Greg Johnson, on left, with RU-CH Northwoods Atlas (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Nickel, 2017) and Ken Moss with CH Moss Meadow Seeker. Back row: Tucker Johnson, Judges Ben McKean and Ryan Hough.
Most people involved in wild bird field trial competition acknowledge that it is a game.
Not only must handlers navigate uncontrollable vagaries like running order, weather conditions, bracemate and the often unpredictable behavior of grouse and woodcock but they also must handle their dogs flawlessly around a one-hour course and abide by the rules of the game. Among those rules are that the dogs should: run a strong, forward race; never lose focus; point with style and intensity; be steady to wing and shot; have no unproductive points; honor the bracemate; finish strong. No mistakes are allowed or the dog is “picked up,” i.e., leashed and walked out of the woods by the handler.
To persevere and win trials—especially big championships—competitors must keep paying the entry fees, showing up and running their dogs.
So it is especially sweet and satisfying when everything aligns and the handler and dog win an important stake—especially a big championship.
The Chippewa Valley Grouse Dog Association held its Wisconsin Cover Dog Championship last week in the Eau Claire County Forest, near Augusta, Wisc. A large entry of 52 dogs was under consideration by judges Ben McKean and Ryan Hough.
After five days of running, Moss Meadow Seeker, owned and handled by Ken Moss, was named champion. With three finds and a strong race that often strained the bell’s limit but always stayed within range, Northwoods Atlas, owned and handled by Greg Johnson, was named runner-up champion.
Five-year-old Atlas, call name Jet, is no stranger to the winner’s circle. Throughout his young career, he has consistently placed in 11 field trials. This is his first championship placement.
Jet was whelped in 2017 out of Northwoods Nickel by Northwoods Grits. Grits was infamous for his bird finding and never-give-up attitude while Nickel added an uncommonly strong yet graceful gait.
And that sweet and satisfying part? After it was all over, Greg commented, “I am walking on air right now.”
Northwoods Cedar (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2019), setter female owned by Eric and Lindsey Saetre and handled by Lindsey, earned a red ribbon in the Don Didcoct Amateur Shooting Dog Classic.
Field trial competition is a bug that some owners of pointing dogs catch. Betsy and I are proud of owners of our dogs who put forth the effort to compete. It’s a fun, rewarding game attended by fellow serious bird dog aficionados. We’re also proud of our setters and pointers that have the ability to compete in the various venues across the country and also that pass on that prowess to future generations.
MINNESOTA & WISCONSIN TRIALS
Northwoods Atlas (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Nickel, 2017) is a setter male owned and handled by Greg Johnson. Atlas gets the nod for consistency, winning three thirds and one second place ribbon in six starts and in three different venues; the Minnesota Grouse Dog Associations (MGDA) grounds in the Rum River State Forest; Chippewa Valley Grouse Dog Associations (CVGDA) grounds near Augusta, Wis.; and the Four Brooks Field Trial Area near Milaca, Minn.
Northwoods Atlas (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Nickel, 2017), on left, setter male owned and handled by Greg Johnson, placed third in the open shooting dog stake at the Chippewa Valley Grouse Dog trial.
Placing third behind Atlas at the second MGDA trial was Rhett (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2018), setter male owned and handled by Dave Moore.
Northwoods Cedar (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2019), setter female owned by Eric and Lindsey Saetre and handled by Lindsey, placed second in the highly competitive Don Didcoct Amateur Shooting Dog Classic held by the CVGDA.
As a puppy, Northwoods Fallset Hope (CH True Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2021), on right, owned and handled by Mark Fouts, placed third in a huge open derby stake.
Northwoods Fallset Hope (CH True Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2021) is a pointer female owned and handled by Mark Fouts. She placed third in the gigantic, 28-dog open derby stake at the Moose River Grouse Dog Club spring trial held near Moose Junction, Wis. Very impressive for a 15-month-old pup!
Tony Misura handled his Northwoods Thunderstorm (Northwoods Grits x Houston’s Nelly Bly, 2020) to second place in the 14-dog open derby at Four Brooks. This was the first field trial for both Tony and Thunderstorm. Again, very impressive!
NORTHWOODS CHARDONNAY PRODUCED BIG-TIME WINNERS
Northwoods Chardonnay (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2009)
Northwoods Chardonnay (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2009) was co-bred and basically co-owned by Paul Hauge, Betsy and me throughout her life. She had the basics of a winner—big race, strong bird-finding, natural staunchness and composure around game. But she excelled in many of the finer aspects of field trial competetion. Her long, strong, graceful stride produced a style in motion that was both exuberant and exciting and her loftiness on point was breathtaking.
