Result: National Amateur Grouse Championship

Location: Moose Junction, Wisconsin

Post Date: Nov 20, 2025

Submitted By: Jerry Furnish

National Amateur Grouse Championship: John McKellop with Grouse Trails Little Bud and Alex Anderson with Larix Laricina.

The Moose River Grouse Dog Club was formed in 2008, with the intention of honing breeding practices for outstanding grouse dogs. The Moose River trial grounds were also developed in 2008 on Douglas County forestry land in Northwest Wisconsin. With the help of its members, the grounds have been continually improved to provide ample cover for grouse and woodcock.

The Moose River Grouse Dog Club would like to thank the following for another successful event:
All club members who helped clear courses, helped with prep work leading up to the trial, and those who helped during the trial, including Tim Kaufman, Ed Graddy, Bill Frahm, Sig Degitz, Lindsey Saetre, Eric Saetre, Colin Peterson, Jeff Marek, and Greg Johnson; Judges Brent Sittlow, Tim Kaufman, Lindsey Saetre and Jerry Furnish; Douglas County Forestry Department for their cooperation in allowing us to hold our event on county forest land.
We are especially grateful to Greg Blair and Purina for their generous donation of food, prizes, and, of course, the Purina dinner that we held Saturday night. Your continued support has helped our sport and is greatly appreciated.
Also, Trent Sprague at Moose Junction Lounge for the wonderful lunches, food for the Purina dinner, fantastic campground facilities, and a great place to serve as our trial headquarters.
To everyone who participated and entered dogs, the Moose River Grouse Dog Club is extremely grateful.

The Championship Running
With slightly warmer-than-average temperatures and a lush forest canopy not yet spoiled by frost, the grounds provided excellent bird cover and enjoyable braces throughout.
Brent Sittlow:
Grouse Trails Black Knight (McKellop) and Fireside's Wallace (Rosario) led off the trial on the Beaver Dam Course. Knight was searching a bit wider than Wallace. Both were stopped at the turn where the course loops back to the road. A long search effort ensued for both dogs. Both dogs eventually started up on their own and finished.

Across the road to start on the Bear Bait Course were Clover Valley's Mulak (Furnish) and Berg Brothers Hatchet (Peterson). Mulak neatly pointed a grouse on a hill crest but couldn't resist the flight. Hatchet took advantage of having the course to himself for most of the brace. He ranged to likely cover without having to give much direction or handling. He finished with two woodcock finds and was on the board for much of the trial.

With temperatures starting to rise and the wind drying out the leaves, Berg Brothers Doc Holiday (Bukovich) and Northwoods Homer (Anderson) gave it a good go on the Spruce Course. Doc got a little behind Homer after suffering a couple of unproductives but relinquished himself with a nifty grouse find at about 20. Homer was reported to have a woodcock find up ahead. On the back half of the course, the handlers were rejoined, and Doc seemed to have a more ranging race of the two--a good effort by both dogs in tough conditions.

After a delicious lunch of chicken alfredo, we moved to the East Course to watch Grouse Trails Warrior Cat (McKellop) and Kona's Blue Skye (Kalupa). Warrior Cat had a pinned woodcock at 17 but suffered a barren stand at 25 in likely cover. Warrior Cat is a strong animal and was perhaps a bit wide and extended for these grounds. She finished with a lot of help from her handler. Kona was quick and nimble and held up to the temperatures in fine fashion. She suffered some bad luck by running over a grouse just off the path, after being watered and released by her handler at 45.

One Acre Wood Bandit (Rector) and North Slopes Allie (Graddy) were on Course "One" for the fifth brace. Both dogs had some trouble moving with their handler in the crunchy leaves. Neither dog had bird work.

The last brace of the day was Northwoods Cedar Edge (Saetre) and Planet Queen (Scott Anderson) on the "New" Course. Both setters had a steady range and a consistent search. Anticipation was building for both dogs near the end of the brace when Queen nailed a grouse in view of the handlers. Cedar Edge came in for a back. But at the flush approach, the bird exited a bit early, and Queen unacceptably moved up a few steps to end her bid.

