| Ruffed Grouse Championship of America Land O' Lakes, Wisconsin held at the Gateway Gun Club |
Hunt Information and Rules
Application Deadline: September 1
Hunt Registration: The Hunt will consist of a maximum of 30 Teams with 2 hunters on
each Team. Teams are required to submit applications with notarized waiver forms by the
September 1 deadline. All hunters must sign a notarized liability waiver form before they
will be allowed to participate in the Hunt. Applications must be complete to be accepted.
Teams will be selected and notified by September 15th. A Participant Hunt Packet will be
sent to Team Members upon Team acceptance. NOTE: Due to the tremendous interest
in this event, the number of Team applications received exceeds the number of entries
accepted. Therefore, the application deadline will be strictly adhered to and complete
information (including waivers) will be a strong component in accepting or declining a
Team!
Registration Fee: The cost for each Team is $500.00 ($250.00 per gun). Half the entry
fee is due upon receipt of application. Certified checks, money orders or personal checks
postdated for September 1st are accepted. Make checks payable to Ruffed Grouse
Championship of America. Once the Team is accepted, ½ of the total entry fee ($250.00)
becomes NON-REFUNDABLE after October 1st. The entry fee includes the Friday
Sporting Clays, Friday Night Team Reception & Dinner, Saturday Breakfast, the Hunt - with
sack lunch and Team Photo, Saturday Night Banquet & Entertainment.
Licenses: All hunters must have a current Wisconsin and/or Michigan Hunting License
and adhere to all Wisconsin and/or Michigan Hunting Regulations.
Hunt Times: The Teams will be allowed to hunt from 10AM until one of the following
occurs: 4PM, all 12 shells have been used or 12 birds have been harvested.
Scorekeepers will accompany the birds, remaining shells and the entire Team back to the
check-in area, prior to 5:30PM. The Team Captain and the Scorekeeper must accompany
the birds to officially record count and weigh-in.
Hunt Sites: All hunting is to take place on public lands in either Wisconsin and/or
Michigan. The Committee will designate the public lands that will be available for the
Hunt. Teams must hunt in these public lands only. No hunting on private lands or road
hunting will be allowed for the Hunt. Teams doing either will be subject to immediate
disqualification. Maps of these public lands will be included in your Participant Hunt Packet.
Scorekeepers: Each Team will have a non-partisan Scorekeeper randomly drawn at the
Saturday Morning Breakfast Meeting. Scorekeepers will be responsible for tracking time in
the field, shots taken and the number of grouse /woodcock harvested. All remaining shells
and birds must be tagged and logged in by the Scorekeeper prior to leaving the field. The
Scorekeeper will have the authority to disqualify any team that does not follow the rules of
the Hunt. Scorekeeper’s decisions are final when made in the field. Prior to the final weigh-
in of the birds, the Committee can review the Scorekeeper’s decision if brought to a
Committee Member by a Team Member that was scored for clarification. Scorekeepers
are there to document and monitor the Hunt and are not allowed to assist in the retrieving
of birds, blocking or driving of the grouse/woodcock.
Hunt Limit: Maximum of 3 Ruffed Grouse and 3 Woodcock per Team Member. No
exceptions
Shooting Regulations: This is a “Fair Chase” hunt and all grouse/woodcock are to be
taken in flight only and not on the ground or perched. Any hunters firing at a
grouse/woodcock on the ground or perched will be DISQUALIFIED from the Hunt
IMMEDIATELY.
Scoring: For this Hunt, Official Scoring will consist of five (5) points for a Ruffed Grouse
and one (1) point for a Woodcock. No other points will be awarded. Score for the winning
Hunt Team will be decided by a total of points earned. In the event of a tie, the winning
Hunt Team will be determined by first, the number of remaining shells the Team has and
second, the total weight of birds harvested. Be sure to give any remaining shells to the
Scorekeeper at the end of your hunt, so that they can be documented prior to leaving the
field. If any Team disagrees with their Scorekeeper’s decision or scoring, finish the Hunt
and then the Team must bring up the discrepancy to the Rules Committee at Check-In.
The Rules Committee will have the final ruling in any discrepancy.
Guns & Shells: Each member of the Team will be allotted six (6) shells for the Hunt,
twelve (12) per Team. Team Members may use any LEGAL shotgun shell and gun
desired. Limiting the number of shells per Team Member will help ensure that shooters
take clean shots, thus reducing the number of wounded birds. Hunters are NOT allowed
to exchange shells between Team Members. The exception to this rule is a trapped bird.
Each hunter may shoot only 3 grouse and 3 woodcock. In the event of a dud shell,
contact your Team Scorekeeper and they will replace the dud shell with a new one. You
must have the dud shell to prove that it didn’t go off. Once a hunter has used his/her
shells, he/she must quit hunting. He/she may continue to walk and drive the
grouse/woodcock, but must put their gun back in their vehicle ASAP. Violation of any of
these rules will result in disqualification of the entire Team from the competition.
