Result: National Prairie Chicken Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

Post Date: Dec 27, 2023

Submitted By: Ed Liermann

National Prairie Chicken Shooting Dog Championship Winners (l-r): Ed Liermann, Joe Hughes (judge), Allison Bell with B G K's Luke, Jarrett Bell, Scott Little (judge), Lisa Little, and Gary Wolf.

The cover was down, entries were up, and chickens were abundant for the successful running of the National Prairie Chicken Shooting Dog Championship on the Buena Vista Grasslands that started on September 24, 2023. Summer drought restricted growth, and parts of many of the courses were a little easier to traverse. We found birds on every course.
We welcomed a seasoned pair of judges for this year's running. traveling from down south Scott Little, accompanied by his lovely wife Lisa from Woodlawn, Tennessee, and Joe Hughes from Moulton, Alabama. Both men are well-traveled and bring a wealth of experience in handling dogs and judging championships.

The Winners
B G K's Luke, a white, orange, and ticked 5-year-old pointer male, emerged as the winner and new champion with a great forward race that covered a lot of country. He is owned and handled by Jarrett Bell of Troy, Missouri. He had a back at 6 and a back at 17. He had a nice find at 23 with all in order, and a second find at 39 where he was spotted forward standing high and tight. Several birds were flushed with all in order. Very nice! He had a stop to flush at 57 and finished the hour strong.

The runner-up was Confident Nation, a white, orange, and ticked 5-year-old male pointer owned and handled by Scott Jordan of Grant, Minnesota. He had a big far-reaching race with a nice find at 15 with all in order. He had an unproductive at 30 and a nice find at 40 with all in order and finished strong.

Temperatures were cooler than normal, with rain and gray skies throughout most days. Every field trial has a cadre of people who work tirelessly to make the trial work seamlessly. We appreciate the team effort that includes George and Anne Ihrke and Doug and Judy Reisner for helping out at road crossings throughout the day, along with dog wagon driver Gary Wolf. This is essential, especially on the blacktop roads we have to cross. Gary Wolf has been our dog wagon driver for more than 20 years and takes vacation days to help us out. Hard-boiled eggs at break time, especially after the first brace, is a trial tradition, thanks to Anne Ihrke and Judy Reisner for a steady supply for all to enjoy.

We value our partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and their 50-plus-year support of this event. Site manager Lesa Kardash continues a long-standing tradition of cooperation to facilitate this event. Special thanks to Lesa and other Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources personnel, including John Soergel, Joey Biebel, and Erin Grossman for helping when and where needed. Our list of guests and dignitaries included Andy Lewandowski from the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources officials that included Diane Brusoe, Administrator-Division Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and Alissa Kakatsch, Assistant Turkey and Pheasant Ecologist, Bureau of Wildlife management for spending the day with us.

Entries were up, and we had a great group of trialers from around the country that included John Mathys, Frank LaNasa, Doug Ray, Scott Jordan, Doug and Judy Reisner, George and Anne Ihrke, Dennis Lutynski, Chad Chadwell and Nancy Browne, Mark Johnson, Sean Patrick Derrig, Jarret and Allison Belle, Tom Hennes and your scribe Ed Liermann.
Purina has been a sponsor of this event for years. Thanks to Purina, Greg Blair, and Terry Tryzinski; we are grateful for their support. SportDOG is another big supporter of this trial, and we thank Jim Morehouse and SportDOG for their continued support.
After the completion of the Amateur Championship, it is a trial tradition to swap morning and afternoon courses for the Open Championship. This year, we were not able to do this as we started on Sunday afternoon.

THE RUNNING
CS Four Seasons (Ray) and Erin's Southern Comfort (Derrig). Both dogs fast and forward. Four Seasons ran a nice forward, consistent shooting dog race but didn't have a bird. Southern Comfort had a nice find at 22, with birds leaving as judge arrived with all in order. He disappeared at 50 and didn't return to judgment.

Miller's Promotional Upgrade (Ray) and Pearl Jam Nation (Jordan). Upgrade started out with a nice race and had a back at 24 and then at 34; with birds in the air and both dogs in the same vicinity, handler elected to pick up. Pearl Jam started out with a nice ground race showing in all the right places, and with birds in the air, handler also elected to pick up at 34.

Walden's Ridge Slap Shot (Ray) and Erin's Country Rebel (Derrig). Slapshot ran a beautiful, snappy race with a strong finish but didn't have a bird. Country Rebel ran a big, far-reaching race throughout the hour and finished strong to the front without birds.

Northern Confidence (LaNasa) and Skydancer Silver Spur (Lutynski). Northern Confidence ran a nice forward race, was gone a bit, and picked up at 58, not pleasing handler. Silver Spur had a breach of manners at 20 and was picked up.

Erin's Tin Lizzie (Johnson) and Sugar Cane Express (Chadwell). Lizzie had an unproductive at 2. Moving on, she had a nice find at 15 with all in order. At 30, with birds in the air, she was moving and picked up. Sugar Cane had a nice find at 5 with all in order. He had a breach of manners at 50 and was picked up.

Luke's Gospel Reward (Hennes) and Cedar Creek Sixgun (Liermann). Gospel ran a nice race, had an unproductive at 7 and a nice find at 40 with all in order. Sixgun had a nice forward race, gone for a bit at 45, then had a find at 55 with all in order and finished going away.

