Old bird dogs epitomize the word “noble”

Jerry and Northwoods Vixen (CH Westfall’s Black Ice x Northwoods Prancer, 2011)

A dog lives fifteen years, if you’re lucky.
~ Mary Oliver

Jerry and I feel lucky. Vixen, the fourth of our reindeer-named pointers, will be 15 years old in a couple weeks. We’ve had many dogs, setters and pointers both, live to be 13 and 14 but Vixen is our first dog to live to age 15.

With age comes particular virtues. Words like wise and noble come to mind. My dictionary defines noble as “exalted in character…grand, stately, and magnificent in appearance.” Noble comes from the Latin nobilis which means knowable.

Noble is the perfect adjective. 

We’ve noticed a few outward physical changes. Vixen’s striking orange mask has faded but, interestingly, she’s retained color on her ears. There is eyesight and hearing loss but her personality, brain, heart and nose aren’t noticeably diminished. In the woods and fields, Vixen has lost a bit of style on point but her desire hasn’t waned.

Over cocktails on a recent evening, Jerry and I started thinking about other old Northwoods dogs. A setter female came to mind as the oldest. At 16 years of age, Northwoods Highclass Kate (Northwoods Blue Ox x Houston’s Belle’s Choice) was whelped in 2010. 

Northwoods Highclass Kate (Northwoods Blue Ox x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2010)
~ Barry and Jill Frieler, Minnesota

Some dogs out of Vixen inherited her longevity. Three female littermates from her breeding to Elhew G Force in 2013 are 13 years of age.

Northwoods Blue Ox was not only the sire of Highclass Kate but, through Kate, those longevity traits were passed to two littermate males that are now 14 years old. Blue Shaquille sired dogs to live to 15 and 14; and he lived to 14 years of age.

Here is a list of old dogs that we know about. We’re certain all owners would agree their dogs are noble. And that they feel lucky.

One 16-year-old setter female
Northwoods Highclass Kate (Northwoods Blue Ox x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2010)
~ Barry and Jill Frieler, Minnesota

Besides Vixen, a 15-year-old setter male
Jeter (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2011)
~ Sam and Kate Gary, Colorado

Three 14-year-old setters, two of which are littermates
Northwoods Rob Roy (Northwoods Blue Ox x Northwoods Chablis, 2012)
~ Chris Bye and Roberta Scherf, Wisconsin
Northwoods So Crisp (Northwoods Blue Ox x Northwoods Chablis, 2012)
~ Brad and Susan Gudenkauf, Minnesota
Northwoods White Russian (Blue Shaquille x Snyder’s Liz, 2012)
~ Tim and Tia Esse, Minnesota

Northwoods Rob Roy (Northwoods Blue Ox x Northwoods Chablis, 2012)
~ Chris Bye and Roberta Scherf, Wisconsin
“Roy always had the ability to pace himself and as an old dog he finds his pace and keeps at it. He still gets around the woods even if I need to be a bit more selective where I run him.”

Northwoods So Crisp (Northwoods Blue Ox x Northwoods Chablis, 2012)
~ Brad and Susan Gudenkauf, Minnesota
“Tana hunted right alongside RIgby this season and I was treated to many honored points by each dog. She will be in the field this October.”

Northwoods White Russian (Blue Shaquille x Snyder’s Liz, 2012)
~ Tim and Tia Esse, Minnesota
Tasha doesn’t waste energy doing young dog stuff. She has had 6 dogs come and go during her time and has gotten along with them all. She does like her solo time on the dog couch.

13 years old: Three pointer littermates and 2 setter littermates
Penny (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2013)
~Sam & Kate Gary, Colorado
Ginger & Smooch (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2013)
~ Wayne Grayson, Mississippi
Watson ((CH Houston’s Blackjack x Northwoods Highclass Kate, 2013)
~ Jonathon and Allison Long, Ontario, Canada
Jack (CH Houston’s Blackjack x Northwoods Highclass Kate, 2013)
~ Barry and Jill Frieler, Minnesota

~ Penny (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2013)
Sam & Kate Gary, Colorado

Watson ((CH Houston’s Blackjack x Northwoods Highclass Kate, 2013)
~ Jonathon and Allison Long Family, Ontario, Canada
“Watson is a bit slower than he used to be but he’s still surprisingly active for his age. He got out hunting a few days last fall and his nose still works great, even though his eyes aren’t as sharp.”

