Sacramento Bird Dog Club
2009 California Pheasant Championship
By Jared Tappero
This was the 68th renewal of the California Pheasant Championship, held again at the Thermalito Afterbay Wildlife Area, Oroville, CA. The Thermalito Afterbay is a shallow reservoir that functions to warm the frigid water of Lake Oroville and control flows of the Feather River. The landscape is open, and provides many objectives for a big running dog to seek out. The afterbay features serrated shorelines with bays, peninsulas, and islands, the edges of which are densely vegetated with tule and sedges. Groves of eucalyptus and cottonwood dot the rolling landscape which is covered with short stature grasses and scattered clumps of brush. Across the landscape are large feed plots the Department of Fish and game has been disking and planting that are intended to provide forage for gamebirds and control the spread of a noxious weed called star thistle. Horses, dogs, and man alike dread this weed as it stands about knee height and is armed with a spiny head of inch-long spikes that can make their way through clothing and skin and cause great discomfort. One of the challenges of this renewal was running dogs and horses through the plum thicket, as it, and the adjacent feed plot, were being disked and planted with a large John-Deere tractor operated by Fish and Game employees.
The running began Friday morning, October 30, and concluded at noon Saturday, October 31. A total of seventeen dogs were run in this Championship stake, four setters and thirteen pointers, ten of them being Champions. The Open Derby was not run due to a lack of entries.
Named Champion was Deception’s Smoke, orange and white setter male owned and handled by local professional Ron Shuman of Woodland, CA. Smoke ran in the eighth brace and had a consistently forward race with three finds, one pheasant and two on quail.
Runner-up was Tracer’s Memory, liver and white pointer female owned and handled by amateur stalwart Torben Hansen of Reno, Nevada. This was Kate’s second Runner-up in the Pheasant Championship in as many years. She ran in the third brace, had a consistently forward race, and finished with two pheasant finds.
Judges for this year’s running were Bob Tennant, San Jose, CA, and John Keel, Oakdale, CA. Bob has been around the field trial scene out west since 1972, and does a fair amount of Judging for the Fresno, Fat Toads, and Santa Clara Valley Bird Dog Clubs. John is a member of the West Valley Bird Dog Club, and is presently serving as President of Region 11, AFTCA. We thank both Judges for their time and effort in judging this Stake.
The weather both days was exceptional in comparison to last year’s renewal when six-inches of rain fell over the two days, and left the grounds a quagmire. For this years stake both days began cool and crisp, warming in the afternoons. Scenting conditions were good with a slight breeze blowing throughout both days. There was no shortage of bird work, as three prior trials had littered the landscape with Bobwhite quail and Chukar. And while the local pheasant population lacks past numbers, wild bird contacts were made. For the Championship, the local pheasant population was supplemented with pen raised hens that flew exceptionally well. Ten of the 17 dogs that started (59%) contacted a total of 16 pheasants. In addition, a total of 14 coveys of bobwhite quail were contacted by a total of 8 dogs. Only 2 dogs that were down for the full hour did not have a pheasant contact, and only one dog that ran the full hour went birdless.
Members of the Sacramento Bird Dog Club would like to thank all that volunteered their time to make this trial possible. Bird planting duties were shared by club Secretary Charlie Hjerpe, Mike Stephens, and Jim and Cami Wolthuis. Jim and Cami also helped with the dog truck as did club president Rudy Difuntorum. Rudy also prepared the sloppy-joe lunch served Friday afternoon, which was enjoyed by all. The club would especially like to thank Purina for sponsoring the renewal. Without Purina’s help running this stake would not have been possible.
