As taken from the official UKC web site

United Kennel Club, Inc./Hunting Retriever Club, Inc. (U.K.C./HRC)
(*Revised January 1, 2001)

The Hunting Retriever Club, Inc. (HRC), is a national retriever club affiliated with the United Kennel Club, Inc. (U.K.C.). United Kennel Club will assist in the formation of all new clubs and, together with the HRC, Inc., have standardized all the rules and regulations for consistency in the program.

The Board of Directors of HRC, in conjunction with the United Kennel Club, Inc., has adopted all rules and regulations for the running of hunting retriever in true-to-life hunting situations, and will amend and expand these rules and regulations as the need arises.

HUNTS

A U.K.C. Licensed Hunt must be hosted by an approved U.K.C./HRC club. All three categories, Started, Seasoned and Finished must be offered at every hunt other than the Grand hunts and the Upland Hunt.

*There are two types of hunts, which are classified, by type of Activity. The Activity types are "Regular Hunt" and "Upland Hunt." The maximum number of entries at a Licensed Hunt is based upon the number of Judges (flights) per category. The maximum number of entries a flight of Judges can judge at a Licensed Hunt shall be:

Started - entries not to exceed 50 dogs per flight;
Seasoned - entries not to exceed 40 dogs per flight;
Finished - entries not to exceed 30 dogs per flight;
Upland - entries not to exceed 30 dogs per flight.

Limiting the number of entries per flight will allow hunting retrievers an opportunity to participate in each of the hunting tests without being eliminated.

There is a limit of eight (8) dogs per handler. The club has the option of lowering this limit, but it must publish this information. No dog may compete in two different categories (Started, Seasoned, and Finished) per licensed hunt (one entry per dog).

A separate entry fee for the Upland Test will be determined and collected by the host club. The host club will submit the appropriate, per dog assessment, to the U.K.C. and the HRC, just as it does for the other test entries.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE

U.K.C., Inc. Licensed Retriever Hunt Tests are open to all Gun Dog breeds. U.K.C. Permanently Registered dogs and those in the Limited Privilege (LP) Program will be given preference over all non-U.K.C. registered dogs entering in all events. Non-U.K.C. registered dogs are able to enter in the Licensed Hunt Test (no points will be awarded unless registration requirements are met).

As of the date of the Hunt, any non-HRC, Inc. member owners of dogs participating at the Seasoned, Finished or Upland level will be charged an additional $5.00 fee. The host club retains $2.50 of this fee and $2.50 is sent to HRC, Inc.

As of the date of the Hunt, any non-UKC registered dogs participating will be charged an additional $3.00 fee. This fee is sent to U.K.C. A dog that is entered in a Regular Licensed Hunt Test may also enter and run in a Licensed Upland Hunt Test if one is held on the same day. However, preference will be given to the dogs entered only in the Licensed Upland Hunt Test.

TEST STANDARD

U.K.C./HRC clubs will conduct hunting tests consistent with an actual days hunt afield. In all hunting tests, hunting retrievers in all categories will not compete against each other for placements, but instead will run and be judged against a set standard.

CLOTHING

Hunting clothes must be worn by Judges, Hunt Marshals, Gunners, Bird Boys, and Handlers. Hunting clothes worn must be harmonious with the hunting environment, such as camo in waterfowl and dove hunting, white clothing if snow goose hunting.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

Hunting retrievers will be eliminated for fighting or attacking handlers, participants, spectators, Judges or U.K.C./HRC Officers or other dogs. Handlers will be asked to leave the test grounds resulting in disqualification for both the Handler and the hunting retriever if the Handler interferes with the test, Judges, Hunt Marshal, Gunners, Bird Boys, U.K.C./HRC Officials, or any other participants. Physical abuse of a hunting retriever will result in the immediate disqualification of both the Handler and the hunting retriever. Mishandling of firearms will result in immediate disqualification of both the Handler and the hunting retriever; a disqualified handler's other entered dogs may be handled by someone else. All participants are expected to display good manners, practice gun safety and show sportsmanlike conduct. No alcoholic beverages or un-prescribed drugs will be allowed on the grounds. After the conclusion of the hunt, only after all dogs in all categories have run, alcoholic beverages, at the discretion of the individual and local laws, may be consumed.

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

All records of Championship points and titles are maintained by U.K.C., Inc. Points are not recorded until the Official Hunt Test Reports are received from the club by the Multi-Breed Field Operations Department at United Kennel Club. Phone calls or participant's copies of win receipts are not official notification of points!

In order to receive U.K.C. Championship points recognition and titles, an individual must be in good standing with U.K.C., Inc. and all dogs must be permanently registered with U.K.C., Inc.

Non-U.K.C. registered dogs may be entered in any of the following categories: Started, Seasoned, Finished or Upland Hunter. If the dog is not U.K.C. Registered when entering and passing a Licensed Hunt Test, the owner has 60 days to get the dog U.K.C. registered. If the dog is not U.K.C. registered in 60 days, the points associated with the category the dog passed will be lost.

The categories which Championship points may be earned are as follows: Once Championship points have been earned in any category, except Grand; a dog cannot earn additional Championship points in a lower category. They may continue to participate in these lower categories if desired.

STARTED: Five (5) Championship points per U.K.C. Licensed Hunt for those dogs who pass all Started Hunting Retriever tests. *Four (4) Started passes are required for the Started Hunting Retriever (SHR) degree.

A maximum of ten (10) Championship points towards a higher degree can be earned in this category.

SEASONED: Ten (10) Championship points per U.K.C. Licensed Hunt for those dogs who pass all Seasoned Hunting Retriever tests.

A maximum of forty (40) Championship points towards a degree can be earned in this category. Unless ten 10 Started Championship points were earned, then, a maximum of thirty Championship points can be earned toward a degree.

FINISHED: Fifteen (15) Championship points per U.K.C. Licensed Hunt for those dogs who pass all Finished Hunting Retriever tests.

GRAND: Forty (40) Championship points per U.K.C. Licensed Hunt for those dogs who pass all Grand Hunting Retriever tests.

UPLAND HUNTER: Ten (10) Championship points per U.K.C. Licensed Hunt for those dogs who pass all Upland Hunter tests.

This is a separately licensed event and not to be confused with an Upland test that may be included in a Finished test or the Upland series of the Grand Hunt.