Jack (CH Houston’s Blackjack x Northwoods Highclass Kate, 2013)
~ Barry and Jill Frieler, Minnesota

Bird dogs and bobwhites. Life is good in Georgia.

The #1 dog on our string is liver-and-white female pointer Northwoods Comet (HOF CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen, 2018). She is backed by another HOF-bred pointer female, Northwoods Confidante (HOF CH True Confidence x Red Sunshine, 2022).

The quarry for Jerry, me and our dogs in southwestern Georgia near Thomasville is bobwhite quail—wild bobwhite quail.

Bobwhites are small birds that weigh only 6 ounces. They live in flocks, or coveys, of about 15 birds. For protection from both predators and hunters, bobwhites form a circle with tails pointing toward the center and heads facing out.

A particular, thrilling aspect of a bobwhite quail hunt is when a covey flushes, commonly called a rise. As David Allen Sibley explains in The Sibley Guide to Birds, coveys “flush all together at close range in an explosion of noisy wingbeats.” The rise happens fast and the birds scatter even faster.

A bird dog on point doesn’t get much prettier than Northwoods Snow Bunny (CH Ponderosa Mac x Northwoods Redbreast, 2022).

This marks the twelfth season that Jerry and I have lived in this region of Georgia. While we train a few dogs from clients, now we mostly train, develop and condition our own dogs.

Two males, Northwoods Eddie Setter (CH / RU-CH Northwoods Sir Gordon x Northwoods Valencia, 2023), in front, and Northwoods Rudolph (CH Southern Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2023), stopped within feet of each to back another dog on point.

During the quail season, though, we work for our client who leases four-day hunts on an 11,000-acre plantation in northern Florida. The day’s schedule is dependent on weather but generally six braces of dogs are run—three in the morning and three in the afternoon. Jerry handles our dogs and an employee from the plantation handles theirs. While our string includes half pointers and half setters, 90% of the plantation’s dogs are pointers.

On a foggy morning in January, dog handlers meet to saddle their own horses and horses for the guests and otherwise prepare for the morning hunt.

These hunts adhere to traditions handed down through many generations of hunters. Handlers and hunters ride Tennessee walking horses and an open, customized Jeep carries dogs not being run. In addition, a pair of cocker spaniels are on board for retrieving birds.

Hunts conducted on the plantation where we live are conducted off a pair of very cool, customized 30-year-old Kawasaki mules. Before the breakaway, dogs are clipped to the mule while those awaiting their turn to hunt ride in the roomy spaces under the rear bench seat.

We also handle our dogs on hunts on the plantation where we live. The owner of the plantation and her family and guests eschew horses and instead drive 30-year-old modified Kawasaki mules. A number of their dogs are brought along including, among others, Labrador retrievers and a springer spaniel.

Intensity and style on point aren’t trainable attributes. Eyes blazing and ear flipped back, Northwoods Snow Queen (RU-CH Northwoods Atlas x Houston’s Nelly Bly, 2023) points a huge covey of wild bobwhite quail.

Our main kennel building is a nicely renovated horse barn. Four large, fenced-in exercise pens are easily accessible from the kennel runs.

Running a late afternoon brace of puppies is one of our favorite things to do. Our main goal is exposure to birds—lots of birds. Northwoods Cassiopeia (Cold Creek Hank x Northwoods Stardust, 2025) has the find and Northwoods Something Royal (CH Confident Nation x Northwoods Comet, 2025) naturally backs.

Under the classic canopy of longleaf and loblolly pines, Greg Johnson flushes for his derby Northwoods Rip Roy (CH Woodville’s Yukon Cornelius x Northwoods Redbreast, 2024).

Northwoods Four Roses (CH Rufus Del Fuego x Northwoods Valencia, 2021), on right, and her daughter, Andromeda, by Northwoods Homer relax by the gate in an exercise pen.

