Gun Dog Forum

Doug and any one else interested in the NGSPA Sharptail, I hope I am not just prolonging the agony here, but I have some positive news on that schedule. I spoke to Eldon about an hour ago and he said the Sharptail has historically been on Labor Day weekend (the Aug. 31 date that is posted), and should not change regardless of what happens with the R17, etc.

Also, Walters and I were going to bring Frank, Buck and Spot just to harass you all. But it appears they are going to be in AZ at the Chukar, which will be finishing up. So will not see you there. Maybe at the Hun, which has an Am. AA this year.

All I know right now.

John,

Have you been to the Sharptail before? Last year was the first year for Doug and myself. Can't speak for Doug but I loved it. I think it's one of the ultimate tests for our dogs... wild birds and wild country, can't get any more real than that. Anywho, I'm sure you already know all that. That's why I like it so much and I hope they don't go changing the dates since I have already scheduled vacation for that week. Wish you could make it.

Alex

No, I haven't, and it is killing me. As a trialer, I cut my teeth on prairie sharptail. There is no better, higher trial than a prairie sharptail trial. Period.

The dog went two years ago, but I could not ride then so did not. The dog was winning the AA, the only dog with a find, went through a pond and slipped his pads. Last year, Eldon's wife had a their first child, so we missed it. This year, Eldon is going to be down in AZ at the Chukar, and then trying to qualify some young dogs for Eureka at the AKC trial that is right after the Chukar, and that is too close in time for him to get to the sharptail. Walters and I thought about it, but we would have to go to AZ, get the dogs, go to MT, run in the trial, then bring them to WY, then go home. All while hauling the horses around.

Our one hope was to find someone who goes from the Chukar to the Sharptail, but there is very little overlap in the people who go, between those two trials. And we would still have to run in the trial, then bring the dogs back to Cheyenne, then go home, all with the horses.

You can see, we have mulled over every possible option, and it is not looking very good.

Sadly, very sadly, it is not practical.

The "word" out of the recent NGSPA meeting is it stays on Aug. 31, Labor Day weekend.

John

Besides the Sharptail are there any other wild bird trials this fall for the NGSPA?

The Region 17 if it happens, is run on wild birds. The Prairie Chicken is on wild birds. The Hun is on stocked birds, they are not wild, but they are something else. Very tough.

The schedule is on the Posse website under GSP Championship Circuit, if you want the Prairie Chicken dates.

Thanks. If we can keep one of the dogs issues in check and fix another I might want to hit one of the wild bird trials. I have a feeling that it is what trialing and bird dogs should be all about.

If we make it there we probably wont be much of a threat to do anything, but it should be more about the experiences than winning all the time.

It is almost always hot, and the dog has got to be in shape to make the hour. It is remotely possible that Bleep and I will be driving out to one of the two trials, not much chance though.

It is almost always hot, and the dog has got to be in shape to make the hour.

Last year it snowed and we had to wear down jackets and wooly chaps throughout. I'd recommend showing up with very fat dogs and very fat horses. The birds are very approachable so practice letting your dogs creep right up on top of them. That's all the hints I'm gonna give...

I'd recommend showing up with very fat dogs and very fat horses.

I will complete the trifecta here by bringing the fat handler too!!

Oh how I would love to be braced with Stitch or Spot in the amateur, would just a little piece of heave I am thinking.

Wild birds and wilder handlers.

Pepper

Just the sharptail he will be missing, and Walters and I would like to go.

I will be out there in the end of July, but going fishing and then out to Eldon's camp. He is not training at Richardons.

The last I heard the Region 17 is off this year, they will get it going again next year. The Prairie Chicken, which is in the same area and has different people running it, is on.

Eldon is in Cheyenne right now. The dogs are coming in for summer camp. He goes there right after the 4th. Spot goes to Cheyenne tomorrow, his sister is spotting and I need him outta here.

Last I heard Rabidou and Waresk took 17 over.

This championship will start with the amateur shooting dog on September 1st, followed by the allage and then the OSD and the derby last. Good cadre of judges for this championship.

Pepper

Apparently there has been a change in the judging line-up. Anybody know the scoop or changes?

Doug,

All that I know is what was in the last copy of the Field; Sherry Ebert was scratched as a judge from the OSD and OAA, and they were working to get a replacement judge.

FYI,
Dave

Thanks Dave - that's what my buddy Rich told me but I hadn't heard anything. Too bad, I was looking forward to having her judge.

I might add, another fine postercard quality pic from you Doc.


Chip

lvrgsp wrote:I might add, another fine postercard quality pic from you Doc.


Chip

I agree! It makes me want to load the horses and head west. I did a mapquest, and realized that my favorite hunting grounds are only an hour away from the grounds.

Have they found a judge yet?

I want to go so bad this year but will have to wait till next year. 2 days out would not be bad as I could brak it up but that 22 hours back home would kill this old man.

Pepper

Great Pictrue Dr., are you going?

Yah, Alex and I had a great morning today with all the hounds and didn't see anything that made us think we oughta sit home - so we'll be there. Looks like the weather may cool a smidge.

