The posture of Chet (May’s Pond Hank x Northwoods Stardust, 2024) on this staunch point is impressive, especially for a six-month-old puppy.
“There comes a time when it is absolutely necessary for the breaker to go afield with his dog and do nothing but let the dog develop.” ~ C. B. Whitford, Training The Bird Dog, 1908
The key word in the quote is develop. This isn’t the time to train the dog. It’s the time to let the dog learn without interference from the handler.
Further, it’s a time specifically for a young dog. Betsy and I believe this time is crucial for a young dog to figure out its purpose, to learn from the birds, to let it make mistakes around game and to get excited about hunting and finding birds.
Rudy (CH Southern Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2023) chases a big covey of Hungarian partridge.
In addition to developing them, though, it’s a perfect time to evaluate a young dog in all sorts of ways—from seeing how it runs the country and uses its nose, how it acts when game is scented, whether it is bold or cautious. Also, it’s time to observe gait, carriage and the dog’s ability to orient to the handler.
All of that was the focus of my trip to Montana. The eight young dogs in my string ranged in age from five to 20 months. In the trailer also were Comet and Robin, two experienced bird dogs.
The dogs gained knowledge and experience and we all had a blast.
Cupid (CH Southern Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2023) backs her dam, Comet (HOF CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen, 2018).
Robin (Northwoods Rolls Royce x Northwoods Minerva, 2021), on left, and her daughter, Dilly (CH Woodville’s Yukon Cornelius x Northwoods Redbreast, 2024) share point on sharptails in front of a thornapple thicket.
The views are spectacular! Rudy (CH Southern Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2023) backs Robin (Northwoods Rolls Royce x Northwoods Minerva, 2021).
Foxy (May’s Pond Hank x Northwoods Stardust, 2024) and her littermate, Chet, made the trip. Foxy had a nice find and point on huns.
In pretty late afternoon light, two five-month-old littermates out of CH Miller’s Upgraded Version x Northwoods Comet stand on a find. Tyler, owned by Josh Matel, is backed by our puppy, Dahlia.
Ten-month-old Cupid shows beautiful, high-headed style when she accurately points a covey on a chopper trail at the edge of a block.
After spending two brutal winters in Minnesota, Betsy and I decided to go back to the bobwhite quail plantations of the Red Hills region of the Southeast. We missed not only the mild weather but the training opportunities on wild birds and the friendships we had formed at several of the plantations.
So in mid-November, we made lists and packed up everything we’d need for five months. Besides 16 dogs of various ages (12 years to seven months) and two crates of pigeons, the lists included training equipment, office files and supplies, books, clothes and boots. Some 1,500 miles later, we landed at our home for the winter, Meander Plantation in Monticello, Fla.
*****
When it comes to finding and pointing birds on the wild bobwhite plantations of southwestern Georgia/northern Florida, it’s not about the dog’s range but rather how thoroughly it hunts the ground. This is in stark contrast to most suppositions about big running quail dogs.
Backing—or honoring another dog on point—can be confusing. It sure looks like Sweep (in front on the chopper trail) was first to the birds with the others backing. But Sweep pointed where the birds had been while Cupid (in center) had the birds accurately pointed. Either way, Queen had a nice back.
The key is the maintenance of these many-thousand-acre plantations. They are meticulously groomed in a checkerboard pattern with six-foot-wide mowed strips separating 24’ x 24’ blocks of quail cover. These blocks hold quail, often at mind-boggling densities of eight coveys per hour.
But when the conditions are tough or the birds aren’t moving, the coveys can be extremely difficult for a dog to find; and this is precisely when experienced grouse dogs shine. These dogs hunt every step and exhibit a naturally forward, quartering pattern. They hunt the blocks of cover at the ideal range of about 100 yards on either side of the hunting course.
All are ready and waiting for Jerry at the breakaway: Lyon, on left, Stardust and Strut, Jerry’s horse.
The winter was ideal for working dogs—and not only because the temperatures were the coolest we’d experienced in 10 years. Our puppies learned how to find and point bobwhites early in the season when the birds were more plentiful and less spooky. They had gained proficiency by January and February when the birds started to run or flush wild.