Hail and Farewell: 2025

Chuck Bye and Northwoods Venus (CH Can’t Go Wrong x Cold Creek Pearl)

To continue our tradition, Betsy and I want to honor three men and 13 dogs who passed away this year. These men were not only friends but were—in their own ways—crucial to the success of our business.

And, about the dogs. We’re grateful to their owners for the lives they gave the dogs—whether as beloved companions lounging in a favorite spot, playing with the kids or bird hunting. The ages of the dogs ranged from a 15-year-old setter female to two puppies who died far too young.

We’ll never forget these dogs pictured below. The various breedings they represent are the heart and soul of Northwoods Bird Dogs.

**********

Chuck Bye (1944 – 2025)
Chuck owned New Wood grouse camp and was a passionate grouse hunter. He owned many Brittany spaniels but his favorite setter was Northwoods Venus.

Dr. Mark Nelson (1948 – 2025)

Mark was a trusted veterinarian from Wisconsin and was responsible for all the Houston frozen semen puppies.

Bob Walthall (1947 – 2025)

Bob managed the beautiful Sunny Hill Plantation outside Thomasville, Ga., and co-owned HOF CH Rock Acre Blackhawk and Blackhawk’s semen.

**********

Northwoods Camembert (Northwoods Blue Ox x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2010) with Ben Johnson, on left, and Ashley Heig on a guided hunt.
~ Bill and Gail Heig and Family, Minnesota

Northwoods Tesla (Northwoods Blue Ox x Northwoods Chablis, 2011)
~ Tim and Monica Cunningham, Minnesota

Northwoods Led Zeppelin (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2011)
~ David and Pam Bast, Kentucky

Northwoods Carly Simon (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2011)
~ Jessica and Taggart Kramer, Wisconsin

Bess (Northwoods Blue Ox x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2012)
~ Glen Gilson, Ohio

Northwoods Lucinda Belle (Northwoods Blue Ox x Northwoods Chablis, 2012)
~ Ken Johnson, Alabama

Northwoods BMW (Houston’s Blackjack x Northwoods Chablis, 2013)
~ Mike and Gil Blomquist, Minnesota

Northwoods Fen (Northwoods Blue Ox x Northwoods Chablis, 2015)
~ Harrison O’Connor, Montana

Rae (Sunny Hill Sam x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2016)
~ Gregg and Sherrie Knapp and Family, Wisconsin

Forrest (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Minerva, 2018)
~ Jimmy Blackburn, Montana

Northwoods Flirt (HOF CH True Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2021)
~ Frank Ilijanic, Michigan

Northwoods Blue Beech (CH Woodville’s Yukon Cornelius x Northwoods Redbreast, 2024)
~ Walter Manley, Florida & Montana

Northwoods Jazzy May (Cold Creek Hank x Northwoods Stardust,2025)
~ Robby and Tim Lockler

Northwoods Carly Simon: June 2011 – October 2025

Northwoods Carly Simon (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2011)

The theme song for the 1997 James Bond movie, “The Spy Who Loved Me,” was composed by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics were by Carole Bayer Sager. But it was the singer Carly Simon who brought those words to life in the song, “Nobody Does It Better.”

In 2011, when our puppy naming theme was rock bands and musicians, one of the female setter puppies was named Northwoods Carly Simon. How befitting that our puppy matured into a phenomenal bird dog that expertly handled and pointed ruffed grouse. No dog did it better.

Carly was line-bred to Paul Hauge’s dog Houston, a major contributor to the early genetics of our Northwoods setter line. Carly’s sire, Blue Shaquille, was a son of Houston and her dam, Houston’s Belle’s Choice, was a granddaughter. Three times Betsy and I repeated that breeding, leading to a generation of natural bird dogs. Those dogs, in turn, had the uncommon ability to consistently pass those characteristics to their progeny.

What a morning in the grouse woods for two guiding clients. Two-year-old Carly, on left, is happy to share the spotlight with Maggie, her pointer bracemate.