Chardonnay placed in every grouse trial we entered her in and won the Minnesota/Wisconsin Derby of the Year award in 2011. After her derby year, we retired her from competition.
In a feat perhaps never accomplished before, Chardonnay produced two Elwin G. Smith English Setter Shooting Dog award winners. This award is bestowed on the nation’s winningest English setter in open shooting dog horseback field trials.
CH Northwoods Charles (CH Ridge Creek Cody x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2013), owned and handled by Bill Owen, won the 2020-2021 award.
CH Erin’s Three Leaf Shamrock (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2015), on left, owned by S. Tucker Johnson and handled by Tracy Swearington, won the Southeastern Open Shooting Dog Championship.
CH Erin’s Three Leaf Shamrock (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2015) is owned by S. Tucker Johnson and handled by Tracy Swearington. Shamrock is the recipient of this year’s Elwin G. Smith award. He also won the prestigious Southeastern Open Shooting Dog Championship, a wild quail trial held on the Senah Plantation near Albany, Ga.
A Chardonnay granddaughter, Mauck’s Wyeast Owyhee Dalee, owned and handled by Alex Mauck, recently won runner-up in three all age horseback championships, including the California Quail Championship. Dalee’s dam, Hidden Jasmine, is by CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Chardonnay.
Mauck’s Wyeast Owyhee Dalee, on right, is owned and handled by Alex Mauck. She won runner-up in the California Quail Championship.
OTHER WINNERS
Others with Northwoods dogs in their pedigree but not bred by Betsy and me also had impressive wins. Pointer derbies sired by JTH Cooper (CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen, 2016), owned by Jeff Hintz, swept all three placements in the 19-dog CVGDA Open Derby stake.
Meredith Grade Katie, winner of the Thomas Flanagan Setter Award for the top Cover Dog derby in the nation, is out of I’m Blue Sky (Northwoods Grits x CH I’m Blue Gert, 2014). Katie is owned and handled by Mike SIngleton.
5X CH / 5X RU-CH Northwoods Charles (CH Ridge Creek Cody x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2013)
5X Champion / 5X Runner-up Champion Northwoods Charles is the recipient of the 2020-2021 Elwin G. Smith English Setter Shooting Dog Award. This accolade is bestowed on the nation’s winningest English setter in open shooting dog horseback field trials, based on wins during the previous trial season.
Charles, call name Charlie, is owned by Bill Owen of Santa Barbara, Calif. As an amateur, it’s even more impressive that Bill won this award handling Charlie in open stakes.
Charlie was whelped in 2013 by CH Ridge Creek Cody x Northwoods Chardonnay. Cody (CH Can’t Go Wrong x CH Houston’s Belle, 2008), a famous dog in his own right, was co-bred by Paul Hauge and Northwoods Bird Dogs and is likely the most prominent sire of winning setters of the past 20 years. Chardonnay was a blue hen producer of many field trial winners and top-flight hunting dogs.
Charlie’s field trial achievements exhibit his versatility; he has won on the West coast, on the Canadian prairies and in the piney woods of the southeast. He has won on several species of wild, released and planted game birds.
On a training run in Saskatchewan, Northwoods Charles is backed by Northwoods Rolls Royce (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2013).
This award is one of the annual English Setter Fund Awards. They were created to promote the breeding and campaigning of English setters in All Age, Shooting Dog and Cover Dog categories. There are also awards for Derby-aged dogs in each category. Each award is named after a prominent setter devotee of the past.
This is the fourth time a Northwoods-bred setter has been honored. Betsy and I won the 2002 Michael Seminatore Cover Dog Award with our 4X CH / 4X RU-CH Blue Streak. Cody won twice: the 2009 Bill Conlin Derby Award and, in 2012, the Elwin G. Smith Award, the same award as Charlie.
Like fine wine, English setters tend to get better with age. Just-turned-eight, Charlie should have many more wins in his future.
Northwoods Atlas (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Nickel, 2017), on right, is posed by his owner Greg Johnson after Atlas’ third place finish in the Don Didcoct Amateur Classic held near Augusta, Wis.
