If 1/3 of the dogs leave a bird in the field then the last of 30 runs has 10 extra birds planted. (We had 9 of 25 dogs get three in one of my fields, didn't count the other) Even if they haven't been watching and half of the birds walked out, they still have a huge advantage. Sure there is alot of old scent by then but with a bird per acre, the dogs we have competing can get past that. Planting two extra birds for the first run balances this a little, not sure why we skimped at the most important trial of the year. The extra birds help if your dog went 3 yards on the wrong side of one of them, chances are they'll be on the right side for another. Not watching will help some but running order in an event this large still plays a huge factor. Thus the coments questioning how some dogs can have 4-6 heat cycles in one year.

Your last comment Colin brought to mind a large tournament last year when some competitors demanded (and got) a rerun when a female was discovered to be in heat LATER THAT EVENING!!!

So, what is an event planner to do? Have a separate field for non-spayed females in case one of them comes into heat sometime that weekend?

A re-write of the rules are in order. This could be a whole new forum. Deal with how dud shells are handled. How in heat bitches are handled. Communication with handlers that are in the blind. Specified limitations as to how/when a dog may enter the out of bounds and remain. What happens when a dog on retrieve flushes birds? I have seen it judged that the flushes count, and when they do not, even if not acted on.

The language should no longer mention "should be discouraged" or "considered unsportsmen like". Instead leave no ambiguity.