Result: 82nd Grand National Grouse Championship

Location: Augusta, Wisconsin

Post Date: Jan 28, 2025

Submitted By: Jeremy Moore and Chris Bye

Grand National Grouse Championship (l-r): Scott Chaffee, Jeremy Moore, Steve Snyder, Adam Dubriske (judge), Tammy Chaffee with Snyder's Fireside Ed, John Stolgitis with Chasehill Poison Ivy, Mike Nelon (judge), Chris Bye, and Mike Flewelling.

Late autumn sunshine painted the banks of the North Fork of the Eau Claire River Sunday afternoon in the waning minutes of the 82nd Grand National Grouse Championship. Recently named Grand National Champion, Snyder's Fireside Ed posed assuredly on the podium as decorated handler Tammy Chaffee and proud owner Steve Snyder held back (and quietly failed) their emotions. No stranger to the podium herself, Ch. Chasehill Poison Ivy, handled deftly by John Stolgitis and owned by Bill McFadden, proved her 2021 Grand Futurity win prescient with a strong 2024 runner-up placement. She won the 2023 Grand National Grouse and Woodcock Invitational last year.

A sense of deep pride and satisfaction emanated from those gathered. For the organizers, bringing "The Grand" to Wisconsin was a dream in the making, and no doubt, a bit of melancholy was felt as years of planning, dedication, and hard work came to an end. With the sounds of closing dog boxes and departing trucks, the focus of their shared efforts was already receding to memory.

Throughout the six-day event, 36 braces were started, eight unique courses were utilized, 90 miles of ground were walked by the judges, 25 grouse and 49 woodcock were flushed, two dogs were placed, and one historic Championship was completed. The smiles and friendships established -- immeasurable in their worth.

The momentous arrival of "The Grand National Grouse Championship" to Wisconsin for the first time was the culmination of years of effort. Although the Grand was officially awarded to the region in 2023, the groundwork was laid decades prior. The grounds, located in west central Wisconsin, are south of what's considered to be the "Big Woods" and known by many as deer country rather than traditional grouse cover. Fifty-two thousand acres are made up of multiple-use sections for public recreation, wildlife habitat development, and timber production. Through decades of prudent management and attention, the trial grounds are considered one of the finest cover dog venues in the sport.

The courses within the Eau Claire County Forest were already known for excellent bird numbers and accessibility/flow, with the bonus of lodging, food and gas (among other necessities) within easy reach. Hosting cover dog trials since 1968, the courses reflect 56 years' worth of foot-worn paths across scrub oak flats, along aspen cut ridges, over hazel, and through thickets of alder lining the North Fork of the Eau Claire River.

Running on Wisconsin soil for the first time in its 81-year history, the event was hosted and organized under unique circumstances, combining the talents of three independent grouse dog clubs from two states within Region 19. The Chippewa Valley Grouse Dog Association, Minnesota Grouse Dog Association, and Moose River Grouse Dog Club are no strangers to hosting grouse and woodcock trials and championships. They've long been known for carving out well-thought-out courses that test and challenge even the most ambitious, experienced bird finders and handlers. The three clubs are also skilled in collaboration, combining efforts and talents when it comes to the organization and execution of grouse dog trials.

A combined meeting in January of 2024 of the local grouse dog associations (Chippewa Valley Grouse Dog Association, Moose River Grouse Dog Association, and the Minnesota Grouse Dog Association) established the framework for the event's success long before the first dogs were called to the line. With Brad Peterson (chairman) and Greg Johnson (vice-chairman) leading the charge, goals were established, and committees challenged to host a world-class trial and highlight Wisconsin's richness and hospitality. Katie Cook, Rod Lein, Jim Kleve, Bert Benshoof, and Colin Peterson (among others) contributed in countless ways, shouldering much of the day-to-day efforts leading up to the first breakaway.

With eight courses on the map, plans were made to further improve the grounds to exceed the needs of the Grand participants, with a focus on cover/bird opportunities and walkability. A special acknowledgment to Colin Peterson for wrangling everyone who operated the saws, mowers, and trimmers to get the courses "Grand ready."

The banquet preceding the Grand National Grouse Dog Championship inaugurated the event in high style, honoring two and four-legged legends (local to WI/MN) and highlighting those dogs and handlers who rose to the top of their game the previous year. Held at Black Creek Lodge, the venue provided an expansive setting for the dinner, drinks, and silent auction. The evening was sponsored by Greg Blair, and Purina and Bert Benshoof hosted the open bar. Thank you both for making the evening special.

Jim Tande was honored with a "Legends of the Cover Dog Award," capping a lifetime of achievements. An original founder of the Minnesota Grouse Dog Association, Jim's achievements stretch back over 40 years. With his entire family present, Jim shared stories of competitive braces and entertaining trial anecdotes, reminding everyone how this sport connects generations and creates lasting friendships.
Betsy Danielson and Jerry Kolter proudly accepted the Legends of the Cover Dog award for their oft-winning Setter, 4x CH./4x R-U CH. Blue Streak. One of only six dogs to earn this coveted award, "Little's" small stature belied a heart and drive bigger than the entire Northwoods. Blue Streak's influence is still felt in many of the dogs competing today.
Bringing the awards to the present day, 2023 Grand National Champion Ralphy's Chasehill Rip, owned by Brian Ralph, was awarded the Purina Top Cover Dog of the Year after an outstanding 2023-2024 campaign. Anchoring the evening's awards, handler John Stolgitis was presented the 2023-2024 Purina Cover Dog Handler of the Year plaque, recognizing his continued success and placements over the previous year.

Each day of the trial began at the newly renovated shelter at the Wilson Town Park, located at the far north end of the grounds. A significant outlay in time and resources during the summer months (from members of all three clubs) created this welcoming space, as it not only provided shelter from the elements but harbored the all-important hot coffee and baked goodies that are ubiquitous to well-run trials. Katie Cook greeted everyone with her infectious smile and made sure everyone's cups and bellies were full. A tradition of the Grand continued with homemade cookies and other baked goods provided by Suzie Camissa. Despite the miles walked, these reporters, unfortunately, did not experience significant weight loss due to the abundance of her wonderful creations.

In addition to the renovations at Wilson Town Park, an entirely new shelter was erected on the high banks of the North Fork of the Eau Claire River specifically for the event. Centrally located to all courses, the shelter at "Knight's Pool" provided a picturesque lunch spot with grand-worthy views of the winding river. Nestled within the towering pines (and directly across the river from the Diablo Jake course), the Knight's Pool shelter will be utilized for generations.
The shelter became a reality due to the cooperation of the Eau Claire County Forest, with a special acknowledgment to Josh Peterson and his staff. Corporate sponsor Hixwood Metal provided building supplies, and multiple days and weekends of work by club members brought the shelter to fruition. Special thanks to Ben Mergens for managing this project and Roger King and Brad Peterson for working with the various sponsors.

On top of the wonderful baked goods, the lunches provided were up to the task for this historic trial. Lunches were hearty and warm, consisting of a variety of meaty offerings often served at the Knight's Pool shelter. Jim Kleve's efforts on behalf of those walking the courses and needing nourishment were truly appreciated.

Wisconsin has a unique culture beyond cheeseheads, Bratwurst, and the Green Bay Packers. Throughout the state, on Friday nights, residents can be found at supper clubs and local taverns enjoying a traditional fish fry with friends and family. Often accompanied by a brandy old-fashioned, the fish fry is a Wisconsin staple enjoyed for generations. Perhaps not known as a gastronomic setting, this year's Grand provided a unique opportunity for attendees. Unable to bring all attendees to a restaurant to experience this DairyLand dinner, the organizers brought the Friday fish fry to the Grand.

Roger King and his band of merry cooks raised the bar for what a fish fry should be. The all-star fish fry crew consisted of Tom Goltz, Denny Baumann, Scott King, Kathy King, Katie Cook, Brad Peterson, and Ben Mergens, with a special thanks to Bert Benshoof for procuring the fish. Hosted at the Wilson Town Park shelter, the cool November evening provided the perfect setting.

