Welcome
The National Bird Hunters Association Mission
The National Bird Hunters Association is a group of dedicated bird hunters interested in the development and competition of class foot handled bird dogs. The organization encourages fair competition, sportsmanship and the enjoyment of the outdoors thru fellowship with like minded bird hunters who share our interest in field trialing bird dogs.
History and Background of the National Bird Hunters Association
The National Bird Hunters Association was founded in the early 1980’s by a dedicated group of forward looking bird dog enthusiasts who wished to celebrate the development of the “complete” bird dog. When founder and original NBHA President Dan Smith, Jewel Spurlock, Jim Hoy and others met and formed the NBHA, the idea was to provide a competitive arena where foot handled, “covey” dogs that would point back and retrieve would star. The NBHA cut a wide swath in the early years as hundreds of bird hunters joined its ranks and ran dogs in NBHA Club trials all across the south and Midwest. The NBHA set up a system of qualifying trials thru local stakes, State Classics and Regional Championships ultimately to reach the NBHA National Open Walking Championship with a two hour final call back series to win. Some famous dogs annexed this title including Persimmon Ridge Jake, Fiddler’s Ace, Roll’s Black Bart, Bayou Shadow and Fiddlin Rocky Boy to name just a few. Over 10,000 dogs were run in NBHA trials during many years in the eighties and competition to qualify at State Classics and Regional Championships was fierce but fun. Just making the field at the National Championship was difficult and being in the call back a singular honor.
NBHA National Secretary Jerry D. Kilgore of Tennesee proposed the formation of an NBHA Futurity program which was opened for litter enrollments in 1985 and contested initially in 1987. It was a rousing success and the Futurity Puppy Classic was later added to provide another opportunity for breeders and owners to compete with their nominated dogs. This Puppy Classic (later renamed for founder Kilgore) had the distinction of being the largest puppy stake of any kind run in the country for many years and the Futurity Derby stake was also well attended from folks as far away as Canada.
The success of the NBHA design spawned renewed interest from others in hosting more walking field trials and the AFTCA initially hosted a National Amateur Walking Championship in 1987. The American Bird Hunters Association and later the US Complete Shooting Dog Association were also started. All of the competition took a toll on the numbers of NBHA Clubs and dogs running eventually diluting the overall numbers of dogs competing in weekend events as well as NBHA State Classics. As the other walking field trial organizations began to relax the rules and did away with retrieving and mandatory backing of a pointing dog to win, more folks did not train to the level required of an NBHA champion caliber dog. This factor along with insurance concerns with live ammunition resulted in rule changes for the NBHA with the retrieving requirement for NBHA Open Championships being dropped for the 2008 season and the future. The mandatory backing requirement was also dropped and AFTCA rules adopted for all open and amateur NBHA Classics and Championships.
The National Bird Hunters Association hosts 11 separate championship events including both National Open and Amateur Championships with a second series required to win plus National Open and Amateur Invitational Championships open to the highest point dogs from the previous field trial season. A National Free For All Championship plus six Regional Championships round out the slate. The NBHA is looking forward to renewed interest in our walking trials as the new rule changes are absorbed by the field trial community. Please join us in enjoying your dog in the field.
Annoucements
24th Futurity |
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| Posted on : Tuesday October 28 2008 The 24th Futurity Litter nominations are posted. Read More |
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Website Live! |
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| Posted on : Thursday August 28 2008 The website is live! Thanks to Jeff Davis and all involved in getting this site up and running. Read More |
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