Result: Minnesota Grouse Championship

Location: Mora, Minnesota

Post Date: Dec 3, 2025

Submitted By: Paul Cook

Minnesota Grouse Dog Championship (l-r): Paul Cook (judge), Rod Lein with Over the Hill Try, Ryan Hough with Over the Hill Morgan, and Vance Butler (judge).

The 2025 renewal of the Minnesota Grouse Championship commenced on October 6 on the Rum River State Forest near Mora, Minnesota. Eighteen setters and 10 pointers competed over two and a half days to name a champion and runner-up on native Ruffed grouse and woodcock. To be named champion, a Ruffed grouse must be pointed.

Opinions vary across regions as to the relative difficulty of pointing dogs handling Ruffed grouse, but be assured, a clean find on a grouse was at a premium during this Championship. Birds were there on each of the six courses, but extremely dry conditions hindered optimal scenting for the dogs. The Minnesota Grouse Dog Association thanks the club members who came together for this annual Championship. From cutting and marking courses to marshaling braces and providing food and refreshments, there was nothing left to chance; another well-run wild bird championship. Judges for this renewal were Vance Butler from New Era, Michigan, and Paul Cook from Danbury, Wisconsin. Vance was a long-time professional handler and trainer for well over 20 years. He has competed in and won this championship along with many others. His experience and attentiveness are exactly what should be sought after in a judge. Your scribe has been competing for 20 years in field trials as an amateur and turned professional in 2021. It was a great privilege to be able to judge for the Club on these grounds. The Club would also like to thank our sponsors Purina and OnX Hunt for their continued support.

Emerging as a first-time champion was pointer female Over the Hill Try, owned and handled by Rod Lein. Try ran on Course 6 in the fifth brace. She perfectly handled grouse at 26 and ran to all the right places while maintaining consistent contact with her handler. Runner-up champion was last year's champion here, pointer female Over the Hill Morgan, owned by Robert Zielke and also handled by Rod Lein. She is a littermate to the champion. Morgan laid down a consistent forward pattern, pointing woodcock at 4 and again at 8, then backing her bracemate at 12. She finished going away in the big open timber at the end of Course 7.

The Running
The running began with Northwoods Cedar (E. Saetre) and Clover Valley's Mulak (Furnish). Cedar was hitting the swamp edge deep on Course 1, but as dry as it was, she eventually caught the other side. She was brought back on course but picked up at 57. Mack's bell stopped before the half. As handler approached, he relocated, and a bird got up just as he stopped again. Handler continued flushing and produced another Grouse. Mack finished the hour.

Bad Habits (Mergens/Lein) was braced with Grouse Trails Bathilda (McKellop). Lucy had a nice find deep left of course at 25, where she had to stay with a running bird as it took us a while to reach her. Unfortunately, she went with the shot to end her bid. Tillie finished the hour without bird work.

Blind Faith (Pharris) was pushing the front hard. She stopped at 35 deep right of course, but her handler had gotten behind. She stood a grouse for what was likely several minutes until the bird began to walk away on her, and she put it up upon relocating to end her hour. One Acre Wood Lucky's (Rector) bell clearly stopped for quite a while just before time was called, but an extended search failed to produce.

Berg Brothers Doc Holliday (Bukovich) was hitting a lick, reached the road, and was eventually picked up at the trucks. Woods R Callin Apollo (Frahm) got down to business and was rewarded with a woodcock find, finishing his hour.

One Acre Wood Bandit (Rector) pointed directly on course at 7 with a grouse flushed from deadfall, all in order, and finished his hour. Over the Hill Try (Lein) was reported above.

Planet Queen (Anderson) had a nice woodcock find at 12 but was picked up at 40. Grouse Trails Bud (McKellop) was put on the hook as well.

I'm Easy Money (Peterson) handled a grouse cleanly at 52, finishing the hour. Fireside's Wallace (Rosario) had the tracker pulled at 58.

One Acre Wood Flash (Rector) finished the hour without bird work. Clover Valley's Evans (Furnish) was picked up on a bird at 38.

Grouse Trails Black Knight (McKellop) ran big, finishing without birds. Northern Slopes Allie (Graddy) had a single find near the halfway mark where a woodcock and a grouse flushed, finishing her hour.

Northwoods Cedar Edge (L. Saetre) and Blue Sugar (Hough) hit the course hard, both finishing without bird work.

Big Big Energy (Pharris) and Rebellious Fearless Fred (Luebke) ran well but also finished without birds.

Over the Hill Morgan (Lein) was reported above. Woods R Callin Saddie (Frahm) was picked up moving on a grouse at 12.

Northern Slopes Bell (Graddy) and Northwoods Dexter (Rosario) both showed well for the hour but produced no birds.

Birdogn True Confidence (Pharris) stopped a couple of times in likely places but finished without birds. Grouse Trails Warrior Cat (McKellop) lost contact with her handler near the halfway mark.

Mora, Minn., October 6
Judges: Vance Butler and Paul Cook
MINNESOTA GROUSE DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 10 Pointers and 18 Setters
Winner-OVER THE HILL TRY, F1699008, pointer female, by J T H Scion-Over The Hill Patty. Rod Lein, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-OVER THE HILL MORGAN, F1699010, pointer female, by J T H Scion-Over The Hill Patty. Robert Zielke, owner; Rod Lein, handler.

REUEL HENRY PIETZ DERBY CLASSIC
The Reuel Henry Pietz Derby Classic has become a much sought-after derby win in the woods. A beautiful traveling trophy honoring its namesake is awarded to the winner each fall. This year's Classic entry consisted of nine pointers and two setters and was contested over the same multiple courses following the Championship. The judges were two very knowledgeable and accomplished grouse trial amateurs from Wisconsin--Sig Degitz and Tim Kaufman.

Emerging as the winner was pointer female Rib River Best Bet, owned and handled by Roger King, long-time stalwart of the Chippewa Valley Grouse Dog Association. Coming in at second place was pointer male Buckshot Reloaded, handled by John McKellop, and in third, setter male Lead Belly, owned and handled by Scott Anderson.

Judges: Sig Degitz and Tim Kaufman
REUEL HENRY PIETZ OPEN DERBY CLASSIC [One-Hour Heats] - 9 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-RIB RIVER BEST BET, F1710626, pointer female, by Toth's Tornado Reloaded-Grouse Trails Warrior Cat. Roger King, owner and handler.
2d-BUCKSHOT RELOADED, F1710624, pointer male, by Toth's Tornado Reloaded-Grouse Trails Warrior Cat. Tim Johnson, owner; John McKellop, handler.
3d-LEAD BELLY, F1713001, setter male, by Ponderosa Mac-Snyder's Josephine. Scott Anderson, owner and handler.

Reuel Henry Pietz Open Derby Classic (l-r): Scott Anderson with Lead Belly, Roger King with Rib River Best Bet, Sig Degitz (judge), Tim Kaufman (judge), and John McKellop with Buckshot Reloaded.