With both our own and client-owned seasoned dogs, we had one of our strongest hunting/guiding strings. No matter which plantation we hunted, our dogs regularly pointed as many birds as the plantation dogs and frequently out-birded the best of their kennel.
At eight years of age, Hercules has found and pointed many wild birds—both in quail country and in his home state of Montana. His polish, stance and confidence are stunning.
Our string, in mostly alphabetical order, included the following dogs. Charlotte Bronte (Northwoods Louis Vuitton x Houston’s Dancing Queen, 2022) Comet (HOF CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen, 2018) Confidante (HOF CH True Confidence x Red Sunshine) Della (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Nickel, 2018) Dixie (CH Shadow Oak Bo x Northwoods Carbon, 2016) Dublin (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Nickel, 2018) Four Roses (CH Rufus Del Fuego x Northwoods Valencia, 2021) Hercules, Madrid and Stardust (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2016, 2018, 2019) Lyon (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Minerva, 2018) Penny (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen 2013) Rolls Royce (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2013)
It’s not only fun to gang run puppies, but it’s a good training tool as they learn from each other. From left: Queen, Molly and Cupid.
For part of the season, three owners sent their puppies from last year’s breeding of 2X RU-CH Northwoods Atlas x Houston’s Nelly Bly. Layla, Molly and Tinkerbell joined Queen, the female we kept, and those four had a ball together. They were fun to train, fun to run and gratifying to watch mature.
With countless bird contacts, young Eddie matured from a puppy into an outstanding derby over the winter.
Also joining us for training sessions were several very nice young dogs. Eddie (CH Northwoods Sir Gordon x Northwoods Valencia, 2023) Enni (CH Snyder’s Pioneer Scout x Northwoods Cedar, 2022) Flirt and Hope (HOF CH True Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2021)
Rounding out our southern kennel were several puppies that Betsy and I own. Boots (2X RU-CH Northwoods Atlas x Northwoods Stardust, 2023) Bunny (CH Ponderosa Mac x Northwoods Redbreast, 2022) Cupid and Rudy (CH Southern Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2023) Sweep (CH Northwoods Sir Gordon x Northwoods Valencia, 2023)
Birds other than bobwhites are prevalent in the region and exciting to see. We regularly had eight pairs of cardinals at our feeder.
Littermates Queen, Molly and Tinkerbell (RU-CH Northwoods Atlas x Houston’s Nelly Bly)
Our current group of puppies love the snow. From left, Rose (Rufus Del Fuego x Northwoods Valencia, 2021) and littermates Mac and Van (Northwoods Sir Gordon x Houston’s Nelly Bly, 2021) soak up the sun on top of a dog house in the exercise pen.
This winter of 2021/2022 is the first Jerry and I have spent at our home base in Minnesota in 15 years. Stints in Texas, Oklahoma and Tennessee preceded Thomasville, Georgia, a place we called home for nine winters.
It’s been “interesting,” as we say in Minnesota. Seemingly endless shoveling of kennel runs and clearing of driveways and sidewalks is losing its charm. The adult dogs seem bored. Playing in a fenced-in area—no matter how big—doesn’t compare to hunting wild bobwhites.
But our three puppies from late fall litters are tigers in the cold weather…and 15” of snow doesn’t faze them at all. They run around on paths Jerry has cleared, climb up on snowbanks and play tug-of-war with ropes.
It’s now March and we can sense the downhill slide of winter. The angle of the sun—much higher in the sky—is starting to generate real warmth. Too, we’ve gained more than two hours of daylight since the winter solstice.
On sunny days now, snow drips off roofs and driveways reappear. In the woods, chickadees begin their spring “fee bee” song. And for dogs and humans alike, enticing scents arise from the previously frozen landscape.
The dog houses in the exercise pens look like igloos.
Mac (Northwoods Sir Gordon x Houston’s Nelly Bly, 2021) aces his training of the Up command. Other commands Jerry is teaching our three puppies include Place, Sit, Kennel and Down.
Native Americans named the full moons to help track the passing of time. Different tribes had different names but one for February seems especially suitable: The Snow Moon.
In the evenings, we stoke up the wood stove, pour an adult beverage or two and hang around with bird dogs.
