[Wilmurt]

Has anybody ever participated in a Chukar Challenge? I did today for the first time and what a blast. For those not familiar, this is a shooter and dog event...a team competition of a different sort. At this event 3 chukars were placed in an open field with some cover and you have 15 minutes (and you’re on the clock for fastest completion time) for your dog to find, point, you flush, you shoot, you presumably hit the bird (6 shell limit per run) and your dog retrieves to hand the 3 chukars. Your best score from 4 qualifying rounds per shooter/dog team may put you in the top 10 championship round tomorrow. Don’t think my Llewellin setter Max and I scored high enough in any of the 4 rounds to qualify for the championship, but I’m hooked to do another. Mix of dogs was interesting. While I train with the local NAVHDA chapter where GSP’s are the predominant dog, Lewellin setters dominated here. Of the 30-ish dogs Lew’s were at least half and the others were GSP’s, Brittany’s, Labs and Pointers. While this challenge was 1 adult dog/1 shooter some events also have a 1 dog/2 shooter class. They even have a puppy class. I also have no idea to the points scoring system but I guess they have one. I’ll find my scores later online. Was only one with a sxs, a 16 gauge Parker Repro with 1oz #6’s. It would be neat to see a Parker only Chukar Challenge or a Parker vs. LC Smith Chukar Challenge or something else.