NAHRA Judge's ClinicPresident Frank Plewa &

Tom Johnston

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AGENDA

• Introductions • Purpose of Judges Clinics• Becoming a NAHRA Judge• Judge’s Responsibilities• Accepting a Judging Assignment• Field Test Planning• Scoring • NAHRA test levels in brief

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AGENDA

Test DesignMarking TestsBlind Retrieve TestsUpland Hunt TestsTrailing TestsFirearm SafetyCode of Conduct

So you want to be a Judge?

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PURPOSE OF CLINICTrain New JudgesCalibrate Existing Judges

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PURPOSE OF CLINICTo promote the field test standard

To maintain a pool of quality judges

To train new members to become quality judges

Meet continuing education requirement of judges

 

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JUDGING RESPONSIBILITIES

Design the Field test

Score the Dogs

Represent NAHRA & the Host Club 

Design the Test

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Score the Dogs

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Represent NAHRA & Host Club

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Becoming NAHRA Judge

Member in Good Standing

Pass Judges Exam

Handled and Qualified a Dog

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Remain NAHRA Judge

Attend Judges Clinic

Every 3 Years

Agree to Judges Code of Conduct

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JUDGING RESPONSIBILITIES

Design Test & Score Dogs

Represent NAHRA & Host Club

Deciding the Breeding Stock of NAHRA Future

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JUDGING RESPONSIBILITIES

Understanding of the Rules

Compliance to the Rules

Voluntary and Serious

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JUDGING ASSIGNMENT

Accepting

Conflicts

Arrival

Professionalism

 

Judge’s Equipment Be Prepared

NAHRA RulebookScore bookPencil Sunscreen, Bug Spray & DrugsRaingear and appropriate clothingChair, Bucket, and Blind-bagUmbrella & Umbrella stand Flagging, poppers, and popper gun

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FIELD TEST PLANNING

The day beforeMorning of the TestScenarios & Test DogCall Backs

TEST DESIGN

Concept Based Test–Inverted Triple Marking Test

–Poison Bird BlindLocation Based Test

–How would I Hunt This & what would happen?

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TEST DESIGN

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NAHRA is Hunting Simulated Program

Factors to Consider in Test Design

Technical Difficulty of the Concept

Distractions & ‘Fog of the Hunt’

Physical Conditions of the Test Site

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Approaches to Test Design &

Scoring

Design an “Easy Test” &

Expect Near Perfection

Design a “Tough Test” &

expect success, but not perfection

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Make it RealTest where you would huntUse Decoys & Other Fun StuffAct Like you are huntingDress like you are hunting

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Test Set-up

Work Out the Mechanics

Estimate the Time per Dog

Run a Set-up Dog

Have FTC “Approve” Test04/21/23

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Good Help Is Hard to Find

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Day of the Test

Meet Your CrewHandlers BriefingTest DogDon’t Be Afraid to Change the TestCall Backs

 

Score Book & NAHRA Rulebook

Always Carry NAHRA Rulebook

Prepare Score Book Ahead of Time

Be Prepared for Rain

Dogs Name on the Score Sheet

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Scoring

What are you Scoring ?

Technical Performance

Line Manner & Behavior Team Work

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Scoring Technical PerformanceMarked Retrieves

Marking the Fall

Remembering the Fall

Hunts the Area of the Fall

Returns without Delay04/21/23

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Scoring Technical PerformanceBlind Retrieves

Line with Precision

Hold the Line

Stops Crisply

Cast Crisply04/21/23

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Scoring Technical PerformanceUpland Hunt

Understands the ConceptIndicated Game ScentChecks on CommandUnder Control in ScentHunts the Entire Gun LineSteady to Flush, Shot & Fall

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Scoring Technical PerformanceTrailing Test

Understands the Concept

Indicated Scent & the Trail

Recovers from Lost Trail

Can be called Off the Trail04/21/23

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Scoring Line MannersJudges should look for natural and trained abilities

Focus, desire and memory (marking)Hunting desire (upland)Ability to follow scent (trail)

– The rest is OBEDIENCE Control going to the line Control during Walks-ups Control while marks are released Control during a remote Quartering & ranging Walk up to the trail Returning to handler Bird handling During Diversions When leaving the line Handling on marks and blinds Honoring