The Running
Stinson’s Kickapoo (Twer) and Saddle Up Non-Believers (Kelly) were cast off promptly at 8:09 am Friday morning from the end of Wilbur Road, both dogs off strong and along the edge heading to seminar grove. Through the gate both dogs were to the front and needed to be redirected at the crossroads as they were headed to the plum thicket. Both handlers were able to get their dogs around and on course, Kickapoo (Pete) going on point near the cottonwood at 9 on his way back to the crossroads. A pheasant was flushed for the proudly standing setter, all was in order. Both dogs are to the front hunting the edge towards burnt hill, Non-Believers (Patsy) a bit more forward than Pete. Pete has his second find at 13, a pheasant is flushed near the cottonwoods just before burnt hill. Both dogs are around burnt hill to the front and hunting the edge, handlers are together at dog fight island, with dogs forward and heading to the plum thicket. Point is called at 25 for Patsy on the far side of a tangled mass comprised of multiple plum trees growing together, Pete backing. The flushing attempt is prolonged due to the density of the thicket and Pete is moved on, shortly thereafter a pheasant is produced for the loftily standing pointer. Both dogs are through the pipe gate and across the feed plots, hunting through heron grove. Patsy is found standing at 34 at the cottonwood after crossing the dam. Pete was evidently passed by handlers and the gallery at heron grove, and coming from behind backs Patsy with style. After a short flushing attempt in short cover her handler chooses to relocate, and on relocation a pheasant is pushed to the air, dog stopping at the flush. Both dogs are distant and to the front around the perimeter of the big island, and are collected by their handlers at time just past heron grove.
Idaho Clean Sweep (Twer) and IB Boston (Hansen) are cast off at the pipe gate both dogs crossing the dam, Boston (Pricey) making a big move towards the plum thicket, Clean Sweep (Tuffy) a bit shorter hunting the edge towards the crossroads. At the junction Tuffy makes the right, on course, and hunts the edge through the gate past the grove. Pricey is to the left at the crossroads, collected, and brought to the front by her handler. Both dogs are to the front and hunting the edge back towards Wilbur Road. Crossing to cement hill Pricey is found on point at 25 at the oak grove. After a prolonged flushing attempt she is moved on, taking an unproductive. At 35 Tuffy goes on point at the blackberry bush, a pheasant is produced, all in order. Both dogs are forward leaving cement hill, past Wilbur Road, and towards the gate. Through the gate both dogs push past the crossroads towards burnt hill. Tuffy goes on point at 50, Pricey not acknowledging the standing dog continues on and is eventually picked up. After a short flushing attempt no bird is produced, and the pointer is moved on, time elapsing shortly after rounding burnt hill.
Highground Jax Jabba (Steinshouer) and Tracer’s Memory (Hansen) are off fast towards the crossroads, both handlers riding to collect their dogs and get them through to the plum thicket. Department of Fish and Game tractors are busy disking and planting the feed plot, in and around the plum thicket, not having any impact on the focus of these two dogs. Through the pipe gate at the big ditch, Jabba is found standing at 13. With head and tail held high the stylish setter stands for the flush, all in order as the shot is fired. Both dogs are together across the dam past heron grove. At 17 Jabba is found standing at the cottonwood near Jack’s bay, moving during the flushing attempt he is collared, ending his bid. Kate was next seen at 20 pointing near a willow at the base of Jack’s hill. After a prolonged flushing attempt and relocation she was moved on, making a big forward cast along the perimeter of the big island, next to be seen at the eucalyptus grove. She is past heron grove and through the pipe gate, collected, and sent across the dam where she is found at 55 pointing with head and tail high. A pheasant was produced and the speedy little pointer is moved on. Making a big cast towards the plum thicket she is collected by the scout and sent toward the junction where at 58 point is called. A pheasant was flushed and shortly thereafter time called.
Highground Galoglas (Steinshouer) and Super Express Protocol (Twer) were fast and forward from the crossroads through the gate and past seminar grove. Just past the grove at 5 Galoglos (Al) with a stop to flush stands as a large covey of bobwhite leave the tall grass in bursts. Along the edge and out front to cement hill both dogs shorten up going through the cottonwood grove, then extend their range working the edge around the feed plot. Al a bit more to the front is found standing at 20 near the blackberry bush. Protocol (Junior) not seeing the action continues on. After a short flushing attempt a pheasant is produced for the proudly standing setter. Dogs are seen to the front past Wilbur Road and collected at the gate where they are watered. Past the crossroads and out to burnt hill Al is found pointing at 40 another pheasant being produced. At 47 Junior with a find gets overly anxious, putting birds into the air, and is collared. Al making a right at the crossroads is through the plum thicket, hunting to the front past the pipe gate where he is found on point at 57. In short order a pheasant is produced flying directly over the standing setter. Time is called shortly thereafter.
