I would like to host a hunt test in North Carolina, but being pretty new to the club 2nd year and well hooked I might add, I know nothing on what to do, But here is what I can provide.
I can get the grounds. Of course the land owner will probably want something for the use of his land for the weekend I assume that is normal.
I can also arrange for the birds.
and I could solicit some help and maybe get a gunner or two also.

What I do not have is equipment. Wingers, holding blinds, etc.
 Also what about the judges?
Would one this far South work?
paperwork to approve the hunt test?

Your guidance would and will be very much appreciated.
One last thing, please indicate if you would be willing to travel to the Raleigh, Fayetteville area for this event, as I assume 15 or 20 dogs would be the min to cover costs?

Thanks
Richard

Richard,

Sounds like you're on the right track.  The first priority is securing grounds and a HT Chair, sounds like you've got that under control.  Next is to find a HT Secretary - sombody who's computer literate and willing to go without sleep for the week prior to the test.

Wingers, Holding Blinds, etc.  There are a couple of options:  One option is to use the APLA equipment.  The challenge is in getting it to your location.  The other option is to find a local retriever club to see if they'd be willing to lease their equipment for a reasonable rate.  If you can't find enough volunteers, then maybe you can wrangle a local club's equipment AND some experienced help in return for a donation to their club.

North Carolina as a location?  It's not too far south if you can attract enough dogs.  You're probably pretty close with a guess of about 15 dogs minimum.  With that number of dogs, one pair of judges could handle the entire test.  Your test doesn't have to make money or even break even, it just has to be reasonable.  You'll want to try to find 15 dogs (and their handlers) that are willing to make the drive.  Maybe post on the forum, or start contacting people from the "Membership Directory" section on the "Members Only" portion of the website.

The APLA's Hunt Test Committee (Mike Bachosky and Larry Kimble) can work with you to find judges, equipment, and answer any questions you might have regarding logistics or whatever.  The application for a hunt test can be found at the top of this website.  Go to "Events", then "Hunt Test Committee", and you'll see the link for the Hunt Test Application.

Richard
You and I have communicated here locally but to get it out there for all;
I'm VP of a retriever club here in eastern NC with about 50 members. I have the only PL and the only one with any interest for the PL.
We host 2 AKC and 2 HRC test each year. Plenty of land and water. I have served as hunt test secretary several times and will be serving as secretary for our AKC fall test (9/19/10). My wife is typically our general marshal and assist me a lot. While others in the club aren't PL folks, they are great dog folks and would volunteer to help. We also have the equipment; enough that we're prepared for 3 master stakes as well as the SH and JH stakes this fall. People (experienced people), land and water is not a problem (including proper land for the upland work). Judges and dogs are the only issues.

Weather here typically would allow test as late as mid Dec and as early as mid Feb. That's the heart of our hunting season/s but there is no hunting on our testing / training locations.

I'm all in to do whatever can be done to conduct an APLA test here or somewhere in the south east (all the way east, we're only 90 miles from the Atlantic Ocean).

Keith

I am in Blanch nc and will be glad to help ; have raised pointing labs in the past and have a youngfemale from TGK kennels in Nebrask at the present time. Anything I can do to promote the breed I wil be gald to do ! I am a good wingshot and have friends who are as good or better , and have no knowledge of trials but can do almost anything to help , Jesse

Jesse

Thanks for the response. Richard and I have communicated some. I think he's around the Clayton area and I'm in Winterville. Looks like you're about 2.5 hrs north west of us / me.

Again, our ONLY issue/s are judges and test participants. I don't know where either would come from.

My email is kmaready@suddenlink.net; cell is 252/916-6986. Love to talk dog and possibly we can find a way for APLA to conduct a  test in the south east.

Keith

Hello Jesse,
As Keith said judges and dogs, if we can get enough replies for this, I don't think we have enough time for a Fall hunt test, but a Spring hunt test is a better bet.
My e-mail is warrior1612003@yahoo.com. if anybody want to e-mail me that is fine also. also phone 919-585-2354

On a side note, I will be going to Anderson Creek in a couple weeks to work Max in upland, you are more than welcome to come and work your puppy also.

An update,
We have asked some members in the central and South East and as of right now we are half way there in dogs. Going to ask the folks in the North East and see were we come up, to see if putting on the hunt test will be or can be done.

