Result: Northwest Chukar Championships
Location: Ontario, Oregon
Post Date: Nov 6, 2025
Submitted By: Jeremy Skousen
Northwest Chukar Open Shooting Dog Championship (front, l-r): Jim Ledington, Sergio Velez, The Controller, The Foreman. (Back, l-r): Jeff Walter, Bill Owen, Lisa Walter, Chris Perkins, Phil Bowden, Jerone Boggs, Frank Bright, and Alex Mauck, joined by two future trialers.
Due to the success of the spring trial, the Northwest Chukar Championships and the National Amateur Shooting Dog Championship were held at the new grounds about 10 miles outside of Ontario, Oregon, off Moore's Hollow Road. This venue offers many benefits, but the biggest, in this reporter's mind, is that the trials are run strictly on wild birds. Chukar, Hungarian partridge, and California quail can be found in the sagebrush-covered hills. Our thanks go out to Alex Mauck, Kris Wall, and Bill Owen for spending the time to secure the grounds this fall and for mapping out the courses. Thanks to Kris Wall for gear lunches and to Alex Mauck, with his new hip, for driving the dog truck with his sidekick, Frank Bright.
There were many people on the new grounds during the running of the trials, and all enjoyed the venue.
The Boise Valley Pointing Dog Club would like to thank Jim and Martha Ledington, Phil and Sharon Bowden, Alex Mauck and Christina Wall, Bill Owen, and all the others who helped in making these trials successful. Without the efforts of all these people, the Chukar trials would not have been possible. Also, the club would like to thank the attendees and professionals who come each year. The BVPDC would also like to extend our deepest gratitude to the landowners, Purina, SportDOG, Big Gun Kennel, Conkey's Outdoors, and the AFTCA for the sponsorship of these trials.
Boise Valley Pointing Dog Club Qualifiers
The trials started with some qualifiers. Winners are listed below.
Boise Valley Pointing Dog Club
Oregon, Ont., September 26
Judges: Jim Ledington and Kris Wall
OPEN ALL-AGE - 2 Pointers and 2 German Shorthairs
1st-BK DIALING LANCELOT, F1705199, pointer female, by Sand Mountain Jim-Cold Creek Laurie Girl. Jeff & Lisa Walter, owners; Jeff Walter, handler.
2d-WESTERN CONFIDENCE, F1705075, pointer male, by True Confidence-Red Sunshine. Ryan Mulcahy & Jessica Vandenbush, owners; Ryan Mulcahy, handler.
Judges: Phil Bowden and Bill Owen
OPEN DERBY - 8 Pointers, 1 Setter, and 2 German Shorthairs
1st-WILD CONFIDENCE, F1721903, pointer female, by Light of Day-Perkins Beautiful Disaster. Ryan Mulcahy, owner and handler.
2d-WENDY LOU'S UTE, F1709785, pointer female, by Light of Day-Perkins Beautiful Disaster. Buddy Petersen, owner; Ryan Mulcahy, handler.
3d-FOXGLOVES DIAMONDS ARE WILD. [Placement Voided].
Judges: Jim Ledington and Kris Wall
OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 2 Pointers, 1 Setter, 2 Brittanys, and 4 German Shorthairs
1st-BK SCAR LIT, F1725417, pointer male, by Bittersweet War Cry-Bittersweet Recovery. Sergio Velez, owner; Lisa Walter, handler.
2d-FOXGLOVES DIAMONDS IN THE RUFF, F1709801, German Shorthair male, by Snowy River's Strut'n N Cuttin-Foxgloves White Diamonds. Brian Hill, owner and handler.
3d-RAMEY'S ELHEW INDEPENDENCE, F1695977, pointer male, by Amarugia Elhew Heir Strike-Rich's Elhew Pepper. Jeff Ramey & Melanie, owners; Mel Lueck, handler.
The National Amateur Chukar Shooting Dog Championship ran over the weekend; that report is separate. Then the Chukar trials started.
Larry Brech Memorial Open Derby Classic
In the Larry Brech Memorial Open Derby Classic, Circle BK Wanted, owned and handled by Sergio Velez, was named first, with a pleasing race and a strong finish. The young English setter female shined during her half hour. Second place went to Painted Owyhee Ky, owned and handled by Jim Ledington, impressing the judges with a searching race. Third place, new to the grounds, was Jerone Boggs, who owns and handled Hadley Deputy OBG, the pointer female with a wide race and solid finish. Judges Mel Lueck and Jeff Walter were attentive and positive in their judging, encouraging all handlers and apprising the young dogs of their future potential.
