More Information

Trophy Donations

WANTED:  Trophy Sponsors.  Please consider sponsoring a trophy – - we need your support! 

Contact Meghan Vos lovesgriffs@yahoo.com or Tajia Retzlaff tab6954@yahoo.com to sponsor a trophy.    

 

Auction/Raffle

Can you contribute an item for the specialty auction/raffle?  For example, an item you make, a basket of goodies, etc.  Your donations are greatly appreciated!  Contact Ruth Vogel to let her know what you can contribute or if you have questions.  glimrvogel@aol.com

 

AWPGA Handler Clinic for Natural Ability Test

Led by Bill Jensen and Larry Woodward

Thursday, October 25, 2012. Sioux Falls SD.  Cost – $35.00, includes lunch and beverages. Location: 3 miles west of host hotel (driving directions will be provided later)  PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN CHAIR.

This clinic is for anyone who would like to learn how to better train and handle their dogs in the field.  Note: Participants will not run their dogs but instead will observe other dogs in the field.  There will be adequate breaks to care for crated dogs.

We will spend the morning in lecture and discussion to learn the test system and how the judges think. In the afternoon we will all judge 2 young dogs going through the test procedures. Participants will determine scores and in group discussion gain insight to hunting dog behavior, otherwise called reading your dog. Leaders will describe performance that added or subtracted from their scores. Good and bad handling will be pointed out. Later in the afternoon we will briefly discuss advanced tests. While this clinic relates specifically to the NAVHDA system, much of the material will be applicable to other hunt tests.

8:00 AM

Welcome and self-introduction

Schedule and outline

8:55 AM

Short history and comment on test philosophy

Description of tests and the scoring system

9:50 AM – 10 minute break

Review a Natural Ability Test in detail (7 aspects).

Water

Search

Pointing

Tracking

10:55 AM – 5 minute stretch break

Nose

Desire to work

Cooperation

Hand out NA scorecards and give brief description of use

Noon – Lunch break

12:30 PM or when lunch is finished

Run the first dog through the NA test, one piece at a time

2:30 PM

Run the second dog through the NA test, one piece at a time

4:00 PM – 15-minute break

Discussion of UPT and UT judging concepts

5:00 PM – Q&A about the day’s activities, then adjourn

***Plan to attend the AWPGA National Specialty Welcome Reception from 6-10 PM at the host hotel***

 

Shotgun Shooting Techniques & Precision

Saturday, October 27, 2-4PM; Cost: $15.00

I can guarantee that you will learn a lot from Dan and will enjoy this seminar.  He has helped me and many others in our local NAVHDA club become better shooters!  Kay Farris

Dan “Griff” Griffith has been instructing for the past 15 years, including first-time shooters. He has been a shooting instructor at Paul Nelson Farm, a premier South Dakota hunting facility, for several years. Whether you are a first-time shooter or an experienced hunter interested in shooting more birds, this fun and educational program is for you. Dan will demonstrate and explain gun fit, mount, stance, lead and other techniques that are essential for shotgun shooting success. He will discuss mistakes that cause misses and demonstrate techniques that will help you bag more game. This demonstration will use a laser pointer and other equipment to help shooters understand the techniques. Time will be available for questions and discussion.

For those wishing hands-on instruction at the shooting range, individual and small group sessions may be arranged for a fee of $25/person. (Proceeds go to AWPGA)  Contact Kay Farris for more information about lessons.  kfarris23@knology.net or 605-251-1019 

 

Things to Do

• Southeastern South Dakota tourism information http://www.southeastsouthdakota.com/ ; and specific to hunting:    http://www.southeastsouthdakota.com/attractions/pheasant-hunting.php
• Check out the Sioux Falls Convention and Visitor’s Bureau web site http://www.siouxfallscvb.com/
• Sioux Falls is aptly named for the beautiful waterfalls created as the Sioux River passes through the city; check it out at Falls Park near downtown Sioux Falls
• The Sertoma Butterfly House – a year-round tropical  (yes, odd to read the word “tropical” in the same sentence with South Dakota!) butterfly house with free-flying butterflies
• Hunter’s Pointe Sporting Clays – have some fun shooting clays http://hunterspointesd.com/
• Terry Redlin Art Center – Watertown SD http://www.redlinart.com/  Terry Redlin is one of the country’s best-known wildlife artists.  Definitely worth your time if you like wildlife art.
• Learn more about South Dakota attractions at http://www.travelsd.com/  There is a lot to see and do in South Dakota.  Here are a few highlights:
  • Corn Palace in Mitchell
  • Oahe Dam and Reservoir on the Missouri River
  • Badlands National Park
  • Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial
  • The Black Hills, which has many attractions

