Who is playing the hunt test games?

[DuckDogDr]

Used to do them pretty regularly, but work got in the way.
Trying to start back getting in gear and finish my lab’s titles and get my Chessie started

 

[Don Smith]

For over 20 years. Used to do both AKC and HRC. Still a member of HRC but don't have time to run both now. Occasional field trial, maybe more in the future.

 

[Rick Hall]

I'm no dog gamer. But as one who's run four of his pups at least though their HRC Seasoned as part of their training and, thus, gotten into and back into that game four times, I'll strongly suggest attending one of their Judges and Handlers Seminars as a self tune-up. Beats rereading the rule book.

 

[Missy Skeeter]

I don't think I would run the AKC Master in the lower-48 where it take 2 days to complete with >60 dogs.
If I competed in the lower-48, I would run local field trial Derby or Q that takes one day.

Up in Alaska it is fun, (we have outside judges who have judged the master national) as it is a short day
with at the most 20 master dogs. No HRC or NAHRA in interior Alaska.

Also the club has an awards tailgate potluck on each Saturday of the hunt test or field trial which is fun.

Field trials also have about 20 dogs, and the same dogs running the Open on Friday and the Am on Sunday,
Saturdays are for the Derby and Q. Once again experienced judges from the lower-48.
Nice to get done in a single day.

 

[SRW]

If I competed in the lower-48, I would run local field trial Derby or Q that takes one day.

Good advice, derby's and Q's have no limit on number of entries so they can be very large but 20 to 45 dogs is what most are. They often get done in a day but the entry and the number of pros running often make them 2 day events. Pros with a large number of dogs in multiple stakes mean they can be time spent waiting, especially if the stakes are a fair distance apart.

Soon as my coffee is done I will be heading to day 2 of a Q in North Texas. 40 dogs and a huge first series took a lot of time. Second series was the toughest blind I have ever seen in a Q, it was as tough as the Open blind. I'll post a couple photos later.
It would be a good idea to watch a field trial or attend a club sanctioned "fun trial" before entering. Most derbies and Q's I run in the Midwest and TX are a big step above Master Hunt Test level.

 

[USMC-Ret]

Ran both HRC and AKC HT and was a former Finished and Master Judge

 

[SRW]

This was the first series of the Q. Very tough test, mostly pro handled dogs.
Wind was NNW at the start. Lily was third to run and did a great job. Soon after the wind turned due north making the test a little easier by giving up the long bird as long as the dogs got deep enough. That's the way it goes in field trials.

 

[bird junkie]

View attachment 381329

This was the first series of the Q. Very tough test, mostly pro handled dogs.
Wind was NNW at the start. Lily was third to run and did a great job. Soon after the wind turned due north making the test a little easier by giving up the long bird as long as the dogs got deep enough. That's the way it goes in field trials.

How far are each of those?

 

[SRW]

How far are each of those?

I did not range anything. I suspect the shortest bird was around 175 to 200. The flyer was probably 225 or so. I think the long mark was probably 300 to 350. Distance combined with the terrain was the biggest factor on the long mark. It was not a retired gun, but the dogs lost sight of it for a good distance in route.

This was much more difficult than the first series in most Q's. A large entry of very good dogs and handlers, the judges had to make it challenging to find a winner.
The next three tests did not get any easier.

 

[Ragin Jack]

Since we have so many clubs in the West TN area, I a primarily a HRC guy but I do run some AKC as well I am a club member of Deer River Retriever Club.