Event: Lake States Grouse Dog Championship
Result: 81st Annual Lake States Grouse Dog Championship

Location: Meredith, Michigan

Post Date: Nov 25, 2025

Submitted By: Submitted by the Lake States Field Trial

Lake States Grouse Dog Championship: Meredith with Dave TerHaar (judge), Resin and Marc Forman (handler), Deb Nihart, Hunter Payne (judge), Brent Peters (LSFTC president), and Roger Johnson.

The 81st Annual Lake States Grouse Dog Championship commenced on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, on the Gladwin Field Trial Area and wildlife/game refuge of the Gladwin State Forest. This trial is a Purina-supported cover dog points trial.

The Gladwin Field Trial Area consists of 4,792 acres and is managed extensively by the state of Michigan's Department of Natural Resources, and is subject to controlled timber harvest as necessary to maintain the area as a premier grouse habitat dedicated to field trial events with a wild bird venue. Volunteers help to keep this area a premier wild bird venue. This area was purchased by the State of Michigan as a grouse field trial area in 1916 and was named "The Gladwin Field Trial Refuge." On September 20, 1957, the State of Michigan's Conservation Commission, under the authority of Act 82, as amended, established the "Gladwin Field Trial Area." Since that time, field trialing has remained the priority of this area. Local clubs consisting of the Lake States Field Trial Club, the National Brittany Open Grouse Championship Association, the Beaverton Grouse Dog Club, the Michigan Amateur Field Trial Club, and the Ruffed Grouse Field Trial Club have all been endorsed and have been put into writing in the latest GFTA Management Plan. These clubs all take a hand in keeping this area available for our field trials, local, regional, and national. This year saw some changes in the courses here in Gladwin. Our one-hour courses were changed up for the most part to make it easier to run our trials. A great deal of work goes on behind the scenes to keep courses clean and well-groomed. Every year, according to new growth and new cuts, coursework is changed accordingly to give the best benefit for bird work for our field trial community. We work closely with our DNR biologist, Bruce Barlow, to make sure we are always updated on upcoming harvesting so as to keep our courses up to date.

This year, as voted by our LSFTC board of directors, Dave TerHaar and Hunter Payne were asked to judge our championship. Dave TerHaar, a native Michigander, is no stranger to these woods or field trialing. Dave has trialed here for many years and has had the pleasure of owning and handling many of his own dogs to championship ranks. His dog, "Elvis," has a legendary reputation for being savagely attacked by a bear during a trial and then going on to win the Grand National Grouse Dog Championship the following year. Dave has a secure handle on what it takes to be a 'Grouse Dog Champion.'

Hunter Payne is from Spring City, Tennessee, and was recommended as a nominee for the judging job by several field trailers in the south. Hunter was introduced to quail hunting at the age of seven by his father in southeastern Tennessee. As the quail population decreased, he migrated to chasing Appalachian grouse. Tired of metro city life, he moved to his current property in southeastern Tennessee and began training dogs full-time. Lake States has, for many years, appointed a judge from Michigan and one from out of state so as to make sure judging is held with high standards and fairness. Putting these two gentlemen in the saddle was a comfortable choice.

The weather here in Gladwin was most unusual this year. Usually, by the time the Lake States hits the woods, the cover is down, woodcock flights have come and gone, and the grouse have headed to their winter cover. This year, the woodcock flights were late, and we were privy to their attendance. Sometimes, to the detriment of the dogs running. The oaks and maples were still holding their color, while the aspen slowly came down during the week. Still more cover than we are used to at this time of trialing. The weather was good, with rain coming at the proper times. Luckily, not too much rain all at once, but just enough to keep us wet.