Larry Brech Memorial Classic Derby (front, l-r): Phil Bowden, Sergio Velez with Circle BK Wanted, Jim Ledington with Painted Owyhee Ky, and Jerone Boggs with Hadley Deputy OBG. (Back, l-r): Duke Johnson, Mel Lueck, Jeff Walter, and Ryan Mulcahy.
Judges: Mel Lueck and Jeff Walter
LARRY BRECH MEMORIAL OPEN DERBY CLASSIC - 8 Pointers, 2 Setters, and 1 German Shorthair
1st-CIRCLB BK WANTED, F1719937, setter female, by Circle B Wanted Ryder-Coyote Creek Miss Lacy. Sergio Velez, owner and handler.
2d-PAINTED OWYHEE KY, F1708747, pointer male, by Miller's Total Eclipse-Painted Owyhee Breeze. Jim Ledington, owner and handler.
3d-HADLEY DEPUTY OBG, F1712179, pointer female, by Miller's Blindsider-Hadley's Honky Tonk Song. Jerone Boggs, owner and handler.
Northwest Chukar Open Shooting Dog Championship
The Northwest Chukar Open Shooting Dog Championship was next, judged by Lisa Walter and Chris Perkins. The champion was Miller's Newest Version, owned and handled by Bill Owen. The stylish pointer female had an impressive forward race and handled kindly for her handler. She pointed a covey and had a stop to flush, which is common on wild bird trials. She set a high bar in the second brace.
Runner-up was Circle B Wanted Ryder, a setter male owned by Phil Bowden and run by Sergio Velez. Ryder ran in the third brace and started with a non-productive, then showed his class with a big race and strong finish. His two covey finds were enough to secure the runner-up spot.
Birds were seen in every brace; unfortunately, for some of the dogs, they were ridden up instead of located. The weather was dry and hot, making scenting conditions difficult.
Judges: Chris Perkins and Lisa Walter
NORTHWEST CHUKAR OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 8 Pointers and 2 Setters
Winner-MILLER'S NEWEST VERSION, F1696284, pointer female, by Miller's Upgraded Version-Miller's Special Edition. Bill Owen, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-CIRCLE B WANTED RYDER, F1702409, setter male, by T's American Gunfighter-Circle B Burning Stardust. Phil Bowden, owner; Sergio Velez, handler.
Northwest Chukar Open All-Age Championship
The Northwest Chukar Open All-Age Championship, a National Qualifier, started with cool mornings, but the heat quickly caught up. The overcast skies were a welcome change, but some rain caused a slight delay.
The champion was Circle B Wanted Ryder with a very powerful start, with a move on the right side of the course. His two finds were in the second half of his hour, and he perfectly handled a covey at the 40-minute mark, then a single seven minutes later. His finish was forward, and despite the afternoon heat, he was still seeking game.
Runner-up was High Mountdan Man, owned and handled by Jerone Boggs. "Dan" ran in the second brace of the second day and had a fast start, sharing a non-productive with his bracemate at 14. He continued searching for birds and was eventually rewarded with a find near the end of the hour. He handled his find perfectly and went on to finish his hour.
The judges, Ray Larrondo and Jeremy Skousen, were in complete agreement on the winners.
Northwest Chukar Open All-Age Championship (front, l-r): Phil Bowden, Sergio Velez with Circle B Wanted Ryder, Sharon Bowden, Jerone Boggs with High Mountdan Man, Jeremy Skousen, and Frank Bright. (Back, l-r): Bruce Hale, Jeff Walter, Lisa Walter, Bill Owen, Jim Ledington, Brad McCardle, and Ray Larrondo.
Judges: Ray Larrondo and Jeremy Skousen
NORTHWEST CHUKAR OPEN ALL-AGE CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 8 Pointers and 8 Setters
Winner-CIRCLE B WANTED RYDER, F1702409, setter male, by American Gunfighter-Circle B Burning Stardust. Phil Bowden, owner; Sergio Velez, handler.
Runner-Up-HIGH MOUNTDAN MAN, F1702088, pointer male, by Dominator's Rebel Heir-Rebel Dreamer. Jerone Boggs, owner and handler.
