Event: Backcountry Bruiser Wins
Result: Region 2 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship
Location: Houtzdale, Pennsylvania
Post Date: May 22, 2025
Submitted By: Joe Cammisa
Region 2 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship (front, l-r): Chris Catanzarite with Backcountry Bruiser and Krysta Munden with Wildland Wild Man. (Second row): Andy Erne (judge), Zach Erne (judge), and Eric Munden.
The backdrop and venue for this year's 2025 Region 2 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship was Warriors Mark Shooting Preserve in the Altoona, Pennsylvania area.
The winner and runner-up are detailed in the brace-to-brace information.
The Running
Brace 1: Wildland Wild Man (PM/Munden) and Mohawk Mill Knight Hawk (PM/Monroe) were the first two off and running in this year's Championship. Wildland Wild Man ("Wayne") was found standing by scout at 10, a beautiful find on a large covey. He was surrounded by feeding birds, all in order, and was turned loose and drove to regain the front. He was found on point again at 21, and with all in order, he went on to a back at 37. Wayne is a classy forward dog that handled very well. He finished his hour strong with finds also at 42, 49, 54, and 58. He displayed good manners around his game, and he hit the objectives he should have in order to find birds.
Wildland Wild Man is a 4-year-old white and liver pointer male handled by Krysta Munden and owned by her and her husband, Eric Munden. His most notable wins leading up to his runner-up finish include first place in the 2023 U. S. Complete Futurity and second place in the one-hour Pennsylvania Amateur All-Age stake. Wayne was bred by Mark and Dave Hughes, with the litter whelped by owners Krysta and Eric. He is from a breeding of Ch. Double Deuce Zeke by Beaver Meadow Rose.
Hawk went on a bird finding spree of his own, digging up and having multiple finds. Unfortunately, a couple of unproductives got in his way.
Brace 2: Backcountry Pure Gold (PF/Catanzarite) and Hoppy's War Bird Farmgirl (PF/Hopkins). Hoppy's War Bird Farmgirl was scratched. Backcountry Pure Gold broke away in this second brace and started to put the world on fire. She had multiple finds but was picked up before the hour ended.
Brace 3: Smoke Rise Jake (PM) and Wildland Hide the Wine (PM/Munden). Smoke Rise Jake broke away and ran big. Having not been seen since the breakaway, his bid ended when the handler asked for the tracker. Wildland Hide the Wine started out fine with three nicely handled contacts. His demise was his inability to stay in contact with the handler after the first 30 minutes.
Brace 4: Lincoln County Jack (PM/Grantham) and Backcountry Buddy (PM/Catanzarite). Lincoln County Jack was picked up early at the handler's discretion. Backcountry Buddy broke away and went right to work. His efforts were enough to garner him multiple clean finds, but not enough to move the winners aside.
Brace 5: Mohawk Mill Shake Up (PM/Monroe) and Doodle Ridge Elroy (ESM/Munden). Mohawk Mill Shake Up was also one to go right to work. After a great breakaway, Shake delivered multiple finds for his handler. He went deep for his last find and was lost on point.
Brace 6: Backcountry Champagnesupernova (PF/Catanzarite) and Emert's Grouse Ringer T (ESM/Grantham). Backcountry Champagnesupernova was not one to take a back seat and put together several contacts, all handled nicely, but was not able to keep the pace set by the winners. Grouse Ringer T ran well but had a transgression with a bird to end his bid.
Brace 7: Millers Dusty Version (PF/Munden) and The Treasure Chest (PM/Monroe). Millers Dusty Version started strong and hard, fast. Dusty was not quite on the same page as the handler and was picked up before the hour ended. The Treasure Chest finished well with multiple finds. Chest ran a far forward reaching race.
Brace 8: Backcountry Bruiser (PM/Catanzarite) and Wildland Sweet Caroline (PF/Munden). In this last and final brace, "it's not over until the fat lady sings" was true. Strong off the breakaway, Bruiser was found standing at 12, which would result in an unproductive, gathered by the handler, and sent on. Again, strong cast to the front and found standing at 19 by the scout, birds produced, and all in order. Bruiser continued to hunt big to the front, hitting desired objectives. After a brief absence, he was found standing at 39. Again, all in order for this stylish pointer. A find occurred at 40 with a very well-handled relocation. His fourth and final find took place at 57 with good manners. He was turned loose and ended his hour driving hard to the front.
Wildland Sweet Caroline finished her bid with two well-mannered and strong contacts and a very adequate race. Bruiser is certainly no stranger to the winners' circle, as he currently holds nine championship titles and six runner-up championship titles. He has won the U. S. Complete Amateur Invitational Championship, the Region 2 All-Age Championship three times, the Region 4 Walking Shooting Dog Championship, the Mid-Atlantic Open Walking Shooting Dog Championship, the Region 16 Horseback Championship, and now the Region 2 Walking Championship.
Reporter's Note:
Backcountry Bruiser may be the only dog ever to have won all three of the different Region 2 Championship titles.
Other notables include:
Brace 3: Wildland Hide the Wine. Strong running to the front, but a bit over independent at times. Well-mannered finds at 12, 15, 23, and a back at 41.
Brace 5: Mohawk Mill Shake Up. Full of class, quick, snappy, and constantly drives to the front. Perfectly mannered finds at 11, 16, 23, but as stated above, was unfortunately left behind on point for a 20-minute absence to end his bid.
Doodle Ridge Elroy was a classy running setter and was also just shy of the winners that had backs at 11 and 18. He was well-mannered on his finds at 20, 40, 58, and 60. Additionally, he had an excellent relocation at the 40-minute find.
Brace 7: The Treasure Chest. Big running with well-spaced finds at 13, 21, 31, 36, and 49. Exceptionally good style with a race that was consistently to the front.
A special thanks goes to Greg Blair and Purina for their unwavering support over the years. An additional thank you goes to Bernadette Gilliland and The Warriors Mark Shooting Preserve. We would like to thank this year's judicial panel, Rittman, Ohio natives Andy and Zack Erne. Both are fine sportsmen, owners, handlers, and trainers of championship dogs.
Houtzdale, Pa., April 17 - One Course
Judges: Andrew Erne and Zach Erne
REGION 2 AMATEUR WALKING SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 14 Pointers and 2 Setters
Winner-BACKCOUNTRY BRUISER, F1672645, pointer male, by Erin's War Creek-Backcountry Tornado. Chris Catanzarite, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-WILDLAND WILD MAN, F1695981, pointer male, by Double Deuce Zeke-Beaver Meadow Rose. Eric Munden, owner; Krysta Munden, handler.