The "Bring Back a Wonderful Moment in History Fish Fry" (the dinner's official title) included cold water panfish wild caught from Wisconsin lakes and cooked over an open flame. Accompanied by potatoes, salad, and the other necessary sides, conversation amongst the attendees waned as everyone's mouth was full. The coup de grace of the evening was the Dutch oven pineapple upside-down cake. Based on a secret (or not-so-secret) recipe perfected over decades, the cake was expertly baked over a bed of hot coals and provided everyone with the opportunity to "not say no" when offered an additional piece. The evening represented the best Wisconsin has to offer, and everyone's efforts were truly appreciated!

The commitment to judge the Grand is intense in time and energy output. Almost 90 miles of focused attention were logged by the judges over the six-day event, often in less-than-ideal weather. Bringing experience and knowledge to the 82nd Grand National, judges Adam Dubriske from Keene, New Hampshire, and Mike Brown from Linden, Michigan, established a new standard. Both judges have extensive ground time evaluating cover dogs throughout the country, and their keen perspectives and professionalism on the course provided guidance and structure to each brace, as well as a well-respected outcome.

The man with the clipboard, Greg Johnson, kept everyone on schedule (or ahead) as stakes manager. He managed the day's braces with patience and quiet authority, and his good nature kept a smile on everyone's face despite the busy schedule and many moving pieces.
Speaking of moving pieces, Steve Snyder shuttled judges and reporters between braces throughout the event. His warm truck provided needed respite during inclement weather, and his bag of candy was always ready when a sugar rush was required.

Finally, Wisconsin's first Grand National would not have gotten off the ground without the support of its sponsors. A special and heartfelt thank you to all the businesses and individuals that made the trial a success. Along with a list of individual sponsors (Jerry and Betsy Kolter, Bill Yackman, John McKellop, Bill Holton, and Greg Johnson), the national sponsors were Purina Pro Plan, Lion Country Supply, Garmin, and the exclusive local sponsor OnX Hunt. Local sponsors include Hixwood Metal, Louisiana Pacific, DogBone, Boondock Bar & Grill, Fly-N-Gun Kennels, Bertran Roofing, and Vojtiks's Stockyard Bar and Grill.

The 82nd Grand National Grouse Championship
Rain-sodden creeks sluiced over the courses whittled through the Eau Claire County Forest. Election Day marked its beginning, and in the spirit of tradition, the Grand National Grouse Championship commenced on a cold, dreary, and wet November morning. In less than traditional fashion, six braces on Day 1 produced but 20 woodcock, lingering behind October's Indian summer. No grouse and a blanket of cold rain left for reasonable doubt throughout the gallery.

All that changed on Day 2 when the holiest of holies, the ruffed grouse, was found. Throughout the week, all eight of the courses used produced grouse, and each dog had the opportunity to show its best in a race to become the 82nd Grand National Grouse Champion. What started as a field of 72 dogs--37 English Setters and 35 Pointers-- narrowed itself down to just a handful in contention by the week's end. As always, just one champion and one runner-up could be named.

A Champion's Run
The champion revealed himself on Day 5, in the 27th brace, when Snyder's Fireside Ed ran alongside his bracemate, Rebellious Fearless Fred. Ed is a mostly white Setter, lightly ticked with a single black mark above his hips. He's owned by Steve Snyder and was handled by Tammy Chaffee. Fred is a well-boned white Setter with fox-orange-colored masking and ears, owned and handled by Mike Luebke. Both dogs are experienced competitors, and it showed in the way they came to the line, their body language saying, "We've been here before."
The course they ran on has earned its name. "The Crash" is known for presenting challenges and has been the dissolution of many good bird dogs. It's a looped course that was once abandoned due to heavy logging. Since resurrected, it boasts a dense sea of pool-cue-sized popple whips running through its midsection. Over the six days, The Crash saw six braces, with only three dogs managing to complete it with clean birdwork. Ed and Fred were the only ones to do so with pointed grouse, and Ed was the only one to do it without a single miscalculation. He honored and backed his bracemate Fred's grouse find in what could be described as a beautiful flushing scene, the kind often depicted in paintings yet seldom witnessed by the hunter afield.
The brace broke away promptly at 9:15 a.m., under mostly cloudy skies occasionally pierced by windows of blue. The first eight minutes of the course offered them a chance to catch their first wind and establish themselves on the hunt. They pushed through thick hazel underbrush atop a large flat shelf before dropping down into an open-bottom creek crossing, canopied by towering white pines. A short climb up brings them to the first promising cover about 10 minutes into the hour-long run. At 13, with both bells at a distance, a grouse flushed at the pressure of the gallery, sailing from right to left, tracing the hard edge.
Several hundred yards further, at 15, Fred's bell went silent, and Ed's soon after followed suit.
The handlers, judges, reporters, and scouts moved into the aspen cut to the right of the trail. The bells had disappeared in a likely location just before the course veers left, approaching a "busy corner." Three types of cover meet there: moss-covered box elders, scrub oak with thick hazel understory, and a long edge of young aspen tangled with brittle blackberry vines desperately holding their plum-colored leaves. In a small opening choked with thorns, Fred stood with Ed honoring. Fred was tall and statuesque, facing southwest, while Ed staggered offset just a short distance away, mirroring Fred's posture. As Luebke approached Fred, a grouse flushed hard from right to left. A quick shot from Luebke brought an abrupt end to the tension, leaving nothing but the smell of burnt powder hanging in the damp air. Ed stood firm, backing Fred confidently to the flush as Chaffee worked her way to his stand. With smiles and excitement from the textbook find and manners by both dogs, the handlers led their dogs 25 yards back to course, and search resumed.
From then on, the brace unfolded as a textbook example of "racing to cover." At 22, both bells stretched forward. Ed's bell continued to grow faint, remaining as a gentle tinkling around 2 o'clock in relation to the course trajectory. The handlers, Chaffee and Luebke, began to separate while the gallery marched behind at a slowed pace another 50 yards before Fred was spotted, again standing tall across open woods. He was south of the trail, pointed directly at a large broken-off oak top, still clinging to crunchy rust-colored leaves. Luebke flushed into and beyond the deadfall with little real estate to work with, backed up against the river. After a few moments, Fred was tapped on. He immediately hunted into the deadfall like a spaniel, hoovering ground scent in search of a bird no longer there. By 29, Fred had rejoined Ed to the front, and they leapfrogged their way through the middle stretch of the course around a large swamp with open water.
Snyder's Fireside Ed, with growing confidence, continued to lead his handler and gallery forward. As the course continued southwest, it transitioned to a perfect combination of swamp bottoms, pocket ponds, scattered hardwoods, and a smattering of roosting evergreens. With his bell sounding at the 3 o'clock position, he provided a showing of his ground game as he was seen working the far edge of a pond 80 yards to the right of the course. With a narrow pond between him and the gallery, he gave everyone a show as he moved powerfully to the front with a determined gate. As much as his finds validated his win, this opportunity to see him manage difficult cover and find the front established his efficient and thorough search and illustrated the beauty and flow of a true champion cover dog.
At 43, the course transitioned into lower elevation, and the mud-worn trail wound its way through conifers, bringing on the looks, smells, and "feels" every grouse hunter knows. At 49, both bells were sucked into likely bird cover, where the course transitions to a hand-cut walking path through seemingly ideal woodcock cover. The pace slowed, and both dogs worked methodically among the young popple whips. Fred moved forward while Ed drifted horizontally toward a stand of mature woods deep in the middle of the cut.
At 54, the dogs, handlers, and gallery scattered. Snyder's Fireside Ed's bell fell silent to the far right as handler Chaffee moved along the ridge that divided mature cover to the left and a long swamp channel on the right. With a quick acknowledgment from Judge Dubriske, Chaffee dove hard right down into the swamp in search of the silent bell. Maneuvering the twisted tag alders, an oasis of hardwood and grass (dividing another tag alder swamp to the far side) was found after a 50-yard trek. Once higher ground was established, handler Chaffee moved back to her right along the minor ridge dividing two swamps, where Ed was seen standing tall at the base of the land spit. Within a few steps, a lone grouse erupted at the swamp edge between the handler and her charge. A shot was fired at 57, and Ed stood steady and proud. With only a few minutes to spare, Chaffee gently petted Ed before holding his collar and directing him back to the course. During the challenging return walk through the ankle-snagging tag alders, a smile was visible on the handler's face, and Ed exhibited a sense of satisfaction that was evident to those who know and understand grouse dogs.
Snyder's Fireside Ed stretched out on a limb find grouse with easy handling and a picture-perfect back of his bracemate's bird, making it the most outstanding brace of the trial. He demonstrated intelligence, grit, effortless flow, and heart. All qualities that define a true champion.

