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Hunt tests are to test a dog's training/hunting ability. Hunt tests your dog runs against a standard, not dog vs. dog. UKC/HRC hunt tests have 3 levels, Started tests are for young dogs or dogs with less training. Seasoned tests are for dogs usually with a year or two of hunting experience and with more advanced training but still developing the advanced skills. Finished tests are for a dog with a few years of hunting experiece and advanced levels of training. There is also an upland hunt test where a dog usually has a couple years experience hunting and has advanced levels of training. The Grand is the "Super Bowl" of hunt tests and is only for dogs that have achieved thier HRCH title. Some people say that hunt tests are nothing like hunting, while this is somewhat true, your dog learns very valuable lessons from hunt tests. There are lots of people and dogs at tests, lots of new smells, sounds and sights that a dog has to deal with and still has to do his job in the field. This can carry over to hunting such as walking out into a public marsh and dealing with other hunters and their dogs, ducks circling the marsh and you don't quite get them in, ducks landing in the decoys and he has to remain seated and quiet. Also at hunt tests you will meet alot of great people from across the area that want you and your dog to succeed.
What is a "Started test"?
The Started Hunt will have four tests. Two tests shall be marked water retrieves. Two tests will be marked land retrieves. The Started Hunting Retriever can participate in all four tests regardless of whether or not it passes each test.
What is a "Seasoned test"?
The Seasoned hunt will have five (5) tests. These five tests shall consist of at least the following: (1) a doublemarked land retrieve, (2) a double-marked water retrieve, (3) a walk-up, or tracking, or quartering test, (4) a blind land retrieve, and (5) a blind water retrieve. Part of the test must include a diversion. Failure of a hunting retriever to pass any of the hunting tests will not prevent the hunting retriever from participating in subsequent tests unless the Handler is unsafe in handling a gun.
What is a "Finished test"?
The Finished Hunt will have at least four (4) tests. These four tests shall consist of the following: (1) a multiple marked water retrieve, (2) a multiple marked land retrieve (either or both the multiple marked water retrieve or the multiple marked land retrieve must include an honor), (3) a water blind retrieve, and (4) a land blind retrieve. These blinds may or may not be included in one of the required multiple marked retrieves. *Part of the test must include a diversion as the dog returns to the retrieving line from a blind, walk-up or
return from a marked retrieve. At the option of the Judges, the hunt may include an upland game test. If an upland game test is to be run, this option must be announced in the Club’s Premium if one is used. Failure of a hunting retriever to pass any of the hunting tests will not prevent the dog from participating in a subsequent test unless the Handler is unsafe in handling a gun.
What is an "Upland test"?
The Upland Hunt Test will be conducted according to the rules already established in this rulebook for the Finished Hunting Retriever. Plus, the changes or additions to these rules which follow:
1. The Upland Game Test shall consist of a simulated walk-up hunt, a quartering test, and an optional tracking test. The Upland hunting dog must be steady to wing and shot. Honoring of another dog is required. During this test the dog will be required to locate and retrieve game, as the Judges shall direct.
2. Quartering. The dog hunts in a radius ideally 10 to 30 yards to the front of the Handler. The dog is required to be steady to wing and steady to shot. The dog should immediately return to the previous hunting range upon being called and/or whistle commanded by the Handler. The Handler will shoot the gun (popper), and the gunners may kill the bird. If the dog does not immediately return to the hunting area, the test is failed.
The dog should be eager to hunt all available cover diligently and be under control. The intent of the quartering test is not to demonstrate running a pattern, but to demonstrate a natural tendency to hunt and be under control.
In the Upland Game Test, quartering, tracking and walk-up can all be combined at the discretion of the Judges.
Walk-up. A quiet, unobtrusive reminder to sit is acceptable as the bird flushes or is shot. Great care must be exercised by the Judges that this does not carry over to intimidation.
Each Upland Gun Dog must be presented with a minimum of two (2) birds to “flush” in the quartering test.
3. Tracking. If the Judges use a drag scented path, it should not be less than forty (40) yards in length nor more than seventy-five (75) yards in length. It should also contain at least one distinguishable change in direction.
What is a "Grand"?
The semiannual International Grand Hunts will be scheduled for five (5) days, but due to unforeseen circumstances, such as inclement weather, the tests may take longer to complete. The Grand Hunt Committee will make every effort to have the Hunt completed in (5) days. The Grand Hunt Committee will have the power to vary the number of Judges, divide the entry field and run test series simultaneously, and schedule the sequencing of each series accordingly.
