Safety Rules

1. All participants must be at least 12 years of age and be able to show proof, upon request, of completion of a Hunters Safety course from their state of residence. 
2. All participants must wear high visibility blaze orange; i.e. a cap, vest, or other article of clothing as an outer garment. 
3. 12 gauge shotguns will shoot no more than 2 ¾ inch shells containing no shot larger than #5.  20 gauge shotguns will be allowed to shoot 3 inch shells containing no shot larger than #5.
4. Events held on WMAs will require non toxic shot.
5. Safety is the responsibility of the participant at all times, unsafe handling of a firearm or inappropriate behavior will be grounds for disqualification without refund of entry fees or any other compensation. This includes cheating of any kind
6. SHOOTING OF BIRDS ON THE GROUND IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN.

Hunt Rules

1. Scoring will be as follows:

A:  10 points for each bird in the bag (maximum of 60 points)

B:    5 points for each point or flush (maximum of 30 points)

C:    5 points for each retrieve (maximum of 30 points)

D:    5 points for each shell remaining (maximum of 30 points)

E:    one point for every minute of time not used.

2. A team will consist of one (1) hunter and one (1) dog.  A dog can only run in one division, and only once in that division. 

3. Run POSITIONS will be drawn prior to the start of the contest.  Position one (1) will start at 8:00 A.M. teams will be moved up as necessary to keep the event running in a timely manner. Teams must check in, sign any required waivers, and be in the designated blind area prior to their turn to run. Teams missing their position will be moved to the last run and be assessed a five (5) point penalty.

4. Participants (Hunters) must hunt behind the dog.  Hunters must walk through the course.  NO RUNNING IS ALLOWED.

5. The hunt shall begin from a designated start area, and only that start area.  The hunt shall end when six (6) birds are in the possession of the hunter, thirty (30) minutes of time has lapsed, or the hunter is out of shells.  If a hunter is out of shells he cannot bag a bird and no remaining time shall be counted for their score.  Hunters that request to stop their hunt prior to obtaining six (6) birds will forfeit all remaining time and it shall not be counted in their score.

6. The hunter will be limited to the use of twelve (12) shells.   

7. No training aids will be allowed. This includes collars of any kind. Whistles are allowed.

8. A bird flushed within the boundary of the course but dropped out of bounds must be retrieved by the dog only and returned in bounds to be counted.  A bird flushed out of bounds must be dropped in bounds to be counted.  If a dog is out of bounds on point, the hunter may proceed to flush the bird, but the hunter can not fire his or her gun at the bird.   Uninjured birds from another field must land in your field before it can be shot to be counted as a legal bird.  No pass shooting is allowed.

9. All birds must be off the ground and flying before they can be shot.  No birds may be shot on the ground.

10. A dead bird from a previous run will not count for any points.

11. Pointers are expected to remain steady on point until the hunter flushes the bird.  The dog is not allowed to flush the bird. 

12. In the pointing division a bird that has left the nest can be caught by the dog and will be counted as a caught bird.  If the dog catches the bird within two (2) steps of the hunter, the bird must be retrieved further than two steps away for the retrieve to count.  All thrown birds must be dead.  A hunter may not throw a live caught bird and then shoot it.  When the bird is bagged, a shell will be taken from the hunter with the most remaining shells.  If both hunters have the same number of remaining shells, the shell shall be taken from the dog handler.  The dog gets the point if he was steady and the retrieve if made.  Particular to THE BIG MEADOWS UPLAND BIRD CHAMPIONSHIPS, and THE RING-NECKED CONNECTION TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS; at the judges discretion the bird may be picked up if it refuses to flush. The bird then may be dispatched and thrown for the retrieve.
                                                                                                

13. In the flushing division, the dog must flush the bird. The hunter is not allowed to put the bird in the air.

14. In the flushing division a trapped bird will count, the dog will receive points for the flush, the retrieve if made, and the bird will count as bagged.  One shell will be taken from the hunter.

15. In the flushing division retrieves must be made to hand. The hunter is not allowed to shorten the retrieve by taking steps toward the dog. The hunter must stay in position at the point of the shot. See scoring sequence for the Ring-Necked Connection Tournament of Champions.

16. In the pointing division retrieves must be made to hand. The hunter is not allowed to shorten the retrieve by taking steps towards the dog. The hunter must stay in position at the point of the shot. See scoring sequence for The Ring-Necked Connection Tournament of Champions.

17. Judges may call a safety if they determine that the shot will endanger an observing party, the gallery, or another hunter (other than his own dog or judge).  When a safety is called, full points will be given for the point/flush, the retrieve and the bird.  One shell shall be counted as fired from the hunter.  Safeties may be requested by the  hunter but will only be allowed at the discretion of the judges.  If a hunter fires after a safety has been called it may result in disqualification.

18. Absolutely no person may protest a run other than his or her own run.  The protest   must be filed with the hunt chairman within one hour of the completion of the run.  CHECK AND SIGN YOUR SCORE SHEET WITH THE JUDGES IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOU RUN.  Scoring problems will be settled by the official score sheet.

19. Dogs may not be called back to a bird if a bird is seen in front of the hunters but behind the dog.  The hunter may go around the bird and then hunt their dog back to the bird, or they may wait for the dog to return to them with no verbal commands or hand signals.

20. Dogs will be placed on leash when the hunt has finished and will immediately proceed to the nearest border of their field by the most direct method so as not to disturb any birds that remain in the field.

21. All dogs must be on leash or boxed when not being hunted.  Please air your dog away from the designated hunting area.

22. Dogs interfering with a hunt in another field may be disqualified.  The hunt being interfered with will be awarded full points as awarded in a safety if the bird leaves the field. If the bird does not leave the field and you have time to hunt the bird you will be expected to continue the hunt.  If in the opinion of the judge you do not have enough time to hunt the bird in the time remaining all points will be awarded as in a safety.

23. Teams will not be permitted to view the bird plant prior to their run. Teams will be in the area designated prior to their field being planted.

24. Ties will be broken by the following:  1.   Bird Count,   2.   Points or Flushes,   3. Shell Count (shooting accuracy),   4.  Retrieves,   5. Time.

25. Females in season will not be allowed in the contest.

26. Judges will not be subjected to abusive behavior of any kind.