Runner-up Champion Brace: Chasehill Poison Ivy and Birdogn True Confidence
A runner-up champion was also named. Chasehill Poison Ivy, a white female Pointer with a liver head and marking on her chest behind the right shoulder. Ivy was handled by John Stolgitis and owned by Bill McFadden. Ivy ran the first brace on Day 2, paired with another white female Pointer, Birdogn True Confidence, callname "Sadie." The two dogs complemented each other well, taking turns pushing one another ahead on the Wilson Park Course.
Just seven minutes into their run, there was a silencing of their bells. The pair of small-framed Pointers were found pointed and backing in a low pocket of alders, surrounded by young aspen. A quick flushing move by Stolgitis produced a woodcock, followed by his shot. Both dogs were led back to the course to continue on. At 12, Ivy was found just off the course, pointing back towards her handler. While Stolgitis moved in, the sound of a grouse taking wing was clearly heard by all. A second bird, this time a woodcock, flushed just seconds later off Ivy's nose, followed by a shot by Stolgitis. Ivy remained steady and tall. She was promptly moved forward to rejoin the race. Ivy's bird-finding efforts didn't stop there. At 19, she pointed left of the course, and another woodcock was produced clean. At 20, Sadie's bell went quiet, followed by a search effort. She was found 150 yards off the trail in a promising area, but no bird was found, and an attempt to relocate was empty. As the dogs were separated, Ivy led forward, crossing the road and digging into more promising cover.
At 33, Pharris crossed the road with pace, trying to regain fresh ground. The two handlers soon converged as Stolgitis slowed his pace in the absence of Ivy's bell. The next few minutes could have been mistaken for an old-fashioned Wisconsin deer drive as both a doe and a small buck were pushed from their beds and ran past the gallery at close range.
A few minutes after crossing the road to the west, Ivy's bell disappeared. The cover was ideal grouse habitat: young evergreens and small pole timber interspersed with choking dogwood thickets. With 43 minutes on the clock, Stolgitis, with the help of his scout Mike Flewelling, moved east off the course, searching for Ivy. After a 10-minute search, the judge and handler Stolgitis adjusted the search and backtracked north, paralleling the course. Shortly thereafter, scout Flewelling announced "Dog on point" near where the course originally crossed the road. Within a few steps, a grouse flushed to the handler's left. With a shot fired, the find was recorded, and Ivy stood proudly 40 yards to the handler's front. Of note, the gallery was on the road a few yards from Ivy, watching it unfold with a front row seat to the placing performance.
While Stolgitis searched for Ivy, Sadie worked methodically through thick cover and a run of hard-to-find conifers right of the course. At 51, in front of a split gallery, her bell went silent. The distinct thunderous wingbeats of a grouse filled the air while Pharris and the judge quickly ducked into the cover to find Sadie standing tall and motionless. Pharris was asked to shoot and did so, marking the first two dogs of the trial to card grouse finds, setting the bar for the championship.

Notable Others
As is often the case, the dogs accompanying the champion and runner-up champion play a significant role in their success, sometimes even helping to propel them to victory. Elite athletes have a way of elevating those around them, and both Rebellious Fearless Fred and Birdogn True Confidence did just that, contributing to the overall strength of the competition. In addition to these standout bracemates, there were several other dogs that were strong contenders for the championship and deserve notable recognition for their performances.

Lake Effect Ali, a white Setter with orange masking and light orange ticking, owned and handled by Tim Kaufman, ran the Culvert Course One, the final brace of Day 3. The Culvert Course produced grouse and woodcock on multiple days throughout the week, and Ali made the most of her opportunities.
At 13, her bell fell silent. As the gallery approached a thick drainage to the right of the course that feeds into the Eau Claire River, a fleeting grouse on the wing was spotted escaping from the back side of the draw by the judge and handler. Both agreed it warranted investigation and as they approached, the outline of a white Setter became visible in the sea of alders.
Within 20 yards of reaching Ali, a single woodcock lifted, followed quickly by a twittering brace. As Kaufmann moved closer, he asked to fire, and after receiving confirmation from Judge Brown, he did. A few steps more and two more woodcock took flight. An exciting flurry in front of a dog that stood like a statue amid all the commotion.
Ali's bracemate also had bird finds, including a grouse, but was picked up 23 minutes into the hour after succumbing to the temptation of the bird. Continuing from that point alone, Ali pushed, and Kaufmann handled her with ease. She worked the course thoroughly, hitting all the right covers and maintaining strong forward momentum.
At 35, Kaufmann had Ali in position for an upcoming hard left turn, where hardwoods meet rows of red pines known for stalling dogs' forward progress. The gallery trailed behind, tracking her bell as they descended into a bowl of thick, tangled hazel and grapevines. Her pace slowed, and she worked methodically along the entire edge.
At 46, the final stretch was reached, where the course runs along the southern edge of a young aspen cut. Ali moved to the north edge and paralleled her handler until the bell stopped at 48, about 100 yards out through dense cover. The party, including Kaufmann, judge, reporter, and scout, waded through the thicket to eventually find her standing. A woodcock flushed, followed by the report of a shot shortly after. The party retraced their steps through the cut toward the course with only a few minutes remaining. As the judge counted down the final five seconds, Ali's bell went silent one last time--just two seconds from the 60-minute mark. With a smile on Kaufman's face, they entered the sea of slashings once more to again find Ali standing tall in the bottom of a small dugout bowl. A timberdoodle twittered west into the afternoon sun, and Kaufman's shot rang out as the day's final benediction.

E J Jonesy, a female Setter who carries the legacy of her remarkable predecessor, Ponderosa Mac, came up short only by direct comparison to the flawless runs of the eventual champion and runner-up. From the start, Jonesy ran and handled like a professional, making quick work of her first find. Just two minutes into the brace, off the left-hand side of the course, Jonesy stood tall and confident, broadside to the gallery while handler Scott Chaffee worked his way toward her. A precisely indicated grouse, perched on a log, was first spotted and acknowledged by Chaffee, followed by the judge. The bird took wing while Jonesy maintained a beautiful, statuesque stance through the shot by her handler.
Jonesy's performance was marked by intensity and steady pace. Her movement was smooth, effortless, and fluid, taking her into all the right places and keeping the bell ringing with purpose for nearly the entire hour. At 46, her bell stopped to the front. The course took the gallery directly to her, and once again, she was standing tall, this time in a thick patch of prickly ash. Chaffee attempted to flush, but the bird was not found, and he tapped Jonesy to move on. At 50, not far from the prior location, she began moving at a slower, more methodical pace before pointing briefly and then self-relocating. By 53, she stood once more; this time, Chaffee made a lengthy flushing attempt in front of her as signs leading up to that point suggested the possibility of a runner. Finally, a woodcock was spotted just feet off of Jonesy's nose. Chaffee flushed the bird and shot. At 57, I noted that Jonesy had exhibited the same level of animation, pace, and style as when she first started the brace, showcasing exceptional endurance.

