These rules are subject to change prior to the date of the event. All participants will be made aware of changes should they occur. Rules will be available at the event for competitors to review. The ruling of the judge in the field stands, and shall not be reconsidered after the run.

*Please Note*

Electronic training collars will be permitted, but over use will be reflected in your score and they must not be abused(judges discretion)
Time will NOT be factored in the score, however, there is a 20 minute time limit on each run.

HOW THE FUN TRIAL IS RUN

Each competitor(handler) may run one dog in a field at a time. Each field will consist of 2 handlers, 2 dogs and 2 judges. No spectators will be allowed in the competition fields at any time. Each handler is allowed to use a gunner, but all dog handling and bird flushing/handling must be performed by the designated handler. Safety will be strictly observed and violators will not be allowed to continue. Each dog is given 3 bird contacts to make up a total score based on the 4 requirements listed in the sections below. Judges will have final say in all scoring matters. A run will be complete after a dog has made 3 bird contacts, or 20 minutes has elapsed. The lowest score of the 3 contacts will be dropped unless it is needed to break a tie in determining the final winners. All scoring by judges will be final, and competitors will not be given the score sheets. This is a FUN TRIAL and all who compete are expected to act in an appropriate manner to other competitors, volunteers, and judges. Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated.

I SCORING

Scoring will be based on 4 requirements of dog performance in the field. Each category will be awarded a score between 1 and 20 per bird contact. 1 being low performance and 25 being the max.
(1) Dog Obedience: How well the dog handles relative to the owner. Does it obey commands? How does it act and respect the other dogs and handlers in the field?
(2) Field work and ground coverage: How well did the dog work to find each bird? Did the dog cover ground in an efficient and calculated manner?
(3) Point or Flush: For pointing dogs, the dog must establish a point on the bird that is held for at least 5 seconds. Pointing dogs that bump)or flush) the bird will receive lower scores. Dogs that hold steady point till the flush will be awarded higher scores. Trapped birds before the handler flushes will receive lower scores. Scoring in this category will stop at the handler flushing the bird. Flushing dogs will be scored on the find and strength of flush. Trapped birds by a flushing dog will not be deducted points. Dogs need not be steady through shot.
(4) Retrieve: The dog must successfully retrieve the downed bird. The handler(and gunner) must remain in the position of the flush until the dog returns. The dog must retrieve the bird without dropping the bird to within 1 reasonable step of the handler. Dogs that retrieve to hand and/or heal will be awarded higher scores. Dogs that do not fully retrieve will be scored lower.

II GENERAL

A competition field will not be planted until the pending competitors are in the designated blind. The scorekeeper will direct the bird setter when to set the field.
The Funt Trial is meant to be a fun and social event where all people are welcome and are encouraged to participate. Please be respectful of others. If you observe any problems or issues, please bring them immediately to the attention of the event coordinator or field marshal, and allow them to handle the situation.
No competitor will be allowed to walk the fields prior to the competition. Upon request scorekeepers will provide to each competitor a description of the competition field.
A competitor that is physically unable to walk as determined by a medical professional and possesses documentation stating such, shall request permission of the competition organizer to utilize a small ATV or golf cart while competing. Their pace is not to exceed that of a walking competitor and will be monitored by the scorekeeper.
The handler must be the owner of the dog, and may not be a 3rd party professional trainer or guide.
Competitors may have someone else handle the gun and shoot for them, with the following conditions:

The owner/handler of the dog must handle the dog at all times. The person shooting may not handle the dog in any way. 1 Penalty will be deducted for each violation.
The person with the gun may flush the bird, but may have no other contact with the bird.
The dog must retrieve the bird to the handler who is to remain in place from the time of the shot.
The handler may not approach an established point ahead of the person shooting.
Any safety violations committed by the gunner will be counted as penalties against the competitor.

In the Pointing Division, a competitor must make at least 3 good attempts to move the bird to flight. If that effort results in the bird moving at least 10 feet without taking flight, the bird should be declared a non performing bird by the Judge. If the bird is running and runs a minimum of 20 feet, this bird should be declared a non performing bird by the judge. Once a bird is declared a non performer, it will be considered a bird contact and not scored.
If a non performing bird flies and lands back in the field that was not deemed a safety bird you must pursue it and remove it from the field.
Hand tossing is not allowed – the only time a competitor may place a hand on the bird is to remove from the dog’s mouth on a retrieve, pick up a bird on a partial retrieve that has previously been in dog’s mouth, or pick up a bird deemed “non-performing”. In both cases the bird must be placed in the bag and not tossed for shooting. (If a competitor throws a live bird, no further scoring will be allowed on that bird (i.e., no retrieve or bagged bird points will be allowed and points will be deducted for any shells used to shoot at the thrown bird). If a scorekeeper determines that your dog caught or trapped the bird because of a non- performing bird, full points will be awarded in both the Pointing and Flushing divisions.
The Scorekeepers decision on non-performing bird(s) is FINAL.
No opportunity will be granted, should the dog place the bird in its mouth, to “spit” the bird out and foot or wild flush the bird to receive points. By placing the bird in its mouth it has trapped or caught the bird. Any failed attempt to catch or trap the bird by the dog prior to the flush is allowable, assuming the point was awarded by the scorekeeper.

