Hello fellow RMCers!

I hope you’re having an active hunting season. This is what we train for all year. Rocco and Isa got some excellent ground time up in North Dakota with Craig’s Scarecrow pack and his friend Keith. Birds were pretty thin and thanks to some horrible shooting, my dogs probably got more work than they could have…

Believe it or not, it’s time to start thinking about 2019 – so I’m sharing this set of Chapter motions, which will be discussed and voted on at the NAVHDA 50th Annual Meeting Jan 24-27 in Minneapolis. Each chapter has the opportunity to appoint a delegate and record our vote; Craig has graciously volunteered. (If you’re planning to go, please let me know.)

The board will be voting on these at our annual meeting ( TBD in Jan), and we’d really like to hear your thoughts on these motions.

Following is a summary of the motions, read the full text on the Resources tab:

Proposed changes to Testing rules

1. Require a 4 in search for a Utility Prize 1. Field search would be weighted the same as duck search. Submitted by Potomac, Keystone, Missouri & Oklahoma chapters
2. Hold a public drawing/lottery the evening before the Invitational for field brace mate selection. The technology or software of choice for this drawing can be that of the NAVHDA office. Invitational handlers and the public shall be allowed to attend. An evening drawing will eliminate the perceived notion of handlers training together prior to the event. (It is unclear from the language whether the draw would precede each day, or be conducted the night prior to the first run day.)
   Submitted by Potomac, Missouri & Chesapeake chapters

Other

1. NAVHDA should commission new training book of current and best training practices, inclusive of the use of new training tools and techniques, authored by NAVHDA member subject matter experts. (Potomac chapter)
2. 4. NAVHDA should disclose a copy of the new insurance policy. Additionally, NAVHDA will put together a plan to allow chapters to opt out of NAVHDA’s policy or being required to pay premium, provided proof of insurance listing NAVHDA International as an additional insured is provided annually. (Wisconsin chapter)
3. 5. Every NAVHDA member should receive a free NAVHDA decal each year on renewal. (Northern Michigan chapter)

Also – stay tuned for news about RMC’s annual meeting. We’re expecting a pretty major turnover on the board, so we really want to see you there so you can vote on your new Chapter leadership. Please think about whether you ( or someone you know) would make a good candidate for one of the board positions.

To learn more about board positions, please visit our website at RMC-NAVHDA.com

Thanks and safe hunting!

Theo Stein

Hello Rocky Mountain NAVHDA,

I would like to thank everyone who helped make the 2018 Fall Test an incredible success. It was wonderful to see so many new members (and prospective members) coming out to learn about the inner workings of a NAVHDA test. I also want to extend a huge thank you to all the members who were at each and every day of the test making sure the weekend went off without a hitch. The judges complemented daily that we run our tests like a well oiled machine and it took the whole team to make such a statement possible.

Thank you to Allen Kidd, Andrew Leslie, David Shickle, Dustyn Turk, Jake Heesacker, Jimmy Warren, Joe Moles, Jon Roberts, John Harris, Kaytlyn and Makenzie Heesacker, Mark Lance, Mark Sheedlo, Mike Autrey, Mike Weinberg, Pete Palmer, Scott Waggy, Seth Gallagher, Sheryl Thies Dierenfield, Steve Roberts, Suzanne Flachier, Theo Stein, Tim Griffin, William Tierney.

Also thank you to our judges Robert T. Swezey, Brian Thoman, Jim Carpenter, Mark Whalen and our apprentice Charles Coulter for their time and expertise evaluating the dogs that were run over the three day weekend.

I would also like to congratulate all the chapter members who ran dogs in the test. It was nice to see so many handlers taking their dogs out to be evaluated.

Here are the results:

2018 Fall Test Results

Here are photos from the 3 test days:

Day 1 Natural Ability Test

Day 2 Natural Ability Test

Day 3 Utility Test

To order prints or framed prints of the NAVHDA Fall Test photos, contact photographer Mark Lance at [email protected] or 720.258.5820. Prints are archival quality. Prints ship to your home in 3 days. There is a wide selection of frame styles and colors available. Framed prints include print, foam board backing, white matting, and non-glare glass. A nominal shipping charge is added to your total.

Mark is donating all proceeds from the sale of prints back to the chapter to help fund training and testing equipment.

Print Price List

4×6 $4.00
5×7 $6.00
8×10 $8.00
11×14 $20.00
16×20 $35.00
16×24 $35.00
20×24 $40.00
20×30 $55.00

Framed Prints

4×6 $52.00
5×7 $57.00
8×10 $69.00
11×14 $94.00
16×20 $187.00
16×24 $187.00
20×24 $205.00
20×30 $233.00

Brody on retrieve

Delle on point

Thank you!

Sara Heesacker

RMC NAVHDA Director of Testing

RMC NAVHDA August 11th Training Day

LAST TRAINING DAY FOR 2018!

Cobb Lake State Wildlife Area – Wellington, Colorado

Email contact: [email protected]

Agenda: 7:30 – 12:00: ALL DOGS AND HANDLERS! (with afternoon for individual training)

Lulu and Brian working on steady at blind.