A young dog whose performance is also noteworthy was a tri-colored female Setter named Northwoods Cedar Edge called Enni. Handled by her owner, Lindsey Saetre, Enni ran in brace #33 on the final day of competition. Of the 36 braces observed, this was one of the best examples of the type of connection every handler should strive to achieve with their dog. Enni possesses something magnetic about her that makes it difficult to take your eyes off. Her movement through the woods is snappy and filled with energy. More than just style, though, she exhibits an outstanding work ethic and an unwavering drive. At 14, she showed maturity well beyond her years with an opportunity to back her bracemate directly in front of the entire gallery, demonstrating discipline, biddability, and class. At 39, Enni showed her bird-finding ability and displayed admirable manners with a clean find on a woodcock. Over the six-day trial, I watched 12 dogs run on that same course, and she was the only one to work her way to the back side of the pond between the road, just after crossing the High Line--a likely spot to find a veteran bird that took a concerted effort and a level of intelligence to simply figure out how to access. Moves like that showed me she has great instinct and grittiness and is willing to do whatever it takes. She's simply not going to the dog that runs the easy path. While an unproductive point at 42 ultimately took her out of contention, both judges were insistent on noting that Enni's a dog with a very bright forthcoming. In their words, "She will find herself on the podium in the future."

The Running
Brace #1 - Highline Course
Light rain and heavy air greeted the dogs for a prompt and punctual 7:30 breakaway to start the 82nd running of the Grand National Grouse Championship. Both dogs, handlers, and the gallery moved through the damp, quiet leaves, which provided favorable conditions to hear ringing bells.
Mohawk Mill Good Advice, a male Pointer handled by John Stolgitis, sported a distinctive sounding Swiss bell while braced with Deciding Point, a female Setter handled by Mark Hughes. At 18 minutes in, Stolgitis's dog locked up on point, but no bird was produced; an onlooker waiting by the trucks reported seeing a woodcock escape as the dog stopped to flush. At 26, Deciding Point pointed at the base of a red pine hump near the river, but again, no bird was found. As the morning rain fell, trickling creeks began to swell streams, and a heavier downpour set in at 37, forcing the gallery to pull on hoods and jackets as they crossed the high line. At 45, Mohawk Mill Good Advice pointed again, with Hughes's dog backing in a stand of planted red pines just short of the third road crossing. A relocation attempt failed to turn up any birds, and at 49, both dogs were picked up to close out the first brace.

Brace #2 - Culvert Course
Northwoods Cedar, a white with black ticking Setter female handled by Eric Saetre, made a strong initial run, first checking back at the 4-minute mark. She was braced with Backwoods Wild Fire Blaze, a male Pointer handled by Mark Hughes. The two dogs separated at 7; Cedar's bell rang clearly as she worked ahead, covering several hundred yards of course at a time. At 13, Blaze found the scent of woodcock in the bottom of an alder run not far off the trail. As the gallery approached, the bird flushed quickly at the pressure of the dog. Blaze continued forward in pursuit of the temptation before Hughes leashed up. By 14, Cedar's bell had fallen silent, and it was presumed she had stopped. At 16, she was located standing in a creek outlet that fed into the river to the south. Saetre made a thorough flushing attempt, but no bird was found, and a relocation yielded the same result.
The rain intensified at the 20-minute mark, and those without adequate rain gear found themselves both wet and cold. Cedar continued to push forward; her bell was heard faintly at the front of the course for much of the remainder of the brace. At 37, she outran the bell, approaching a hard left turn where a pine plantation met the hardwood edge. A scout was sent to help locate her when, at 42, Cedar surprised everyone by coming back from the front. As the hour drew to a close, time was called by the judge, but Cedar's bell had fallen silent several minutes leading up to that point. Her scout, handler, judges, and marshal did a final search and found her standing, though no bird was produced when she released at the handler's calling.

Brace #3 - Crash Course
Berg Brothers Hatchet, a male Setter owned and handled by Colin Peterson, ran strong and under control as he hit the creek and worked his way into the first promising cut of the Crash Course. Hatchet ran alone as his bracemate was a scratch in the third brace on Day 1. Though the rain briefly slowed, it returned in full force, proving it wasn't quite finished with the day. Being a solo run was noticeable, and Hatchet leveraged the opportunity to work the course thoroughly. Peterson's low-toned singing was almost a soothing sound that carried in harmony with his dog's bell across the entire course. Hatchet showed to be an industrious dog working the first three-quarters of the hour-long brace without a bird contact but without waning effort. At 43, his bell stopped to the right of the course. After a short search accompanied by both judges, Peterson found Hatchet standing tall and, after a lengthy flushing effort, was able to persuade a woodcock less than cooperative woodcock to take wing. Only Hatchet's head moved, marking the birds' escape at the sound of the bird, and through the shot, he stood patiently. As Peterson led Hatchet back to the course, a second woodcock rose, and Hatchet stopped abruptly, followed by another shot.

Brace #4 - Stokely Diablo Jake Course
Clover Valley's Millie braced with Mulberry Fields Molly, made their way with intensity along a course marked by the rolling hills, deep valleys, and oxbow flats carved over centuries by the relentless flow of the Eau Claire River. Both these female Setters were strong running and took the lines along the ridges, pushing each other in and out of earshot for most of the race. Millie struggled to keep a consistent forward pattern early on. With the help of her handler, she'd recalibrate herself, managing to regain contact with the course. After an extended period without her bell, the scout launched a search, heading toward the backside of a swamp where she was last heard. While probing a pine hill in hopes she would be standing, her bell was heard at a distance, returning from behind the gallery. Though she ran with conviction, her motor burned fuel that was a little too hot for the audible limitations created by the terrain. Soon, her bell was lost again, and at 49, without confirmation for some time, Furnish requested the GPS to assist in locating his dog. Mulberry Fields Molly finished the course without birdwork.

Brace #5 - H Course
Ol Paint, a handsome young male Pointer handled by Tom Butler, and Over The Hill Try, a female Pointer owned and handled by Rod Lein, ran an exciting brace on the H-Course. At the 10-minute mark, Ol Paint made a strong move, pointing a woodcock 40 yards off the trail. That find was followed by Try showing good intensity, making her way to the front of the action. At 20, Ol Paint pointed again and Try backed. Both dogs faced a deadfall that any observer would have bet good money a grouse would have been found. Instead, a woodcock showed itself, followed by a shot by Butler. At 25, Ol Paint was stopped on the right side of the trail, and Try was found to be honoring. At the flushing efforts of Butler, a woodcock flushed, flying directly over the gallery, and all was clear. At 40, both dogs were found pointed; Butler flushed the woodcock, and both guns fired. At 47, Butler worked slowly into another pointed woodcock by his dog just 20 yards off the trail. Though everyone was hoping that one of these points would produce a larger bird, Ol Paint had the chance to display some great control and the ability to downshift gears as he closed into these likely flight birds. Again, at 49, after three soft self-relocates, Ol Paint finally pinned down what apparently was a moving woodcock. He stood through all the shots, and Butler was running out of ammo. At 53, Ol Paint's Achilles heel was exposed when he failed to back a pointed bird of his bracemate. Butler was asked to pick up and obliged, noting that backing was not a strong point for his young, promising dog. Lein ultimately was able to shoot, and Try scored the pointed woodcock to end the brace filled with migration birds.

