rules

RULES

ROUGHRIDER GUN DOG CLUB - OFFICIAL TRIAL RULES AND FORMAT

ANNUAL NORTH DAKOTA PHEASANT CHAMPIONSHIP

Chairman: Rick Schaefer

Trials to be held 13 mi SE of New England, North Dakota DRAWINGS: 4:00 PM day prior to trial.

RULES: By submitting an entry form, each entrant certifies that he has read and agrees to abide by these field trial rules.

1. There will be no consumption of alcoholic beverages by anyone at any time on field trial grounds.
2. No guns are to be loaded until given the signal, and are to be unloaded in the field as soon as the time is up.
3. No person shall run in the field. First violation will result in warning. Subsequent violations – 10 pt. Penalty each violation.
4. All handlers must be in the pit at the conclusion of the previous brace. Each entrant is expected to clean their own birds.
5.
6. No bird may be shot on the ground. A handler may pick up a bird and throw it if it cannot be flushed. No points awarded for pointing or finding a dead bird not shot by handler.
7. If any situation or problem arises not covered by these rules, the decision of the field trial committee and judges is final.
8. There is to be no training of your dog within one mile of the trial grounds during the event. Entrants are encouraged to run their dogs on field trial grounds before first brace to flush any wild birds from the field. You may walk your dog on lead only.
9. If you have a bitch in season, contact the registration table immediately. These dogs will be run with another female. Bitches in season will be scratched from the Pheasant Championship, entry fee refunded.
10. Field trial committee can rearrange running order. If you are not at the line for your brace, you will be scratched, no refund.
11. No training devices allowed on entered dogs.
12. Decision of field trial officials is final
13. If a bird is marked (seen on the field), the marked bird cannot be worked by any dog for three minutes.
14. In the case of interference by the other dog or handler, dog who first points bird will receive points for the point/flush, killed bird, and retrieve. Pointing dog must point bird to score.
15. Contestants MUST wear orange hat and vest. Officials may remove any person for safety violation. No refunds.
16. In the case of aggression by a dog while in the field, the obvious aggressor will receive one warning unless physical contact is made. If physical contact is made or aggression continues, that dog may be ruled off the field by the judges. No refunds.
17. Dogs may substituted in runner order because of injury or illness, however, a dog originally drawn to run at one time, may not be substituted to run at a different time, unless ordered by the judges.
18. 60 minutes per brace of two competing dogs.
19. Flushers and pointers may compete in the same brace.
20. Dog must work bird to score shot or retrieve for handler.
21. Championship series to be run at conclusion of Pheasant Championship series. Six high point dogs will run in one hour semifinals. Top two semifinal winners will run in one hour finals to determine Champion and runner-up.
22. Contestant may call "safety" if shot would endanger dog or people. Dog shall receive full score for "safety".
23. Pheasant Championship limited to first 24 entries.
24 For safety reasons, only factory loaded shot size 7 1/2 or smaller shot size may be used. No shot size four or six to be used!:
25. If dog bumps or flushes bird out of shot gun range, bracemate will receive 12 points.
26. Dog must be in bounds on the point or flush to receive points.
27. 12 birds released per brace of two dogs. Except 14 birds released for first brace
28. THE OBJECT OF THE TRIAL IS TO REWARD THE DOG THAT WILL PRODUCE THE MOST BIRDS FOR THE HUNTER.

POINT SYSTEM
     a. 10 points per bird pointed or flushed within gun range
     b. 10 points per bird flushed, killed and bagged
     c. 4 points per bird retrieved by dog
     d. 7 points for honoring bracemate point (pointing dogs) or honoring flush
           (flushing dogs). Scored once per brace on first opportunity only
     e. Tie breaker only: 1 point for every minute under 60, hunter bags fourth bird.