Cole Fusion (Hennes) and Hard Truth (Ray). Fusion started out with a nice race with some big swings. He failed to stop on a big covey at 39 and was up. Hard Truth had a nice race with a stop to flush at 39 and a nice finish.

B G K's Luke (Bell) and Boumeester's Duramax. Luke's performance was mentioned earlier. Duramax had a nice forward race. He had skunk at 6. A nice find at 15 with all in order and was up at 30, not pleasing handler.

I'm Spartacus (Ray) and Saginaw Luke Skywalker (Johnson). Luke was scratched. Spartacus had a nice race throughout, with a find at 57, where he left with the bird and was up.

Erin's Tiebreaker (Ray) and Skydancer Triple Nickel (Lutynski). Tiebreaker made some big casts and had a nice find at 19 with all in order. Triple Nickel ran a forward race and had a nice find at 5.

Walden's Ridge Rain Storm (Ray) and Notorious Immortal (Mathys). Rainstorm hunted hard throughout the hour and had a back at 14. Immortal had a nice find at 14 with dog high and tight as birds left early. He had a nice forward race throughout.

Cottonwood Bud (Hennes) and Dakota Nation (Ray). Bud was picked up at 25, not pleasing handler. Dakota was picked up at 15, not pleasing handler.

Hatteras Rip Tide (Ray) and Confident Nation (Jordan). Rip Tide had a nice race but failed to back at 29 and was up. Confident Nation's performance was noted earlier.

Hatteras Sand Storm (Ray) and B G K's Lone Gunman (Bell). Both dogs picked up at 9, not pleasing handlers.

Reve's Royal Hawaiian (Chadwell) and Wiggins Pree Dawn Reward (Hennes). Royal Hawaiian ran a forward race and hunted hard. He was picked up at 30, not pleasing handler. Pree Dawn Reward ran a big race covering a lot of ground but was picked up at 35, not pleasing handler.

Southern Confidence (LaNasa) and Great River Stallion (Ray). Southern Confidence was a scratch. Great River Stallion had birds on the breakaway and left with them.

Chief's Rising Sun (Mathys) and Smooth Talking (Ray). Rising Sun took in the country as it was laid out, with a nice find at 11 and an unproductive at 32. He had a breach of manners at 46 and was up. Smooth Talking wasn't pleasing the handler and was collared at 8.

Stone Church Rooster (Jordan) and Murphy's Law (Hennes). Rooster was biddable and hunted hard throughout the hour. Murphy's Law was not pleasing handler and was up at 2.

Cross Country Ryan (Hennes) and Absolute Dominator (Ray). Ryan had a find at 10 and left with the birds. Dominator had a beautiful race and hunted hard throughout the hour.

Two Spot Tommy (Ray) and Elhew Mara Jade (Hennes). Tommy ran a nice race but was up at 40. Mara Jade had a forward race with a find at 5 and an unproductive at 32.

A Buccaneer (Ray) and a bye dog. Buccaneer had bird contact at 4 and left with the birds and was up.

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., September 24
Judges: Joe Hughes and Scott Little
NATIONAL PRAIRIE CHICKEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 41 Entries
Winner-B G K'S LUKE, 1690405, pointer male, by Dunn's Tried'n True-The White Pearl. Jarrett D. Bell, owner; and handler.
Runner-Up-CONFIDENT NATION, 1674546, pointer male, by True Confidence-Southern Songbird. Scott Jordan, owner; Scott Forman, handler.

Open Derby
Erin's Doc Holliday, owned and handled by Jared Bell, placed first with a big forward race hanging on the edges. Second place went to Hatteras High Tide, handled by Doug Ray and owned by Jett Ferebee. High Tide ran a big race and had a bird at 15. Third place was garnered by Miller's Upgraded Patent, handled by Doug Ray and owned by Jack and Fran Miller, with a nice forward race and bird at 28.

OPEN DERBY - 4 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-ERIN'S DOC HOLLIDAY, 1704304, pointer male, by Erin's Lone Star Law-Erin's Little Lullaby. Jarrett D. Bell, owner and handler.
2d-HATTERAS HIGH TIDE, 1703798, setter male, by Black Top-Jo Veeta. Jett Ferebee, owner; Doug Ray, handler.
3d-MILLER'S UPGRADED PATENT, 1704924, pointer female, by Miller's Upgraded Version-Miller's Special Edition. Bob Canada & Harold Ray, owners; Doug Ray, handler.

Sidelights
Each year, we have our "Chicken Championships" Auction at our Saturday night Purina banquet under the big tent. Through the proceeds, the Central States Field Trial Club gives away a $500 and a $250 scholarship sponsored by the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation to University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point students. The students are enrolled in the College of Natural Resources and volunteer on the Buena Vista grounds through the Adopt-A-Wildlife program. This year's recipients were Tristan Stanton and Parker Kreie. Students are considered for these scholarships based on the volunteer hours they devote each year to habitat improvement and helping DNR staff with various tasks. We also fund grounds improvement and help support DNR staff with funds to help pay for continuing education. Thanks to all who participated in this event, and special thanks to Purina, Greg Blair, Terry Tryzinski SportDOG, and Jim Morehouse for their continued support.

Open Derby Winners (l-r): Ed Liermann, Jarret Bell, Allison Bell with Erin's Doc Holliday, Joe Hughes (judge), Doug Ray with Hatteras High Tide, Scott Little (judge), Lisa Little, Erin Grossman with Miller's Upgraded Patent, and Gary Wolf.