Carly was the epitome of a grouse dog. She ran with lofty carriage, high head and high stiff tail. She would occasionally put her head down if scent was there but most often her head was up, nose searching for air scent. Carly had a medium-coupled build, an efficient gait and pointed with poise and intensity. She wasn’t a big ranging dog. In the grouse woods, she was within 100 yards and even on the prairie she would rarely crack 200 yards. Carly was always hunting birds and when she pointed, the birds were there.

As a young dog though, she wasn’t afraid to engage birds to try to make them sit tight resulting in quite a few bumped grouse. But once Carly figured out the distance, she invariably produced killable pointed birds with few unproductives.

Those abilities made Carly a celebrity of our grouse guiding string where—for seven years—she provided countless memorable days in the grouse woods for our clients.

Carly cares for her one-day-old puppies by RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus in 2018. Some famous dogs are in that nest, including Madrid, Paris, Dixie and Speck.

In addition to her prowess as a bird dog, Carly excelled as a producer. In her six litters of 24 males and 22 females, she left a legacy that continues today. Our 2025 Northwoods Homer x Northwoods Four Roses litter goes back to Carly through both the sire and dam.

Carly’s early litters produced extremely nice dogs—many are still enjoying life and hunting—but when Betsy and I chose RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus (out of CH Ridge Creek Cody, a dog we bred), we hit on a “nick.” For three years in a row, we repeated the breeding and produced 21 puppies. Besides many impressive grouse dogs, two cover dog champions, CH Northwoods Sir Gordon and CH Northwoods Cedar, were whelped. Siblings Northwoods Minerva and Northwoods Stardust were stars in our guiding string. All four of those dogs have been bred and produced wonderful puppies. Other notable dogs include Northwoods Hercules in our Georgia guide string and Fitz, an extraordinary Wisconsin grouse dog.

Jessica and Carly share a hug on the banks of the Kinnickinnic.

We retired Carly from breeding in 2019 and, as always, we searched for the perfect place for her best possible life. Through our friend and client, Chris Bye, we found that spot. Wisconsin residents Jessica Kramer and Taggart, her son, fell in love with Carly. For her last six years, Carly spent nights on her favorite couch and days wandering the banks of Kinnickinnic River, assisting in fly fishing whenever necessary.

But she wasn’t retired from the woods. Chris hunted her until she was almost 13 years old and they shared many memorable hunts. He commented about a first hunt with Carly:
“I quickly learned if Carly pointed, the bird was there. That day she pinned 14 grouse in surgical fashion in less than two hours. It was a day you don’t soon forget, and we quickly learned to never, ever doubt Carly.”

Jessica summed up her feelings for Carly:
“Thank you for allowing us to care for and love her these past six years. What a gift to me and my son she has been. She truly changed our lives.”

Carly Simon’s hit song concludes with the perfect line. “Baby, you’re the best.”

Rest in peace, sweet Carly. We will always remember.

Photo gallery: dogs and hunters in the field this fall

Sage (CH Miller’s Upgraded Version x Northwoods Comet, 2024), on left, and her half-sister Juniper (HOF CH True Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2021)
~ Joey Paxman and Amanda Allpress, Montana

By the dozens, Northwoods Bird Dogs have recently been afield across the country. No matter the age of the dog—whether young puppies whelped this year or experienced older dogs—many birds were pointed, retrieved and bagged. The photographs below are filled with blaze orange, big smiles and tired dogs.

Filly (May’s Pond Hank x Northwoods Stardust, 2024)
~ Tom and Lauren Strand Family, Minnesota

Rip (Northwoods Louis Vuitton x Houston’s Dancing Queen, 2022)
~ Mark FItchett, Kansas

Nelly, on left, and her littermate, Jones (CH Northwoods Sir Gordon x Northwoods Valencia, 2022)
~ Gregg and Sherrie Knapp Family, Wisconsin
~ Chris and Laura Miller, Illinois

Sweep (CH Northwoods Sir Gordon x Northwoods Valencia, 2023)
~ Tim Esse, Minnesota

Annie (CH Rufus del Fuego x Northwoods Valencia, 2021)
~ Chip Sligh Family, Georgia

Ruby (CH Confident Nation x Northwoods Comet, 2025)
~ Frank Ilijanic, Michigan

Sky (Northwoods Homer x Northwoods Four Roses, 2025)
~ Tom and Ashton McPherson, Pennsylvania

