Are you interested in learning how to start hunting with your bird dog? Do you have a young, energy-filled pointer, German shorthair, vizsla, Brittany, etc. and you’re curious about hunt tests or field trials? It can be confusing when you first get started, especially if you are new to bird hunting or bird hunting games. Where do I begin? How do I find someone to help me? What if I have never shot a gun before or my dog is not a puppy or I live in a city?
I know entering the hunting and testing world can be downright overwhelming at times, because I was in that same boat several years ago. Hopefully this post will help point you in the right direction. This is not a step-by-step plan, but some general ideas to get you started.
Attend a Hunting Competition or Event
If you’re interested in learning more about hunt tests or field trials, I recommend finding a local event or two to go to. You’ll understand these activities so much better by seeing them in person. American Kennel Club (AKC) hunt tests and field trials can be located on the AKC website or by using the event search tool Perfdog. If you find an event that interests you, reach out to the test or trial secretary and tell them that you’d like to come watch. Most people will be happy to have a new person and will provide the relevant information about when to arrive, where to park, etc.
There’s plenty of other organizations that hold tests and trials (I will be covering many of these on future episodes of my podcast!).
- North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) – holds standards-based tests. Most chapters have tests once or twice a year, and spectators are usually welcome. Email the appropriate test secretary listed on the test calendar page to find out more information about a specific test.
- United Kennel Club (UKC) – field trials that allow for placements and passes. The UKC club near me holds family-friendly events and the trials are all walking, which is great for newbies.
- American Field – field trials, usually horseback. I’m not as familiar with AF trials, but reach out to the organizer for a local event if you want to attend.
- National Shoot to Retrieve Association (NSTRA) – field trials that are based on a points system. The NSTRA chapter near me has many trials each season and they are very welcoming to new people.
- There are plenty more: United Field Trialers’ Association (UFTA), National Bird Hunters Association (NBHA), etc.!
Expose Your Dog to Birds
If you are brand new to the idea of hunting with your bird dog, then it’s possible that your dog hasn’t had any exposure to pen-raised (human-raised) game birds like quail, chukar, or pheasants. That’s totally fine, and your dog’s age doesn’t matter. While it will certainly be easier to train a young dog than a four, seven, or ten year old dog, just because your dog is older doesn’t mean it can’t learn to hunt.
You’ll want to locate a place that has live game birds where you can safely expose your dogs to birds. Finding a place to do this may require some research. Below are some options.
- NAVHDA – Take a look at NAVHDA’s website and see where the closest chapter is to you. NAVHDA can be a good resource because most chapters have monthly training days that you can attend with your dog. There are many experienced people at these events and even if you have no intention to test in NAVHDA’s system, it can be a great way to meet people and gain the knowledge on how to expose your dog to birds (and gunfire) safely.
- HerUpland – HerUpland is a good option for women looking to get involved in hunting events. HerUpland is a new nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide opportunities for women and girls in upland hunting, bird dog training, conservation, and mentorship. HerUpland is hosting a few Novice Pointing Dog Camps this summer and they would be a great way to get your dog started. There’s also an online member community you can join. While it is a paid membership program, there are plenty of women hunters with bird dogs on the platform spread throughout the country. Joining the appropriate geographic region on there and making a post introducing yourself could help you find a mentor. There’s also a free Facebook group.
- Hunting Preserves – There are likely a few upland hunting preserves in your state. These operations typically sell pen-raised birds that you can purchase and put out in one of their fields for your dog. If you have a young dog that hasn’t been around gunfire, I’d call the preserve and ask when a quiet time would be to visit. That way, there aren’t a bunch of other people around shooting while you’re trying to introduce your dog to birds.
- Buy Birds / DIY – You can visit a bird grower and purchase some quail or chukar to take elsewhere. This might be a good option if you have access to private or public land that allows this sort of thing. Certain states have dog training areas as part of the their wildlife management areas. Maryland is one of them. To find bird growers in your state, try Googling or check out the state map on the Bird Dog Society’s website (scroll to bottom of the page). If you click on your state, there is a list of bird growers.
- Other Options – check out my post (also mentioned below) about how to find a place to train your bird dog. This may give you other suggestions on where you can first introduce your dog to game birds. There are also some good videos online that describe how to go about doing a proper bird intro once you find a place that has birds. Standing Stone Kennels’ YouTube channel has a lot of great videos.