I might add, another fine postercard quality pic from you Doc.

Thanks! I'm like a little scrapbooker out here! Fun to have the memories.

Robbi, I've left msgs for Mason to call me, but no word yet. He's been up there with Messer and Harvey Franco for the Amt.

Rodger

Rob

Had to take my sweetie to the hospital lst night and have not been home till now. She is still there but all looks good at this time, will know more tomorrow.

LB won the hour and they with held the champiopnship and RJ's Dash was runner up.

The amateur was won by Tom Davis with Slick Nickel and runner up was Smoke, Al who is Favor's buddy.

LB goes in the 2nd brace of the open shooting dog tomorrow morning, got my fingers crossed. Rich said he was really nice in the other and did some real good things.

Pepper

The Open Shooting Dog finished opn Wednesday and LB was the champ and there was no runner up named.

Way to go Rich and LB.

The derby starts this morning.

Pepper

Rob

Pat won the derby with a nice gun dog, Rich got runner up with a dog that Lynn has and Pat was 3rd as well with Cajun, an LB pup that is just 15 months. Barber said his Nuke Josey pups were gone for 2 hours.

She may get to come home tomorrow and it looks like surgury here for a gall stone. Ready for her to be home.

Pepper

Whew!!

Congrats to Smokeyboy and my buddy Alex, aka Sharptailhunter, in the ASD! They both showed a ton of heart in some super tough conditions!

Congrats LB and Jerry! I had a front row seat in the OSD!

Off to bed!

Those were some of the hardest running conditions he has ever run in. Thanks for keeping my head in it for me... couple of times I 'bout threw the towel in. So thanks to Doug, my scout, coach, and homie.

Jerry, LB looked great. I know Rich was pleased with both of his performances.

Now it's time to put away the blank gun, break out the #6s and give em he!!

Some pics from the Sharptail Ch. Seemed like I was always either scouting or handling so never could get any pictures of the action from on course. Just some shots of trial life I guess:

Some pics of the trial grounds:




The star of the show:



Tom Oswald, the Sharptail head honcho:


LB posed up by Pat Waresk with handler Rich Barber flanked by Judges Tom Oswald and Lou Gleber:


Some randoms of my critters enjoying their Montana vacation:

Douig

You add so much to this group, I am so glad you are here. Thanks for putting up the picture. Man a dog had better go or they would look terrible for sure.

Thanks a million from Indiana

More later.

Pepper

Pepper,

That nice gun dog that won the derby is mine. His name is On Points Son Of The Max..Sonny.. thanks for the compliment. He is 17 months and according to the Shorthair Journal is the 5th rated puppy/dery dog right now. He will be running in the Chicken Championships in Brewster and the Shorthair Trials in Lincoln and then on the Eureka!!

Tim

Doug,

Thanks a million for posting the pics of the grounds. For those of us who had dogs there and could not be there, it is nice to see. Thanks again.

Tim

No problem - I always take a bunch of 'em and like to share. Hope they look OK. Was looking at them on my buddies computer and they were all blurry! They do look crisp and clear on my computer!!

You fellars need to get yourselves out there to that trial. It should be the premier GSP trial IMO - the one everyone wants to win!

Doug

They look just great. Glad you take them and post em for us. I love the birds flying and the young ones with their turkey neck stuck up.

I want to come out and maybe hunt with you guys next year. How about it. My old dog is not too bad and he will stand em. My derby should be ready by then as well.

Pepper

I want to come out and maybe hunt with you guys next year. How about it. My old dog is not too bad and he will stand em. My derby should be ready by then as well.

Heck ya'! Absolutely! The way the Sharptail Championship played out this year a guy could go on some nice evening hunts if he wanted to. Wouldn't that be something, to say, have your dog go RU in ASD then go out in the evening and shoot a limit of sharptails over it...nah, that's crazy talk!

2007 Sharptail Am. SD Championship RU - Blackrock's Holy Smoke - pointing a covey of sharptails while hunting off the competition clock:

doug,I am headed out to the miles city area today for a week of hunting.
If eva handles those birds like I expect her to this year,look for another all
age dog next year at the trial.Going to have fun regardless.
Hokes dogs are tailor made for that country,really looking foward to seeing that brown dot on the horizon.

Good luck Dennis! Geez, I wanna go!! Need a helper to saddle a horse, take a picture, clean your birds??

DGFavor wrote:Wouldn't that be something, to say, have your dog go RU in ASD then go out in the evening and shoot a limit of sharptails over it...nah, that's crazy talk!

I still think it would be the ultimate test to have a wild bird trial, like the Sharptail, and you were required to shoot the bird on the first find for a retrieve. As if big country, lots 'o heat, and wild birds wasn't a big nuff challenge already.

I still think it would be the ultimate test to have a wild bird trial, like the Sharptail, and you were required to shoot the bird on the first find for a retrieve.

Why, that sounds just like hunting - the ultimate test! Good idea - put my mutts in that game!

Doug

I agree with that 100%, that would be right up my alley. Would do it in a heartbeat.

Pepper