National Bird Dog Challenge Coming to WA ! [/align][hr]

The National Bird Dog Challenge (as seen on the Outdoor Channel) is coming to WA. Burlington Ranch (just South of Chewelah) is hosting the event.
It will be held on September 22 - 23.
In essence, you can enter your dog in either the Pointing division or the Flushing division. There are two "levels" in each division. The top three dogs in the "Top Gun" divisions split the entry fee pot 50/30/20 ! ! ! So if you and your dog are a great hunting team, you can not only have a lot of fun, but make some $$ as well. In order to run in these events, you need to be a member of BDC ($35 per year - June to June).
3 Chukars will be planted in a 12 acre field. You are given 6 shotgun shells and (*I think*) 15 minutes to hunt the field. You are scored on the number of Points or Flushes, number of birds harvested, number of shells left over and amount of time left.

If you've ever watched NBDC on TV, you already know how much fun it will be, and it's going to be a great way to get you and your dog tuned up for the upcoming Pheasant Season.

For information on this event and a link to BDC, go to www.burlingtonranch.com/

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are you putting your dog in it DOC?

Blueditch,
Normally, I wouldn't, but I'd like to see NBDC being run more often in WA, and the owner of Burlington Ranch is a friend of mine, so I'll probably run -- just to help get it off the ground here in WA and to help out my friend.


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Doc E- That's great. I love watching that show. But you know the dogs run just about perfect, it's the hunters that win or lose it.lol better start shooting.
but seriously good luck to you and Casey and keep us updated

I love that show, It makes me appreciate what a good dog and a good hunt really is.
In the Pointing Division the dogs have the worst style: stauching point with a tail at 9 Oclock or worse and they always are creeping, relocating,
and flagging. We call this a form of BlinkingBirds. Most are not brokethey bump birds or trap em. Sometimes they even run past them and the handler flushes them.
The Birds are even worse. the handlers have to kick and kick and kick to get them to fly.

Daleh,
I understand what you are saying-- That's why I don't understand why people with really good dogs don't run in it. You'd think that with the nice cash payouts that come with the first three places (50/30/20 payout) that it should be "easy pickin's" for top notch dog/handler teams.

But because it's a "run & gun" event, style isn't scored. It's the number of birds ponted, number shot, number retrieved, number of shells used and amount of time used (or left over).

I heard that the #1 Top Dog last year in the National Finals (or whatever it is called) took home $37,000. That'd buy a lot of dog food.


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Who determines the correct direction of the tail? English Setters for example. My understanding is the standard (originally developed in England) is for a 9:00 tail when the dog is on point. But in the US, everybody is looking for a 12:00 tail. When/why did this change?

mustad,
I've never really understood the "tail fetish" here in the US myself. How about pointing dogs that have "no tail" (cropped)? I have never- never evereven once seen a picture of a guy kneeling down by his long tail pointer that wasn't holding the dog's tail up. Almost like he is stroking the tail --- almost pornographic

Some say that it's easier to see a 'high noon' tail in deep grass/weeds (again what about the short tail dogs?).
I agree that it's probably more pleasing to the human eye to see an upright tail --- but does it really put more birds on the table? It's nice to the human eye to see a tripod point too, but many folks think that tripod is just one step closer to breaking than a quad point, and a three legged point doesn't put more birds on the table either. To quite a few people, style is more important than actual hunting.

Casey usually points with a 9 O'clock tail.............But the more hot and tired he gets, the lower his tail goes.

In this first pic, it was a nice cool morning and we were only doing "pointing training" so he was full of energy and cool.
In the second pic, he had just completed 10 LONG land marked retrieves and 2 LONG blind retrieves. It was 93 degrees -- he was hot and tired (he needed a 10 minute break and a swim). He was panting hard while we were quartering, but as soon as he goes on point, the mouth goes shut and he nearly quits breathing.

Too much ephasis on the retrieve. Retreving is great however, first you must find the bird, then shoot it.
All American Field trials are about pointing birds and steady to wing and shot.
Wonderful, that is the first part. As for most of us hunters we really want a dog to find birds first. Secound, Stand there for as long as it takes to get there to flush and shoot. Then and (Last) We want the dead bird.
We don't really care about the retrieving to hand, i just want my bird and i am not going in the thick nasty briars to get it. That is the dogs job.
Drop it by my feet, out in the field or hold it to the next point.
I don't care. I just want my bird.
Wild bird hunting is so different from preserve shooting that a special dog must be used if you ever want to find a covey of wild quail.
I do put an big ephisis on style. maybe, i just to like to hunt with alot of go, astylish, and pretty dog. Just like Dating, i want a good looking girl that is outgoing.Not just some dumpy looking thing thatcan make the retrieve.
If i was hunting ducks or doves sitting still i might want something different. That is why they make different dogs.
No one size fits all has ever been listed a true classic and never will.