Master Rules for The Ring-Necked Connection
TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS DOUBLES
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 NOT ALLOWED.
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.
1 point for each minute of time not used
2.
A team will consist of two (2) hunters and one (1) dog and may
only compete
once in that division.
3. Run positions will be drawn and posted prior to the start of the contest. Teams will
be moved up as necessary to keep the event running in a timely manner. Teams
must check in and sign any required waivers prior to going to blind or designated area.
4. If the
team is not in the blind or designated area when your position is called you will be moved to the bottom of the run list with
a 5 point penalty. (This will not apply if you are competing in another field.)
5.
Participants (Hunters) must hunt together behind the dog. Hunters must walk through the
course. NO RUNNING IS ALLOWED.
6.
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 hunters,
thirty (30) minutes of time has lapsed, or a team is out of shells. If a team
is out of shells they cannot bag a bird and no remaining time shall be counted for their score. Teams 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.
7.
Each hunter will be limited to the use of six (6) shells. One shell will
be counted as fired from either of the two guns should it not be fired during the hunt. (Each hunter is required to shoot
at least once.)
8.
There shall be no training aids attached to the dog during the hunt. This includes a collar of any type. Any
team wanting to run their dog with a training aid attached will be allowed to run, but will receive a score of “0”
for their run.
9.
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, one hunter may proceed to flush the bird, but that 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.
10. All birds must be off the ground and flying before
they can be shot. No birds
may be shot on the ground.
11.
A dead bird from a previous run will not count for any points.
12.
Pointers are expected to remain steady on point until the hunter flushes
the bird. The dog is not allowed to flush the bird
.
13. 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, at the judge’s discretion the bird may be
picked up if it refuses to flush. The bird then may be dispatched and thrown for the retrieve.
14.
In the flushing division, the dog must flush the bird. The hunter is not
allowed to put the bird in the air.
15.
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 with the most shells, or if both hunters have the same number of shells, the shell will
be taken from the dog handler.
16.
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.
17.
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.
18.
In both divisions the dog may retrieve to either hunter.
19.
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 teammate or dog).
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 with the most shells in his possession or from the
handler if both hunters have an equal number of shells. Safeties may be requested by either 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.
20.
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.
21.
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.
22.
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.
23.
All dogs must be on leash or boxed when not being hunted. Please air your dog away from the designated hunting area.
24.
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.
25. Teams will not be permitted to view the bird plant prior to their run, and will be in
the designated area prior to the plant in their field.
26.
Ties will be broken by the following:
a.
Bird Count
b.
Points or Flushes
c.
Shell Count (shooting accuracy)
d.
Retrieves
e.
Time
27.
Females in season will not be allowed in the contest.
28. Judges will not be subjected to any abusive behavior of any kind.
