Result: Minnesota Grouse Dog Association

Location: Mora, Minnesota

Post Date: Jun 4, 2026

Submitted By: Ryan Hough

Open Shooting Dog (front): Ben McKean, Ryan Hough with Northwoods Sir Gordon, Scott Anderson with Planet Queen, and Kyle Peterson with I'm Easy Money. (Behind): Rich Boumeester (judge) and Neil Anderson (judge).

It is always a win when weather and course conditions allow the Minnesota Grouse Dog Association to host both scheduled spring cover dog trials. For many years, the grounds have not been suitable to host any trials due to late thaws, unexpected spring snowstorms, or flooded woods.
With the second spring trial weekend falling on the same week as the Grand National Invitational Championship, a more manageable entry of 25 shooting dogs, 19 derbies, and nine puppies would compete over the three-day event.
As with any field trial, quality judges in cover dog stakes are of the utmost importance. Judges with extensive experience hunting ruffed grouse and woodcock understand the intricacies and
challenges that these wily birds bring to the equation. The MGDA was extremely lucky to have Rich Boumeester and Neil Anderson as shooting dog judges. Both men have extensive experience developing and competing with high-level dogs and have found success at the highest levels.

In a spring shooting dog stake, it is not always possible to place three quality performances on grouse, but this weekend afforded the judges that opportunity.
Finishing in third place was I'm Easy Money, owned and handled by Kyle Peterson of Harris, Minnesota.
"Easy" is a 5-year-old male setter who won both the Open and Amateur Derby of the Year for the 2022-2023 seasons. Easy also had an unforgettable, five-find performance during a spring stake at the Minnesota grounds in scoring 2025, in which he was awarded first place.
Easy was drawn on the Arctic course and laid down a wide-reaching forward race, with a nice find on a pair of grouse about 40 minutes into his brace. With both birds flown in clear view of the gallery and judges, with all in order, it was an impressive hour.
Coming in second place was Ch. Planet Queen, a female setter owned and handled by Scott Anderson of Scandia, Minnesota. "Rhonda" has been consistently performing at a very high level, recently winning the Region 19 Amateur Walking Championship, as well as the Don Didcoct Memorial Classic.
Rhonda was also drawn to run on the Arctic course and dug hard for the entire hour with a
flashy, relentless search. Rhonda fell off her bell around the 30-minute mark. Shortly after Scott dispatched his scout to work a low-lying stand of young aspen, point was called. With her bracemate backing, the handler was able to put a grouse in the air, which flushed high and back over both dogs. With manners intact, Rhonda was led back to the course and finished the brace strong and to the front.
Coming in first place was Ch. Northwoods Sir Gordon, a male setter owned by Ben McKean (Minnetrista, Minnesota) and handled by Ryan Hough (St. Bonifacius, Minnesota). "Gordy" has found success in many venues during his eight-year career, yet had not been trialed in more than two years. From winning liberated quail stakes in the Dakotas, earning shooting dog placements off horseback on the major circuit, to multiple championship wins in wild bird stakes.
Gordy spent the first third of his brace forward and out of sight, checking in once or twice. At about the 20-minute mark, when Gordy was passing by in full sight of the gallery, a grouse flushed from downwind, and he snapped to an intense stop-to-flush. With all in order, the dog was cast forward. About 10 minutes later, Gordy's bell halted, and handler and scout ducked into the left of the course to begin their search in heavy cover. Point was called by the gallery just a couple of minutes later, and Gordy was found on point to the front with his bracemate
backing.
As handlers and judges approached, a grouse erupted from a blowdown in front of both dogs, with all in order. Within about 10 minutes, Gordy again fell off his bell, and an eagle-eyed judge was able to spot him standing less than 70 yards to the right of the course. After a thorough flushing attempt, as the handler approached the dog, a woodcock blew out from just a few feet away. As the shot rang out over a staunch dog, Gordy was again led back to the course and cast off.
Around the 45-minute mark, Gordy took a deep cast to the right of the course, working a swamp edge. He was far enough away that it was difficult to determine if his bell faded off or came to a hard stop. After an exhausting search by the handler and judge, scout Scott Anderson put forth a superhuman effort to continue working the swamp edge, where he was able to locate Gordy standing high on both ends, facing a swamp. As the handler and judge approached, a grouse burst up over the swamp, and the shot was fired with all in order.
Gordy ran big and forward for the remainder of the hour, finishing as strong as tolerable in a cover dog stake. He was recovered about 14 minutes after time, having crossed the road forward, hunting a likely cover.

