Result: Region 7 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Roby, Texas

Post Date: Feb 12, 2025

Submitted By: Mary Ann Gustafson

Region 7 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship (front row): Buck Neil with Texas Cool and Bill Owen with Mauck's Wyeast Owyhee Dallee. (Back row): Chris Cornman, Jason Super, Mike Rogers, Lindsay O'Neill, Tyson Traw, John Benoist, Chip Martin, Alex Mauck, Kris Wall, Trey Baer (judge), and Bunny Brown (judge).

The 2025 Region 7 AFTCA Amateur Shooting Dog Championship was held the weekend of January 3-5 at the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch. Located near Roby, Texas, in the heart of West Texas quail country, the facility is managed for the sole purpose of the study of quail. It is supported by the Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation, which depends almost exclusively upon private donations. Their mission is "Preserving Texas' wild quail hunting heritage for this and future generations." (https://www.quailresearch.org)

The President of the Board is Mr. Steve Snell. The Executive Director is Dr. Ryan O'Shaughnessy. With their guidance, the day-to-day research efforts are overseen by a dedicated team that is working to understand the inter-species dynamics as they relate to the successful propagation of wild Texas quail. We would like to thank these two gentlemen, as well as the rest of the Board, for the outstanding job they are doing. Additionally, many thanks to Mitchell Riggs, Land Manager, and Dana Wright, Program & Communication Coordinator, for joining us at the trial and making us feel at home.

Thanks, also, to Purina for their continued support of bird dog events. Their support is instrumental in holding these championships.

Our judges for the championship this year were Trey Baer of Alvord, Texas, and Bunny Brown from Fort Worth. Both have extensive experience in training, handling, trialing, and judging bird dogs. They were attentive throughout the trial, and their placements were well received. We thank them for their hard work in the saddle.

Jason Super served as trial chairman. Jason had everything in place for the trial so things ran smoothly, in spite of him catching a bug just prior to the event and having to manage from the sidelines. He was ably assisted by Tyson Traw as chief field marshal and John Benoist as the dog wagon driver. Buck Neil was there to fill in where needed and spent time either running dogs or scouting. We were joined this year by two out-of-state participants, Bill Owen from California and Alex Mauck from Oregon. It was a pleasure meeting these two fine gentlemen, and we hope to see them again in the future.

Eighteen dogs competed in this year's championship. Texas Cool, a 6-year-old white and liver Pointer male owned and handled by Buck Neil, received top honors. "Bud" had five finds and a strong, forward race. He had an outstanding relocation on his fifth find. Runner-up was Mauck's Wyeast Owyhee Dallee, a coming 6-year-old tri-colored English Setter owned and handled by Alex Mauck. Dallee had three finds and a wide, ground-covering race. She showed exemplary manners and style when backing her bracemate.

It was a small Derby stake this year with only three entries. Buck Neil's Ain't Easy Being Me ("Willie") took the placement with a strong race.

It's difficult to say how many coveys were located over the day and a half running. I would estimate at least 45. It was an exciting event with great dogs doing what they were born to do -- giving everything they had to give in search of wild quail. Many thanks to all who attended and made this a quality event. We hope to see everyone back again next year.

Roby, Tex., January 3
Judges: Trey Baer and Bunny Brown
REGION 7 AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 18 Entries
Winner-TEXAS COOL, F1690192, pointer male, by Ransom-Good Times Girl. Buck Neil, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-MAUCK'S WYEAST OWYHEE DALLEE, F1687695, setter female, by T's Gunslinger-Hidden Jasmine. Alex Mauck, owner and handler.

REGION 7 OPEN DERBY - 3 Pointers
1st-AIN'T EASY BEING ME, F1716299, pointer male, by Texas Cool-Baby's On Speed Dial. Buck Neil, owner and handler.