Will (Northwoods Homer x Northwoods Four Roses, 2025)
~ Chris and Mary Dombrowski Family, Montana

Finn (Northwoods Homer x Northwoods Four Roses, 2025)
~ Joe and Britta Parpala Family, Minnesota

Poppy (Cold Creek Hank x Northwoods Stardust, 2025)
~ Chris Bye and Roberta Scherf, Wisconsin

Smoke (Cold Creek Hank x Northwoods Stardust, 2025)
~ Mike Watson, Pennsylvania

Mace (Cold Creek Hank x Northwoods Stardust, 2025)
~ Marc Austof Family, Michigan

Fare well, sweet puppies

At six weeks of age, the nine puppies out of Northwoods Stardust by Cold Creed Hank still sleep in a pile.

Of the chores Jerry and I do around the kennel, some are fun and some are not so fun. In the latter category are the daily hosing of the kennel runs (Jerry) and cleaning up the play yard with a little rake and shovel (me).

However, we agree unequivocally that the most enjoyable chores involve puppies.

Four-day-old puppies out of Northwoods Four Roses by Northwoods Homer cuddle while they sleep on the heated nest.

We got a huge dose of it this spring. Comet, Stardust and Four Roses came into season within a couple weeks of each other. They were each bred and then nine weeks later whelped their litters on May 2, May 13 and May 17, respectively.

The total was 20 puppies—3 pointers and 17 setters.

Since there were only three puppies out of CH Confident Nation x Northwoods Comet and they got plenty of food, they were always substantially larger than than the other two litters.

Even though it’s our business and, as previously mentioned lots of “enjoyable” work, there is another dimension to puppy chores. Every day for eight weeks, we watch them, care for them, play with them and get to know each one individually. From the very first day when each weighs less than one pound and are totally helpless until they have grown and developed into little dogs, we watch them.

Puppies out of Northwoods Homer x Northwoods Four Roses are eight weeks old and ready to go to their new homes.

Then, in a bittersweet blink, the puppies are eight weeks old and we send them off into the world. Excited new owners drove or flew from all over the country—New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Texas and Montana—to pick up their puppy.

As each puppy left with their owner, we said, a la Gandalf, “Fare well!”

Spring cover dog field trial results

Northwoods Tyler (CH Miller’s Upgraded Version x Northwoods Comet, 2024) is owned and handled by Josh Matel.

“…there should be no distinction between a field trial dog and a shooting (hunting) dog, the former is merely the latter on public display.”
~ William Harnden Foster

We agree with Mr. Foster–especially when considering cover dog field trials. A large majority of the dogs entered in these competitions are also hunted on wild birds.

The dogs featured below perfectly exemplify our breeding goals for the past 30 years. We’ve strived to produce dogs with the physical and mental ability to compete at the highest levels of field trial competition. That those dogs win at the trials is because they excel as hunting dogs.

Here are Northwoods-bred dogs that had a phenomenal winning season.

Northwoods Cedar (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2019) is owned and handled by Eric and Lindsey Saetre.

CH Northwoods Cedar (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2019) is owned and handled by Eric and Lindsey Saetre of Minnesota. Cedar continued her success last fall with a stunning spring season. She placed in three trials in three different venues on her way to winning the 2025 Minnesota/Wisconsin Amateur Shooting Dog of the Year.
• 1st Don Didcoct Amateur Shooting Dog Classic
• 2nd Moose River Grouse Classic
• Runner-up Grand National Grouse and Woodcock Invitational Championship (blog post detailing the Invitational) 

Northwoods Tyler (CH Miller’s Upgraded Version x Northwoods Comet, 2024), owned and handled by Josh Matel of Minnesota, had a remarkable spring for a one-year-old puppy. Tyler placed over dogs up to twice his age in stakes that saw 25-32 entries. Tyler ran a mature hunting pattern and pointed grouse in three of his wins. He earned the 2025 Minnesota/Wisconsin Pro Plan Cover Dog Derby of the Year.
• 1st North Country Championship Open Derby
• 1st Minnesota Grouse Dog Association Open Derby (first trial)
• 1st Minnesota Grouse Dog Association Open Derby (second trial)
• 2nd Moose River Grouse Dog Club Open Derby

Northwoods Rip Roy (CH Woodville’s Yukon Cornelius x Northwoods Redbreast, 2024), second from left, is owned and handled by Greg Johnson.

