Volunteer Assignments & Expectations

A well-run NAVHDA test is achieved by understanding each necessary element and organizing the workers needed to carry out these tasks. The distribution of jobs depends upon the talent available. Few chapters have enough willing members that each person involved has only one job. Often a new person is reluctant to volunteer but will jump at the chance for the “front row seat” that is accessible to the field workers at a test.

  • Test Secretary - Responsible for all the paperwork. Responsible for overall preparation. Makes electronic application to Director of Testing for Test Dates and for Judges. Assigns test coordinator. Handles test correspondence, Test entries, score cards, etc. Schedule apprentice judges (see notes in Judge and Chapter Obligations section.) Should read all of the “Test Information” section of the Test Packet. Sees to the arrangements for travel, meeting, housing, and feeding Judges. Arrangements should be discussed with individual judges well before the test.

  • Test Coordinator - Responsible for management of the Test. Sees to the arrangements for grounds and birds, assigns tasks, and stays updated on progress. Should also read all of the “Test Information” section of the Test Packet.

  • Field Marshal - The Marshal’s jobs are (1) to have the next handler and dog ready when and where the Judges want them, (2) to have the next event set up and ready and (3) to keep the gallery from interfering. Depending on the number of available helpers and physical set up, this may be a two-person job.

  • Judges -The Judges are there to Judge your dogs. They should have no other obligations to your chapter unless it is something like making a few remarks at a Test Dinner. Judges possess a wealth of knowledge and are always willing to answer questions, but please remember they do need a good night’s sleep in order to do a good job of judging.

  • Properties Person - Sees to direction signs to grounds, retrieving dummies, blank shells, blinds, decoys, duck boat, heeling stakes and any other necessary equipment for the site. Blank shells must be professional smokeless powder factory ammunition normally called Conventional Field Trial Popper Load. All equipment should be on the grounds early so that everything is set up in accordance with the Senior Judge’s directions before it is needed. • Food Organizer - Makes arrangements for a Test dinner if there is to be one, coordinates the plans for lunch on the grounds.

  • *Gunners - There are two kinds of gunners necessary for NAVHDA Tests. For NA only blank ammunition is necessary, since only blanks are shot while the dogs are in the field. For UPT and UT testing, blank ammunition is used for Water Work and live ammunition is used for Field Work. “Live Ammunition Gunning” at a NAVHDA Test is a serious responsibility. All “Live Ammunition Gunners” are required to read the sections on gun safety in the NAVHDA Aims, Programs, Test Rules book and the sheet On Being a NAHVDA Gunner. Safety and intelligent, accurate shooting are primary concerns.

  • Bird Steward - Responsible for care of the birds from point of delivery to the field. (May also be responsible for ordering birds). Sees that birds are where they are needed when they are needed. Birds must be kept fed and watered and protected from the elements to perform well in the field. It is impossible to have a good Test if the birds are weak and fail to fly. Dead birds for drags and water work should be kept cool, dry and covered to avoid attracting flies.

  • Bird Planters - There should be two or more bird planters per field per day. They should be carefully instructed in the proper way to plant the kind of birds you are using. Don’t assume that anybody who comes along knows how to plant a bird properly. Birds must be planted in such a manner that they will be alert and ready to fly when a dog approaches. Bird Planters take direction from the Senior Judge on where to put birds and must watch Judges for a signal that may indicate they need an extra bird.

  • Bird Dresser - It is an essential element of good sportsmanship that all game be treated with respect. All shot birds should be dressed and chilled as soon as they are brought from the field. If birds cannot be dressed, they should at least be put in a cooler on ice to be dressed later. Birds can be used for a Test lunch or dinner, given to chapter members, to the landowner or to test participants. Game should not be wasted; birds should never be left out on the ground to gather flies.

  • Duck Thrower - For Utility and UPT Retrieve of Duck sequence. Most chapters use mechanical duck throwing devices, but throwing by hand is permissible. Requires a strong arm and some accuracy skills.

  • Grounds Clean Up - It is always essential that we leave the grounds as clean or cleaner than we found them, be it on public or private land. Cans, bottles, shell casings, bird cleaning waste, wastepaper, and cigarette butts or any other litter should be picked up and removed.

*Traits of a Test Gunner

  • They must be at least 18 years of age and all gunners born after 1975 must have successfully completed a state/provincial firearms safety course.

  • They must be alert, calm, level headed and responsible. There are a lot of people in the area at a test. The safety of the participants and spectators, as well as the dogs, is of paramount importance.

  • They must be accustomed to shooting over pointing dogs and realize that it is the dog's performance that is under judgment. The gunner's role is to assist the dog through timely and safe shooting.

  • They must understand the rules of the test and be capable of accepting instructions. There are times when safety dictates a bird not be shot even though the rules require a shot to be fired to test for steadiness. There are other times when Judges make requests of the gunner regarding shooting or positioning to ensure a correct and fair judgment. These requests must be followed efficiently.

  • They must be physically capable of walking on rough ground at a reasonably fast pace. They must possess the physical agility to put them into the best position to shoot safely without interfering with the performance of the dog.

  • They must concentrate on their task and take it seriously even if the dog or handler is having a bad day. All dogs and handlers must be treated with the same consideration and respect.

  • They must be a good shot with a “break-open” gun on birds, not just on clay pigeons, and they must be knowledgeable enough to hold their fire until the bird is at a suitable distance to allow a clean shot and a good retrieve.

  • They must be a good sportsperson in every sense of the word; from the time they arrive at the test until their last contact with test participants. The gunner must have considerable self-control.

  • Under no circumstance may a gunner consume any alcohol or mind-altering substance.

  • They should not comment on the dog/handler performance to any party after leaving the field. They should not repeat anything heard or offer personal opinions. All persons in the field must wear one of the following or a combination of the following blaze orange garments: hat, vest, or jacket.

Please read the portions of pages 6 and 24-25 in the NAVHDA Aims, Programs, Test Rules Book dealing with guns, gunning, and safety.