The day’s events will focus on obedience and skills to prepare for the winter waterfowl season – be prepared to get wet with your dog and to have fun! Most of the training exercises are going to be designed around developing your dogs into reliable water-fowling partners.

For the August training day, any bird work in the field or Utility duck searches will be conducted as independent training by individual members. These exercises will not be incorporated into the exercises that are set up in the formal training regimen for the day. There will be chukar and ducks available for purchase for individual work. There will be designated areas where handlers can work on these other areas. Please plan on talking with other handlers in attendance at the training day to find help planting birds, gunners for Utility field work, plant ducks from the kayak and work together as you set up your training plan for these exercises.

Natural Ability Dogs:

We will set up pheasant tracks for dogs to track the scent of a pheasant with a dead pheasant at the end of the track for the puppy to retrieve and deliver to the handler. Natural Ability Handlers can also work in the field with chukar in preparation for the Fall test and the chapter bumper bucket will be available to get puppies excited about going into the water.

STATIONS (work at will in small groups):

1. Pheasant Tracks
2. Chukar Field Work
3. Bumpers at the Water

Utility Preparatory and Utility Dogs:

Older dogs and their owners will begin practicing more advanced and precision based water work. We will introduce heeling, remaining by the blind, steady by the blind and water retrieve drills. The group will begin with drills that help build desire and promote the confidence needed to initiate drive for pursing waterfowl. Along the way we will discuss the advantages of training for a reliable retrieve on land and water, ensuring steadiness under the distraction of gunfire, and reliable recall.

STATIONS (work at will in small groups):

1. Heeling, Remain by Blind and Steady by Blind Sequences
2. Duck Search
3. Chukar Field Work

Preparing for the Day:

The weather in August will likely be very warm and brutally sunny! Be prepared with sun guard, bug spray, lunch etc. A source of shade for you and your dog, and folding chairs will help make the day comfortable. Don’t forget snacks and plenty of water for both of you!

Bring plenty of water for your dog, along with whatever training gear you use. You’ll need a leash, check cord, e-collar, and whistle. The Chapter has some equipment available like retrieving bumpers, training table, blinds and decoys, heeling stakes, duck wingers, and bird launchers and bird bags. A crate or stake-out is recommended to keep your dog quiet and comfortable while waiting its turn in the field.

If you are planning on shooting in the field remember a 2018-2019 small game license is required!!!

Please comment with your bird order. Include quantity of Chukar, Ducks and any desire of Use of Pheasant.  You must RSVP and order birds (ducks, chukar or pheasant) you will need by Thurday, August 9th! 

We have a limited number of ducks available so priority will go to those testing Utility in the August test. After that we will prioritize off of who signs up for ducks first on the signup.

Also, all of the pheasants we currently have we are holding for the test in August. If we can find a few live pheasants for pheasant tracks we will do the $5 pheasant tracks. If we cannot acquire live pheasants for the track we will have a few dead pheasants for drags available and there will be no charge for use of pheasant. 

Prices are as follows (Check payable to Black Hollow Gamebirds or Cash):

• Chukar: $12
• Use of Pheasant for Track: $5
• Duck: $16

If you plan to purchase birds at the training day, PLEASE REMEMBER A BIRD BAG OR CRATE to store your birds! We will be handing out birds at check in before the training day starts. From that point on, the birds are your responsibility! Use of Pheasant will be shared amongst all members paying for the pheasant track on the training day.

If you have questions regarding the training day, please contact one of the following:

• General Questions to [email protected]
• Training Director, Craig McLaughlin [email protected]
• Bird Steward, Jake Heesacker [email protected]

Date: 08/11/2018 (Sat.)Time: 7:30am – 3:00pm MDTLocation: COBB LAKE UNIT: From I-25 and HWY 14 exit, go 5 miles north on east service road to CR56- then 1.4 miles east.

Signup

The board of RMC is excited to host a very special training clinic June 23 & 24 with Clyde Vetter, one of the country’s most highly respected NAVHDA trainers. Clyde and his wife Marilyn own Sharp Shooter’s Kennel. They’re very active in NAVHDA: Both are Senior judges, Invitational judges…Clyde has passed 28 Invitational dogs and handled hundreds of other dogs to a Prize I in NAVHDA tests. Nuff said.

This will be an interactive clinic. Clyde covers all aspects of training from puppy to Invitational skills, but most of the agenda is oriented to advanced handling skills, especially force fetch, obedience & cooperation, and advanced handling.

Clyde likes to work with a variety of dogs at different training levels to demonstrate different training techniques, so don’t be surprised if he asks to borrow your hunting buddy for a demonstration.

Preference for signup will be given to NAVHDA International members. Early signup was offered to RMC members – we have about 14 slots left.  The cost is $200 for RMC members, $250 for non-members. Send checks to our treasurer Scott Waggy at 11469 King Way, Westminster CO 80031.

This is a two-day clinic – plan to spend a very full, very productive weekend learning handling skills from one of the country’s best!