This is a shot of course 3 on the east side of the grounds. We have just left a find in the trees on chicken and are working back to the west.

Here's a shot (from left) of Butch Nelson (reporter), Bob Walthal (owner of 2008 Champion Sunny Hill Hawk), and John Junilla.

Austin Turley, Co-Chairman of 2009 Championship.

From left: Here's a 2008 shot of Jim Tande, Jim Michaletz (judge) and Shawn Kinkelaar. In the background you can see Shannon Nygard and on the right Bob Walthal, owner of the eventual champion. I expect to see all of these folks again in 2009. Bob Walthal and his partner, Thorpe McKenzie, have offered to host a dinner this year.

Course 1 on the Scot Brown ranch, 2008. The riders numbered about 2 dozen and the grounds were in excellent condition. Birds were plentiful and weather even cooperated fairly well.

2009 Montana Shooting Dog Championship

The Big Sky Field Trail Club is pleased to announce dates for the 2009 Montana (Open) Shooting Dog Championship to be run in Circle, Montana on the Scot Brown Ranch. The championship drawing will be held at the Wooden Nickle Bar and Restaurant in Circle, Montana on the evening of August 24th with the running beginning the next morning, August 25th. The tentative running form will follow the pattern of 3 braces in the morning, a break for lunch and 3 braces in the afternoon. Judges have yet to be named.

The 2009 Championship will follow on the heels of the 2009 Region 14 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship which will enjoy a two year run at the Scott Brown Ranch.

Dates set for 2009 running of the Region 14 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship

At the Region 14 AFTCA annual meeting, held January 17th in Medicine Hat, Alberta, the 2009 running of the Region 14 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship was set by the region. The trial was awarded for a period of two years to the Big Sky Field Trial Club to host in Circle, Montana in conjunction with the Montana Shooting Dog Championship. The dates for the fall running of the Amateur Shooting Dog Championship were also established and include a drawing on the evening of August 20, 2009 at the Wooden Nickle Bar and Restaurant in Circle. The running will commence the following morning of August 21 and go through the 23, 2009. The running is tentatively planned for a 3 brace in the morning and 3 brace in the afternoon regimen. August 24th will be held back as a lay date should the number of entries require an extra day. Judges have yet to be announced.