Rocky Mountain Chapter

Rock Mountain Chapter

Griffon enthusiasts who live and hunt throughout the mountains and plains of the West comprise the Rocky Mountain Chapter. Current clusters of members exist in Southern Idaho, Western Montana, Central Colorado, Northern Wyoming, and Western North Dakota. Our griffs probably see more sharptails and huns than most, but this is also chukar, pheasant, blue grouse, ruffed grouse, and sage grouse country. Plus, spring creeks and prairie marshes offer some fine waterfowl opportunities.

test judges compare notes Over the past several years, we have been holding field tests in late March or early April at Niagara Springs Wildlife Management Area near Jerome, ID. Typically, we probably test between 5 and 15 dogs split between Natural Ability and Intermediate Hunting dogs. It is a treat when we have an occasional Utility Dog. Last year, about 30 members and their families attended. See recent Test Photo Gallery here.

As a special event every few years, we have been fortunate to have hosted a game bird dinner at the Snake River Grill with the outstanding chef, Kurt Martin, author of “Cooking on the Wild Side”. Some of the Montana contingent has been recently exploring potential places to hold a Fall test, but we have been a bit stymied over finding accessible land with all the right ingredients. Our area is typically very dry in late Summer, so finding usable water is a real challenge for conducting an adequate track-of-the-duck test. JJ Conner is our current member in charge of logistics and organizing the test. Various senior judges, especially Gary Pool, have taken the role of actually administering the tests and herding the judges. Anita Andrus does a great job of collecting applications, fees, and ensuring that judging cards are available and filed at the conclusion.

Sometime during the summer, one of our Bozeman families has been most gracious in hosting an exposure/training day. This is a fun event oriented towards the puppies in the region. There are two training objectives, one is to ensure that they young dogs get excited over birds, albeit game farm birds. This includes exposing them to deep enough water so that they must swim, in case they had not yet done so. The second objective is to demonstrate to both the dogs and their owners what the WPGCA testing program is all about, especially because one, and often both of the two has never been to a test before. The remainder of the day is filled with talk of wonderful canines, of training ideas, and of possible Fall hunting plans. We conclude the day with a pot-luck barbecue. A number of folks always pitch in with logistics, from buying birds to planting birds to ordering steaks.