Brace #6 - Horse Creek Course
Little Hawk, a hard-running, stylish Setter female owned and handled by Paul Cook, took on the Horse Creek Course braced with Warrior Zeke, a male Pointer handled by Mark Hughes, who was running in his fourth brace of the day. Things started slowly leading up to the challenging first hairpin turn that can catch some handlers off guard. Hughes managed to get the closer working Pointer around the corner while Little Hawk got caught on the far side of the creek. This led to the dogs being separated at the 8-minute mark. At 14, a shot rang out well to the front as Zeke found, pointed, and stood well through a woodcock flushed by Hughes. At 24, both dogs were found standing tall together; Little Hawk pointed, and Zeke backed. At 27, Hughes' dog successfully pointed a woodcock in a river bottom. The dogs leapfrogged each other through the course's midsection, which snakes its way through a sandy bottom under ancient shagbark hickory trees. At 31, both bells stopped again where Zeke dog had another woodcock pointed. The flush and shot were well executed by Hughes, and Little Hawk's bell resumed to produce sound after she made a brief pause about 100 yards away. At 41, Little Hawk's bell stopped, and Zeke, too, seemed to have stopped without certainty. It was discussed how to best handle the situation as both dogs stood, but whether they were pointed, backing or just a discretionary stance was unclear. Both dogs were moved, released, and moved forward. By 46, Zeke was pointed again, and 100 yards later, Little Hawk was on point as well. Both finds were woodcock, and I could hear Little Hawk's bell vibrate with excitement while her handler flushed. At 50, Zeke again worked fresh scent, making a number of short, controlled relocations before a shot was heard. I consulted with the other reporter to find it was another woodcock. Finally, at 57, Zeke pointed one last time in the bottom. Another woodcock, marking the conclusion of a brace filled with action, just lacking the trial's signature bird.

Brace #7 - Wilson Park, Course 1
What a difference a day makes. The weather alone changed the feel throughout the gallery on Day 2 and with it, so too came the grouse. Chasehill Poison Ivy, a female Pointer handled by John Stolgitis, was paired with Birdogn True Confidence (callname Sadie), a classy white female Pointer handled by Jordan Pharris. A punctual 7:30 start soon led to finding both dogs pointed in a low, aspen-choked bottom just seven minutes in. Handlers, accompanied by judges and scouts, worked their way to the dogs where a woodcock was flushed, and a shot was fired by Stolgitis followed by steady observation from both dogs. At 12, Ivy pointed off the trail, and while her handler approached, a grouse was heard by all just before a woodcock showed itself, feet from a still-standing Ivy. Her handler fired before gathering her up to rejoin the race unfolding. At 19, Ivy had another point to the left side of the trail, and another woodcock was flushed with a clean shot fired. At 20, Sadie's bell fell silent, and she was found after a brief search pointed 150 yards off the trail in a likely spot, but no bird was produced.
At 33, Pharris crossed the road, setting a strong pace to catch up with the lead dog. By 43, Stolgitis returned, backtracking the course after losing Ivy's bell and no check-in from her. With the help of his veteran scout Mike Flewelling, Ivy was located back course in a berry thicket near the road, standing tall. With a gallery pensively watching Ivy, handler Stolgitis flushed a moving grouse 30 yards from the point as Ivy stood proud with her recorded find.
Pharris moved forward, progressing into thicker, more promising cover where, at 51, Sadie's bell stopped. The unmistakable flushing sound of a grouse was heard about 50 yards away by the judge and handler. They made their way to find Sadie still standing, and Pharris was asked to shoot. The brace concluded at exactly 8:30. Both dogs had grouse finds carded and were still digging hard.

Brace #8 - Gasline Course
The eighth brace started off slowly, with little action for the first 20 minutes. The two female Pointers, Kelly, owned and handled by Tom Butler, and Mohawk Mill Miss You, handled by John Stolgitis, showed solid work ethic, staying in contact with their handlers and generally working to the front. The action began at 25, but it was short-lived. Both dogs came to a stop in a young cut just after making a hard right turn out of a section of planted red pines. While Stolgitis approached his dog on point, Kelly was spotted about 50 yards beyond, pointed back toward her bracemate. As Butler neared Kelly, she broke point and moved in on Mohawk Mill Miss You, failing to honor and back. By this time, Stolgitis had already called his dog's point and was attempting to flush. The pressure from the rapidly approaching Kelly proved too much for Stolgitis's dog. She, too, abandoned her point prematurely, and both dogs were called to be picked up.

Brace #9 - Highline Course
Millers Dusty Version, a female Pointer handled by Mark Hughes, was braced with Moss Meadow Seeker, a dark-colored male Setter owned and handled by Ken Moss, on the Highline course. The pair made an impressive start, and at 15, just before the second road crossing, Seeker was found on point in a low bottom. Moss made a short flushing attempt before relocating. Interestingly, the point occurred in the same spot where unproductive finds had been called on Day 1 and Day 6 of the trial.
After that early action, the pace settled into a steady rhythm, with Moss and Seeker appearing closely connected as they moved through the course. At 40, near the Highline opening, Seeker stopped again, just off the course. He gave the gallery a front-row view as Moss moved into flush, ultimately producing a clean woodcock find. The remainder of the brace was marked by smooth handling, but no further birdwork was made.

Brace #10 - Culvert Course
Brace #10 showcased two flashy young dogs with tremendous potential. A petite female Setter named Momma, white with orange ears, owned and handled by Josh Matel, was paired with Rod Lein and his female Pointer, Over The Hill Morgan, recently crowned the 2024 Minnesota Grouse Dog champion. At the breakaway, both dogs shot down the course enthusiastically. The gallery got a surprise just one minute into the brace when two grouse flushed back towards the road and over a group of onlookers still gathered by the trucks. At 13, Morgan's bell fell silent. The likely spot for her point was a drainage bottom thick with alders. While Lein and his scout moved in to search, Momma crested the hill and began drifting toward the same cover. Matel skillfully steered her clear of the thicket, as Lein called point, having located his black-and-white Pointer. A woodcock was flushed, followed by a shot, and Morgan held steady throughout.
Both dogs pushed forward for the remainder of the hour, racing ahead while keeping the bells ringing but never losing contact. At 51, Morgan found another woodcock 30 yards into a stand of young aspen, and the brace ended at the main road to the sound of both bells ringing strong over a large expanse of cut aspen.

Brace #11 - Crash Course
The 11th brace featured Grouse Trails Little Bud, a handsome male Pointer owned and handled by John McKellop of Pennsylvania, and I'm Easy Money, a male Setter owned and handled by Kyle Peterson of Minnesota. At 3, Bud found himself pointed into a thick patch of hazel but self-released before crossing a small creek and heading up the hill into the first promising section of cover. By 8, both dogs were prospecting through a young cut of popples. For several hundred yards, the gallery moved forward to the steady rhythm of the dogs' bells, undisturbed by any other action.
At 25, Bud suddenly stopped just off the course, appearing to be on point. At nearly the same moment, Easy, running hard on course to check in with his handler, rushed in on the standing Bud. A grouse exploded from the nearby blowdown, and both dogs moved forward at the thunderous commotion. The brace was called to an early end.

Brace #12 - Stokely Diablo Jake Course
A more detailed description of the 12th brace can be found earlier in this report, as it showcased a potential champion. The summarized version goes as follows. The brace included two female Setters, contrasting with each other in color and style. Kona's Blue Skye, owned and handled by A J Kalupa, is mostly dark and moves through the woods in a quick, snappy, exciting fashion. E J Jonesy, handled by Scott Chafee, is brilliant white and glides effortlessly through the woods. At 2:30, not far from the breakaway location, Jonesy started the brace off with a point to the south of the course. Chaffee spotted a grouse on a log before the flush and shot. At 7, a wild grouse was foot-flushed off the trail while the dogs displayed intensity throughout, running with a smooth flow and staying mostly to the front in the right places. At 36, the party passed the King Cabin and began to separate from one another as Kona became hung up in the hills of the course. By 42, Kona rejoined Jonesy, who steadily worked to the front. At 46, Jonesy's bell stopped, and she was found pointed. After a relocation attempt, the bird was not found. At 50, she again pointed briefly but self-released, and at 53, her bell stopped for good. After a lengthy flush attempt, a woodcock was produced, smooth and clean. At 57, Chaffee's tail wagged as pleasantly as it had at 5. The run concluded within 20 yards of the course finish.