Against the quintessential backdrop of longleaf pines and live oaks on a Georgia plantation, half siblings Northwoods Istanbul (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Nickel, 2018), on left, and Della (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Nickel, 2019) await the whistle.
Well, it’s been a while since we’ve posted here. We’re sorry about the inconsistency but rather a lot has been going on.
Big considerations that most of us are no doubt weary of—things like the pandemic, political hubbub, civil unrest, important international issues —take their toll and time. But with vaccinations and the arrival of spring, we’re happy and hopeful for the year ahead.
So far in 2021, we’ve bred three dams and three litters have whelped. While the numbers of puppies have been disappointingly low, we’re grateful for their health and thrilled with every single puppy.
• CH True Confidence x Northwoods Comet: Confidence is nationally renowned as a stellar performer with a wonderful temperament. Comet continues our decades-long line of favorite pointers. She has it all—build, brains, personality and talent.
• Northwoods Rolls Royce x Northwoods Minerva: Royce is a son of Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, one of our best setter pairings. This was Minerva’s fourth litter—a testament to how much we think of her.
• Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Stardust: Grits is now 10 years old and for much of his life, he was a premier producer of who he is—an outstanding grouse dog with an off switch for the house. Stardust is a first-time dam but so worthy.
On a warm morning, Northwoods Valencia (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Carbon, 2018) points a covey. Strut, the Tennessee Walking Horse Jerry rides, ground ties.
This winter was our ninth in the Thomasville, Georgia, area where we feel quite at home. We’ve made many friends and do our bit for the local economy in the town’s shops, restaurants, vet clinic, library and YMCA. Thomasville is the center of the historical tradition of hunting bobwhite quail on plantations under majestic longleaf pines. We live on a 600-acre (small) plantation but the dogs are trained on a 6,000-acre (mid-size) plantation of plentiful wild birds.
Our Georgia training began in December and wrapped up in March. We brought 21 dogs with us but others joined from Colorado, Idaho, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Illinois. It was go-go-go for six days each week but we felt fortunate to develop such a talented group of dogs. Puppies from our 2020 litters gained invaluable experience on wild birds where their natural pointing and backing instincts blossomed. Veterans Vixen, Grits, Royce, Valencia and Stardust excelled on the temperate grounds where they did what they always do—find and point wild birds.
It’s fun to work four puppies at a time but when all are littermates, it’s exhilarating. Four-month-old puppies out of the 2020 Northwoods Rolls Royce x Northwoods Valencia breeding stop on a chopper trail. In front, Jet points into the cover while siblings, clockwise from left, Strike, Dewey and Earl back.
We’re now happily settled back into our home and kennel in Minnesota and looking forward to two summer training sessions. It’s always exciting to see our clients and to see the young dogs they purchased from us. In addition, we’re planning more setter litters.
As always, we’re grateful for the loyalty of our clients to our enterprise and for the hunting opportunities and devotion they give their dogs.
For a glimpse of the experience of working pointing dogs on a quail plantation, here’s the view from horseback. Black-and-white male Northwoods Hercules (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2016) and Patty hunt the course.
Found pointing on a chopper trail, Northwoods Rolls Royce (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2013) shows poise and confidence after the covey wings its way towards the woods.
One aspect of developing puppies on wild game is allowing them to determine the exact location of the birds. They can only learn how close is too close by bumping birds. Northwoods Gale (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Minerva, 2020), in front, boldly follows her nose while Northwoods Lightning (Northwoods Rolls Royce x Northwoods Valencia, 2020) backs.
We plan to update this blog site about every two weeks with a variety of posts and photographs. We look forward to staying in touch!
A quintessential sight on a wild bobwhite quail plantation. Northwoods Minerva (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2017) points into a chopper block under towering longleaf pines.
It’s hard for us to believe but this is the eighth winter Betsy and I have lived and worked in southwestern Georgia. The adage is correct. Time flies.
The reason we’re here is simple—bobwhite quail. This Red Hills region is unique. There are about 300,000 mostly contiguous acres managed by about 100 private plantations devoted to bobwhite quail.