Northwoods Rip Roy (CH Woodville’s Yukon Cornelius x Northwoods Redbreast, 2024) is another one-year-old, owned and handled by Greg Johnson of Wisconsin. The Grand National Puppy Classic is run on a single course—each brace of dogs runs over the same ground. Rip was in the fourth brace so six puppies had already run the course. Rip found and pointed a ruffed grouse—the only bird pointed in the stake!
• 3rd Chippewa Valley Grouse Dog Association Open Derby
• 2nd Grand National Grouse Futurity Puppy Classic

Northwoods Suki (May’s Pond Hank x Northwoods Stardust, 2024) is owned and handled by Eric Beauregard.

Northwoods Suki (May’s Pond Hank x Northwoods Stardust, 2024) is owned and handled by Eric Beauregard of Massachusetts. Suki is Eric’s first English setter and these were his first two trials! The placements earned Suki the 2024-2025 Amateur Walking Puppy Award by the Association of New England Field Trial Clubs.
• 1st Setter Club of New England Amateur Puppy
• 1st Northern New Hampshire Bird Dog Club Amateur Puppy Classic

Northwoods Homer (CH Snyder’s Pioneer Scout x CH Northwoods Cedar, 2022), middle, is owned and handled by Mitch Anderson.

Northwoods Homer (CH Snyder’s Pioneer Scout x CH Northwoods Cedar, 2022), is owned and handled by Mitch Anderson of Minnesota.
• 2nd Southern Wisconsin Field Trial Club NBHA Open Shooting Dog

Northwoods Miles (RU-CH Northwoods Atlas x Northwoods Madrid, 2024) is owned and handled by Lars Totton of New Jersey. They had success in their first trial!
• 3rd Northern New Jersy Field Trial Club NBHA Open Puppy

Northwoods Southern Breeze (CH Southern Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2023) is owned and handled by Nik Zewars of Minnesota.
• 1st Northwest Field Trial Association Open Walking Derby

Willow Creek Northwoods Nugget (CH Miller’s Upgraded Version x Northwoods Comet, 2024) is owned and handled by Chad Hines of Minnesota.
• 2nd Minnesota Grouse Dog Association Open Derby

Our hearty congratulations to owners and handlers for training and showing your dogs to such noteworthy success!

Bird dogs in boats

Caddie (CH Southern Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2023) and Brian Smith, her owner.

What’s a bird dog to do when the hunting season has long passed and any spring work is also over?

Caddie (CH Southern Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2023), on left, and Lacey (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2016)
~ Brian Smith, Pennsylvania

Whether setter or pointer, some lucky Northwoods dogs are invited onto their owners’ boats. Two pointer females from Pennsylvania assisted their owner on a fishing trip. One setter watched her champion skier practice on a Georgia lake.

Annie (CH Rufus del Fuego x Northwoods Valencia, 2021)
~ The Sligh Family, Georgia

In the Atlantic Ocean off Nantucket, two setter females, experienced on sailboats and Zodiacs, rode in the bow. One setter simply enjoyed an afternoon cruise on a lake in Minnesota.

Lacey (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Minerva, 2020), on left, and Maisy ( RU-CH Northwoods Atlas x Houston’s Nelly Bly, 2023)
~ Zenas and Susanne Hutcheson, Massachusetts

Tally (May’s Pond Hank x Northwoods Stardust, 2024)
~ Joe and Deb Wech, Minnesota

Northwoods Cedar named Runner-Up Champion at the 2025 Invitational

CH/2X RU-CH Northwoods Cedar (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2019), on right, poses with handler Eric Saetre at the 2025 Grand National Grouse and Woodcock Invitational. Cedar was named Runner Up Champion. Lindsey Saetre helps hold the impressive trophy.