Brace #13 - H Course
Day 3 began with temps of 32 degrees following a hard frost and foggy night. The air was now clear and crisp, but the bells, for some reason, seemed harder to hear. Kits Whiskey River Patsy, a female Setter handled by Bob Wheelock, was paired with Braggabull, a female Pointer handled by Mark Hughes. The first half of the course was limited when it came to action, but at 34, a steady march was briefly interrupted by a pause from Patsy with nothing to show for it. At 38, she again stopped just off the trail, and a woodcock was flushed. Wheelock's shot preceded steadiness from Patsy, and at 42, she pointed again. Another woodcock was found and handled well. Bragabull showed work ethic by hunting steadily out in front of Hughes but was unable to produce any bird work on the course. At 45, Patsy rejoined her bracemate and continued to lead the way forward, staying ahead of the group. At 50, Patsy settled into what looked like a marathon pace, covering ground with determination. At 56, she reached the far edges nearing the end of the course, knowing a grouse was needed to be in contention, but no such bird was found.

Brace #14 - Horse Creek Course
Mojo's Remington Steal, a female Setter handled by Mark Hughes, ran with Dave Moore's male Setter, The Highway. At 10 minutes in, both dogs and veteran handlers managed to round the first hard turn at the river without issue. At 14, the dogs distanced themselves from each other before both stopped. Hughes walked into his dog, leading to the flushing of a grouse at 15. At 17, Moore's dog, who relocated on its own, was found pointed in the same area, and Moore attempted to flush unproductively. At 25, Moore's dog's bell went silent and he was found pointed again before a small creek crossing. A shot was fired at 29 after a woodcock was produced. With both dogs showing to be slowing at the 35-minute mark, the judges decided to pick both up at the halfway point of the course.

Brace #15 - Wilson Park Course
In the 15th brace, Bad Habits, a female Pointer ran paired with Ed Graddy's female Setter, Northern Slopes Bell. At 2:30, Bell's bell stopped, but she self-released from a low, thick alder bottom. At 7:45, both dogs stopped. The handlers searched for several minutes before finding both dogs standing together at 13. After a brief discussion with the judges as to what the next steps should be, a flushing attempt was made by both handlers. After no bird was produced, the dogs were released and relocation efforts proved unsuccessful. At 21, Bell stopped again, prompting a search. About 75 yards in, the dog was heard moving, and the judge and handler worked back to the course. At 34, Mergens lost his bell shortly after the road crossing, and after a length of time, he decided to pick her up at 45 at the second road crossing. At 46, Graddy's bell stopped briefly, but Bell kept moving, and the course was finished without any more action.

Brace #16 - Gas Line Course
Brace #16 included Bang Bang's Longshot, a male Setter handled by Scott Luther from North Carolina, and Double Deuce Decker, a male Pointer handled by Mark Hughes. At 1:30 in to the course, Hughes's dog went on point on the left side of the trail, but the attempt came up empty and unproductive. At 24, both dogs stopped, and by 27, they were found together in a young cut as the sun showed itself. The subsequent relocation attempt was unsuccessful. At 41, Bang Bang's Longshot's bell stopped briefly before he self-released and continued moving. The course was completed without successful birdwork, but both dogs ran hard throughout and showed good work ethic.

Brace #17 - Highline Course
In the 17th brace, Mark Hughes handled Saddled Up Sadie, a beautiful dark orange marked female Pointer owned by Joe Cammisa. She ran with Stan The Man, a white and black Setter male owned and handled by Tom Fruchey. The first stretch of the course was uneventful until 12 when we reached the first road crossing. A grouse was seen and heard taking flight as the group paused to look and listen for both dogs. After a lengthy period without the bell, Stan The Man was ordered up by his handler. The middle stretch of the course was also uneventful, and at 38, the gas line was reached. With Sadie in the lead, the sun shone down on the gallery. At 42, her bell stopped briefly at a swamp edge before she slowly released herself after being encouraged on by the handler. At 49, the last road crossing was reached, and the judges decided to call for an early ending.

Brace #18 - Culvert Course
A more detailed description can be found earlier in this report as one of several notable braces. A dark Setter named Coal Camp's Annie, owned and handled by Adam Thomas was paired with the contrasting white and orange Lake Effect Ali, owned and handled by Tim Kaufman. At 13, Ali stopped in an alder run where a congregation of woodcock totaling five and a grouse were all found and handled. For the rest of that western-facing walk, Ali shone brightly with the sun in our faces and the temperatures warming.
At 23, a shot was fired by Thomas after Annie made game on a well-handled woodcock. At 40, she was found pointed again in the river bottom, and a grouse was flushed 20 yards down the course. Annie took three short hops and was subsequently picked up.
At 35, Kaufman regained Ali's attention, successfully shifting her direction and flow at a tricky, hard turn that can get many dogs caught up. He kept her moving south through a sizable pine stand known for swallowing dogs and extending the bells beyond earshot. Her pace slowed as she worked through a likely bowl of dense cover before reaching a young cut of aspen at the 48-minute mark. Ali extended where she was found pointed before showing perfect manners on a migrating woodcock. With just seconds left in the hour-long brace, her bell stopped one last time, and she was found with her head high and tail high, with the sun shining through her silky white tail. Another striking point on a woodcock to finish a perfect run.

Brace #19 - Crash Course
Day 4 brought more autumnal weather, with clear skies and brisk temperatures. The 19th brace paired Hog Hill's Pretty Penny, a petite liver-and-white Pointer female, with West Wind Big Jake, a handsome white Pointer male with dark buckskin markings. At 8, after crossing the creek bottom and climbing the hill, both dogs stretched out along the straight-edged aspen cut. By 12, the bells were lost to distance, as the dogs had early ambitions for big casts. Unsure whether Jake was standing in the sea of aspen or simply beyond earshot, his handler, Mark Hughes, paused at the intersection where the course veers southwest. Meanwhile, Tammy Chaffee, handling Penny, kept moving forward, and Penny checked back in with the group after the 15-minute mark. At 17, a few hundred yards further down the course, the gallery walked into Jake, who was standing but decided to self-release upon their approach. At 19, Hughes decided to pick up Jake.
The course continued smoothly, winding deep into the woods, where it rounds the pond and pinches between the river. With no running mate, Penny worked her way back into bell range for the remainder of the run. At 32, she stopped hard to the flush of a grouse off the trail. As Chaffee and the judge approached, a second grouse flushed in front of her, and Chaffee fired a shot, with steady recovery following. At 36, they pushed into the back side of the cut, with the sun over their right shoulders beginning to thaw the frosted tips of the aspen whips. At 38, Penny stopped again on the left side of the course. She was found by the scout, and as Chaffee approached, she released Penny to relocate. One grouse flushed under pressure from the dog, followed by a second grouse that flew over the gallery. The brace concluded at 41.

Brace #20 - Stokely Diablo Jake Course
Baxter's Indian Arrowhead, a well-built white Setter male handled by Brent Peters, ran with Chasehill Snoop Dog, a male Pointer handled by John Stolgitis, in the 20th brace. Shortly after the start, Stolgitis decided to pick up Snoop Dog, as the dog's increasing excitement to run became evident to the gallery. This left the course to the steady-paced white-and-orange Setter. At 25, two grouse were foot-flushed by the gallery at the pinch point between the swamp and the river. By 29, the bell had faded into the distance, lost among the hills near King's cabin and along the edge of a year-old clearcut. At 33, the scout was sent into the cut at the top of the hill, and at 35, the judges and handler followed to investigate. At 48, a GPS was called in, and the dog was located standing some distance away.