III RULES OF SAFETY

A safe shot is always the RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SHOOTER.
Running during competition is NEVER allowed. As you leave the gate, scorekeepers will inform competitors of what an acceptable pace is. From that point forward, anytime a scorekeeper has to slow a competitor down or believes the competitor to be moving at an unsafe pace, they will be penalized. Any penalty will be communicated at the time of the infraction.
No bird may be shot while on the ground.
No bird is to be shot in flight unless it is safe to do so. Failure to abide by this rule is subject to immediate disqualification as determined by the scorekeeper. The guidelines for safe shooting are determined as follows:
The bird must be rising and at a safe distance from the dog. Above head height is preferred.
The bird must be clear of all personnel, structural property up to and including temporary structures, permanent buildings, vehicles (occupied or unoccupied), roads or traversed paths and all other hazards that present potential liability consequences to the shooter.
The skyline should be clearly visible to the shooter (below the bird) prior to taking the shot.
Blaze orange vests and/or caps must be worn at all times during competition.
Eye protection is recommended while in the field.
Firearms are to be free of ammunition and the action or chamber broken or open when not competing.
Only OEM produced loads are permissible in competition. Shells are to be no longer than two and three quarters (2 ¾”) inch in length and loads no greater than size seven (7) shot.
If a competitor aids a dog across an obstruction such as a fence or other barrier, or leaves the field for any reason, they must unload their firearm and relinquish it to the scorekeeper prior to such activity for safekeeping. While in the possession of the scorekeeper, the gun must remain unloaded and the action or chamber broken or open.
Safety is always the responsibility of the shooter and will always be respected. A scorekeeper may call a safety at any time.
Any loaded gun placed on the ground prior to the run at the gate or in the competition field at any time will be declared an unsafe action and subject to immediate disqualification.
FIELD CONDUCT:
Competitors shall keep their dogs on a leash at all times when not competing in a field.
All dead birds and bird parts must be removed from the competition field if at all possible prior to leaving that field. Intentionally leaving whole birds or bird parts in the competition field is not allowed.
If a scorekeeper is unsure whether or not a competitor fired a shot that placed an individual or property in danger, he or she is obligated to inform the competitor that an inquiry will be conducted at the conclusion of the respective brace. If a scorekeeper deems that indeed an unsafe shot was fired, intentionally or otherwise, that competitor shall be disqualified.
If two or more Fun Trial officials or official representatives of the host property witness damage caused by pellets from an unsafe shot, they too have the authority to disqualify that competitor.
All competitors, their dogs and gear must be in the holding blind during the planting of their field and the planting of the preceding brace if so required at the event.
Competitors intentionally loading a competition field in an effort to create an unfair competitive advantage for the next brace will be immediately disqualified. Competitors who are making no effort to bag birds, do not have their dog under control or it is running wild may be disqualified. A competitor who intentionally makes contact with more than the designated quota of birds shall be disqualified. The unintentional harvesting of more than the designated quota of birds shall not result in disqualification.
Entry fees are forfeited and non-refundable in the event a disqualification is levied.
The handler must gain control of the dog and leash the dog after the 3 bird limit is reached. Please exit the field in a safe manner once the dog is leashed.
All information as to the dog and handler on a score sheet is the responsibility of the competitor or dog handler. All score sheets must accurately include the dog’s, breed, owner’s, and competitor’s name. Score sheets will not be given or shown to the competitors. Judges' rulings are final…..period!

IV PLAYER CONDUCT

All competitors and those affiliated with a competitor agree to conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike and socially responsible manner. All competitors agree to refrain from behavior or language that might be perceived as threatening or offensive. Competitors will not engage in unsportsmanlike conduct with another teammate, competitor, sponsor, attendee or volunteer at any time. All competitors agree to respect and support the decisions or rulings as administered by an official, host, marshal or field judges. All competitors agree not to use alcohol or any other controlled substance (unless prescribed by a physician) prior to or while competing. Violators will be warned once and then upon second offense, will be disqualified and removed from the event without refund. Any inappropriate action made post event will result in disqualification from any future events.