Started(with mild restraint)

Intermediate& Senior

Scoring Approaches

Point Reduction Method

Big Picture Method

Scoring Each Test 0 to 10

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NAHRA Test Levels in Brief

Started

Hunter

Intermediate

Senior 04/21/23

35

Started Field Test

Five Single Marked Retrieves Two on Water & Two on Land50 Yards on Water75 Yards on Land“Steady” but may be SteadiedBasic Hunting Situation Be reasonable- No Tricks

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Hunter Field TestLand Double 75 yards

Water Double 50 yards

Not tighter than 45 degrees

Steady & Deliver to Hand

30 to 50 yard basic trailing test

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Intermediate Field Test

Land Double to 100 yardsWater Double to 75 yardsLand Blind to 75 yardsWater Blind to 50 yardsBlind not incorporated with marksUpland Hunt no FlushTrailing test

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Senior Field Test

Land Triple to 100 yardsWater Triple to 100 yardsLand Blind to 100 yardsWater Blind to 100 yardsOne Blind incorporated with marksUpland Hunt with FlushTrailing test

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MARKED RETRIEVE

Setting up a marking testJudging guidelinesTest conceptHunting scenarioScoring a marking test 

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Marked Retrieve "Marking" or memory of fallen birds is of paramount importance.

– Ideal line is a “Laser Beam” to the fall – i.e. run directly to the bird and return with it.

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Marked Retrieve

Area of Fall

The ability to "mark" does not necessarily imply "pin-pointing the fall." – A dog that recognizes the depth of the "area of the fall," hunts tight, then

quickly and systematically locates the bird, has done a credible and an intelligent job of marking.

– Such work should not be appreciably out-scored by the dog that "pin-points" the mark

NAHRA makes no explicit distinction as to the route to the area of the fall.– Does the dog know where the bird fell and proceed to that area?

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Marked Retrieve

Area of Fall

Dogs that leave the area of the fall should be able to work their way back into the fall area. – We never know for sure why the dog doesn’t find a bird (placement, scented

field etc)

– The dog should set up a systematic - gradually expanding - search.

– Once out of the area – a brief search and return to the area shows intelligence

Dogs that go directly to the back side of the gun station probably did not mark the fall

- that is much more severe than hunting the area of the fall and then drifting to gun

stations

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Marked Retrieve

Area of Fall

There are a lot of factors that make up the area of the fall– Cover, Change of Cover, Slope, Lighting, Wind, Distance

– Terrain and natural barriers (hills, angled entries/crossings)

– Suction – from old falls, blinds, natural factors, unnatural factors (gunners, bird buckets etc.)

– Speed of the individual dogs,

– Whether one is establishing the "area of the fall“ for a single retrieve, the first bird of a multiple mark, or subsequent marks in a multiple marks

StrongWind

Gunner

Steep Slope

Angled entry toStream or road

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BLIND RETRIEVE TEST

Setting up a blind retrieve testJudging guidelinesConceptsHunting scenarioScoring a blind retrieve test 

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Blinds Alignment & initial line Carry on line - casts Obedience - whistle sits Stays within corridor Teamwork Continually improving

position with each cast

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Blinds Initial line

– How close to a “perfect” direction towards the blind?– How long does he carry it?– How well does the handler/dog team deal with

distractions? Crisp whistle sits – dog immediately turns and looks

to handler for direction

X1

X2

Literal cast

Hard over - hard Back

X3

Cast Refusal (wants to go to ‘his’ spot)

Steep hill and valley where you lose sight of

the dog

Blinds

Often times, in order to get the dog to go deep, a handler will allow the dog’s momentum to carry him too far out – i.e. doesn’t (or is afraid to) handle– Can’t get a whistle refusal if I don’t blow

the darn thing!– Dog/handler team is “out of control” –

subjective scoring deductions

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X1

It is difficult to pass a team where one or the other of the team members refuses to handle!!!

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Blinds Think of a corridor around the line to the blind Handler/dog team should stay within this corridor.

Handle here….