I do not have any experience with hunt tests or field trials but I do have a PL and the interest to get involved. Count me in!

Thank You

Hey Guys

Great to see some interest.

Lot's of interesting thoughts being shared on other threads of the forum. I don't totally agree with all rules and regs in lots of areas of life but choose to participate. I have a 28mth Y/M that is QAA, MH and 45 finished HRC points. I've paid lot's of entry fees and some have produced only a "thanks for your participation." I do believe it would benifit and create growth in the APLA to spread out geographicly; why not start the spread here in the South East.?. I'm in NC but not opposed to some travel----in the South East.

Richard, call me tomorrow and help me navagate the "members only" area.

This was short, but good alaround, we now have 15 possible dogs, cannot say confirmed because things happen. Keith and I will apply for a Spring time hunt test here in North Carolina. For the folks in the Frozen parts of the country, we will have a separate preserrve set aside from the hunt test location for you to knock the rust off you dog/s. We have some more planning and calling to do and this will be fun.

Good luck w/ your plans guys.  Ive recently relocated to Fortson, GA and would definately have 2-dogs (1-CPR, 1-MPR) and possibly 2 others from a buddy who is interetsed.  Sounds like we may get one done, let me know if I may be of assistance. 

Martin

I am pretty sure if you could get numbers and logistics taken care of that there would be people willing to come out and judge. How far from Charlotte are we talking? About the same for me to Asheville NC, as Higginsville MO, just different directions.

I don't take bribes and and have no political or profit motives but handlers are more than welcome to video the test as long as they don't bump birds.

Seriously, I think it would be awesome to see an APLA test expand into that area.  I would assume it could be an "early" spring test given the climate.  Then your judging pool gets even better because no one up north has had time to get their dogs in water yet.

Bruce,

You know you and Cruz are coming down to NC... I've got the first nights dinner and drinks bubba!!! 

I like NC it's a nice place. Did some consulting work there for a while out of a corporate office in Charlotte/Ft.Mill.

I've got the first nights dinner and drinks bubba!!!

Martin, I could definitly recoup some trip expense with that offer. Maybe I could get Cruzer through as carry-on. He isn't very big but I doubt I could stuff him under the seat.

Bruce, The hunt test will be approx 1 hour give or take East of Raleigh either Greenville area or Fayetteville area, Charolette is another 2.5 to 3 hours West of Raleigh. We Keith and I have two locations to choose from for the test and one other for some dog work if you need it. I am excited about this.
Martin Thanks, that puts us at 17 possibles.
and a big thanks to all of you getting back to my e-mails and PM. It gave us the ground work to continue and plan this, look for it in the Spring of 2011.

Hey Richard---THANKS for getting this kicked of and to all of you who are willing to participate.

To those of you who have expressed willingness to judge---THANKS and we'll make sure you're treated with good southern hospitality---not kicked bruesed and abused.

As Richard said we're not far from major travel / airport locations and I95 is within arms reach of the locations we're refering to.

We do have the possibility of 2 very nice preserves to hold the test and I'm in a hunt club with a couple thousand acres that has nice land and water for anyone that would like a couple days to "knock the rust off". Use of land would be free and we have a club member that's a bird grower. 600+ acers registered with Wildlife Commission as preserve and our member / grower sells to us at a reduced rate.

LOOKING FOWARD TO AN APLA TEST

Wow, If you can get free grounds AND pretty much a wholesale rate on birds, that is a huge help in making (especially a smaller) test work.

Guys; I don't remember the name of the preserve that Richard has access to but I have (free) access to Feather Creek Farms, Greenville NC. You can google if you like to view. I do some waterfowl and upland guide work there (both with my PL) and usage for test would not cost us anything.

The hunt club land for anyone that would like a couple training / warm-up days would also be free. We buy quail a 3.25, chucker 6.00, phesant 10.00 and mallards 10.00.

Land, people to help, and birds---not a problem.

Yall Come

The other preserve is Anderson Creek Hunting and Preserve out side Lillington, NC, and the owner said no charge when I asked the other day.
We are set. Keith and I need to do the rest of the leg work.
and look at it this way folks, it is only about a 16 hour drive from Kansas City. Not far right