Canine Companions: Each Team may have one dog in the field at one time. Additional
dogs may travel to the Hunt location, as long as only one dog is participating in the Hunt at
one time. Dogs will not be provided by the committee and are not required to be in the
Hunt.
Trapped Birds: If a dog traps a grouse/woodcock, that bird can be added to the kill.
Each trapped bird is recorded by the Team losing a shell. If a hunter traps or assists the
dog by pouncing on a bird that was not shot by them, this practice is NOT a legal form of
hunting and the Team is DISQUALIFIED from the hunt IMMEDIATELY. A “trap” is defined
as a bird that was not shot by the Team, but was caught by a dog.
Check-In: Each Team Captain and their Scorekeeper must check-in their birds at the
designated location by 5:30PM. At this time the birds will be counted, weighed and
officially documented by the Check-In Committee. Check-In time will be strictly adhered to
and Teams checking in past 5:30PM are subject to disqualification. Immediately following
Check-In, each Team will be given the opportunity to have their Team Photo taken with
their birds, dogs and Scorekeeper. At that point, the birds will be the Team’s property and
responsibility. We will have a location provided for the cleaning of your birds and a
number you can call to have them cleaned for you, at your expense
Awards: Awards will be given to the FIRST-, SECOND- and THIRD-Place Teams. All
awards to be presented at the Saturday Night Banquet.
Hunt Headquarters: The headquarters for this year’s Hunt will be the Gateway Lodge in
Land O’Lakes, Wisconsin.
RGCA Linda Schulz 906-827-3208
P.O. Box 779 John Muir 715-547-3915
Land O'Lakes, WI 54540
Application Deadline: September 1
Hunt Registration: The Hunt will consist of a maximum of 30 Teams with 2 hunters on
each Team. Teams are required to submit applications with notarized waiver forms by the
September 1 deadline. All hunters must sign a notarized liability waiver form before they
will be allowed to participate in the Hunt. Applications must be complete to be accepted.
Teams will be selected and notified by September 15th. A Participant Hunt Packet will be
sent to Team Members upon Team acceptance. NOTE: Due to the tremendous interest
in this event, the number of Team applications received exceeds the number of entries
accepted. Therefore, the application deadline will be strictly adhered to and complete
information (including waivers) will be a strong component in accepting or declining a
Team!
Registration Fee: The cost for each Team is $500.00 ($250.00 per gun). Half the entry
fee is due upon receipt of application. Certified checks, money orders or personal checks
postdated for September 1st are accepted. Make checks payable to Ruffed Grouse
Championship of America. Once the Team is accepted, ½ of the total entry fee ($250.00)
becomes NON-REFUNDABLE after October 1st. The entry fee includes the Friday
Sporting Clays, Friday Night Team Reception & Dinner, Saturday Breakfast, the Hunt - with
sack lunch and Team Photo, Saturday Night Banquet & Entertainment.
Licenses: All hunters must have a current Wisconsin and/or Michigan Hunting License
and adhere to all Wisconsin and/or Michigan Hunting Regulations.
Hunt Times: The Teams will be allowed to hunt from 10AM until one of the following
occurs: 4PM, all 12 shells have been used or 12 birds have been harvested.
Scorekeepers will accompany the birds, remaining shells and the entire Team back to the
check-in area, prior to 5:30PM. The Team Captain and the Scorekeeper must accompany
the birds to officially record count and weigh-in.
Hunt Sites: All hunting is to take place on public lands in either Wisconsin and/or
Michigan. The Committee will designate the public lands that will be available for the
Hunt. Teams must hunt in these public lands only. No hunting on private lands or road
hunting will be allowed for the Hunt. Teams doing either will be subject to immediate
disqualification. Maps of these public lands will be included in your Participant Hunt Packet.
Scorekeepers: Each Team will have a non-partisan Scorekeeper randomly drawn at the
Saturday Morning Breakfast Meeting. Scorekeepers will be responsible for tracking time in
the field, shots taken and the number of grouse /woodcock harvested. All remaining shells
and birds must be tagged and logged in by the Scorekeeper prior to leaving the field. The
Scorekeeper will have the authority to disqualify any team that does not follow the rules of
the Hunt. Scorekeeper’s decisions are final when made in the field. Prior to the final weigh-
in of the birds, the Committee can review the Scorekeeper’s decision if brought to a
Committee Member by a Team Member that was scored for clarification. Scorekeepers
are there to document and monitor the Hunt and are not allowed to assist in the retrieving
of birds, blocking or driving of the grouse/woodcock.
Hunt Limit: Maximum of 3 Ruffed Grouse and 3 Woodcock per Team Member. No
exceptions
Shooting Regulations: This is a “Fair Chase” hunt and all grouse/woodcock are to be
taken in flight only and not on the ground or perched. Any hunters firing at a
grouse/woodcock on the ground or perched will be DISQUALIFIED from the Hunt
IMMEDIATELY.
