Thanks to RGS magazine’s editor, Anna Stubna who has done such a fantastic job with it! Look for the Spring 2012 issue in your mailbox at the end of the month!

Visit the Ruffed Grouse Society on line and please join them in their efforts and success in managing forest habitat for ruffed grouse and woodcock!

We spent a few hours after the rain stopped getting more photos of some young dogs. They’re always fun to photograph when they’re learning what life is all about!

Also on hand for the fun was Minneapolis photographer Ben McKean, another friend, who has a dog with Jerry and Betsy and was there to watch a few braces with them at the National Championship.

Look for the new Northwoods Bird Dogs website coming this spring!

Judges, Gallery, 113th running of the National Field Trial Championship

A recent business trip to Tennessee allowed for a few days visit to Grand Junction, TN, home of the Ames Plantation where the National Field Trial Championship is held. I had not been there since the 2007 running. The weather was obliging during my stay — not always the case in February in Tennessee! I saw many old friends, made many new ones and saw some of the best all-age bird dogs in the country including this year’s winner: Connor’s E Z Button, a handsome white and orange pointer male handled by Steve Hurdle and scouted by Nick Thompson.

Connor’s E Z Button at the breakaway of the 9th brace. Vaseline is sometimes rubbed on the dog’s abdomen to help keep him warm for the three-hour endurance event.

My best friend, client and Strideaway cohort, Mazie Davis and her HOF husband, Colvin Davis were there during my stay, competing with one of the dogs they qualified this year, Patriote — ”Jim” to his friends. I had a short visit with them before they had to rush back to Alabama and Davis Quail Hunts.

Mazie Davis, scout for Patriote at the start of the 11th brace

Also, of particular interest to me was a half brother to my Hard Driving Rita out of her dam, Hard Driving Bev x Erin’s Tin Soldier. Ben is on the string of the talented trainer/handler, Luke Eisenhart who I met for the first time along with his wife, Tammy. Ben was scouted for by Sean Derrig who raised the young dog. Owner, John May and his family were on hand to watch their hopeful compete. Ben was doing a terrific job but was lost to judgement not long after a road crossing past the hour mark.

Scout Sean Derrig with Erin’s Special Force at the start of the 12th brace

It was a fantastic, jam-packed few days that left me feeling proud to be a part of this great sport of bird dog field trials and of the tremendous camaraderie that I felt at the National. Thanks to friend, Blake Kukar and everyone else who made the trip so much fun!

New Strideaway Homepage Design

Developed in 2008, Strideaway was ahead of the game using a custom Content Management System for a complete website. Four years later, Strideaway has presented over 200 articles, stories, graphics, and podcast interviews as well as photo galleries about the sport of pointing dog field trials —specifically FDSB (Field Dog Stud Book) pointers and setters.

Forging ahead again, TSC has redesigned the Strideaway website which will be programmed utilizing WordPress software  — placing Strideaway on the cutting edge of technology.

The site will feature more articles, stories, and interviews — both current and from the archives of The American Field — more field trial photos delivered through fast-loading photo galleries, links to popular social media and other field trial websites, more unique store items…and much much more.

Site design, organization and a robust search engine will make content including archived articles easier to find. AND…they will be offering great new advertising opportunities for our sponsors. The new site will also be i-pad, tablet, i-phone and android device compatible! Visit the current site here: Strideaway

Article List Page

Article Pages will feature Photo Galleries

Contributor’s Page

Among the projects we’ve started are new websites for Northwoods Bird Dogs, Strideaway and Forrest Auto Body. (Steve Forrest is one of my longtime grouse dog friends and owns a wonderful young pointer, Belle. See the Gallery called The Grouse Woods at http://www.chrismathanphoto.com/ to see Belle and her littermates!)

The month of January of the Quail Forever 2012 Calendar features a photo I took in 2008 at Erin Kennels in Illinois. The setter, Dee, pointed a huge covey of quail that exploded as Sean Derrig approached to flush. Though she can barely be seen in the tall grass, there’s just enough of her showing to give the viewer an idea of what an exciting moment it was!

Birds are flighty at this, the end of grouse season in Maine. Kit’s bird did not try to outrun her but shot up like a canon out of a rocket and was gone so fast I barely caught a glimpse of it. We had three solid months of grouse hunting this past fall…among the best season I can remember in many years. It also gave me lots of opportunities to photograph grouse dogs and flying birds. My goal to get a shot on a flying grouse will resume the spring!

Grouse Fans available in “The Grouse Woods”

We’ve updated our Online Store at Chris Mathan Photo with 2 New Galleries in Autumn 2011-New Photos (“The Grouse Woods” and “Autumn 2011”) and Bird Dogs (“Puppies!!!”)

A great selection of many new photographs!

Prints are the highest professional quality from Millers Labs and are available in a wide variety of sizes. Contact us if you don’t see the size you are interested in.

Order prints by Sunday, December 18 and we’ll get them shipped to you by Christmas!

These photos are also available as 11 x 13 inch signed prints on acid-free art paper. Please email us at info@sportsmanscabinet.com for details.

English Setter Puppies available in “Puppies!!!”

Kit Points a Pheasant…available in Autumn 2011!

Photo from the “Why We Love Flowers” series can be seen at Gallery: Why We Love Flowers!!! Chris Mathan Photo