What a successful spring it has been for our clients who compete in field trials with their dauntless dogs! Whether handled from horseback or foot, whether campaigned on released or wild birds and no matter the geography, dogs from our kennel garnered ribbons and trophies.
Congratulations to all! We’re very proud of you and your dogs.
MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN/MICHIGAN Three must be Greg Johnson’s lucky number. His dog, three-year-old Northwoods Atlas (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Nickel, 2017), placed in three shooting dog stakes on three different grounds. • 2nd — Minnesota Grouse Dog Association (MGDA) Open Shooting Dog held near Mora, Minn. • 3rd — Don Didcoct Amateur Classic held near Augusta, Wis. • 3rd — Moose River Grouse Dog Club Open Shooting Dog held near Moose Junction, Wis.
Two Northwoods’ dogs are in the money after the April 2 MGDA derby stake. First place (blue ribbon) was won by Northwoods Sigurd Olson (Northwoods Rob Roy x Northwoods Minerva, 2019), owned and handled by Chris Bye of Wisconsin. Northwoods Gale (Northwoods Grits X Northwoods Minerva, 2020), owned by Northwoods Bird Dogs and handled by Jerry, placed second (red ribbon).
Derby Northwoods Sigurd Olson (Northwoods Rob Roy x Northwoods Minerva, 2019), owned and handled by Chris Bye, also had a tremendous spring. Sig placed in three of his starts. • 1st — Chippewa Valley Grouse Dog Associations Open Derby held near Augusta, Wis. • 1st — MGDA April 2 Open Derby • 2nd — MGDA April 16 Open Derby
Sig narrowly missed winning the MN/WI Cover Dog Derby of the Year Award, losing by only three points to Bill Frahm’s worthy setter.
Other Northwoods-bred dogs placed in the spring MGDA trials, including two in the Open Shooting Dog stake. • 2nd — Sadie (CH Ridge Creek Cody X Northwoods Chardonnay, 2013), owned and handled by Ryan Bjerke. • 3rd — The Highway (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus X Northwoods Carly Simon, 2018), owned and handled by Dave Moore.
And two derbies placed in their stakes. • 1st — Lily (Northwoods Rob Roy X Northwoods Minerva, 2019), owned and handled by Jordon Pharris, in the April 16 stake. • 2nd — Northwoods Gale (Northwoods Grits X Northwoods Minerva, 2020) owned by Northwoods Bird Dogs and handled by me, in the April 2 stake.
Jade (CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen, 2015) isn’t campaigned often because it cuts into owner Frank Ilijanic’s hunting time. But when she is entered in a trial, she is extremely competitive, including this second place in the Michigan Hunting Dog trial.
Meanwhile, in Michigan, a special female pointer named Jade (CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen, 2015), owned and handled by Frank Ilijanic, won second place in the Michigan Hunting Dog stake held near Gladwin, Mich.
SOUTHEAST Northwoods Sir Gordon (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2017), owned by Ben McKean, placed in two one-hour shooting dogs stakes. Gordy placed second in the Columbia County Field Trial Club stake held near Lake City, Fla., and earned third at the Mill Pond Field Trial Club held on the Burnt Branch Plantation near Ochlocknee, Ga. Gordy was handled from horseback by professional Tommy Rice Jr. to both of those wins. In the pointer-dominated southern circuit, the wins are especially impressive for a setter.
Flanked by pointers, Northwoods Sir Gordon (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2017), was handled by pro Tommy Rice Jr. to second place in the Columbia County Field Trial Club stake held near Lake City, Fla. Gordy is owned by Ben McKean of Minnesota.
NORTH DAKOTA Back near his home in Minnesota, Northwoods Sir Gordon won third place in the Northwest Field Open Shooting Dog trial held near Hankinson, N.D. In this stake, Gordy’s owner Ben McKean, handled off horseback. Four-year-old Gordy is well traveled—he’s now placed in field trials in Wisconsin, North Dakota, Georgia and Florida.
Northwoods Sir Gordon, on left, won third place in the Northwest Field Open Shooting Dog trial held near Hankinson, N.D. Gordy was handled by his owner, Ben McKean, in this trial.
WEST COAST Tian Elhew Verbena (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2013) won runner-up champion In the Pacific Coast All Age Championship (a horseback trial) held near Waupin, Ore. Verbena is owned by Angela and Tim Schillereff of Suave Island Kennel near Portland, Ore., and handled by Tim. This wasn’t Verbena’s first win in a titular stake. She’s been named champion or runner-up in several western shooting dog championships, including the top spot at the American Pointer Club National Amateur Championship.