Day two had One Acre Wood Flash (Rector) and Clover Valley's Evans (Furnish) back on the Beaver Dam Course. Numerous grouse were seen and heard coming from treetops and other locations, but neither dog seemed to be directly involved.

Larix Laricina (Alex Anderson) and Grouse Trails Little Bud (McKellop) took advantage of the morning temperatures on the Bear Bait Course. Bud was the stronger running of the two, with power and strength that broke through the heavy cover. He recorded two separate woodcock finds in the first half. Laricina was a little more directed, in the pocket, and very fancy moving. At about 58, Laricina's bell went quiet in a green bottom. Bud was moving through the same area and was second to stop. The cover was thick, and neither dog could see the other, but the handlers and judges had a good vantage point from an elevated position. As the handlers moved in to find their dogs, a tight sitting grouse lifted between the two dogs. Both handlers shot, and a true divided find was recorded--a great punctuation to a good brace, which earned placements for both dogs. According to judge Kaufman, "Bud and Tammy had the best brace of the championship, and when two dogs push each other, good things happen. Both were strong to the front and finished strong as well."

Northwoods Cedar (Saetre) was gone to the front, and the tracker was requested at 20. Northwoods Dexter (Rosario) was battling the heat and was leashed at 30.

Northern Slopes Bell (Graddy) had an issue with a grouse and was up by half. One Acre Wood Lucky (Rector) also had issues with grouse and made an early exit.

Grouse Trails Bathilda (McKellop) was the bye-dog. She was not handling to McKellop's liking and was leashed at 20.

Moose Junction, Wis., October 10
Judges: Tim Kaufman and Brent Sittlow
NATIONAL AMATEUR GROUSE CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 6 Pointers and 15 Setters
Winner-GROUSE TRAILS LITTLE BUD, F1701061, pointer male, by Toth's Tornado Reloaded-Grouse Trails Warrior Cat. John McKellop III, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-LARIX LARICINA, F1700092, pointer female, by Touch's Grey Street-Alliwood's Shady Shay. Alex Anderson, owner and handler.

Open Derby
Running on the newly reworked East #2 Course, "Rip" (Greg Johnson) ran a strong forward race, pleasing to the eye, and always in likely cover. Both dogs in this brace competed for the front and into cover. It was an easy handle for Johnson and an enjoyable brace to watch.
Also on the East #2 course, "Fern" (John McKellop) competed well in the first half, hitting all the likely cover and stretching out well when the cover wasn't close. Though slightly more lateral in the second half, Fern had all the qualities expected of a young grouse dog.
Running on the East #1 Course, "CC" (Brian VanderMaazen) ran out well and into cover, but found herself behind for a few minutes in the beginning. Once she found the front, she had a nice run, stretching forward and into cover, and was barely spoken to for the remainder of her brace.

Notably, although this was a smaller derby field than we've had in recent trials, all dogs displayed the qualities expected to become competitive shooting dogs. This was a very enjoyable stake to judge.

Judges: Jerry Furnish and Lindsey Saetre
OPEN DERBY - 10 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-NORTHWOODS RIP ROY, F1711135, setter male, by Woodville's Yukon Cornelius-Northwoods Redbreast. Greg Johnson, owner and handler.
2d-JOHNSON'S BLAZING INFERNO, F1712854, pointer female, by Ralphy's Chasehill Rip-Grouse Trails Firestorm. Tim Johnson, owner; John McKellop, handler.
3d-KENZIE'S COOKIES & CREAM, F1717431, pointer female, by Bluestem's Blackhawk Frank-Lee's Yellow Rose. Brian VanderMaazen, owner and handler.

Open Derby: Greg Johnson with Northwoods Rip Roy, Jerry Furnish (judge), John McKellop with Johnson's Blazing Inferno, Lindsey Saetre (judge), and Brian VanderMaazen with Kenzie's Cookies & Cream.