Retriever Advisory Committee Layout Blinds
Be advised that clubs will begin receiving ballots soon, proposed rule change number 4 deals with eliminating the practice of lying a gunner down in the field to retire them.
Proposal No. 2 Layout Blinds
Under STANDARD PROCEDURE FOR NON-SLIP RETRIEVER TRIALS, No. 8, 3rd paragraph, (page 28) after the sentence ending the distinctive shape of the blind insert the following: and in no event shall gunners or throwers be instructed to lay down on the ground in layout blinds or like configurations for hiding purposes.
So that No. 8, 3rd paragraph in its entirety will read:
“Retired Guns, throwers and blind planters should be concealed by a blind that provides complete coverage, adequate space, and natural camouflage to conceal the distinctive shape of the blind and in no event shall gunners or throwers be instructed to lay down on the ground in layout blinds or like configurations for hiding purposes. The blind must be so located as to minimize the development of a trail that will lead the running dog away from the area of the fall. In no circumstances should the judges have the guns move to another position to mislead dogs in their marking. No blinds shall be placed in the field in a marking test except in accordance with the provisions set forth in this paragraph or for the purpose of protecting the running dogs from injury by unseen hazards.”
This is a very important proposal for many of us in the plains states where there are places that it is impossible to retire a gun into natural cover where no natural cover exists, if you object to this rule proposal be sure that your club votes.