Northwoods Charles (CH Ridge Creek Cody x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2013), owned and handled by Bill Owen of Santa Barbara, Calif., added to his illustrious career by winning the West Coast Open Shooting Dog Championship (a horseback trial) held near Valley Springs, Calif. Charles is a now a5X champion and 5X runner-up champion (!!), in addition to eight other field trial wins.
Tian Elhew Verbena (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2013), on right, won runner-up champion In the Pacific Coast All Age Championship held near Waupin, Ore. Verbena is owned by Angela and Tim Schillereff.
Twenty-month-old Northwoods Cedar (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2019) poses, head high, with her blue ribbon and the Reuel Henry Pietz Derby Classic trophy.
What an extraordinary wave of firsts.
First-time competitor Lindsey Saetre handled Northwoods Cedar, her first pointing dog, in Cedar’s first field trial to a first-place finish in the Reuel Henry Pietz Derby Classic held by the Minnesota Grouse Dog Association.
Cedar was whelped in 2019 out of Northwoods Carly Simon by RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus. Cedar is owned by Lindsey and her husband, Eric, of Minnesota.
And out west, Northwoods Charles (CH Ridge Creek Cody x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2013) continues his amazing string of championships and placements. Charlie won the Northwest Chukar Open Shooting Dog Championship. He placed second in the CanAm Open Shooting Dog Classic. Charlie is owned by Bill Owen of California.
Congratulations to Cedar and Lindsey…and to Charlie and Bill!
Northwoods Charles (CH Ridge Creek Cody x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2013), owned and handled by Bill Owen, won the Northwest Chukar Open Shooting Dog Championship.
The only setter among the winners, Northwoods Charles (CH Ridge Creek Cody x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2013), placed second in the CanAm Open Shooting Dog Classic. Charlie is owned and handled by Bill Owen.
At the summer trial held by the Minnesota Grouse Dog Association, Jerry, with the blue ribbon, poses winner Northwoods Comet (CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen, 2018). Standing in the back row are judges Rod Lein, on left, and Ryan Hough.
Northwoods Setter Tech Ringo, owned and handled by Jeff Forsberg of Loretto, Minn., won the 2020 Minnesota/Wisconsin Cover Dog Derby of the Year award and Amateur Cover Dog Derby Award.
Because spring field trials were cancelled, all Ringo’s winning performances happened last fall when he placed in every derby stake he entered. And in all but one, he had steady to wing and shot work on wild birds. Ringo is out of a litter Betsy and I bred in 2018—CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Nickel.
Jeff and I worked dogs in the woods together this spring and I can verify that Ringo is a focused wild bird finder. Jeff’s work in the field developing and training Ringo definitely paid off I’m sure there will be more wins in his future.
Jeff takes home a beautiful trophy that’s been traveling from winner to winner in the 26 years since the inception of the Derby of the Year award. We’re proud to note that Northwoods dogs are well represented on the plaques mounted on the trophy’s base. Betsy and I have bred, sired or handled nine winners and four runner-up winners.
Congratulations to Jeff and Ringo.
On June 20, the Minnesota Grouse Dog Association held its summer trial on the grounds at Four Brooks, near Milaca, Minn. Betsy and I were thrilled that our young pointer female, Northwoods Comet, won first place in the Open Derby stake. This was a one course trial with planted quail.
Comet was in the last brace—a tough draw in early afternoon—but she ran a strong, forward race, handled perfectly, backed her bracemate and, with two minutes left, pointed a single quail and remained steady at the shot.
Comet is out of CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen.
The first place win for Northwoods Rolls Royce (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Chocie, 2013) garnered lots of hardware for Jerry and Royce’s owner, Bob Senkler.
After the close of the Florida bobwhite quail hunting season, the Georgia-Florida Field Trial Club gathers for its annual trial. This year, the trial was held March 7 on the Aucilla Plantation near Thomasville, Ga.
The club is comprised of dog trainers, handlers and scouts, many of whom work for the 100+ private plantations in southwestern Georgia and northern Florida. The trial is open only for dogs used on plantation hunts.
The 2020 Georgia-Florida Hunting Dog Invitational Field Trial attracts a big gallery to watch the 24 dogs in competition. Photo by Hope Doolittle.
