns, F.T. Secretary, Closing date, time & place, birds, Judges, headquarters, club name, License #,
Gun Captain
Select guns, give names to FTS for catalog, instruct guns, have guns ready in Gallery to make for smooth switching of Stakes, have extra gun in gallery for rotation. Guns for Puppy should be experienced as pigeons generally are harder to hit. Guns can not gun in stake they have entered in, even if they have been eliminated from that stake. Guns should not gun for relatives, or dogs they own and have some one else run. Father gunning for son and reverse, are frowned upon. Have enough guns so they can rest, especially if courses are long. Have only one new gun in at a time. Center gun to be the most experienced. Be aware of current gunning rules as per parent club. Arrange for shells.
Steward of the beat
Course layout, Select a Steward of the beat you trust, and back them up in decisions. Course Staking, Have flags, and courses ready to be staked. Chair could assign a chair for this position. Keep in mind the wind, and safety at the ends of courses where cars are parked, people watching, and method of entree to course. Course, what, where, cover, this is the thing most people complain about. Select a Good Course
Bird Planting - All-Age Stake
Arrange for 4 wheeler and trailer. Bird planters need to be all orange, not just hats, and safety glasses are a must. At least one planter must have experience. Having 2 is nice, to bring birds in and out from the field.
Game Stewards
Buy birds, make sure they are delivered or picked up, make sure the count is correct, only sign for birds when you know the count is correct, and double check the number of crates listed at to not have to pay for a 'lost crate' at the end of the trial. Have birds on course ready for planter, have pick up crates, (and clearly marked) pick up dead birds, (make sure dead birds are not just thrown in a pile, arrange neatly or hang) arrange for bird cleaning, sell cleaned birds, sell left over live birds, have gunny sacks for sale for those who want to buy left over birds. Garbage Cans on hand, and at entrance to field.
Dead birds. Clean, sell, Sell with feathers, Give away. Make Preparations for any of these well in advance.
Food,
Yes/no ?, Delivered to site?, Made on site. Local Church, 4H, Boy Scouts ?
Make sure to arrange beforehand. And announce in catalog
Field Marshals
Enough to rotate, and someone at base for writing on board. Have plastic coated catalog pages with water proof marker in case of rain. In charge of radios, take home and charge at night. 1 radio bird planter, one base, one in field, one F.T.Chairman. Have 'white board' at central location. Post scratches, and call backs. Instruct no radios on in gallery. Announce on radio, who is on the line, when they have had a contact. Be patient, you will just announce who is on the line, and someone will come back and ask.
Basket Carriers
Bird Baskets, Gunny Sacks for pick ups. Instruct shaggers on proper procedure: Don't drag bird bag on ground on course, be careful pulling bag out of basket to avoid leaving hot spot of scent. Walk in same foot path of judge. Walk about 10 yards behind on up, or cross wind course. Walk 30 + yards behind on down wind course. When handler leaves course on runner, stay on course where they left, do not follow. Do not move until dog is released for retrieve, or until dog is under handlers control. If you see a bird walk around. Keep your own council as to what you saw or overheard while shagging. Do not converse with guns, handlers, speak to judge only if judge speaks to you.
Grounds
Confirm with owner, sign lease, arrange insurance carrier coverage listing. Contact DNR for permit to hold trial, (At least 3 months in advance)
Room reservations
For judges, block of rooms for trialers. About 30+ rooms, if 80 dog trial. Have catalogs, Maps, and Running Orders at headquarters Motel on Friday before trial. List other area hotels & numbers, inform hotels trialers may be calling.
Judges Steward
Take care of Judges, take out to dinner, have lunch on grounds for Judges, have pop, beer, whatever they want. Cater to the Judges. Gift for Judges, All Age & Puppy. Arrange all transporting to and from dinner, grounds, banquet. Have car to do call backs in.
Pick Up Dog
Do you want one. If so, a Very Experienced dog, AND Handler, one Not entered in the Field Trial. To follow the entire trial, at the end of the gallery, to walk out to a fall of a not sent retrieve, or missed retrieve, to harvest the bird. This person HAS to know Field Trials, as to NOT interfear with the trial in any way. If you do inlist the help of such a team, List Them In The Catalog!
Satellite
If trial will be moved, (3d Series) one on wheels.
Special Permits
AKC, DNR, County, Township.
Shells
Purchase. 1-1/4 ounce, 3-3/4 Dram, copper/nickle plated. 7-1/2, and 6.
Trophies/Ribbons
As per official AKC sizes and colors, and information. Buy trophies for first place dogs.
Well In Advance of trial 60 days.
Catalog
Know your printer and make double sure of costs, responsibilities, deadlines. As the catalog should be in the Headquarters motel the night before the Trial there is no room for mistakes. If catalog is to contain judges certification it must be between 5 & 5.5 X 8 & 8.5 inches. If 'green' sheet is sent in for placements to AKC than catalog can be any size. Catalog should contain all information in premium, list all people doing something, list all chairs, and committee and sub committee people. Names and address of trialers, owners. Dogs should be listed in order of running, normally, Open, Amateur, Puppy. If possible call back list in center of catalog. Separate call back sheet provided, better if printed on card stock, and folded to fit in pocket.
Advertising
Sell It !!!!!. If you don’t its just money wasted. The hotel, the Banquet place, the Early Morning restaurant FT’ers go to, The close Gas station/s, The liqour store, Those are ALL easy ads to sell.
Banquet
Place, time, tickets, cost, reservations, directions.
Maps
To training, 1st day grounds, 2nd day grounds, banquet, hotels.
Training
Place, time, cost, birds, call ahead, guns on hand to shoot.
Overview
Choose people who you can trust for your team.
This is a team effort. - (There is NO “ I “ in the word “ TEAM “)
Let them make decisions and stand behind them.
Nothing can be done to far in advance, everything can be done to late!
Read, know and have on hand, AKC books; "Field Trial Rules"; 'Blue Book' interpretation of rules; "Dealing with Misconduct".
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Minnesota Heartland Club Guidelines
