What Is an HRC SEASONED Hunt Test?~Find out here!~Lots of Action and Fast Moving Elements! ~TRN

Find out what an HRC Seasoned level hunt test is all about. Land marks, water marks, land blinds, water blinds, diversion birds and walk-ups, the SIX elements will be covered as well as the FIVE traits of a hunting Retriever you will be evaluated on: Hunting Desire, Hunting Style, Nose, Control, and Marking and Memory. When paired with the use of a shotgun, this test has a LOT of fast moving parts!
#theretrievernation
#HRC
#lcretrieverclub

[@outdoorrn2980]

New this year 2023, they have removed shooting the gun before sending the dog for the blinds in the seasoned level test.

[@TheRetrieverNation]

Good to know! Thank you for the update!

[@WhateverTX]

Excellent video hitting on the points very well. Great job of filming. Good script. I highly recommend it for those preparing for the Seasoned test. All Retriever Nation work is great!

[@TheRetrieverNation]

Thank you very much for the review and the kind words!

[@zigmogcreator]

Great job. Reminds me of my ole Deke dawg. Solid run.

[@ernesthercher5193]

I like that they are using primer loads, a primer only in the shell. When I ran we used blanks which were more dangerous to the dogs.

[@frankbonaiuto6929]

Great job.

[@michaeleveritt7658]

I’ve watched this video a 100 times, me and my pup will run our first season test next month and I’m sooooo nervous lol

[@TheRetrieverNation]

Oh how exciting! I understand the nerves, as there are so many moving parts on this test. Doing some practice set ups before hand helped me a lot. Even though I had thought the elements through in my mind, I was surprised how much faster they occurred when practicing them in real time, which helped prepare me for test day on the mat. Good luck on your test, we'd love an update! Thanks so much for watching!!

[@leobartslabradorretrievers5315]

Nice job! The seasoned test has a lot for new handlers to remember. I noticed that you said the water blind doesn’t exceed 50 yards but per the rules: “The water blind retrieve maximum test distance will not exceed sixty (60) yards but may be shorter.”

[@TheRetrieverNation]

Thank you for pointing out the distance for water blinds. You are correct, the maximum distance will not exceed sixty yards. Though probably due to my sloppy script typing, we missed the mark (no pun intended) on this and appreciate the correction. Thank you for watching!

[@dougcherry7517]

Couple notes, you do not have to make the dog face the blind. If your dog is antsy in the blind stand backwards and let the dog look at the gallery. Was good the hear her say open and safe when she handed the gun to the judge. That diversion bird was far of the return line from the memory bird. Lol I like the breath of relief when she left the line. Fun to watch someone else doing it for the first time. The first time I ran seasoned I had to pee like 4 times while waiting. One final note you can run other breeds of dogs. I have run Springers. Made my dogs better all round gun dogs and made me a better dog handler.

[@TheRetrieverNation]

Thanks, Doug for all the good points and great insight! It's funny what can suddenly happen while approaching the line when one is nervous. Thanks so much for watching and taking time to comment! :)

[@chengsterboi07]

Good job on handling the pup. Wished I got time and places to train where I am at. I think i would prefer HRC over AKC. I would love to do both.

[@TheRetrieverNation]

Thanks for the comment! That was my wife's first crack at HRC! There are definitely options as far as Retriever events go....HRC, NAHRA, AKC hunt tests and Field Trials. We love them all!

[@troykenny1578]

Hi, love your videos. I notice Terry places her hand over the dogs head when sending for a mark ( almost like sending on a back command). Would some judges consider this pointing out the mark?

[@TheRetrieverNation]

Not at all. Quite often, a handler will send for a "go bird" with a hand cue over their dogs head. This is an indicator to your dog that they are about to be sent. Once in a blue moon, you may be asked to do a "cold honor" in the upper levels of hunt tests. We start this habit in the very early stages of their careers. The routine is: last bird down, hand over head to cue, wait 1 to 2 seconds. Then send your dog. If you send your dog at the same time as you put your hand over their head, before you know it, they will learn that when they see your hand, they will go! Point is, wait a couple of seconds before you send! Does that makes sense? Thanks for the question!

[@outdoorrn2980]

Switching to diversion in Seasoned is not a failure....according to the rules....it's not good, but it is not an automatic failure.

[@TheRetrieverNation]

Touche'. You are correct. Thank you for pointing this out. As stated in the rule book: "VII. A diversionary bird can be thrown after the walkup, blind, or last retrieve of a double mark. If a Seasoned hunting retriever switches to the diversionary bird, it will not fail but will be scored lower by the judge. The hunting retriever shall retrieve the diversionary bird." -- I did witness a switch at my event and the dog did not pass, however, there may have been more problems with the run that weighed into that decision. Thank you again for pointing this out. And thank you for watching.

[@TheRetrieverNation]

Congratulations!! That's a big one to accomplish! WTG!

[@steezli]

are gunners/throwers hidden or do they show up in HRC?

[@TheRetrieverNation]

In The HRC, they do a really great job of brushing in the gunners' stations. Sometimes, they are impossible to pick out!