AUGUST 2012

August 2012 is off to a great start for the Sharptail Chapter.........Starting with the cover story for NAVHDA's "Versatile Hunting Dog" magazine.........Thanks Jane for the fanastic article!  Our big week in "The Big Hole" is just around the corner........(I'll be posting directions soon, but the location is just a few miles outside of Wisdom, MT on the road towards Butte.)
Please RSVP for Training, Mock Testing, or Volunteering for Test Weekend to: montanasharptail@gmail.com
Jane and Tom are working to put the schedule for Youth Specific Activities for the event....Please let us know via email which youths are planning on attending and when.

You will be able to "Mock Test" on Saturday or Sunday prior to the test.  You could also arrange to Mock Test "by appointment" on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.  Birds will be available throughout the week, but we absolutely need to know before next week what your training needs will be.........Feel free to call Tom at 406-212-0602 if you have questions, but the following training fees will apply:
20.00 for one day of Training
30.00 for two or more days

PLUS

Bird Fees:
Mock Test NA (3 chukar, 1 pheasant)  40.00
Mock Test UT / UPT (3 chukar, 1 duck) 40.00
Extra Chukars - 10.00
Extra Pheasants - 12.00
Extra Ducks - 12.00
Pigeons - 4.00
There is a lot of coordination in getting birds to the event and keeping them through the week, then bringing in more birds for the test so we need to know in advance what your needs are.
Camping including Tents and RV's is available at the site and we will have a portable toilet availble.  Again, please let us know if you are planning on camping for either the Training Week and/or the Test Weekend.

There are still rooms and rustic cabins available at Jackson Hot Springs:
www.jacksonhotsprings.com
There is a pet fee, but the best deal is to do an internet reservation.  If the website says it is full, then call for a reservation.

Nez Perce Hotel in Wisdom also has rooms available:
406-689-3254

Request for Volunteers
The entire week will require a huge volunteer effort......part of what makes "The Big Hole" a special place is that it is close to absolutely nowhere...Hence, we'll need a lot of help to make a great week of it:  Judge transportation to and from the Butte Airport, Lunches, Bird Planters, Field Marshalls, Gunners, Bird Transport, Etc

So far, the following have been taken care of: (I will update this portion of the weblog as holes fill in)

Judge Housing:
Wigen/Melby
Judge Transportation / available vehicle during the weekend (open)

Judge Transportation Butte to Wisdom (Thursday early afternoon) - open

Judge Transportation Butte to Wisdom (Late Thursday night) - open

Judge Transportaion Wisdom to Butte (Days Inn - Sunday Night)- open

Field Marshall:
Friday - Annetta Bowman
Saturday - Tim Sharpton
Sunday - (open)

Gunners:
Friday NA - (open)
Saturday NA/UT/UPT - Arkins, Weber, Healy
Sunday UT/UPT - Arkins, Weber, Healy

Bird Planters, All Three Days:
(open)

Lunches:
(open)

Bird Transportation: To Mock Test & Training:
Healy

Bird Transportation: To Test:
McCormick

We are also hoping to find a medium sized "Event Tent" to put up for the week..as well as a few "pop-up" event tents...Please let us know if you have any connections there. So far we have 2 pop-ups and could use a couple more.

More details relative to Dinner on Friday and Saturday of the Test Weekend, Youth Events, Directions and more are coming soon...............

Stay tuned, and don't hesitate to call............
406-212-0602
Tom