I simply don't understand why everyone within 2 to 3 hours would not choose to run in this trial. Just look at all the threads on this forum crying about the lack of wild birds. They're laying their dogs up when they could spend $80 and hunt them for an hour. I got my first pointer pup and fell in with a bunch of AA guys. She fit right in, but I didn't have a horse, and hunted her. I like if I was at a formal in blue jeans. Thirty years later I went to my first NSTRA trial. I knew I could do that. You hunting guys could also do it.

I see NSTRA and Field Trials as fun, hunting, and competition - what more could a man ask for?

I see NSTRA and Field Trials as fun, hunting, and competition - what more could a man ask for?

20 Coveys a day of wild birds with free access to the land that they are on. I don't ask for much do I?

Like I said some like it some don't. I have dogs that I'm guessing run bigger than yours and I've never had a 30 acre lease.

"A good quality bird dog adapts to where the birds are"

I'm sure you have good quality dogs but until you hunt behind mine I'm sure your not saying mine aren't.............

Don't get mad at me for saying this & I'm not trying to down talk NSTRA because I am definitely interested in getting into it, but in saying that, I would rather find two coveys on 10,000 acres than be stuck with 40 acres covered up in pen raised Quail, the two don't compare in my eyes. I would like to get into NSTRA for some EXTRA dog work, but I will still be hunting wild birds as long as I know there is at least one out there somewhere to be found. JMO

Chet, I am more in line with your way of thinking. I like to go across the country. Lest not forget about the walking trials like NBHA,ABHA, US COMPLETE. We just need to get ours STS while others are force fetching.

Interesting dialog Gents. Be assured NSTRA and wild bird hunting are not mutually exclusive, and certainly NSTRA extends the time spent doing "something" in the field with bird dogs. What's wrong with that? I like NSTRA as it's a trial group for people with hunting dogs. I like Shooting Dog venues too as many of these dogs are the breeding backbone for hunting dogs and, yes, NSTRA dogs. Several years ago, I participated in a group that paid Bob Wehle the stud fee to breed Snakefoot to a little known at the time "hunting dog" in Kansas owned by friend Bryce Flamming, Hanna's Elhew Lou. The litter produced 7 pups as I recall, 6 of them becoming champions in various field trial venus, including 3 in NSTRA, plus Elhew Snakeye which had success in Shooting Dog stakes and went on to Open plus Hall of Fame Shooting Dog Elhew Sunflower...which produced the multiple year Top Shooting Dog Elhew Hannibel. I understand that old Kansas hunting dog Hanna's Elhew Lou has been nominated and perhaps elected to the Field Trial Hall of Fame for her production. One littermate from the Snakefoot/Lou breeding, a dog named Belle, was perhaps the best wild bird dog I have ever seen. She was always to the front, always out of sight, and it seemed like always on point when found. She was also a 3X NSTRA champion, maybe 2X, and always very competitive in NSTRA. Yeah, she had to be hacked a little to stay in the bird field, just like we have to hack dogs in to hunt small patches when hunting wild birds. So what? I also had one of the litter, a 1X NSTRA champion, Levi, and she also was a wild bird hunter with good success and ranged out to about 500 yards. She just didn't have the nose of Belle...and likely that of Sunflower (Jill was her call name) and Snakeye. Anyhow I just received a pup from Max Harsha in New Mexico (look him up...mulemanmanharsha.com). Those dogs can also trial if you want but he's a wild bird man. my guess is they can also NSTRA trial. I'll find out. By the way, Bill Oxner is a friend of mine and perhaps the greatest lover of bird dogs I have ever known and also a damn good NSTRA trialer. His dogs consistently beat mine on wild birds with finds out on the fringe and he NSTRA trials all year long. What's wrong with that?? Again, NSTRA and wild bird hunting are not mutually exclusive. Give it a try!

Sounds good, have a 15 to 20 minute back course with a bird field at the end and birds on the back course as well as the bird field. I think this probably isn't possible due to land avalible to most clubs. But would be nice. Several other formats are like this but hard to find many of these trials in Tx.

Thank you Bill!!

Right you are, she ran across both bird fields to a hedge row that had the only cover in the area. Just what I would have wanted her to do if we were hunting. In fact if my memory is correct, and it may not, that trial had little piles of branches as the only cover in the bird field. One more reason why I'm not a big fan of NSTRA. But for those with a tight handle on their dogs or naturally close working dogs it's a fine way to get some bird work.

I skimmed through this....... I would venture to say I hunted more wild quail this year than most in this forum can fathom and I'm about to go trial this weekend. During the season I ran in one trial and got a first place. Nstra is a great way to compete a hunting dog in my opinion. If it's not for you it's probably because you found your dogs not competitive? Some don't like competition and I get that but some do and love to show off their hard work they've done with their dog. If you've never been to a trial, GO! Go watch, bring an orange hat, ride with a judge and meet all the really cool guys that are bird hunters just like you.