Brace #21- H Course
Duck Hook, a strong-running male Pointer handled by Mike Flewelling, was braced with Jewitt's Creek Beauty, a black-and-white female Pointer owned by Jeff Sullivan and handled by Rod Lein, in the 21st brace. At 9, a grouse wild-flushed off the trail without either dog's involvement. By 20, the dogs had separated, and Beauty had to be pulled forward by her handler. At 22, a second grouse was wild flushed from the gallery's right side. At 23, Duck Hook stopped on point, and his handler, along with the judge and reporter, walked in. At 25, a woodcock was flushed, and a shot was fired. His handler made the decision to pick up his dog based on style. At 26, Beauty's bell briefly stopped, then continued moving until 28, when it stopped again. After a lengthy search to locate her, Beauty eventually released herself at a distance. At the halfway point of the course, the judges requested that she be picked up as she didn't seem to have the run in her.

Brace #22 - Horse Creek Course
This brace featured plenty of bird work from the two female Pointers. Temperatures warmed, and the birdwork grew more consistent. A Distant Spec was handled by Mark Hughes, while the other, Chasehill Wicked Wilma, was under John Stolgitis. Just one minute in, Stolgitis moved in to find Wilma on point, and a shot was fired after a woodcock was flushed at 3. Hughes's dog, A Distant Spec, moved ahead and pointed a woodcock to the front, which was handled cleanly. Both dogs struggled with the first hard turn but were eventually pulled back onto course. At 20, Stolgitis lost Wilma's bell and confidently continued up the course toward the last place it was heard. At 22, A Distant Spec's bell stopped, allowing the handlers to find both dogs standing at 24. Stolgitis made the flush on a woodcock with A Distant Spec backing. At 31, bells fell silent again. Both dogs were located at 35, standing about 100 yards apart, and each made clean woodcock finds. At 37, Wilma pointed again, and another woodcock was produced along the riverbank. At 41, A Distant Spec made game on another woodcock, and the silence was broken by a shot from Hughes's pistol. At 43, she got too close to a jumpy woodcock, and the judges ordered her picked up at 44. Less than one minute past the allotted 60 minutes, a grouse exploded in front of the gallery just after Stolgitis gathered Wilma up.

Brace #23 - Wilson Park Course
A sunny afternoon with temperatures around 55 degrees marked the first time the Wilson Park courses were used in the afternoon. The brace featured Springpond Rockin Sidney, a female Setter handled by Tammy Chaffee, and Tupelo Honey, another female Setter owned and handled by Bob Wheelock. At 4, a grouse was flushed to the left of the course as Tupelo Honey approached, moving quickly through the area without acknowledging the bird. Her handler was asked to call her in, and the dog was leashed up. By 10, Springpond Rockin Sidney worked slowly into a point. The handler and judges moved in, and Chaffee attempted to flush, but no bird was produced. The dog was allowed to relocate without success. At 29, her bell became faint and eventually lost. Her handler, scout, and judges moved in to search before hearing Sidney moving toward the far east, near the bottom of the ridge. At 33, Chaffee regrouped with her dog at the road before continuing on the next stretch of the course. At 39, the judges decided to have Chaffee pick up Springpond Rockin Sidney at the two-track and make their way back to the trucks.

Brace #24 - Gas Line
Brace 24 featured two hard-running Setters: Ruffed Country Sweet Lily, owned and handled by Jordan Pharris, and Doodle Ridge Elroy, a medium-sized white male owned by Bruce Mueller. Both dogs started strong and ran hard, but their drive pushed them beyond bell range and a manageable distance. As a result, they struggled to stay compassed to the front, leading to the loss of their bells more often than the judges or handlers would have liked. This ultimately resulted in a short finish to the brace.

Brace #25 - Highline
Day 5 brought ideal fall weather, with a 7:21 a.m. start marking the beginning of the day's first brace. Fresh deer scrapes were spotted along the course, and the presence of trucks increased as more deer hunters entered the woods for the weekend. The brace featured Snyder's Sadie, a female Setter handled by Tammy Chaffee, and Larix Laricina (callname Tammy), a female Pointer owned and handled by Alex Anderson. Both dogs ran smoothly on the first stretch of the High Line Course, making the bridge at 11 for the first road crossing. Although both dogs pushed their bells to the edge of their range, they never lost contact and complemented each other's large, questing swings through the cover. At 22, a grouse was flushed to the right of the trail along a young clearcut, though neither dog was involved. At 32, just before the dogs hit the high line, Anderson lost his bell. After a short wait, both dogs worked their way through a stretch of likely cover, their bells pecking along intermittently. At 34, Chaffee's dog stopped on point just across the line. Tammy attempted a flush but had no success and asked the dog to relocate. Both dogs continued forward for a birdless stretch that led them to the last road crossing at 46, where the judges asked for both dogs to be leashed.

Brace #26 - Culvert Course
Brace #26 paired two females, Over The Hill Patty, a small-framed, strong-running black-and-white Pointer owned and handled by Rod Lein, and Kasida, callname "Z". Z is an elegant orange-and-white Setter owned by Paul Cook. At 19, Z stopped just off-course; at 20, a shot rang out following a clean woodcock find. At 22, both dogs briefly paused before moving themselves on. At 25, Z's bell stopped briefly, but she quickly resumed her forward motion. By 35, both bells faded out of range just before the planted pines, and the judges asked the handlers to pick up their dogs at that point.

Brace #27 - Crash Course
A more detailed description of this championship run can be found earlier in this report. The brace paired Snyder's Fireside Ed, a mostly white Setter male, against Rebellious Fearless Fred, an orange-and-white Setter male. The entire brace had a race-to-bird feel as both dogs were clearly seasoned and complimented each other well. At 13, a grouse flushed ahead of the gallery from the right side of a young cut, about 200 yards from the top of the hill/start of the cut. At 15, Luebke moved into the cut to find Fearless Fred stopped on point with Ed backing. A grouse was produced and flushed in front of the entire gallery like a painting. At 22, Fred's bell was lost, and by 25, he was spotted by the gallery, pointed tall on both ends at a deadfall along the river. Luebke attempted to flush, but no bird was found. Fred was relocated but came up empty. Both dogs continued on course at 29, working thoroughly forward. At 43, after a fast-paced stretch of leapfrogging, they hit the backside of the cut. Fred paused briefly before moving on. At 49, the bells drew in closer through the young aspen on the backside of the course. At 54, the dogs separated. Ed was drawn into the sea of young aspen as Fred continued to push forward. Ed's bell fell silent at a distance, and after a search was made by his handler, scout, and the judge, a shot was fired by Tammy after the flush of a grouse at 57. The last three minutes featured a solid edge search alone for Fred and an easy reel-in for the 8-year-old dog.

Brace #28 - Stokely Diablo Jake Course
This brace featured Seldom Rest Jack, a strong-running Setter male handled by Brian Ralph, and Miller's Hopped Up Version, an equally strong-running female Pointer handled by Mark Hughes. At 17, Jack stopped back and to the right of the course. He was found standing, and a woodcock was produced, but Jack wasn't able to avoid the temptation and was picked up after movement post flush. Meanwhile, Hughes and Millers Hopped Up Version continued forward, navigating the hilly terrain of the rugged course. At 28, before reaching the large swamp, her bell went silent for a long enough period to warrant a search. After 10 minutes of searching, the sound of her bell was heard towards the road. The marshal was asked to radio the trucks to keep them informed, and for the safety of the dog, the decision was made to gather her up, ending the brace short of the halfway point.

Brace #29 - H Course
Snyders Centerfold Peach, a white female Setter handled by Scott Chaffee, was braced with North Slopes Allie, a Setter owned and handled by Ed Graddy, in the 29th brace. At 16, Peach pointed a woodcock, and Chaffee shot, but she was picked up shortly thereafter, breaking on the flush. At 24, Allie's bell went silent, prompting a long walk in where she was found standing tall. Two woodcock were flushed -- one on the way in and another just off her point. Graddy shot, and Allie stood like a statue. He then escorted her back to the course and cut her loose again, allowing the search to resume. Allie was always on the edge of her bell with an easy, flowing style and minimal handling. She was heard but not seen again until 41, when she crisscrossed over the course thoroughly. With no more bird work, 56 minutes in, the judges asked Graddy to call Allie in as they approached the corner of the red pine plantation.