Hunting

• If you don’t want to hunt but would like to enjoy the South Dakota landscape, you can still don some orange and take your dogs for a walk on public hunting areas.  Be aware that the grass can be thick and/or tall, so you may want to have your dog wear an electronic beeper collar so that you can locate him as he goes exploring.
• Pheasant season typically opens the third weekend of October, which would be October 20, the weekend prior to the specialty.
• MAKE PLANS NOW if you are interested in making reservations for private shooting preserves or guide services.  You can find more information about private shooting preserves and guide services at this site: http://www.travelsd.com/Outdoors/Hunting/General-Information,  or an internet search will bring up a lot of lodges and guide services.  Here is another helpful site: http://www.ultimatepheasanthunting.com/USA/South-Dakota/directory/
• The state does have a lot of public land and provides a hunting atlas with maps showing the available areas.  You can request information, including an atlas, from this site:  http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/info-request.aspx  We recommend that you get an atlas a year in advance so that you can see all the available hunting areas, and then get a 2012 atlas a month or so before you make the trip to South Dakota.  You may want to consider a mix of preserve hunting and public land hunting, but again, you MUST make reservations NOW if you want to hunt on preserves or use guide services.
• There are pheasants throughout eastern SD; you will be able to check the SD GF&P site for pheasant counts.  Typically, the areas around Chamberlain, Winner, Pierre, Mobridge, Aberdeen, Redfield, Huron, and Mitchell have the highest pheasant populations.  MAKE LODGING RESERVATIONS EARLY — IT’S A BUSY TIME OF YEAR IN SOUTH DAKOTA.
• Here is a link to information about hunting in the southeastern part of South Dakota, which is where Sioux Falls is located: http://southeastsouthdakota.com/south-dakota-hunting.php   Lower down on the right side of that page you will find a list of private hunting guides and outfitters.  There is a lot of other useful information on this site.  If you are interested in checking out the area in the northeastern part of the state, you can go to this site to learn more: http://www.sdglaciallakes.com/outdooractivities/hunting-fishing
• Here’s a shameless plug for my (Kay’s) small hometown of Gary SD, which is about 90 miles north of Sioux Falls:  A link to a pheasant preserve and lodge http://huntingsdpheasants.com/  . There is also a lovely, unique resort in Gary http://buffaloridgeresortsd.com/
• You can purchase a pheasant hunting license when you arrive in South Dakota.  It’s easy to find a business in SD that sells small game licenses.  You can buy one at many gas stations, hardware stores, and sporting good stores.
• Here’s a site with some tips on hunting wild pheasants – if you haven’t hunted wild pheasants before, you should do some internet research or talk to experienced hunters to get some advice.  They are wily birds that love to run!  http://www.americanhunter.org/m-articlepage.aspx?id=3022&cid=50
• If you are NOT a resident of South Dakota and you are interested in waterfowl hunting, you will need to apply for a nonresident waterfowl license by early summer of 2012.  Nonresident waterfowl licenses are awarded by lottery.  For your reference, here is information for 2011: http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/licenses/limited/app-nonresident-waterfowl.aspx  The deadline for 2011 was July 9, so be sure to plan ahead and apply for your 2012 nonresident waterfowl license early in 2012.  There is not a limit on the number of nonresident pheasant hunting licenses.
• If you are thinking of hunting along the eastern edge of the Missouri river (within about 20 miles of the river) or anywhere west of the Missouri river (the river runs down the center of the state), you should be aware that there’s a small chance of encountering rattlesnakes on a warm day.  Many people who hunt those areas will vaccinate their dogs for snake bites.  You can read more here:  http://www.redrockbiologics.com .  Don’t worry – - you won’t encounter rattlesnakes in southeastern or northeastern South Dakota as long as you stay at least 20 miles east of the river.
• There is also great fishing in South Dakota.  Try catching some walleyes along the Missouri River near Pierre or Chamberlain.
• Tip of the Day:  your dog may discover a skunk while out in the field, so be prepared with a product such as “Skunk-off”. 

Photo Contest

Calling all photographers!  Get out your cameras and take some great shots of your Griffs! This year’s contest will be judged by Don and Ann Allen and Dave and Eileen Baldus.  The annual AWPGA photo contest winners will be announced at the 2012 National Specialty in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  Categories are Griff Puppies, Hunting Griffs, Performing Griffs and Griff Fun.  First, second and third place winners will be selected in each category with an overall Best In Show winner selected from all the first place winners. All winners will receive a certificate of recognition and will appear in the Griffonnier Specialty Issue.  Submission deadline will be October 1.  Be watching for further details in the next Griffonnier.  Contact Ann Allen, 2012 Photo Contest chair, if you have questions. dataallen@aol.com

Some tips on how to get quality photos of your Griffs:

1)     Try to capture your Griff’s personality.  Is he curious, silly, serious, lazy? Avoid photos with a “set up”, unnatural scene.

2)     Get up close and personal!  Photos that capture your Griff as the center of attention look best.  Get down to their level looking at them eye to eye, seeing their world as they do.

3)     Choose a location for the photo where the background doesn’t detract from your dog and the mood you’re trying to capture.  Photos with lots of furniture or too much background take the focus away from the dog.

4)     Try shooting from interesting angles and in different types of light.  Natural, outdoor light often provides the best lighting. Make sure your focus is sharp. 

5)     Capture your Griffon “in action”.  These photos can be hard to catch and you might have to take many photos.  Patience and lots of shots will be worth it.

Remember, these are not your average candid snap shots we’re looking for.  Challenge yourself.  Who knows?  Maybe you’ll take the next Best in Show!

 

Weather

Southeastern South Dakota’s weather toward the end of October has average highs in the 50’s, lows in the 30’s.  However, the temps can sometimes go up into the 60’s during the day and down into the upper 20’s at night, so bring clothing you can wear in layers.  There’s not usually much precipitation that time of year.  But it can be very windy!