……not hereX1

Attack the blind…

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Blinds Factors in a blind – suction to go somewhere other than the line to blind

Sce

nte

dPoin

t

Earlier mark

Poison Bird

Acute angled entry

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UPLAND HUNTING TEST

Setting up a upland testJudging guidelinesConceptHunting scenarioScoring an upland test 

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Upland Hunting Desire Control Steady to Shot Stays within gun Actively pursues game Works independently

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Upland Hunting Search aggressively, leaving little unsearched area Stays within gun range (30-35 yards). Naturally puts the wind to his advantage

– “Quartering" into the wind primarily and to his handler secondarily

– approaching birdy objects (clumps of cover and brush thickets) from the downwind side.

Moves throughout the field independently with minimal whistle, hand and voice signals

Two dogs may be run in a brace (scented areas only, no birds for intermediate braces).

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Upland Hunting Methods of upland hunting

– Quartering in a “Windshield Wiper” pattern– Hunting areas most likely to hold birds– Working on scent– The field may be “salted” with bird scent or dead birds – Although the dog is not being judged on retrieving, if he finds

a bird he MUST pick it up and deliver to hand

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Upland Hunting

Steady to Shot– Realistically, bird is released some distance from the dog (safety)

– Dog is expected to sit or remain standing at position

– Bird may or may not be shot

– It is natural for a dog to want to grab at the bird when flushed.

Dog will either be released to retrieve a shot bird – or recalled to the handler for a fly-away

Don’t Be Afraid to Walk

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TRAILING TEST

Setting up a trailing testJudging guidelinesConceptHunting scenarioScoring a trailing test

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Trail Perseverance Natural ability to use nose Willingness to ‘find it’ Control at the point of origin

– Trained to trail

Judging difficulties– Impossible to tell what factors are present (wind, drag-

back etc)– Impossible to tell how good the trail is

Note; a dog's scent is 7 times more sensitive than a humans

– Best time is early morning when there is some moisture

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Trailing "Trailing" is perhaps the most independent function of the hunting

retriever. The dog must show concentration and desire to locate and follow the trail of a crippled bird or hunt for upland game.

Wind

Downwind Leg

Crosswind Leg

Typically, trails are performed with a dragged duck - but can also be performed with a running duck or pheasant

Normally starts down wind with a cross wind turn

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Trailing

Downwind Leg

Crosswind Leg

Three methods of trailing:– Nose down on the trail and methodically following it to the bird.

Wind

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TrailingThree methods of trailing:

Downwind Leg

Crosswind Leg

– Nose down on the trail and methodically following it to the bird. – Head up using a short quartering pattern across the trail until the

bird is found

Wind

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TrailingThree methods of trailing:

Downwind Leg

Crosswind Leg

– Nose down on the trail and methodically following it to the bird. – Head up using a short quartering pattern across the trail until the

bird is found or – Head high following the scent on the downwind side of the trail.

Wind

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Trailing Less favorable behavior in the trailing test

– Over excited dog who bolts out of the blocks and loses the trail due to momentum

– Dog who ignores the trail and takes off on a hunt– Overzealous handlers who try to “help” their dog

Wind

Downwind Leg

Crosswind Leg

Judge should direct handler to stop and recall the dog at this point.Then, resend the dog and see if he picks up the trail

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Trailing Conditions can change during a test that must be

considered Wind shift from the south can make the previous example

an acceptable line – (dog running with his nose high a good distance from the line)

Both judges and handlers need to be aware of the conditions

Win

d

Downwind Leg

Crosswind Leg

A significant shift in wind direction can result in a dog trailing down wind from the drag in a position that was

unacceptable under different wind conditions

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Trailing

Wind

Downwind Leg

Crosswind Leg

On completion of the trail do NOT allow the dog to return directly to the handler (at the starting position) because it will add scent to an area of the field that is not on the trail

Carrying a bird low to the ground across the field will fowl the area for subsequent dogs

(No pun intended!)

Remember – the bird MUST be delivered to hand.

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FIREARM SAFETY

Direction of gunFinger off triggerGun unloaded until readyNRA rules

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JUDGES CODE OF CONDUCT

Promote the NAHRA Philosophy

Understand the Rulebook

Represent NAHRA & Host Club

Judge Objectively & By the RuleSet Good Example for Potential

Judges

This Says It All

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