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Returning to NAGDA for Another Year

Bryce Mann - JHO ProStaff - Sierra Foothills, CA
June 19, 2008

Travelling with the dogs
If you're travelling extensively with your dogs, make sure they have a safe and comfortable place to stay. Also, plan for emergencies with extra supplies such as food and water.

Well it seems that time really does fly. One year ago we bucked heavy headwinds to get to the NAGDA Nationals and stopped at all of the big sporting goods stores along the way. While there, we encountered tornado weather wind, rain and sleet. For the locals of eastern Colorado this is normal weather, for some of us traveling from the west coast this is quite a change. It all seems to come out in the wash as I do not like wind that goes in circles and they don’t like earth quakes.

This year the big trip was a bit slower due to a cold front that brought lots of cold, white stuff to the mountain passes. Let me say this, “boy, do I ever have some ideas for the TV show, Drive-Ins, Diners and Dives.”

Our travels were halted along the way because of heavy snow and road closures, and we were snowed in at a truck stop near Rawlings, Wy. Here is a travel tip for those traveling with their gun dogs: Make sure you keep a small amount (one day supply for each dog) of food and water handy and with in easy access. Our motor home, also known as “the bus,” has huge storage bins where we normally store hunting gear and dog food, but with all of the ice, the bins were frozen shut. Fortunately, we had a small supply of dog food along with some instant mashed potatoes to get us through.

It is big fun to see the competitors who make the North American Gun Dog Association (NAGDA) finals each year… some familiar faces with new dogs and, most importantly, new competitors with their dogs. As with all of the shooting sports it is important that new people join us in order to keep the sport alive. If those of us actively involved with shooting related sports are working to pass on the tradition, we can get more facilities involved and increase the opportunities for others to join the fun.

Good news for those in southern California! There are two new, host clubs for NAGDA events, check the web site to see date for upcoming events in the 2009 season. Now I am working to establish some new host clubs in the northern part of our state. Hopefully others will take on this task across the country and more clubs will see the advantage of hosting these competitive events: new people, new dogs, more fun with opportunities for beginners, youth, ladies, senior and open divisions. One of the new host clubs in southern California will even host events for those with disabilities in hopes that we can involve mobility-impaired people in our shooting sport.

These competitive hunting events are not for everybody, but for those of us with trained gun dogs it is fun to see how the hard work, training and practice have come together to make a great day in the upland. This is a fun way of testing how all of this works while making new friends and a lot of conversation about the day’s events. Spectators also have fun watching the competition and checking out the leader board to see where their favorite competitors are listed.

Please visit www.nagdog.com to see the scores and check out the fun.

A couple of tips for those planning an extended trip for competition or maybe your big hunt in another state: Be sure you take enough gear and equipment to handle changing or unexpected weather conditions. Trust your dog’s nose and remember dogs tend to dehydrate when traveling so keep plenty of water on hand you may want to consider having some electrolyte additive for the water on hand as well.