I'm looking into starting field trial club in the North Tx area. We are currently competing in ABHA & NBHA trials in central and south Tx area. Looking to start a club to host trials in this area. Got a brag dog and no birds? Let's get together and show em off!!

Welcome to the forum. I went to one AHHA trial. They had a great bunch of people.

Looking to start testing and trials on my Gsp

Lots of trials set for the upcoming season. ck the ABHA website. Trial rules and regs posted. Shooting dogs three and over have to be steady to wing and shot. It takes a dog with pretty good range and handle to place. They run puppy, derby, and shooting dog braces. Lots of fun and lots of great dog work. We got into it due to lack of quail hunting opportunities and have had some success at this sport. Any questions just contact me.

It's a shame, but I think a lot of the venues are in trouble.

The term pretty good range and field trails seems contradictory to what, in my opinion, is a walking or foot hunting dog.

Foot hunting range can also be contradictory. I want my foot hunting dog to go where I won't go. I want to stand on the hail and watch my dog cover everything in sight. Some people want their foot hunting dog to stay in front of them in shooting distance.

I always liked my dogs to work 50-75 yards out or so.

There ! I fixed it for you.

You must hunt a lot bigger country than I ever had access to. I would have been done in 15-20 minutes if my dogs ranged that far.

Bill, you are right on Sir. No boot polishers in the field trial game. I was amazed to see the wheels on some of the dogs at the first "walking" trial we went to. My wife, dad, and myself got into this two yrs ago because we had no place to hunt with wild birds. The contacts I had in NW Tx where back in the mid 80's we would wear out a trailer full of dogs in a few days,told me no birds to be found. We would fly 25 to 30 coveys a day with 30+ birds to a covey. I hope those days can return, but I doubt it. So with several dogs and no place to hunt we got into the walking trial game. I've always enjoyed the dog work the most.

Some of what I wrote was tongue in cheek. I started out with big running dogs and stuck with them. I like them. I've been beaten by close working dogs.

I know what you mean. I've been beaten by bigger running dogs and close workers. At a trial this past spring we won the derby with a big running setter, then in the puppy stakes my big running female pup out of the Natl Champion (Shadow Oak Bo) didn't even place. She handled excellent but too far out from the walking trail where the birds were planted. The pups that hang out 30 to 40 yrds in front had some bird work.

I'd like to get in on some of this. When do they normally have the trials? I'll check their website later. Thanks for the heads up. Welcome to the forum.

Thanks for the heads up Setter Man. I added the ABHA/NBHA trial dates that are in Texas to the sticky link at the top of the forum.

Thanks for the welcome.Club trials are held on wkends and Championship trials generally three to four days. First trial coming up first wk in Oct in LaGrange, Tx then 11 & 12 at Wortham, Tx just north of Mexia. Not many trials during quail season. There will be a Reg Ch trial in our area wkend before Thanksgiving. There is a calendar of events on the website. www.abhatrials.com