Hunt Test Time Management

[swamprat II]

From a judging stand point you need to be mindful of parking, entry, and exit from the test area. Try not to have a whole lot of moving around at the line. If you hav ea BIG entry test and it takes 30 seconds per dog to move from a marking line to a blind line you're gonna waste a lot of time just moving the dog from line to line. If you have to wait on vehicles entering and exiting the test area and disrupting the test then you're gonna waste bunch more time on that. These little things add up quickly if you have to multiply 30 seconds to a minute per dog and you have 55 dogs! Long swims for no real apparent reason. If you don't need'em don't use'em, other wise your just watching dogs swim all day long. As far as BIG entries go be mindful of how much time it takes one dog to complete a test. You may have a very good test but simply takes too long to complete it. Save those setups for weekends when the entries are lower and you have time to play! I'm not saying test up test to drop dogs. Just be mindful of the time concumption each setup requires.

And a good well trained marshal are worth their weight in gold!

[Elliott Labradors]

Thanks folks, you've had some thoughts that I would like to implement in future events. With cost to put on a test being driven up by cost I think we owe our entrants (customers) the most well run test that we possibly can.
Here's to going home early without being dropped .

Wally

[Rick Vaughan]

Wally...if you ever decide to leave the Firefighter Equipment business, I think you could probably become a professional Hunt Test Facilitator! I always enjoy working with you during our CRA tests!

[Gun_Dog2002]

You should let Bubba and I judge for ya. Its always beer thirty somewhere...

/Paul

[Elliott Labradors]

You should let Bubba and I judge for ya. Its always beer thirty somewhere...

/Paul

Paul, If you guys came over here and got a dose of our Chicken Bog, local frog legs, home grown boiled peanuts, and southern hospitality you may never make it back to the left coast. This is the true south........little boys in overalls saying Yes Sir and No Sir !

Wally

[rookie]

Wally I hear you guys throw birds all over the place! Sorry I missed your test. John said you all did a great job.
Warre

[Ken Bora]

You know,
All of the above are great points. I agree with all. Well, the stopping for lunch part I personally I have only scene at very small club tests and while I have carried an outhouse, I have never been carried to an outhouse. Some may read some as just common scents. Yet many think that has gone bye the way. I do agree, the ability of the marshal to do a good job is gold worthy. And while judges get a gift or a round of applause not many folk thank a marshal. That said, the very best marshal on earth is still just a herder of cats.
Some of the responsibility of the smooth flow of the event must fall on the cat being herded.
1 Be on time, early even.
2 Check in with somebody. ( and that “I’ve been here for 40 minutes, didn’t you see me?” line doesn’t fly. No Chuck Weasel, I didn’t see you I have been loading these bird crates on the 4-wheeler.)
3 in the 30 minutes of semi organized chaos before a test starts. Lend a hand, lift that barge, tote that bale!
4 KNOW YOUR RUNNING ORDERS!!… If you’re running at multiple locations have a plan. Take it upon yourself to make sure BOTH stake marshals know. Take it upon yourself to know how to get too and fro. Know what test you will see test dog at and plan arriving early at the other to view dogs running that test.
5 Air your dogs, A lot! Don’t let the dogs feet hit the ground for the first time of the day 5 minutes before the first run.
6 Don’t wait for the marshal to tell YOU! Take it upon yourself to know what the handler at least 4 dogs ahead of you looks like. Start getting set.
7 TRAIN YOUR DOG AT HOME!
Yes you need to have standards at the line. Yes you have dropped your $80 and you own that mat. It’s bought and paid for and for those ten minutes the marshal and the bird boys and the Live Guns and the Judges are working for YOU. Yes you should never ever feel rushed. Take your time and run your dog right. We are all here, right now at this moment for you and your dog.
BUT…..
TRAIN YOUR DOG AT HOME!
8 Thank the Judges please.