The International Grand Hunt will consist of five (5) series of tests. The five series of tests shall consist of the following: Two (2) land series tests consisting of multiple marked land retrieves (either or both of these land series must include an honor and a diversion retrieve). Both land series tests must also include a blind retrieve.
There shall also be two (2) water series tests consisting of multiple marked water retrieves (either or both of these water series must include an honor and a diversion retrieve). Both water series tests must also include a blind retrieve.
The fifth and final test shall consist of an upland game and quartering test series. Failure of the hunting retriever to pass any of the five series tests will prevent it from participating in any subsequent series test.
What is a "Started test"?
The Started Hunt will have four tests. Two tests shall be marked water retrieves. Two tests will be marked land retrieves. The Started Hunting Retriever can participate in all four tests regardless of whether or not it passes each test.
What is a "Seasoned test"?
The Seasoned hunt will have five (5) tests. These five tests shall consist of at least the following: (1) a doublemarked land retrieve, (2) a double-marked water retrieve, (3) a walk-up, or tracking, or quartering test, (4) a blind land retrieve, and (5) a blind water retrieve. Part of the test must include a diversion. Failure of a hunting retriever to pass any of the hunting tests will not prevent the hunting retriever from participating in subsequent tests unless the Handler is unsafe in handling a gun.
What is a "Finished test"?
The Finished Hunt will have at least four (4) tests. These four tests shall consist of the following: (1) a multiple marked water retrieve, (2) a multiple marked land retrieve (either or both the multiple marked water retrieve or the multiple marked land retrieve must include an honor), (3) a water blind retrieve, and (4) a land blind retrieve. These blinds may or may not be included in one of the required multiple marked retrieves. *Part of the test must include a diversion as the dog returns to the retrieving line from a blind, walk-up or
return from a marked retrieve. At the option of the Judges, the hunt may include an upland game test. If an upland game test is to be run, this option must be announced in the Club’s Premium if one is used. Failure of a hunting retriever to pass any of the hunting tests will not prevent the dog from participating in a subsequent test unless the Handler is unsafe in handling a gun.
What is an "Upland test"?
The Upland Hunt Test will be conducted according to the rules already established in this rulebook for the Finished Hunting Retriever. Plus, the changes or additions to these rules which follow:
1. The Upland Game Test shall consist of a simulated walk-up hunt, a quartering test, and an optional tracking test. The Upland hunting dog must be steady to wing and shot. Honoring of another dog is required. During this test the dog will be required to locate and retrieve game, as the Judges shall direct.
2. Quartering. The dog hunts in a radius ideally 10 to 30 yards to the front of the Handler. The dog is required to be steady to wing and steady to shot. The dog should immediately return to the previous hunting range upon being called and/or whistle commanded by the Handler. The Handler will shoot the gun (popper), and the gunners may kill the bird. If the dog does not immediately return to the hunting area, the test is failed.
The dog should be eager to hunt all available cover diligently and be under control. The intent of the quartering test is not to demonstrate running a pattern, but to demonstrate a natural tendency to hunt and be under control.
In the Upland Game Test, quartering, tracking and walk-up can all be combined at the discretion of the Judges.
Walk-up. A quiet, unobtrusive reminder to sit is acceptable as the bird flushes or is shot. Great care must be exercised by the Judges that this does not carry over to intimidation.
Each Upland Gun Dog must be presented with a minimum of two (2) birds to “flush” in the quartering test.
3. Tracking. If the Judges use a drag scented path, it should not be less than forty (40) yards in length nor more than seventy-five (75) yards in length. It should also contain at least one distinguishable change in direction.
What is a "Grand"?
The semiannual International Grand Hunts will be scheduled for five (5) days, but due to unforeseen circumstances, such as inclement weather, the tests may take longer to complete. The Grand Hunt Committee will make every effort to have the Hunt completed in (5) days. The Grand Hunt Committee will have the power to vary the number of Judges, divide the entry field and run test series simultaneously, and schedule the sequencing of each series accordingly.
The International Grand Hunt will consist of five (5) series of tests. The five series of tests shall consist of the following: Two (2) land series tests consisting of multiple marked land retrieves (either or both of these land series must include an honor and a diversion retrieve). Both land series tests must also include a blind retrieve.
There shall also be two (2) water series tests consisting of multiple marked water retrieves (either or both of these water series must include an honor and a diversion retrieve). Both water series tests must also include a blind retrieve.
The fifth and final test shall consist of an upland game and quartering test series. Failure of the hunting retriever to pass any of the five series tests will prevent it from participating in any subsequent series test.
