Sunday, July 5, 2009

Montana Derby

A clarification in the advertisement regarding the Montana Derby appears to be necessary. It has been the policy of the Big Sky Field Trial Club, during past years of holding the Montana Shooting Dog Championship, to include a derby, when we have enough time. This year, as well as next year, we are also hosting the Region 14 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship so we will attempt to host a derby between the two events. This will happen only if the entry totals from the Amateur Championship allow for the time to do it. We have allowed for one day, on Monday the 24th and any remaining partial day on the 23rd, to accomplish this, but we won't be able to firmly schedule it until we tally the entries for the Region 14 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship on the night of the draw, August 20th. This is the only time available to hold a derby event as we are required to be off of the grounds prior to the opening of Montana's bird season on September 1. If you have any further questions do not hesitate to contact either of the Chairmen of the event.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Use of shotguns at Montana SD Championship

There have been recent inquiries into whether or not the Montana Shooting Dog Championship will allow the use of .410 shotguns, with approved blank loads, during the 2009 trial. Following conversation between the co-chairs it was decided to maintain the current standing of manufactured barrel guns only. The advertisement has been run and that ad will dictate the running of the trial.

There are several reasons for this decision:
  1. Region 14 of the AFTCA, in which the Big Sky Field Trial Club is a member, has decided not to allow them and voted this way at the 2008 AFTCA Trustees annual meeting.
  2. There is no relevant history of shotguns being used in Region 14, and Montana in particular, based horseback field trials.
  3. Many of the Landowners in the region are not excited about the use of shotguns on their property.

Keep in mind that Region 14 has attributes of territory that include both Canada and the United States. The use of shotguns in Canadian based trials is wholly another matter given the nature of importing guns from the U.S. to Canada.


Additionally, however, the Big Sky Field Trial Club announces that it will consider the potential for their use at the 2010 trial at the annual meeting in November.