CH/2X RU-CH Northwoods Cedar (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2019) was named Runner-Up Champion at this spring’s Grand National Grouse and Woodcock Invitational Championship. Cedar is owned by Eric and Lindsey Saetre of Minnesota.

The trial is conducted annually by the Grand National Grouse Championship and is held at various venues around the country. The New England Bird Dog Club hosted this year’s—the 34th—at the Panther Forest Wildlife Reserve near Ellenburg, N.Y.

This prestigious trial is limited to 14 entries making it the smallest championship on the circuit. Yet, it’s arguably the hardest one to win.

First of all, you can’t just enter a dog. The dog has to be invited. Invitations are extended to the top 11 point-earners based on placements in the prior cover dog trial season. Rounding out the 14 dogs are automatic invitations to the previous year’s champion and runner-up and to the Grand National Grouse Championship winner.

Besides the invitation part, the dog has to run in one-hour braces on two consecutive days.

The first day of running, as in any trial, is randomly drawn. But for the second day, the dogs are paired with a different bracemate on a different course and run at a different time of day, i.e., dogs that ran in the morning the first day run in the afternoon on the second day.

After the second day, tension, nerves and excitement are high for handlers, scouts and owners. They’ve all had a fair shot to show their dog. They can’t complain about any of the normal variables in a field trial draw—time of day, course, bracemate, weather. The Invitational format is designed to reduce some of those variables, or, as stated in its Invitational’s Bylaws and Running Rules: “to take as much luck out of the trial as humanly possible.”

The third day’s running includes only the “call-backs” as determined by the two judges. They decide which dogs they want to see, how to pair them and on which course. Again, the braces are one hour long.

All three days of running are considered in the final decision.

With the exception of the third day, the weather this year was problematic. Deep snow restricted range and clogged bells made for difficulty tracking dogs. Cold temperatures were hard on everyone. Those conditions affected the birds, too.

In spite of the weather, Cedar ran consistently and was the only dog to point birds all three days. Her performance and bird-finding earned her placement as Runner-up Champion.

Eric as handler and Lindsey as scout have done an outstanding job with Cedar. Their hard work and dedication fine-tuned Cedar’s genetic ability into a national caliber competitor. Betsy and I are proud of them and wish them the best in the fall trial season and next year when they’re invited back to the 2026 Invitational.

Two other local dogs were invited to this renewal. 2X RU-CH Northwoods Atlas (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Nickel, 2017), owned by Greg and Michelle Johnson of Wisconsin, was posthumously invited. Lake Affect Allie, owned and handled by Tim Kaufman of Wisconsin, was invited and competed in the trial.

American Woodock (Scolopax minor)

© Ruffed Grouse Society / American Woodcock Society

On a cold, cloudy day in late March, Jerry and I took our one-year-old female setter Dilly (CH Woodville’s Yukon Cornelius x Northwoods Redbreast, 2024) to a nice woodcock spot of young aspen and sparse undergrowth.

Dilly was exuberant—whether due to her age or the conditions or both—but we knew she was hunting. We were all rewarded when, within about 20 minutes, we found Dilly on point.

The woodcock were back.

For many upland hunters and dog owners, the return of the woodcock is an important part of the natural rhythm of things. It confirms the seasonal shift from winter to spring.

And how can one not be excited about that return? How can one not be enchanted by woodcock and delight in their oddities? There aren’t many birds that have a cuter, rounder body or a longer beak. Breast meat is dark and leg meat is white. A woodcock’s brain is, basically, upside down. Ears are placed under its eyes, which are situated far back on its head.

© Ruffed Grouse Society / American Woodcock Society

And those eyes! In “Making Game: An Essay on Woodcock,” Guy De La Valdene writes that a woodcock’s eyes are “black and limpid, not eyes to dwell on if one intends to keep hunting.”

Taxonomy
The scientific name of the American woodcock is Scolopax minor. It is the only upland bird in the large Scolopacidae family, a major shorebird family. Other members include sandpipers, curlews, godwits, dowitchers and snipe.

Besides the American woodcock, there are seven other members of the Scolopax genus. Eurasion woodcock, S. rusticola, is native across Europe and Asia from Ireland to Japan. There are six other species, each native to their own small island.

