Has anyone done any hunting competitions, like what they do on Bird Dog Challenge? I've always wanted to try one but didnt know how experience and talented you an your dog had to be. Just thought I'd ask for some feed back! Thanks.
Here is a pic of my 2 an a half year old German Shorthaired Pointer, Abby.

I haven't, but I've been watching some BDC and I don't really like how they run their dogs. None of them are steady to wing or shot and the shooters help the dogs too much. By that I mean the contest isn't about how good of a bird dog you have, but rather how fast you can kill three birds. So, instead of bumping a bird and shooting it, they stop and call the dog over to point it for three seconds then they flush it. I don't like how the dogs aren't steady because steadiness leads to better marking ability. The dogs don't retrieve to hand either. They just run up to the handler and he snatches it out of the dogs mouth. All around sloppy retrieving if you ask me. I just think that I would never want to shoot over that style dog. If I were to do spaniel or pointer competitions, I would do either hunt tests or field trials. Mainly because the dogs are held to a higher standard and it is a judge of who has the best dog, not who can run and gun the best. If you hunted the way they did BDC you could only hunt for an hour tops. But, I do understand that it is its own sport and certain dogs are good for that kind of thing. I just don't think that dog is good for the average hunter.

Mpuckett
I've been in several, small and very local guys. I found it fun and very rewarding for both myself and dog. They were all small and local people that I knew.
I think you'll do fine....you have the best breed going into it, Right? Worst, you'll find your talent level and (may be amazed)!!
shorthair

I would have to agree somewhat with Bird dog. I have run the flushing class in BDC. It was fun but I agree on the steadiness issues. It is however a competition against the clock and the object is to bag birds as quickly as possible.
There is a competetive venue in the state that is called Upland classic. just google that -- The guy that runs it is Andy Anderson. His competitions go by the title Redneck Classic. Lots of fun.

Is that one against the clock as well? I'd love to do some small an local competitions for I stepped up with the big boys.

I've done NSTRA for the last 15 or so years. It's a lot of fun, and a way to get your dogs into birds before and after season. NSTRA is the most available venue in Texas. They have three regions in Texas. We have a trial in Floresville in a couple a weeks and one in Katy the first weekend in December.

They didn't have trials during quail season when I first started, but we had more wild birds back then.