V DENIED SHOOTING OPPORTUNITY

Denied Shooting Opportunity (“Safety”) is called for any unsafe condition involving potential injury to person, dog or property. A denied shooting opportunity can be awarded at any time during an event.

The hunter should loudly proclaim “no shot” or “safety” and keep the muzzle of the gun pointed in a safe position during an unsafe shooting condition. This alerts the scorekeepers of the unsafe condition. Once the scorekeeper has acknowledged the unsafe condition no shot should be taken. Any shot taken after a safety has been declared and acknowledged by the scorekeeper may be grounds for immediate disqualification. However if an opportunity presents itself and the shot becomes safe, the competitor may take the shot without penalty. Once a safety has been granted the handler must make physical contact with the dog before advancing further in the run. All points for that bird will be awarded if a three second point had been awarded before the safety was awarded. If the handler fails to make physical contact with the dog before advancing from the location the safety was called this will be scored as a partial retrieve. This is as if the dog was making a retrieve, handler must remain stationary until physical contact is made with the dog for full credit.
At any time, a scorekeeper may also call “safety” with the same rules applying.
If the bird stays in the field after a denied shooting opportunity is awarded you may accept the denied shooting opportunity score, pull the dog off the bird for three (3) minutes, and then hunt the bird for full points or produce another bird and then hunt the bird for full points. The scorekeeper will let the hunter know when three (3) minutes have elapsed.
If a cameraman or scorekeeper flushes a bird full, that bird will not count toward scoring.

VI TRAPPED BIRD/CAUGHT BIRD

A bird is trapped or caught when a dog places it in its mouth and has enough control to retrieve it to the competitor. A bird can be in or out of its nest for this to occur. Once a dog has placed a bird in its mouth, that same bird cannot be deemed a “non-performer”.

VII BAGGED BIRD

A bird (that is the designated species) securely in the possession of the competitor while in the field of competition is a bagged bird. If a bird escapes from a competitor’s control and is no longer in his/her possession at the conclusion of the brace, it is no longer considered “bagged”. The clock will be restarted and the competitor must either find and place this bird back in his/her bag while the clock is running or find, harvest and retrieve an additional bird to meet the requirement of the event or until the allocated time has elapsed, whichever comes first.

VIII BOUNDARIES

Time of the brace is stopped when the last bird is in hand and the competitor has full control of the bird and dog in bounds, or when the 20 minute time has elapsed. Whichever comes first.
A bagged bird may be in-bounds or out of bounds when flushed or pointed. The competitor or competitors may not go out off bounds to produce, shoot or bag a bird except as 12 permitted under the partial retrieve rule.. A competitor cannot purposely send a dog out of bounds or go out of bounds to harvest a bird.
If a bird is unintentionally pushed into the competition field by an out of bounds dog, full points are awarded as long as the bird is bagged. If a competitor leaves the field to retrieve his dog and accidentally flushes a bird back into the competition field. The competitor must pull the dog off of that bird for three (3) minutes, hunt another area of the field for (3) minutes or produce another bird prior to hunting the original bird.
It is considered unsportsmanlike for a competitor to refrain from calling their dog back into the competition field when the dog is out of bounds in hopes that the dog will flush a bird. If a dead bird is found within bounds, the competitor should collar his/her dog and the Scorekeeper will make a determination as to whether the bird is cold or warm. The Scorekeeper shall immediately determine whether the dead bird is warm or cold. If a cold, dead bird is found in the competition field by the dog, it will be scored as a no bird.
It is considered unsportsmanlike for a competitor to injure a bird while attempting to flush a bird. Additionally, a competitor may not, on the discovery of a nest containing multiple birds, impede the flight of any of the birds while flushing another. If the birds are in a resting state, the competitor may attempt to flush them individually, but may not impede the other birds from leaving during the flushing process. The scorekeeper will make a judgment call for disqualification or deduct five (5) points per offense, whichever they deem appropriate.

XII Interference

Interference is defined as one dog interrupting the point, flush, or retrieve of the other competitor’s dog.

Interference will result in the following penalties:

1 warning shall be given for the first occurrence. 2 penalties results in disqualification.
If the interference results in a bird flushed or retrieve stolen, that will count as 1 bird contact for the interfering dog and be scored as such.
No points will be awarded for the point/flush of the interference bird for the interfering dog