Result: Region 19 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Danbury, Wisconsin

Post Date: Feb 6, 2025

Submitted By: William Stapleton

Region 19 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship (l-r): Michelle Turley, Dave Moore, Jarrett Bell, Austin Turley, Keith Anderson with Carbonado's Silver Sage, Doug Swingley (judge), Jim Tande, Rich Boumeester, Mike Northwood with Ramblin Rivers Natural, Bruce Mueller, Lance Schulz (judge), Don Dak (dog wagon driver), Adam DeLude (co-chairman), and Bill Stapleton (co-chairman).

The 2024 renewal of the Region 19 Amateur Shooting Dog Classic was again held in early October on the uniquely wild Namekagon Pine Barrens near Danbury, Wisconsin.
Special thanks go to judges Lance Schulz of Bismark, North Dakota, and Doug Swingley of Lincoln, Montana. Unfortunately, we had a last-minute judicial change due to the listed judge having a broken leg. Our thoughts are with Dennis and Bonnie Hidalgo as he recovers. Several long-time mainstays of the championship were not present this year for various reasons, resulting in a smaller-than-normal draw. Sixteen capable dogs were brought to the line by handlers from Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Montana, and Minnesota in search of Sharptail grouse.

Both winners came this year off Course 1, with Carbonado's Silver Sage from Brace 4 named 2024 Shooting Dog Champion for handler Austin Turley of Montana and Ramblin Rivers Natural earning runner-up laurels from Brace 1 for owner Bill Stapleton of Wisconsin. "Sage" broke away around 1 p.m., navigating through the recently burned first 20 minutes of course. She was seen sporadically stretching appropriately through the fall cover, hunting hard. Point was called a few hundred yards after crossing Gomulak where a single Sharpie was produced. She finished strong showing to the front earning her the 2024 champion title. Coming from the first brace, runner-up champion Earl ran a strong forward race, stretching in search of his quarry. He navigated the course for his handler, searching deep and wide, digging up a quality find at 55 along the lekking grounds, finishing strongly to the front.

We thank our long-time sponsors, Purina and SportDOG, for their continued support and dog wagon driver extraordinaire Don Dak for keeping us all in line!

Danbury, Wis., October 4
Judges: Bonnie Hidalgo and Dennis Hidalgo
REGION 19 AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 10 Pointers and 6 Vizslas
Winner-CARBONADO'S SILVER SAGE, F1691433, pointer female, by Touch's Diamante-Boudica. Austin & Michelle Austin, owners; Austin Turley, handler.
Runner-Up-RAMBLIN RIVERS NATURAL, F1688693, pointer male, by Chelsea's Thunder Bolt-Upfront's Southern Star. William Stapleton, owner and handler.