March 2001

Snake River Gun Dog and Sportsman Association

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recent Events

NSTRA Trial

Our National Shoot to Retrieve Association (NSTRA) trial was held over the weekend of February 17th and 18th at Hells Gate State Park in Lewiston, Idaho.  John Peacock was the organizer of the event.  Special thanks go out to the Kramers for their hard work preparing all of the food for the trial.

Fun Run

The Annual Hells Gate Training Trial was a great success.  The weather couldn’t have been better. Thirty-three individuals participated in thirty-one braces.  Twenty new members joined.   

 

Our Feb Fun Trial was such a success because so many contributed -- it took at least a dozen club volunteers to make it happen.  Chairperson Gary Gage is to be congratulated for its smooth operation.  Club Treasure, John Peacock made the arrangement for the use of the field with the various government agencies and the procurement of excellent BobWhite quail.  The unusual low loss of quail between our previous weekends NSTR trials was the result of “Mother Hubbard” Dick Chapman’s loving care and many individuals willingness to give Friday afternoon to setting up the field.  The Potluck was a resounding success thanks to all the pots and doughnuts.  Ted Down’s stew and Mark George’s spaghetti went down with gusto.  The bird planting would not have gone as well if it hadn’t been for Jon McKenzie and Robert Uhrich leathery backsides and sturdy steeds.  Under the watchful eye’s of Robert Lopez, Kelly Norwood, Charlie Oldenberg and Fred Spencer we begun on time and were able to finish before sunset.  The demonstration on how to train the dog to whoa and heel by Dick Chapman was appreciated.

 

 One young wirehair rode 16 hours by air & highway just for quail sniffing & fun!  Thanks to everyone who attended, and special thanks to all those who pitched in and planted birds, kept time, and did all of the other things that needed to be done. 

 

The cost of the trial broke even.  Income was $688.75 and the cost was $683.35 for a gain of $5.40.  Birds were very expensive @4.25 upon delivery and our only reliable source is Arizona.  In the future we will want to consider coturnix quail and pigeons, increasing brace fees, or some other means of increasing the income to the club from events.

 

Trial sites continue to limit training sessions.  Between 30-40 acres is needed to conduct a fun run.  When two are together, at least 100 acres are needed.  Public lands are under strict regulation requireing expensive permitting.  We need private landowners sympathetic to dog training.  Recall that our activity is a non-consumptive in that only domestically raised birds are used and indigenous wild species are not consumed.

 

 

Results of the test.

A FIELD

1st: 615 points,     Titus Smith’s GSP “Twister” and Gary Gage’s “Nutmeg”

2nd: 435 points,      Jeff Daigneau Jr’s GSP “Beretta” and Mike Meyer’s GSP “Fritz”.

3rd:   425 points,     Jerry Thiessen’s EP “Tanner” and Jack Flack’s GSP “Tucker”.

        425 points,     Fred Spenser’s GWP “Sophie” and  Mike Rosen’s GSP “Lexi”

Derby Dogs:         Beretta  (22 mo liver GSP, Daignaus of Omak)

                                Tanner   (10 mo P, new member Thiessen of Lewiston)

                                Lexi     (14 mo GSP, new member Rosen of Moscow)

 

B FIELD

1st:   740 points          Mark George’s GSP Dauber and Steve Taylor’s GSP “Chase”.

2nd: 690 points         Jeff Daigneau Sr’s GWP “Cracker” and Chuck Harmon’s GSP “Lady”.

3rd:   615 points         Quinn’s GSP “Duma” and Gary Gage’s GSP “Harry”.

Derby Dogs:         Chase (13 mo liver GSP, new member Taylor of Lewiston)

                                Cracker  (11 mo GWP, new member Daigneau Sr of Anchorage)

                                Lady     (12 mo liver GSP, Harmon of Spokane)

 

 

Upcoming Events

2001 Dues are Due

The 2001 dues were due as of February 1st.  If you did not pay at the fun trial please pay your $25 annual dues with a check (please no cash), with address, email, or telephone number changes, to:

John Kramer

I415 NW Douglas Dr.

Pullman, WA 99163

 

March Fun Run

The next fun run is scheduled to take place at 7:30am on Saturday, March 24th 2001, at Townsend Ranch which is located at the end of Klemgard road, in Whitman County, WA.  We will be the guests of the Townsends on their CRP land.  Bobwhite will be available for 16 braces, and the fee will be $11 per brace.  Payment in check is preferred.  Please note that there is a limited number of braces so register early.  Please contact the chairman of the event, Mark George, at (509) 334-7959 to preregister or for further information.

Lewiston/ Clarkston route is best by the down stream river road to Wawawai. Trial signs to the site will be posted at the top of the Wawawai Grade Rd.  Pullman/ Moscow route is signed from the Almota Rd. (CR 194) crossing of SH 195.  The Klemgard Rd begins at the Wawawai-Pullman Rd along Union Creek Flat.

If this last fun run is any indication it should be a great time.  We look forward to seeing all of the new members again.

 

 

Annual Banquet

The annual meeting of the SRGDSA will be held March 31st at Shermer's restaurant in Pullman, Washington.  This is the time when we elect officers and other official, gotta-do-it-to-stay-legally-organized activities.  In addition there will be food, drink, lots of dog talk, and a guest speaker.  Dinner will begin at 6:00pm and the program will start at 7:00pm.  Charley Oldenberg will be speaking about changes in the environment brought about by the dams on the Snake river in a presentation entitled "A Retrospective Look at the Snake River Before and After the Dam and its Effects on the Game Bird Population".  It should be great time, and we do have some serious business to discuss, so please make an effort to be there.

 

 

Classifieds

 

Greg Patrek's liver GSP Heidi Ho should have a litter of Harry's pups on the ground Mar 12, and Gage's Lil Starbucks should have a Rothenuffeln litter Mar 20.  Contact Gary Gage at ggage@turbonet.com for more information.