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02-13-2025, 03:22 PM
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It is all about the dogs. I'm an amateur field trialer with two setters that I also hunt (primarily grouse and woodcock). I enjoy the bond between handler and dog. It's the sense of trust, loyalty and wanting to please each other that drives the dog to do what they were bred for and for me to bring out the best of them. It's not for everybody but if you've never done it don't mock it. Our preference is to run in wild bird stakes (usually 1 hour) in New England covers. Though we do occasionally participate in released quail trials where, unfortunately, the handler spends more time kicking around to flush the pen raised bird that may or may not fly. But there's no prouder moment seeing your dog lock up completely focused on a wild bird, hold that point until you make the flush and you fire the blank pistol without your dog ever moving a foot, and then, not moving on until released. It's adrenaline pumping for the dog and you. It really is the best bond between man and dog.
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| The Following 18 Users Say Thank You to Tom Jay For Your Post: |
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02-13-2025, 03:25 PM
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Tom those are beautiful Setters!
__________________
"A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way." |
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| The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Reggie Bishop For Your Post: |
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02-13-2025, 04:40 PM
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Tom your so spot on its the relationship between man and dog. I'm sure my hunting buddies don't understand me sending off my labs for two years of training and working towards AKC and HRC titles. When I was young I did all my own training and campaigning. But when a dog reaches thier full potential and becomes a true believer in the handler they will accomplish incredible performance in the field.
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| The Following 10 Users Say Thank You to Craig Larter For Your Post: |
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02-15-2025, 03:59 PM
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I grew up going to field trials at the Foss Farm in Carlisle, Mass. We stayed on the Foss Farm with the Foss family. Those were the years!
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| The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to allen newell For Your Post: |
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02-17-2025, 06:22 PM
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Field trial Springers make great hunting dogs
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"Striving to become the man my dog thinks I am" |
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| The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to John Dallas For Your Post: |
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02-18-2025, 06:35 PM
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I hunted all my NSTRA dogs that I trialed with. The NSTRA trials most closely resemble actual hunting. Dogs must point, back, retrieve, handle, and cover the ground well. Handlers must be afoot, with judges on a horse or four wheeler. I seldom saw a judge use a horse. I have heard of some people that said that their NSTRA trials were held on five acre fields. I have never heard, or seen anything like that. I started NSTRA trialing to give my dogs more bird work.
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| The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to William Woods For Your Post: |
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02-18-2025, 06:47 PM
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William, out here in the hinterlands, shoot to retrieve — NSTRA — trials were, in my (I’m sure biased) opinion, the lower form of field trial. Guys would nearly run to points (running not allowed)and they knew that if they got one good retrieve, they could pull out their bag of tricks to play the system and keep their dogs from being penalized for poor retrieves. I only participated in one trial and refused to participate again. It’s good to know that my experiences were not universal.
Ever participate in the National Birdhunter trials?
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"Doubtless the good Lord could have made a better game bird than bobwhite, and better country to hunt him in...but equally doubtless, he never did." -- Guy de la Valdene (from A Handful of Feathers ) "'I promise you,' he said, 'on my word of honor, I won't die on the opening of the bird season.'" -- Robert Ruark (from The Old Man and the Boy) |
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02-18-2025, 07:55 PM
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The idea of judging from anything other than a horse is blasphemous.
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"Life is short and you're dead an awful long time." Destry L. Hoffard "Oh Christ, just shoot the damn thing." Destry L. Hoffard |
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| The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to John Davis For Your Post: |
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