s long as we've had domestic canines, we've had one form of trial or another to showcase the abilities of both dog and handler. The more you delve into trialing in this country, the more you find that it has a varied and extensive history, beginning in the early to mid-1800s, mostly in the eastern portion of the country.

The Amateur Field Trial Clubs of America (AFTCA) was established in 1917 for working field dogs versus the American Kennel Club (AKC) which has been around since 1884, with the purpose of "elevating the standard and quality of the amateur dog."

Prior to that time, the "National" had already been established in 1896 and had found its permanent home just north of Grand Junction, Tennessee, at Ames Plantation, which is host to the National Bird Dog Hall of Fame.

In 1931, L.B. Maytag, an avid quail hunter and the originator of the Maytag line of appliances, gave the National Amateur Free-for-All a permanent home at Sedgefields Plantation in Union Springs, Alabama, known as the Bird Dog Field Trial Capital of the World.

These are interesting tidbits, but the most fascinating thing I discovered was the conservation connection between field trial organizations and Quail Unlimited. Dogs are not the only common bond. In 1948, the AFTCA sought a corporate charter in the District of Columbia to clarify the focus of the group, namely:

"To restore and perpetuate wild upland game birds on the North American Continent; to promote, carry on, conduct and foster research, education, training and publication in ornithological sciences, to make studies with reference to the enhancement of knowledge concerning upland game birds of the North American Continent. To establish, promote, assist, contribute to, or otherwise encourage the study of conservation, restoration and management of the upland game birds and their habitats; and in connection therewith to grant scholarships, prizes and awards; to promote, encourage, acquire or maintain refuges for upland game birds and to foster and increase interest in and knowledge of upland game birds and their conservation and restoration by promoting, regulating, controlling, advising and conducting field trials on upland game birds."

This is an awesome bit of information. Half a century ago, when quail, an indigenous species of North America, were prolific, field trial clubs recognized the responsibility of promoting quail conservation before there was a vital need. After all, trialing is rather difficult without birds, isn't it?

The National Bird Hunters Association (NBHA) used to be the primary organization for field trialers. Over the years, other "reform" groups evolved including The American Bird Hunters, U.S. Complete and The National Shoot to Retrieve Association (NSTRA), which was established in 1978.

Quail Unlimited, established in 1981, embraced the AFTCA's philosophy and initiated its National Field Trial "Dog of the Year" Championship in the mid-1980s, fashioned after NSTRA trials. This past March, the Quail Unlimited Bojangles' National Field Trial Championship, representing Quail Unlimited's 18th national trial event, was truly exciting - even for the novice spectator.