2025/2026 cover dog field trial results
Northwoods Rip Roy (CH Woodville’s Yukon Cornelius x Northwoods Redbreast, 2024), first on left, is owned and handled by Greg Johnson of Wisconsin.
Cover dog trials are won by dogs that point grouse or woodcock and, more often than not, by dogs that point more of them than other competitors.
The ability to find and point wild birds, like all traits, starts with the dog’s genetics. These genetics include the desire to hunt for birds, the intelligence to learn birds’ haunts and habits, the “right” amount of pointing instinct, and the ability to hunt hard while also keeping track of their handler. Further, the best genetics produce a dog that does all that with a minimum amount of wild bird exposure and training.
For 30 years and through nine generations of setters and seven generations of pointers, those key traits, among others, are what Northwoods Bird Dogs has been selecting and breeding for.
But there’s another crucial component to winning field trials consistently at a high level. Owners and handlers need skill and hours of time and effort to bring out the best of their dog’s genetics. Owners and handlers of the recent winners listed below have combined that raw talent of their bird dogs with a plethora of exposure and training to earn their respective placements.
Congratulations to all owners and handlers!
FALL 2025
Northwoods Rip Roy (CH Woodville’s Yukon Cornelius x Northwoods Redbreast, 2024)
Owned and handled by Greg Johnson
• 1st National Amateur Grouse Championship Open Derby
• 3rd Wisconsin Cover Dog Championship Open Derby
SPRING 2026
Northwoods Fallset Hope (HOF CH True Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2021), on right, is owned by Mark Fouts of Wisconsin and pictured with handler by Josh Matel of Minnesota.
Northwoods Fallset Hope (HOF CH True Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2021)
Owned by Mark Fouts/handled by Josh Matel
• 2nd Chippewa Valley Grouse Dog Association Open Shooting Dog
• 3rd Moose River Grouse Dog Club Open Shooting Dog Classic
Northwoods Wanderlust (CH Confident Nation x Northwoods Comet, 2025), center, is owned and handled by Frank Ilijanic of Michigan.
Northwoods Wanderlust (CH Confident Nation x Northwoods Comet, 2025)
Owned and handled by Frank Ilijanic
• 1st Wolverine Field Trial Club Open Walking Derby
• 2nd Beaverton Grouse Dog Club Eaton Spring Derby Classic
• 3rd Grand Valley Walking Bird Dog Club Open Walking Puppy
• 3rd Michigan Amateur Field Trial Club Chester Halley Memorial Amateur Derby
• 3rd Ruffed Grouse Field Trial Club Bernie Bauman Memorial Open Puppy
CH/RU-CH Northwoods Sir Gordon (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2016), on left, is owned by Ben McKean, on left and was handled by Ryan Hough. Both are from Minnesota.
CH/RU-CH Northwoods Sir Gordon (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2016)
Owned by Ben McKean and handled by Ryan Hough
• 1st Minnesota Grouse Dog Association Open Shooting Dog
Northwoods Tyler (CH Millers’ Upgraded Version x Northwoods Comet, 2024), on left, is owned and handled by Josh Matel of Minnesota.
Northwoods Tyler (CH Millers’ Upgraded Version x Northwoods Comet, 2024)
Owned and handled by Josh Matel
• 3rd Moose River Grouse Club Classic Open Derby
Northwoods Orion (RU-CH Northwoods Homer x Northwoods Four Roses, 2025) is owned by Mike Powers and was handled by Lars Totten. Both are from New Jersey.
Northwoods Orion (RU-CH Northwoods Homer x Northwoods Four Roses, 2025)
Owned by Mike Powers / handled by Lars Totten
• 1st Setter Club of New England Amateur Puppy
Note: The championship placement of RU-CH Northwoods Homer has been featured in a previous post. Likewise, the Minnesota/Wisconsin Dog of the Year awards for Northwoods Cedar Edge and Northwoods Peregrine have been previously posted.
Fun fact: Three of the winning dogs are pointers. The dogs are all out of our Northwoods Comet but are by three different sires.