Justa Bullett (Smith) and Waygoing Slick (Stephens) are down first after lunch leaving Wilbur Road in high gear. The dogs are next seen coursing through the plum thicket with dust trailing behind them. Dogs are rounded up by the scouts and sent on to burnt hill. At 15 both dogs make game along the edge of burnt bay, Bullet (Mike) standing for the bird, Slick slow to honor pushed the pheasant out and was collared. To the front and around burnt hill Mike hunting the edge has his second find at dog fight island at 23. A pheasant was produced all in order. Making a big cast Mike continues on through the crossroads and isn’t seen again until he is found standing at 37 just through the pipe gate where a pheasant was flushed for him. At 45 the pointer is found standing along the edge at Jack’s bay. After a prolonged flushing attempt and relocation he is moved on. To the front and around Jack’s hill he is found pointing at 57 near the berry bushes. After a short flushing attempt he is relocated and upon moving flushes a small covey of bobwhite and is picked up.
Kelly Talk’n Smak (Kelley) and Sounding Creek Annie (Hjerpe) leave the base of Jack’s hill, hunting the edge, fast and to the front. At 10 Annie is found standing along the north edge of the big island where a single bobwhite is produced. Smak not being seen since the initial cast is collected by his handler and sent across the dam towards heron grove. Just past the grove, Annie is standing again, and a covey of running bobs is eventually put to wing. At 19 Annie is seen under a pheasant and is collared. Through the gate and across the dam Smak is found at 25 standing loftily at the briar patch just over the rise. Nose to the wind and tail high in his typical fashion Smak stands proudly through a prolonged flushing attempt only to be rewarded with a single quail. At the junction Smak goes left but is brought around by his handlers whistle and sent through the gate. Smak is not seen again until after the gallery circles cement hill and is back to Wilbur Road at which point he is timed out.
Lester’s Night Watch (Gilbertson) and Cache Creek Bully (Shuman) are the first brace off from Wilbur Road Saturday morning. In a nice initial cast they are through the gate and on past the crossroads, both dogs grabbing ground. Found on point near burnt hill at 12 Bully is backed staunchly by Night Watch (Rip), a small covey of quail are produced all in order. Around burnt hill, past dog fight, and through the crossroads Bully is found standing at 24 on the far side of the plum thicket, Rip coming in to back. Quail are in the open and scurrying in front of the handlers and dogs, finally with the toss of a hat the birds take wing and a shot is fired. Both dogs are to the front and through heron grove. At 33 Bully is found on point at the cottonwood across the dam where a single quail is produced, all in order. Showing well over Jack’s hill and around the edge of the big island Bully goes on point at 51 at the cottonwood, Rip after being gone for some time comes in to back, both dogs steady for the flushing quail. Bully in short order is again on point at 56 between heron grove and the pipe gate with another quail find. Both dogs finish to the front after crossing the dam.
Over the Line (Bailey) and Deception’s Smoke (Shuman) are off from the crossroads hunting the edge towards Wilbur Road where they are collected and sent along to cement hill, both dogs crossing the marsh well ahead of the handlers. At 12 Smoke is found on point in the walnut grove, holding steady for the flushing quail, a shot is fired, all is in order. On through the cottonwood grove and around the feed plot at 19 Smoke is found pointing at the berry bushes where a prolonged and unproductive flushing attempt ensues. At this time Line (Libby) is collected by her handler after being gone a short time and sent on towards Wilbur Road, Smoke not far behind. At the crossroads at 39 Smoke has a pheasant find, head and tail held high, the setter holding steady to wing and shot. Bailey not having Libby since Wilbur Road asks for the tracker. On towards burnt hill at 45 Smoke is found on point at the cottonwood where another quail is produced for the proud setter. Around burnt hill and past dog fight Smoke hunts the edge to the front through the crossroads and plum thicket, ending his bid at the pipe gate.
Waygoing Rip (Stephens) and A Bye. At 10:30 am Saturday Rip is the last dog off in this championship stake. Leaving the pipe gate by the big ditch Rip is to the front past heron grove and across the dam. Hunting the edge around Jack’s bay and over the hill he continues on around the perimeter of the big island. Out front past heron grove Rip is through the pipe gate and to the left across the dam, where he is found standing at 37. A quail is produced with Rip moving on the flush, ending his bid and the stake.
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