We’re fortunate to train on one of the finest of these plantations near Monticello, Fla. The manager and his crew work year-round to maintain high quality habitat that consistently produces an abundance of wild quail.
Each morning, I load up the day’s dogs and my horse (this Tennessee Walker is named Snort) into the trailer and head out onto the plantation. I park in a central spot and work several braces from there. Northwoods Valencia (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Carbon, 2018), on left, and Northwoods Minerva (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2017) are whoa-ed at the breakaway and awaiting my whistle to be released.
I spend the majority of my days out on the plantation, working from horseback and training dogs in braces. When a dog points and a covey of 12, 16, or more flushes within a few feet of the dog and me, the rush is intense and incredible. And I never, ever tire of it.
I also condition derbies and adult dogs. This involves attaching heavy-duty iron bars to my four-wheeler and hooking up the dogs in pairs to each bar. The dogs love it.
Northwoods Vixen (CH Westfall’s Black Ice x Northwoods Prancer, 2011) and her daughter Northwoods Audi (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2013) are cool, calm and ready for roading.
In addition, I use homing pigeons brought from our coop in Minnesota to teach steadiness to young dogs.
Steadiness training is started when young dogs show an inclination to not move when pointing. I use an ecollar on the belly so the stimulation is different from other training. Houston’s Audrey is a quick learner.
Northwoods Sir Gordon (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2016), owned by Ben McKean, Minnesota.
To everything – turn, turn, turn There is a season – turn, turn, turn And a time to every purpose, under heaven ~Written by Pete Seger
Training at Northwoods Bird Dogs falls into distinct seasons. June and July are pigeon months when Jerry and Jeff Hintz, our friend, neighbor and training helper, work with young dogs. Using pigeons in bird bags and in electronically controlled release traps, they control and tailor training situations to match the individual needs of each dog.
Late July and early August heralds a transition to bobwhite quail. Jerry buys them as young birds, divides them into groups and places them in four, strategically spaced Johnny houses. He then develops the birds into wild-acting coveys which are perfect for training puppies.
Northwoods Rolls Royce (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2013), on left, and Northwoods Lyon (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Minerva, 2018), both owned by Bob Senkler, Florida.
The final focus is on wild birds. And for Jerry, that is the lure, too. There simply is no substitute for training on wild birds. Even though the work is more laborious and more strenuous, time devoted to wild bird training is crucial.
Northwoods Minerva (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2016), on left, and Northwoods Valencia (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Carbon, 2017).
Before the grand finale of work on ruffed grouse and woodcock, Jerry heads to western Wisconsin where unique grounds offer sharp-tailed grouse. He arises early to load the dog trailer with veterans and young dogs alike and gets to his first spot before the sun clears the horizon.
There’s almost always heavy dew. There can be fog and it usually warms up quickly. But the landscape is beautiful, the sunrises are breathtaking and the wild bird work is extremely gratifying.
Northwoods Rolls Royce (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2013), owned by Bob Senkler, Florida.
Northwoods Istanbul (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Nickel, 2018), on left, and Northwoods Sir Gordon (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2016), owned by Ben McKean, Minnesota.
Isn’t this pretty? On left, Northwoods Normanie (RU-CH Northwoods Nirvana x Northwoods Carbon, 2017), owned by Paul Hauge, and Northwoods Sir Gordon (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2017), owned by Ben McKean, point separate coveys on an early morning hunt in January.
Betsy and I just returned from another winter spent in the piney woods of southwestern Georgia and northern Florida. The area is home to the decades-long tradition of bobwhite quail hunting on beautiful native habitat.
What a fabulous season we had! The quail were plentiful and the dogs were outstanding–both young dogs and veterans alike.
It’s interesting to look back through photos and videos to see how things change. Foliage varies from autumnal colors to bare branches to spring green. The birds change, too. Young fall birds are generally exactly where dogs point while wily spring survivors either run or sit so tight you can hardly get them to flush.
When we arrived in Georgia in November, our youngest dog, Northwoods Lyon, was five months old. He left at 11 months of age–so he had hunted quail for almost half his life!
Here are highlights from the past season. I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!