Scoring: For this Hunt, Official Scoring will consist of five (5) points for a Ruffed Grouse
and one (1) point for a Woodcock. No other points will be awarded. Score for the winning
Hunt Team will be decided by a total of points earned. In the event of a tie, the winning
Hunt Team will be determined by first, the number of remaining shells the Team has and
second, the total weight of birds harvested. Be sure to give any remaining shells to the
Scorekeeper at the end of your hunt, so that they can be documented prior to leaving the
field. If any Team disagrees with their Scorekeeper’s decision or scoring, finish the Hunt
and then the Team must bring up the discrepancy to the Rules Committee at Check-In.
The Rules Committee will have the final ruling in any discrepancy.
Guns & Shells: Each member of the Team will be allotted six (6) shells for the Hunt,
twelve (12) per Team. Team Members may use any LEGAL shotgun shell and gun
desired. Limiting the number of shells per Team Member will help ensure that shooters
take clean shots, thus reducing the number of wounded birds. Hunters are NOT allowed
to exchange shells between Team Members. The exception to this rule is a trapped bird.
Each hunter may shoot only 3 grouse and 3 woodcock. In the event of a dud shell,
contact your Team Scorekeeper and they will replace the dud shell with a new one. You
must have the dud shell to prove that it didn’t go off. Once a hunter has used his/her
shells, he/she must quit hunting. He/she may continue to walk and drive the
grouse/woodcock, but must put their gun back in their vehicle ASAP. Violation of any of
these rules will result in disqualification of the entire Team from the competition.
Canine Companions: Each Team may have one dog in the field at one time. Additional
dogs may travel to the Hunt location, as long as only one dog is participating in the Hunt at
one time. Dogs will not be provided by the committee and are not required to be in the
Hunt.
Trapped Birds: If a dog traps a grouse/woodcock, that bird can be added to the kill.
Each trapped bird is recorded by the Team losing a shell. If a hunter traps or assists the
dog by pouncing on a bird that was not shot by them, this practice is NOT a legal form of
hunting and the Team is DISQUALIFIED from the hunt IMMEDIATELY. A “trap” is defined
as a bird that was not shot by the Team, but was caught by a dog.
Check-In: Each Team Captain and their Scorekeeper must check-in their birds at the
designated location by 5:30PM. At this time the birds will be counted, weighed and
officially documented by the Check-In Committee. Check-In time will be strictly adhered to
and Teams checking in past 5:30PM are subject to disqualification. Immediately following
Check-In, each Team will be given the opportunity to have their Team Photo taken with
their birds, dogs and Scorekeeper. At that point, the birds will be the Team’s property and
responsibility. We will have a location provided for the cleaning of your birds and a
number you can call to have them cleaned for you, at your expense
Awards: Awards will be given to the FIRST-, SECOND- and THIRD-Place Teams. All
awards to be presented at the Saturday Night Banquet.
Hunt Headquarters: The headquarters for this year’s Hunt will be the Gateway Lodge in
Land O’Lakes, Wisconsin.
RGCA Linda Schulz 906-827-3208
P.O. Box 779 John Muir 715-547-3915
Land O'Lakes, WI 54540
| Tom Knapp at the 2009 Championship |
| Mike Schulz owner of the Running Bear with Tom Knapp |
| $8000.00 raised for the children of Land O'Lakes Ice Arena |
It has been amazing to watch the Ruffed Grouse Championship of America progress and grow
and in only 4 years become one of the premier controlled, skill hunts of the USA.
The Championship has been featured on National Television, last year we were at our maximum
capacity of 30 participating 2-person teams and for this year country-wide calls come in weekly
for more teams wanting an applications. We are proud of having raised awareness of the
significance of our grouse population to the ecological well-being of our area, we provide a
forum for showcasing the abilities of hunters with only the highest degree of skill and, most
importantly, in those 3 short years during a time of financial hardship, we have raised over
$30,000 for local charities, the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team and various local and national
youth outdoor activities.
In addition, we have a fun-filled day before the Championship that shows the great working
relationship between “man and beast” with the Bird Dog Challenge. The whole community is
welcome (and encouraged!) to come out and watch these amazing dogs show off their skills.
To see them working so hard but enjoying themselves so much is quite something.
and in only 4 years become one of the premier controlled, skill hunts of the USA.
The Championship has been featured on National Television, last year we were at our maximum
capacity of 30 participating 2-person teams and for this year country-wide calls come in weekly
for more teams wanting an applications. We are proud of having raised awareness of the
significance of our grouse population to the ecological well-being of our area, we provide a
forum for showcasing the abilities of hunters with only the highest degree of skill and, most
importantly, in those 3 short years during a time of financial hardship, we have raised over
$30,000 for local charities, the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team and various local and national
youth outdoor activities.
In addition, we have a fun-filled day before the Championship that shows the great working
relationship between “man and beast” with the Bird Dog Challenge. The whole community is
welcome (and encouraged!) to come out and watch these amazing dogs show off their skills.
To see them working so hard but enjoying themselves so much is quite something.
| 6th Annual Ruffed Grouse Championship of America October 20, 2012 Bird Dog Challenge October 18, 2012 |
USA Shooting Team
2010 Championship
2010 Championship