Three placements are awarded. Winners must be steady to wing and shot but otherwise are no different than the kind of dog our foot-hunting clients would love to own.
Pointers are the dominant dog—by far—used on plantations. This year, only two of the 24 dogs entered were English setters. Jerry, of course, ran a setter. He chose Northwoods Rolls Royce, a handsome seven-year-old, tricolor son out of a favorite nick of ours, Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice. Royce is well conformed and even tempered and he always finds birds—lots of birds. Royce is owned by Bob Senkler of Florida.
Jerry flushes on one of Royce’s four covey finds. Photo by Hope Doolittle.
Royce ran in the first brace after lunch, not a coveted draw anytime but especially in a wild bird trial. He was outstanding! He pointed four coveys with perfect style and manners, handled like a dream and always showed to the front.
Congratulations to Royce and Bob!
Jerry and Royce, on left, pose with the second and third place dogs, their handlers, the judges and some members of the Georgia-Florida Field Trial Club. Photo by Hope Doolittle.
Reuel Pietz Derby Classic winners. From left: Steve Snyder with his dog; Dave Moore with The Highway (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2018), Jeff Forsberg with Northwoods Setter Tech Ringo (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Nickel, 2018).
Fall is the season when our clients are usually busy hunting their dogs. Some, though, were competing in—and winning—field trials around the country.
In late September, the North Country Shooting Dog Championship was run on native sharp-tailed grouse at the Namekagon Barrens near Danbury, Wisc. Two litter brothers won the top placements at the accompanying Open Derby stake. Northwoods Istanbul (Bull) ran a smooth, forward race with an adept relocation on a running grouse to earn first. Northwoods Setter Tech Ringo pointed a big covey to claim second. Both had excellent manners and were steady to wing and shot. I handled Bull and owner Jeff Forsberg handled Ringo. They are out of Northwoods Nickel by CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock.
Northwoods Istanbul (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Nickel, 2018)
That placement started a roll for Jeff and Ringo. In early October, Ringo placed second in the companion open derby stake to the Wisconsin Cover Dog Championship held near Stanley, Wisc. A week later at the Minnesota Grouse Dog Association fall trials outside Mora, Minn, Ringo won the Reuel Pietz Derby Classic with a pointed woodcock, again displaying steady to wing and shot manners.
Second place in that same Reuel Pietz Derby Classic was another setter male, The Highway. Owned and handled by Dave Moore, Highway is out of RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus and Northwoods Carly Simon, one of our most consistent crosses.
Northwoods Charles (CH Ridge Creek Cody x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2013)
In the piney woods of Alabama, Northwoods Charles placed third in the Conecuh Station Field Trial Club Amateur Shooting Dog stake for his owner and handler Bill Owen. Charles also placed third in the Burnt Branch Amateur Shooting Dog stake. Charles and Bill are well traveled. They’ve competed and placed in field trials in Saskatchewan, several western states, Alabama and Georgia. Charles is out of Northwoods Chardonnay by CH Ridge Creek Cody.
In other parts of the country, a setter and pointer—both with grandparents that were bred by us—placed in futurity stakes. Erin’s Big Casino won fourth place in both the National Shooting Dog Futurity held near Bloomingdale, Ohio, and in the New England Futurity held near Windsor, Conn. Casino’s sire, CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock, the same sire as Bull and Ringo. Shamrock’s sire is CH Ridge Creek Cody who was co-bred by Paul Hauge and Betsy and me.
Casino’s dam, Three Stripes Livewire, is by RU-CH Northwoods Nirvana. Nirvana is from the heart of our breeding program. His dam was Northwoods Chardonnay and his sire was CH Houston’s Blackjack, a littermate to CH Ridge Creek Cody.
In the North American Woodcock Futurity held in mid September near McAdam, New Brunswick, pointer male Wynot Pete won third place. Pete’s dam is Northwoods Maddie, out of our 2015 CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen litter.
For an owner and handler, it takes a significantly greater amount of knowledge and effort to prepare a dog for field trial competition. To be successful at the highest levels, it also takes a dog with inherent ability.
Good luck to owners and dogs in all future competitions.
Conecuh Station Field Trial Club Amateur Shooting Dog winners. On right, Bill Owen with Northwoods Charles (CH Ridge Creek Cody x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2013).
2019 Western Open Shooting Dog Championship winners are (from left) Tim Schillereff and his wife Angela with pointer Tian Elhew Verbena, Bill Owen (in tan shirt) and his setter Northwoods Charles.