National Amateur Chukar Shooting Dog Championship
The 2025 National Amateur Chukar Shooting Dog Championship was held during the Northwest Chukar Championships at the Moore's Hollow grounds outside Ontario, Oregon. It seems fitting that chukar were heard calling the morning the trial began, as the venue is a wild bird only trial, it tests the dogs and handlers in a way that is unique in the sport. Our thanks go out to the AFTCA and Piper Huffman, as well as our sponsors: Purina, Garmin, Haggis Saddle, Gun Dog Supply, CSI Saddlepads, USRider, Big Gun Kennel, and Conkeys Outdoors. And to Alex Mauck, Kris Wall, and Bill Owen for spending the time to secure the grounds this fall, and for mapping out the courses.
The Boise Valley Pointing Dog Club would like to thank Jim Ledington, Phil and Sharon Bowden, for their tireless efforts, as well as the fine judges, Ryan Mulcahy and Sergio Velez.
The trial drew strong interest, and a total of 10 braces were run over two days, and the placements were swept by long-time trialer Bill Owen. The judges agreed to name Miller's Concealed Weapon, owned and handled by Bill Owen, the champion. The striking setter male had a strong forward race and a single find on chukar at the 48-minute mark. The champion searched the hills for his game and proved his championship caliber for the entire hour.
The runner-up was Erin's Grey Ghost, a pointer male. Ghost ran in the first brace and had a strong race with punching moves throughout the hour. His two stops-to-flushes, one early at 4, and the second just after the mid-point, proved his efforts to locate the wily birds of the sagebrush-covered high desert require total effort.
The Rest of the Running
Brace 1: Ozzie Trigger (Jeff Walter) and the runner-up champion, Erin's Grey Ghost (Bill Owen). Ghost's hour was already reported. Trigger had a lateral race that resulted in a stop-to-flush at 33.
Brace 2: Man O War (Bruce Hale) and Perkins Diamond Cutter (Chris Perkins). Man started strong but succumbed to the warm and dry conditions. Cutter was also slowed down by the conditions.
Brace 3: Mauck's Wyeast Owyhee Dallee (owned by Alex Mauck but handled by Mel Lueck) and KC Moen's Freedom's Bell (Scott Kragerud). Dallee started strong but shortened up for the last half hour. Bell also had a very promising start, but couldn't keep up the pace for the whole hour.
Brace 4: High Mountdan Man (Jerome Boggs) and Painted Hank (Jim Ledington). Birds were seen during the brace for both dogs, and nice casts were noted.
Brace 5: Dunfur's Big Timber (Anthony Bucknam) and Ready or Not (Keith Anderson). Timber had a strong race despite the heat, with two unproductives, but pleasing to the judges. Ready or Not didn't finish the hour, not pleasing the handler.
Brace 6: Champion Miller's Concealed Weapon (Bill Owen) and Acadia Mountain Lane Maggs (Casey Gibbens). Weapon's race was previously recorded. Maggs was unable to locate any game.
Brace 7: Trail Blazin White Lightening (Lisa Walter) and Touch's Jimi Thing (Chris Perkins). Lightening had a shorter race with no bird contacts. Thing had two unproductives which hampered his hour.
Brace 8: Mauck's Wyeast Molly (owned by Alex Mauck and handled by Mel Lueck) and Dunfurs Former Athlete (Anthony Bucknam). Molly didn't complete the hour and was picked up by the handler. Athlete had a big race and one non-productive but impressed the judges.
Brace 9: Hale's Honey Badger (Bruce Hale) and Bells Yellowstone Pride (Keith Anderson). Badger didn't have a game contact, and the heat took its toll for the last half hour. Pride had a strong race despite the heat, but no birds.
Brace 10: Miller's Newest Version (Bill Owen) and Mauck's Wyeast Owyhee Ajay (owned by Alex Mauck and handled by Mel Lueck). Version had a nice race despite running in the worst heat of the trial. Ajay also had a good race and despite the heat, filled the course.
Judges: Ryan Mulcahy and Sergio Velez
NATIONAL AMATEUR CHUKAR SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 11 Pointers, 5 Setters, and 4 German Shorthairs
Winner-MILLER'S CONCEALDED WEAPON, F1699549, setter male, by Miller's Black Butte-Alaqua Dee. Bill Owen, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-ERIN'S GREY GHOST, F1706514, pointer male, by Erin's Grey Justice-Erin's Miss Sam Houston. Bill Owen, owner and handler.
National Amateur Chukar Shooting Dog Championship (front, l-r): Bruce Hale, Jim Ledington with Miller's Concealed Weapon, Alex Mauck with Erin's Grey Ghost, Sergio Velez, and Frank Bright. (Back, l-r): Phil Bowden, Lisa Hale, Mel Lueck, Brian Hill, Bill Owen, Ryan Mulcahy, Scott Kragerud, Lisa Walter, and Jeff Walter.