The Derby kicked off on Saturday afternoon after the shooting dogs had finished their use of the west courses. Judges Ed Graddy (Rochester, Minnesota) and Lindsey Peterson (Colfax, Wisconsin) had the pleasure of assessing 19 very capable young bird dogs in prime grouse and woodcock habitat. After the conclusion of the running, three dogs stood out from the rest, although all showed strong potential.
Coming in third place was Rib River Best Bet, owned and handled by Roger King of Wausau, Wisconsin.
"Betty," a female pointer, had a strong, electric race. Her fleet-footed running style and high cracking tail made it difficult to take your eyes off her.
Second place was claimed by Aspen's Edge Dottie, a female setter owned and handled by Josh Matel of Bemidji, Minnesota. "Dottie" had a wide-ranging and fast ground pattern, staying in likely cover and scoring on a woodcock.
Coming in first place was Northwoods Peregrine, a puppy-aged female setter owned and handled by Chris Bye of River Falls, Wisconsin. "Poppy" was a pleasure to watch on the ground and quite stylish on the move. She has a natural handle and a great woods radar, requiring little effort to put her where you want her. She consistently stays in likely cover to the front. Poppy scored with a nice grouse find. At the time of this writing, Poppy has been named the 2025-26 MN/WI Cover Dog Derby of the Year for both the open and amateur divisions.

The Open Puppy stake, run on a single course, was judged by Nick Sisterman of Bayport, Minnesota, and Josh Matel of Bemidji, Minnesota.

Mora, Minn., April 10
Judges: Rich Boumeester and Neil Anderson
OPEN SHOOTING DOG [One-Hour Heats] - 4 Pointers, 18 Setters, and 2 Brittanys
1st-NORTHWOODS SIR GORDON, F1674314, setter male, by Erin's Prometheus-Northwoods Carly Simon. Ben McKean, owner; Ryan Hough, handler.
2d-PLANET QUEEN, F1702708, setter female, by Rufus Del Fuego-Stumbo's Scarlet. Scott Anderson, owner and handler.
3d-I'M EASY MONEY, F1693862, setter male, by Jetwood-I'm Blue Who. Kyle Peterson, owner and handler.

Open Derby (front): Lindsey Peterson (judge), Chris Bye with Northwoods Peregrine, Josh Matel with Aspen's Edge Dottie, Roger King with Rib River Best Bet, and Ed Graddy (judge).

Judges: Ed Graddy and Lindsey Peterson
OPEN DERBY - 5 Pointers and 13 Setters
1st-NORTHWOODS PEREGRINE, F1723767, setter female, by Cold Creek Hank-Northwoods Stardust. Roberta Scherf & Christopher Bye, owners; Chris Bye, handler.
2d-ASPEN'S EDGE DOTTIE, unreg., breeding not given. Josh Matel, owner and handler.
3d-RIB RIVER BEST BET, F1710626, pointer female, by Toth's Tornado Reloaded-Grouse Trails Warrior Cat. Roger King, owner and handler.

Judges: Josh Matel and Nick Sisterman
OPEN PUPPY - 3 Pointers and 5 Setters
1st-ASPEN'S EDGE DWIGHT, F1723290, setter male, by Northwoods Homer-North Star Ash. Mitchell Anderson, owner and handler.
2d-ASPENS EDGE MOORE THAN DANDY, F1723295, setter female, by Northwoods Homer-North Star Ash. Jeremy Moore, owner; Jeremy Moore, handler.
3d-ASPEN'S EDGE PAM, F1723292, setter female, by Northwoods Homer-North Star Ash. Mitchell Anderson, owner and handler.

Open Puppy (front): Mitch Anderson with Aspen's Edge Dwight, Jeremy Moore with Aspens Edge Moore Than Dandy, and Carly Anderson with Aspen's Edge Pam. (Behind): Bert Benshoof, Josh Matel (judge), and Nick Sisterman (judge).