Woodcock nest

All family members are ground nesters and usually the nest is just a scrape. It might not seem like ample protection but the camouflage is ideal. Generally, 2-4 eggs are laid and are colored and spotted to blend in. At birth, precocial young are covered with down and, with the help of a parent, are mobile enough to leave the nest within hours.

Evolution
Birds date to the Cretaceous period (135 – 66 million years ago) of the Mesozoic era, a.k.a., the age of dinosaurs. Birds with beaks survived the asteroid-induced mass extinction at the end of that period most likely because they could eat plants.

The first woodcock fossil discovery was from about 20 million years ago. When the glaciers began retreating during the later Pleistocene epoch of the Cenozoic era (about 20,000 – 30,000 years ago), woodcock followed. They ended up in their current locales at the end of that retreat.

Range and Habitat
The woodcock population in the U.S. is divided into two major groups: Eastern (from the Appalachian Mountains to the east) and Central (west of the Appalachians to western edge of the Minnesota/Iowa/Missouri borders). The Eastern birds generally migrate along the Atlantic coast and the Central population usually follows the Mississippi River.

Woodcock like successional deciduous forests where there is rich soil. In addition, they need open areas–fields, grasslands or forest clearings–and shrubby areas.

Woodcock roost, forage and practice their mating ritual—the sky dance—in open areas. They move to the cover of a forest during the day to forage and to avoid predation.

Excellent camouflage

Avoiding predation
A woodcock’s prime methods of predator evasion are freezing and camouflage. Countless times while training young dogs, Jerry and I would stop to listen for the bell of the errant dog. Within about a minute and usually no more than 15 feet away, a woodcock flushed, thinking we had moved on.

A woodcock’s approximately 1,000 feathers are flawlessly arranged in various patterns that perfectly mimic the accumulated detritus of the forest floor. The colors of those feathers, as described in De La Valdene’s book, include “cream, cinnamon, ochre, black, burnt umber, raw sienna, brown and auburn” and five shades of gray.

Woodcock chick

Fun facts about food, nesting and migration
• Males and females have similar feather arrangement and colors. Females, called hens, are a little larger and have slightly longer wings and bills.
• Woodcock are solitary birds and except when breeding or rearing chicks spend their days alone.
• Woodcock eat worms…lots of worms. Estimates vary but somewhere between 60-90% of their diet is worms, which are high in protein, fat and water. Other foods include insects, grubs and larvae.
• When walking through the woods, woodcock bob and rock back and forth and look, somewhat, like they’re dancing the two-step. One theory is they are causing vibrations in the soil which can cause worms to come to the surface.
• In addition to peents and chirps of the sky dance, males cackle to warn off other males. A whistle noise is made by their fast-beating wings, such as when they flush.
• Snow and heavy rains during nesting can be detrimental.
• When woodcock eggs hatch, the eggs are split lengthwise.
• Hens will use the “broken wing” trick to lure predators away from their nests.
• Woodcock take it easy when they migrate. In general, they’re not rushing either north or south and often are the last bird to migrate in the fall.
• Snowstorms, thunderstorms and strong winds impact migration. Woodcock will simply wait for the weather to improve before continuing.

Spring woodcock

Saving the best for last: The Sky Dance
Most male members of the Scolopacidae family have some sort of aerial display for breeding. Woodcock are renowned for their ritual, nicknamed the “sky dance.” I’ve heard it many times and in many spring seasons around our house and kennel.

Aldo Leopold exquisitely describes it in “A Sound County Almanac.”

“He flies in low from some neighboring thicket, alights on the bare moss, and at once begins the overture: a series of queer throating ‘peents’ spaced about two seconds apart, and sounding much like the summer call of the nighthawk.

“Suddenly, the peenting ceases and the bird flutters skyward in a series of wide spirals, emitting a musical twitter. Up and up he goes, the spirals steeper and smaller, the twittering louder and louder, until the performer is only a speck in the sky. Then, without warning, he tumbles like a crippled plane, giving voice in a soft liquid warble that a March bluebird might envy. At a few feet from the ground he levels off and returns to his peenting ground, usually to the exact spot where the performance began, and there resumes his peenting.”