How extraordinary!
Whether it’s ever happened before or not doesn’t really matter. It’s extraordinary. Both the winner and runner up of the 2019 Western Open Shooting Dog Championship were bred by Betsy and me—and one was a pointer and the other a setter!
The trial, held in mid April in Reno, Nev., attracted 15 pointers and eight setters. The dogs were handled from horseback and run on native birds with additional liberated chukars.
Tian Elhew Verbena, owned by Tim and Angela Schillereff of Suave Island Kennels near Portland, Ore., and handled by Tim, was named champion. Runner-up champion was Northwoods Charles, owned and handled by Bill Owen of Santa Barbara, Cal.
Both dogs were whelped in 2013 and sold as eight-week-old puppies. Verbena is out of our first breeding of CH Elhew G Force to Northwoods Vixen. We chose another champion, CH Ridge Creek Cody, to pair with Northwoods Chardonnay. Both dogs have also won prestigious placements in other field trials.
Genetics play a part of course, but it also takes a lot of time, effort and expense to develop a dog into a top notch field trial competitor. Congratulation to Tim, Angela, Bill and their dogs!
Winners of the Red Hills Invitational (from left to right) are Trey Mills, Devon Harden and Jerry, who poses with first-place dog Northwoods Sir Gordon. In the back, Jason Loper, dog trainer at Osceola Plantation and host of the trial, stands with judges Ricky Furney and Gary Futch.
It’s probably safe to say that the highest density of bird dog trainers and handlers in the world are within 75 miles of Thomasville, Ga. Even more exclusive is the Red Hills region between Thomasville and Tallahassee, Fla., where more than 50 private wild quail plantations are located. Each plantation employs at least one professional dog trainer.
All take their bird dogs seriously. Down here, it’s not a hobby. It’s how they make a living.
The quail hunting season is long and usually frenetic for trainers. But one week after the season closes, they gather to compete at the Red Hills Invitational field trial. This is an old-fashioned, bird dog throw-down that’s not sanctioned by any governing body. It’s exclusive, too, in that each trainer can enter just one dog. From among their strings of dogs—numbering from 12 to 40 or more— they choose their best dog to compete. A generous purse is awarded to the winners, but most important is bragging rights.
Thirty-two trainers competed in the trial this year. The dogs are run from horseback and are required to be steady to wing and shot. Preference is for a dog to handle without a lot of scouting assistance, typically in the 100- to 200-yard range.
Osceola Plantation, a large plantation located southeast of Thomasville, hosts the trial every year. Their beautiful land, rich with wild bobwhites, is an ideal venue. There were many outstanding dogs competing in the stake, including the winners of the recent Plantation Owners trial, as well as past winners.
Spring bobwhite quail can be a challenge for a bird dog. These are not the same birds that sat for point in early December. They have been hunted hard all winter, not only by people on horseback but also by predators. The vegetation in spring is probably at its thinnest, making birds more nervous. Quail that have survived are canny and know every inch of their territory.
I rank the quality of the stake on the caliber of judges—and this one was stellar with Ricky Furney and Gary Futch. Ricky is a seasoned professional handler on the all age circuit. He has numerous championships to his credit including the National Championship. Ricky handled Hall-of-Fame CH Law’s High Noon for co-owner Gary. Gary, president of the Georgia Field Trial Association, is an experienced dog man who has judged many major stakes.
Northwoods Sir Gordon (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2017), owned by Ben McKean of Minnetrista, Minn.
From our kennel, I chose to run Northwoods Sir Gordon (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2017), owned by Ben McKean of Minnetrista, Minn. Gordy ran late on the first day under bluebird conditions with temperatures in the upper 50s. He pointed three coveys—all perfectly located—in his 30 minutes. For a little frosting on his performance, Gordy had a find just seconds after time was called to end the brace. His hunting effort was strong and all his finds were dead ahead on course.
With that fine showing, Gordy won first place.
Devon Harden, dog trainer at Norias Plantation, placed second. His pointer John had three coveys in the last brace of the first day. Third place went to Trey Mills from Mayhaw Plantation with his pointer Queen. She pointed two coveys during the second morning of the trial.
At 27 months of age, Gordy is an exceptional young dog. His instincts around game are among the best I’ve seen. As a puppy last winter, he found hundreds of birds and would hold point until I flushed. He is already one of the finest bird-finders we’ve ever bred.