Northwoods Fen (Northwoods Blue Ox x Northwoods Chablis, 2014), owned by Harrison O’Connor, points a covey in December.
On right, Northwoods Istanbul (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Nickel, 2018) shares point on a January covey with plantation pointer Pinehaven Dixie.
What a sight! In front, Northwoods Dublin (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Nickel, 2018), owned by Paul Hauge, points at the edge of a chopper trail. Three bracemates back: a Sunny Hill Plantation pointer, Northwoods Paris (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2018) and Northwoods Istanbul (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock Northwoods Nickel, 2018).
In a blocked area, Northwoods Paris (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus Northwoods Carly Simon, 2018) points a covey on a training run in March, after the season closed.
The piney woods are greening up when Northwoods Vienna (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock Northwoods Nickel, 2018) points late March birds.
Northwoods Lyon (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Minerva, 2018), owned by Bob Senkler, points a late spring single while two plantation pointers back.
Northwoods Geneva points an early January covey backed by Northwoods Istanbul (both by CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Nickel, 2018). Geneva has this covey stuck!
Northwoods Gucci (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2015) backed by 13-month-old Northwoods Valencia (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Carbon, 2018) relocate on a mid-March covey. Valencia is almost steady to wing and shot on wild quail.
Two-year-old Northwoods Sir Gordon (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2016) has this late February covey pointed right!
In late February, Northwoods Rolls Royce (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2013) worked this covey some distance before getting them to stick.
Northwoods Sir Gordon (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2016)
The month of August and into early September has always signified that it’s time to start training on wild birds. The foundation has been laid and reinforced during summer sessions and the dogs have been conditioned so they’re all in great shape.
It’s with pleasure that I get up early, load eight dogs into the trailer and arrive at the sharp-tailed grouse training grounds by sunrise.
In addition to taking photographs, I’ve captured some of the training runs on video. I always run the dogs in braces—usually pairing an older dog with a derby. For young dogs, I often run in groups of three or more.
The first video features our own Northwoods Carly Simon (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2011) and her 19-month-old son Northwoods Sir Gordon (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2016), owned by Ben McKean.
Northwoods Aphrodite (RU-CH Erin’s Three Leaf Shamrock x Southern Grace, 2016)
The next two videos star Northwoods Rolls Royce (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2013), owned by Bob Senkler, and 20-month-old Northwoods Aphrodite (RU-CH Erin’s Three Leaf Shamrock x Southern Grace, 2017), owned by Betsy and me.
Betsy and I are fortunate to train our dogs on a premier 6,000-acre plantation in north Florida. It is managed exclusively for wild bobwhite quail which provides exceptional training opportunities.
I have been taking videos of training sessions. Here are three.
Northwoods Nirvana (CH Houston’s Blackjack x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2011) has made the transition to plantation quail dog and does a great job. Here he is with Ridge Creek Pepper, owned by Larry Brutger.
One-year-old Northwoods Aphrodite (RU-CH Erin’s Three Leaf Shamrock x Southern Grace, 2017) is a young female we are excited about. Here she displays her natural staunchness and exceptional pointing posture.
Northwoods Sir Gordon (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2016), owned by Ben McKean, is an outstanding one-year-old male that makes finding and pointing wild quail look easy.
Louis Vuitton (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2015)
Nothing beats native sharp-tailed grouse for preparing a bird dog for the ruffed grouse season.
When the grouse woods are still lush with summer vegetation, sharptails provide a good training alternative. Our local population lives in native grasslands that are dotted with scrubby oaks and willows. The area is intensely managed with fire.
From a dog’s level, the terrain is similar to the woods. From my perspective, I get a good view of the action. These birds can be jumpy while at other times they’ll sit as tight as any woodcock. Sharptails are great for any age dog—whether to start young dogs or to polish older dogs.
Early mornings are often foggy and everything is drenched with dew. By mid morning, the sun can be hot enough to end the day’s training.
Here are some photos from my training runs this year. Enjoy!
Blitzen (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2016)
Rolls Royce (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2013)
Carbon (Blue Riptide x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2014)
Carly Simon (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2011)
Nickel (CH Shadow Oak Bo x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2014) honors Louis Vuitton (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2015).
