About BDC.
Founded in 1995, The National Bird Dog Challenge
Association (N.B.D.C.A.) was formed by local Iowa game farm owners to
provide their members an opportunity to draw to an end the grillroom
debate of who in fact owned “the best upland hunting dog”. That year 23
competitors attended their inaugural championship and the game was
started.
By the year 2000 word had spread and 50 tournaments were needed
to meet the growing popularity of the game. 650 members joined the
N.B.D.C.A. and attempted to qualify for the National Championship where
that year 220 competitive runs were scheduled. In 2003 new owners
purchased the organization and embarked on an aggressive growth campaign
that included a qualifying point system to allow accurate recordings of
dog and competitor. This enabled them to best track competitor’s
performance at various qualifying competitions. In doing such, Regions
were created and a system of control was in place that identified the
game’s best players. The reception was overwhelming and soon they were
able to implement benchmarks and titles that would insure a player’s
legacy in the sport - dog and human alike. A Champions Club Dog Registry
was formed, World Rankings for both Dog and Competitor created and The
Hall of Fame recognizing a dog’s lifetime achievements was born.
The game’s popularity and growing reputation among upland game
hunters created even greater opportunity for visibility and recognition
for the competitors. A national television audience had become bored
with its limited exposure to quality hunting programs. Dominated by big
game hunts that often featured exclusive game in regions only accessible
to those of wealth; a yearning existed for the common hunter.
Specifically, upland game hunters had little if any opportunity to pass
their off seasons watching programs that showcased their passion. The
Bird Dog Challenge Series (BDC) began broadcasting on The Outdoor
Channel in 2005, anchoring their Thursday Night Flights segment.
Achieving an impressive Nielsen Rating, it became very successful in a
short amount of time. The program went off the air in 2008 due to
escalating costs.
In 2009 an Advisory Board was created with representatives from each
region of the country including Players, Tournament Directors and Game
Farm owners to assist in guiding the organization in all aspects of the
company. This first group was responsible for a significant re-write of
the rule book, development of the new One Dog stake and a focus on core
values of the organization to maximize the enjoyment of competitors and
their family members.
In March of 2011 the ownership of Bird Dog Challenge changed and the
new organization was named the National Bird Dog Circuit. The new
management team along with the Advisory Board is made up of volunteers.
There are no paid staff; including employees, principles or associated
persons in these positions. New management has committed to grow the
operation and in conjunction with the Advisory Board, created a mission
statement to guide decision making. The mission statement is below:
NATIONAL BIRD DOG CIRCUIT
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the National Bird Dog Circuit is to offer the finest
competition bird dog hunting experience throughout the United States.
We will do this by providing fair, fun, family friendly and
professionally managed events. Competitors of all ages and skill levels
can test their abilities, showcase their exceptional dogs and receive
recognition for their accomplishments. We stress safety, integrity,
courtesy, professionalism and respect. We will balance cost and awards
to make the BDC experience widely and affordably available.
The National Bird Dog Circuit has a broad scope and appeal. This is
true whether discussing the divisions offered at our tournaments; youth
to Masters, our geography; upstate New York to Southern California, the
number of states where our members reside; 27 plus 2 Canadian Provinces
or simply the number of states where tournaments are hosted; 24. The
National Bird Dog Circuit has something for everyone. It is “The
Ultimate Challenge”.