Brace #30 -Horse Creek Course
Meredith Grade Penny, an athletic white female Setter with heavy orange ticking handled by Scott Chaffee, was paired with Miller's Special Upgrade, a beautiful white-and-orange female Pointer. The first 20 minutes were relatively uneventful, but at 22, just after crossing a small creek, Penny pointed the first woodcock of the brace. At 32, she pointed again, and after a short relocation, she produced another woodcock with a clean shot. By 36, both dogs rejoined each other, pushing to the front of the course together. At 41, a wild woodcock flushed not far off the course in front of the handlers and gallery. Penny clearly heard the bird and halted briefly before releasing herself. The judges then asked for her to be called up. Shortly after, Hughes also decided to leash his dog, and the brace was complete.

Brace #31-Wilson Park Course
The final day of the trial, Day 6, began with a misty morning and heavy, damp air. The first brace, #31, broke away at 7:15 a.m. Fireside Sally Forth, a white female Setter with black markings, was handled by Tammy Chaffee and ran alongside Sunkhaze Vera Masardis, a liver-and-white female Pointer handled by Mike Flewelling. Both dogs pushed the bells from the start, but Sally struggled to stay in line with the course, outrunning the bell at 12. She eventually came back from the front at 18. Both dogs got behind their handlers a few times and had difficulty getting into a smooth, forward flow. At 27, both bells went quiet near the road crossing. Chaffee moved in and a shot followed after a woodcock flushed, but Sally's bell rang a few times, leading to her early leash. The judges leashed Sunkhaze Vera Masardis at the halfway point as well.

Brace #32 - Gas Line Course
In the 32nd brace, Mike Flewelling ran Boomer of Blackwater, a strong, mostly white male Pointer with liver markings, with Berg Brothers Doc Holliday, a handsome male Setter owned and handled by Paul Bukovich. Doc took a few minutes to stretch out while Boomer of Blackwater ran strong to the front from the breakaway. Doc settled in and began to open up by the time they reached the dozed road at the 10-minute mark. At 11, Boomer of Blackwater pointed off the road near a deadfall underneath a pine canopy. After a lengthy flushing attempt, his handler relocated his dog unsuccessfully and was asked to pick up. At 12, Doc's bell began to sputter in likely cover. After three soft relocations, he stood still, and Bukovich moved in to flush. Instead of finding a bird, he unfortunately discovered Doc standing over a pile of fresh deer carcasses. Bukovich led Doc back to the course and released him, but from then on, it seemed Doc lacked his earlier enthusiasm. At 23, the judges asked Bukovich to reel in his dog, and the gallery took a shorter walk out to the road.

Brace #33 - High Line Course
In the 33rd brace, Northwoods Cedar Edge, a young tri-colored Setter female owned and handled by Lindsey Saetre, was paired with Beaver Meadow Bit, a medium-sized white female Pointer with orange markings, handled by Mark Hughes. At 14, the stylish Pointer crested the hill in front of the handlers, judges, and gallery before slamming on the brakes and coming to a sliding stop in the wet leaves. She stood still as Hughes attempted to flush in the direction she had indicated. Shortly after, Enni came flying over the hill, stopping dead in her tracks at the sight of the statue-like Pointer. The point came up empty, and as Hughes approached, his dog decided to leave early, cutting her run short. The judges asked Saetre to move her dog on, and at 39, Enni showed her bird-finding ability with a clean find on a woodcock. Over the course of the six-day trial, 12 dogs ran on that same course, and Enni was the only one to work her way to the backside of a pond, between the road, just after crossing the High Line. This was a likely spot for a veteran bird, requiring a concerted effort and intelligence to access. Moves like that demonstrated Enni's great instinct, grit, and willingness to do whatever it takes. Unfortunately, an unproductive point at 42 was the reason for her to be called up prior to completing the course, taking her out of contention.

Brace #34 - Culvert Course
In the 34th brace, two very nice white Pointers with liver-colored markings faced off: Grouse Trails Warrior Cat, a medium-framed female handled by John McKellop, and Ralphy's Chasehill Rip, the defending Grand National Champion. At 7, a woodcock was foot-flushed off the trail in front of the handlers without either dog's involvement. However, at 9, both dogs' bells faded out of earshot. McKellop requested his scout to make a swing for him, and as both handlers moved along the course, they found both dogs standing in an alder thicket. It was determined that Grouse Trails Warrior Cat was pointing, with Rip backing her. After a lengthy flushing effort by McKellop, a woodcock was produced, and both dogs stood staunchly throughout the flush. As the dogs were gathered up and being heeled back to the course, McKellop's dog pointed again. He decided to attempt another flush, but no bird was produced. The judges cautioned McKellop that an unproductive point at this stage would end his run. He attempted to relocate but was unable to produce a bird, and she was leashed up. Chaffee then moved Rip forward along the course by himself. At 22, rain began falling, and at 23, Rip's bell stopped. Chaffee walked in to find a woodcock. He flushed with a shot fired and a steady dog. At 40, Rip passed through a stretch of planted pines, continuing to run strong -- though seldom seen, his bell was always heard to the front. At 49, he entered a young aspen cut, and at 52, his bell fell silent again. At 58, there was a shot after a 75+ yard recovery off the course. The woodcock was found amidst a sea of pool-cue-sized popple, and Chaffee released the dog immediately from its location, hoping for a grouse as time was winding down. At just 3 years old, his race left no doubt that he is full of promise and potential.

Brace #35 - Crash Course
In the 35th brace, Hackberry's Amos Moses, a lengthy, hard-running male Pointer owned and handled by Ben Brettingen, was paired with I'm Blue Sugar, a sporty, white female Setter with heavy ticking, owned and handled by Ryan Hough. At 9, both dogs reached the first cut, and by 11, Amos was working away at the cover. A woodcock flushed wild over the trail shortly after. Hough's dog struggled to stay to the front, and the similar tone of the bells on both dogs caused some confusion, making it difficult for the handlers to keep track of their locations. Amos made a big move around the swamp about halfway through the course, eventually circling back toward the gallery. Hough, unable to consistently keep track of his girl and surprised by her coming from behind one too many times, decided to pick her up at the 36-minute mark. At 44, Amos's bell slowed to a long stop before moving at the direction of his handler. After showing strong power early in the run, his energy was fading and the decision was made to pick him up early.

Brace #36 - Stokely Diablo Jake Course
The final brace paired Grouse Trails Black Knight, a male Pointer mostly white with black markings, owned and handled by John McKellop, with Meridith Grade Corky, a white female Setter handled by Tammy Chaffee. At 15, Corky's bell stopped momentarily to the left of the course, just before McKellop's dog stopped hard to the right. He was found standing in a tag alder run bottom, about 60 yards off the course. As the handler and judge closed the distance to within about 20 yards of the dog, a grouse flushed in front, but the eager Pointer followed the bird with enthusiasm and was consequently leashed up. Corky struggled to gain any forward momentum while running alone, and at 28, roughly halfway through the course, Chaffee decided to pick her up after a hard run that yielded no birdwork.

Augusta, Wis., November 5
Judges: Mike Brown and Adam Dubriske
82ND GRAND NATIONAL GROUSE CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 72 Entries
Winner-SNYDER'S FIRESIDE ED, F1672601, setter male, by Ponderosa Mac-Rouge River Bogsucker. Steven Snyder, owner; Tammy Chaffee, handler.
Runner-Up-CHASEHILL POISON IVY, F1694453, pointer female, by Panola Bacon-Chasehill Little Izzy. William & Karen McFadden, owners; John Stolgitis, handler.

Legends of the Cover Dog Award

Legends of the Cover Dog World: Betsy Danielson and Jerry Kolter.

Legends of the Cover Dog World: Jim Tande and Family.

Legends of the Cover Dog World (l-r): Greg Blair, Brian Ralph, and Dr. Bruce Mueller.