Result: National Amateur Prairie Chicken Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

Post Date: Dec 4, 2025

Submitted By: Frank LaNasa

National Amateur Prairie Chicken Shooting Dog Championship (l-r): Frank LaNasa, Rich Boumeester (judge), Mike Vicari (judge), Ed Liermann, Brian Sheehan, Frank Vicari, Sean Patrick Derrig with Erin's Rebel Attraction, Jim Tande, John Mathys, Scott Jordan, Jarrett Bell with Notorious Dominator's Reserve, Allison Bell, Gary Wolf, and Mark Johnson.

This year, 34 dogs took on the six challenging courses at the Buena Vista Grasslands at Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, home to the largest population of Greater Prairie Chicken east of the Mississippi. Year in and year out, the grasslands have produced an impressive number of chickens on which to hold a quality championship. Despite pressures from other interests and developments in the area, the Wisconsin DNR has committed substantial resources to provide for this population of chickens. It is truly a unique place, having hosted bird dog events for more than 40 years. It has been the only home of the National Amateur Prairie Chicken Championship since its inception. Easily, the Greater Prairie Chicken is the most common upland bird on these lands, with the occasional pheasant and woodcock.

With a strong partnership between the field trial club, the Wisconsin DNR, and the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, a primary provider of future Wisconsin Wildlife employees, along with local residents, this event has proven to be a win-win-win for all.

Noticeably lacking this year throughout the prairies west of the Mississippi were large, healthy coveys of Sharptail grouse and Prairie chickens. Pheasant and huns seemed to have fared better. There's been a debate about why, since no one event or source provides an obvious cause. Nevertheless, the lack of coveys was also evident on the Wisconsin Grasslands, and most contracts were single or paired birds, with an occasional small covey scattered in. The good news is that there are still a good number of birds that, if blessed with an average winter and calm nesting season, should do well in 2026.

Once again, we give thanks to all who help with this event, which runs hand-in-hand with the National Open Prairie Chicken Championship. Ed Liermann, year in and year out, does a yeoman's job of putting together all the necessary pieces to make things work. Gary Wolf has been the flawless dog wagon driver for some 20+ years. Mark Johnson works with me to co-chair the event and ensures it runs smoothly. Many other people pitch in to help guard roads, scout, and marshal, and it's all very appreciated.

Judging this year were two capable men. Rich Boumeester, having won here numerous times with his dogs, knows the challenges and the uniqueness of this event. His partner, Mike Vicari, also has been a lifelong patron of the sport as part of a highly successful family with performing bird dogs. Both gentlemen were attentive and supportive, and in the end, their decisions were well-received.

This year's champion, Erin's Rebel Attraction, distanced himself from the rest of the field with an impressive effort. In this reporter's opinion, his performance was never really challenged. Rebel Attraction is owned, raised, and handled by Brian Sheehan of Carol Stream, Illinois. He's a strongly built, handsome 5-year-old male pointer. He was in the first brace on the third day with Ed Liermann's Cedar Creek Anthem, who failed to stop when birds flushed almost immediately after being turned loose. That gave Attraction the course to himself.

During Anthem's mishap, Attraction was making a deep forward move to the north, and while the course turned west, Attraction headed back to gain the front and had a nice stop-to-flush on a covey of five chickens. Going west and after crossing Griffith Road, Attraction once again showed his wheels and once again had a good stop-to-flush on a single chicken at 18. After crossing W, Attraction drove south, found and pointed a covey of four chickens at 28, thought to be the same covey pointed by our runner-up champion, Notorious Dominator's Reserve, in the first brace. Attraction's style, character, and manners were of high quality.

Shortly after, at 31, Attraction pointed again, and after an extended flushing attempt with handler closing in on the dog to release him, a single chicken flushed from directly in front of the dog. Impressively, Attraction's character and style never flinched as he stood like a soldier and was more confident at this point than the handler! Attraction continued the second half impressively, reaching into the country and handling kindly. His performance set a very high bar that was never really threatened by the other competitors.

Our runner-up champion, Notorious Dominator's Reserve, a 2-year-old pointer male youngster owned and handled by John Mathys, was braced by Erin's Wild Atlantic Way with Sean Derrig. John Mathys's Reserve, after crossing W, headed straight into the course south, found and pointed a covey of three Greater Prairie chickens with high intensity and style and perfect manners. Reserve challenged by tough cover gained determination and independence as his hour progressed, but relented when called on. His performance never faded despite very challenging cover. Like he began, he finished strong. A performance easily good enough to win most years.

I won't go through all of the braces, but will mention those that made their way into the discussion.

In the fourth brace, Rip Nation, a pointer male handled by Scott Jordan, and Worsham's Spitfire, another pointer male handled by Joe Worsham, shared a divided find at 8. Spitfire had a good find on a covey of four chickens with Nation backing at 10 off to the left, with all in order. Nation had a good find on a single at 13 and a stop-to-flush on three chickens at 38. Both dogs hunted well and finished their bids.

In the fifth brace, Notorious Southern Son, a pointer male handled by John Mathys, had a nice find at 35 on a single and a stop-to-flush at 40 on a single. Son admirably prevailed on an extremely challenging course to finish well.

Notorious Sweet Cargo, in the 14th brace, a pointer female handled by John Mathys, had a good find at 35 on a single and ran a pleasant race.

With the announcements and congratulations given, another year's event is formally in the books.

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., September 19
Judges: Rich Boumeester and Mike Vicari
NATIONAL AMATEUR PRAIRIE CHICKEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 30 Pointers and 4 Setters
Winner-ERIN'S REBEL ATTRACTION, F1691807, pointer male, by Erin's Country Rebel-Erin's Fatal Attraction. Brian Sheehan, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-NOTORIOUS DOMINATOR'S RESERVE, F1717932, pointer male, by Notorious Dominator's Heir-Notorious Rebel Woman. John Mathys, owner and handler.