This year, our judges withheld the runner-up champion. They did, however, name the champion. The 2025 and 81st annual Lake States Grouse Dog Champion was named Resin ("Artie"), a handsome white and orange ticked male English setter owned by Kevin Lahoda from Church Hill, Maryland. Resin is handled by Marc Forman of Prattsburgh, New York. Marc got Resin when he was a derby and began to develop him. He spent time in South Carolina and in Michigan during the summer, getting him on wild game. Resin has placements to his credit in the Grand National Puppy Classic, a Lake States FTC trial, the Black Ash Grouse trial, and the Black Moshannon grouse trial. Resin is sired by Ch. Ponderosa Mac and dam Hunter's Flight Risk. This breeding goes back to Ch. Bloom's Ole Dollar and Ch. Shady Hills Billy. The breeder was Lance Bressler of Curwensville, Pennsylvania. Artie ran on Day 3 of the championship in the 19th brace, coming to the line with Moss Meadow Able, owned and handled by Ken Moss. Starting off fast, both dogs broke away to the front on Course 10-11, diving into that first cut. They laid out there to the front for the first few minutes. Soon, neither bells were heard for some time. Both handlers moved forward and soon spotted both dogs standing close to the trail, with Able backing Resin. Marc went in to flush with Judge TerHaar. A grouse flushed, with judge calling it. Marc shot, and all was in order. Resin had vigorously worked the cover and provided a stylish and memorable point about six to eight minutes in on Course 10. Both dogs were released with no other birds seen or heard on the courses. Artie continued a big and easy handling race, with both dogs finishing strong.

After the conclusion of the Championship, we were honored to host the Roger Johnson Cup Open Derby. We drew 18 young dogs for a day of excitement. Judges Dave Heavlin and Mike Brown graciously accepted the duty in the saddle. First place was awarded to White Indian Outlaw, a handsome pointer male, owned by Thomas Butler and handled by Rachel Butler. "Wyatt" ran a strong, forward race and hit the cover hard. For a young dog, he ran a beautiful and mature race. On Course 9, they lost his bell approximately 150 yards to the front. When they found Wyatt standing on point, he stood through the flush of the (first) woodcock and the shot. When the second woodcock took flight, he moved. The judge counted the four woodcock as they took flight. Derby manners took over, but Rachel quickly called Wyatt back into the hunt. Rachel was very proud that he came back in and continued to work.

Second place went to Dunroven Hippie Girl, owned by Chal Curtis and handled by Richard Hollister. Hippie Girl has seen her share of time on the podium this fall. She is a beautiful tri-colored setter female with energy to burn. She delivered a strong performance, running solo when her bracemate scratched, though it did not quite match that of her first-place competitor. She carded a nice grouse find just before the last tote road on Course 14.

Third place was awarded to Ingomars Delta Force, owned and handled by Rob Ellis. Delta was fast and a little bit reckless, according to Rob. She dug deep to produce the woodcock on Course 10, giving her the opportunity to join the group on the podium. Congratulations to all!
Trials like this cannot be hosted without the help of others. We thank Mike and Deb Singleton for their ongoing support with our coffee breaks and lunches. Without them, it would be hard to make it all work. A big thank you to our horse wranglers, Richard and Jennifer Hollister. We have a saying here in Gladwin that they wrangle the best horses here in Michigan. Our judges never complain about their ride and feel safe. "Boots, "Dusty," and "Ed", we give our greatest gratitude to your superior performances. And lastly, to ALL the others who helped. This would include everyone else who attended. If it weren't for the help of all the handlers and their entourages, we couldn't have gotten it done. It takes a community, and we are very happy to be part of this one!

A big shout-out to Purina for their continued support. Purina has sponsored our events for many years, and we hope for many years to come.

Judges Hunter Payne and Dave TerHaar.

Meredith, Mich., October 22
Judges: Huner Payne and Dave TerHaar
LAKE STATES GROUSE DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 15 Pointers, 19 Setters, and 1 Brittany
Winner-RESIN, F1696519, setter male, by Ponderosa Mac-Hunter's Flight Risk. Kevin Lahoda, owner; Marc Forman, handler.
Runner-Up-[Withheld]

Judges: Mike Brown and Dave Heavlin
THE ROGER JOHNSON CUP OPEN DERBY - 11 Pointers and 7 Setters
1st-WHITE INDIAN OUTLAW, F1709779, pointer male, by Light of Day-Perkins Beautiful Disaster. Thomas Butler, owner; Rachel Butler, handler.
2d-DUNROVEN HIPPIE GIRL, F1713542, setter female, by Dun Rovens Drifter-Dunrovens Midnight Eve. Richard Hollister, owner and handler.
3d-INGOMARS DELTA FORCE, F1709005, setter female, by Ponderosa Mac-Pine Straw's Cover Queen. Robert Ellis, owner and handler.

The Roger Johnson Cup Open Derby: Thomas Butler, White Indian Outlaw with Rachel Butler (owner/handler), Mike Brown (judge), Dunroven Hippie Girl with Richard Hollister (handler), Dave Heavlin (judge), Brent Peters (LSFTC president), and Ingomars Delta Force with Rob Ellis (owner/handler).