[Tim Carrion]

The rumor is false for now but this issue will be faced again regionally and nationally.

 

[Lpgar]

NOOOOOOO

My vote is NO

 

[Howard N]

I voted yes, I'd quit training. I wonder though. I love training a retriever and might continue for rubber ducks. It would depend if the dog's still loved the game as much. I'd for sure cut back on how much I do.

 

[K G]

Before you answer, folks, think of the ammunition you'll give to the tree/bunny huggers if you answer "no"..... :roll:

Let's deal with issues when they come up. Be prepared in advance of them coming up, surely....but don't give ammo to an enemy that couldn't care less if you could even hunt, much less trial or test.

Keith Griffith

 

[badbullgator]

Damn fine point Keith :!: :evil:
I would not stop training, but I would stop running AKC. HRC here I come to stay. What are all the poor FT people going to do if that happens?? Those 400 yard marks are really hard when they smell like plastic :!:

 

[Bob Gutermuth]

If they would open season on rubber ducks, I might consider using them in running tests. BUT since the purpose of hunt tests and field trials is the development of breeding stock for hunting, I would save a lot of entry fees. BTW I feel the same about not having live fliers, which would keep me away from most HRC and NAHRA events.

 

[Ken Newcomb]

I agree Keith but they already know we aren't going to give up the dogs because of plastic ducks.

People didn't stop duck hunting because live decoys were banned. or lead shot, more mojo ducks, or punt guns.

People didn't stop riding motorcycles because they had to wear helmets. or stop driving cars because of seatbelts.

I wouldn't like it but I wouldn't stop doing it.

It's the dogs I love not the smell of day old ducks. I wouldn't like it but I would survive.

 

[badbullgator]

You can bet HRC would be one happy camper if AKC switched to rubber.

 

[Tim Carrion]

You can bet HRC would be one happy camper if AKC switched to rubber.

IMHO if and when it would happen it would not be an AKC, HRC, NFRA etc issue. It will be legislation that will apply to all.

Tim

 

[brian breuer]

Bob Gutermuth wrote:

BTW I feel the same about not having live fliers, which would keep me away from most HRC and NAHRA events.

Come to a Nahra test Bob. I think you'd like it. Most Senior tests (at least in the west) you will have a minimum of 2 if not 3 fliers. That includes the upland for steady to flush.

 

[bjlokey]

real birds

My vote was yes but I would only quit running tests. I'd keep training and still shoot birds for my dogs.

 

[Robert S. Libberton]

Most FT people would still play becasue they are a competitave lot, they enjoy trials becasue of the competition with their dogs vs others. The fact that the object of the retrieve would be rubber vs a real duck dosent change anything but the level of the competition.

Side note, I dont like the idea of limiting a bloodsport at all, we could just retrieve dead peta members, that would at least generate excitement for the handlers, heck I might even break to retrieve one of them rascals. :roll:

 

[Bob Gutermuth]

Brian, the last time I ran a NAHRA event in Maryland, the pigeons were so dead it looked like they were throwing the Maltese Falcon.(but there is no NAHRA club ACTVIVE within 5 hrs drive of my home)

I like the idea of retrieveing PITA members, since I already shoot trials and tests, this would make it even more fun and have a social benefit for all of society. It would take a bit more than the average bird boy to toss one of them in the air though.

 

[brian breuer]

Fair enough Bob.

I like the Peta thing too. Guess I'd have to start training for Hardmouth.

 

[Gina]

I voted no also. A few years ago I never did any of this. I did obedience trials and my husband was the hunter. He just wanted a dog that might kick up a bird or two. We started with a WC test and when I saw how happy my dog was doing this, I got pretty interested. When I went to my first hunt test and saw how nice the people were compared to dog shows, I liked it more. I even went and got on a plane for the first time in MY LIFE to get another puppy - so I could have a dog to train of my own because we fought over the other dog! As long as my dogs love it I'll keep doing it for them. Incidentally I did download an HRC registration form.

Gina

 

[Kenneth Niles Bora]

.(but there is no NAHRA club ACTVIVE within 5 hrs drive of my home)
.

How fast do you drive? I can think of a few and a new one is forming in CT for next summer.

 

[AmiableLabs]

I voted YES.

You can be darn certain if the AKC sold us out to the AR whack-0s, I would stop running AKC events.

 

[TxFig]

I wouldn't quit training, but I would quit running AKC tests.

The REAL PURPOSE in training is to GO HUNTING. So unless I could go hunting anymore (it would then be time to move to another country), I will always have a reason to train.

Running events (tests/trials) is a different matter. The PRIMARY REASON for those is as a support mechanism for hunting. So if I couldn't use real birds in the tests, the reason for them no longer exists. So I would quit running tests.

 

[Nate C]

Amen Libbo, there would be several breaks after a cripple peta member. Heck, I don't know if the dogs would break but I bet not a single handler could wait to "fetch it up" for lack of a better term. Taking real ducks out of hunt test what next catch and release duck hunting.