7/21/2010

Hello Everyone!

Hope you are having a great summer. It has been raining a lot here in West Central Il. Here at Smokin’ Gun we have been trying to get our skeet and trap leagues done in between the rains. Other than that things have been going pretty good.

Everyone that I have talked with is real excited about all of the changes we made for next year. The one I think everyone likes the best is all of the different pay outs we will have. One thing for sure the money will be split up more. I guess I should explain a little about our new changes.

In the Singles and Puppy Divisions we will have a 3 bird set on Sat. and a 3 bird set on Sun. These 2 scores will be added together for an overall score and the number of pay outs will depend on the amount of entries per divisions. We will also payout for high score each day and each field. Entry Fee $300.

In the Doubles we will have a 4 bird set each day. The money will be split up and paid out the same as the singles. Entry Fee $350.

If you can just make one day you can run for field and day money only. No more than 3 runs in one day if choosing a day.

We will have a payout for each field and each day and an overall payout on Sunday for the combined score and Champion.

One dog cannot enter the same division more than 2 times, each hunter cannot have over 4 entries in a division and cannot have over 8 runs in one day. Also any team cannot have over 45% of the entries in any division.

We will still take $5. and put it in the High Point Dog Fund, and also we are going to put $10 from each entry into The National Championship Fund which will be added to the Nationals prize money. (Held at Smokin’ Gun this Year)

This will be an option for the host clubs to hold a Calcutta on Sat. night. This will be for the dogs that are in contention for high over all. If the owner of the dog buys his own dog, the owner gets to keep the Calcutta money. If someone else buys your dog, the buyer will get 70% and the owner gets 30% at no cost to the owner.

We are going to have a Hunters division for the new people that are interested in getting started without playing for the Prize Money. The entry Fee for this division will be $100. for a 4 bird set and they can run singles or with a partner. The winner will get a lot of experience and receive a nice Certificate.

We also changed the doubles division where the hunters cannot separate more than 50 yards. This will make it easier for the scorekeepers to keep everything under control.

We will be using 4 of your best combined scores for the High Point Dog of the Year. The National Qualifying standards for the Puppy and the Singles is 138 Points and the Doubles is 185 points.

Karl Bednarchik is working on the new rule books so they should be in our hands by Aug. This will be the last year for the $15. Membership. After August 1^st. your annual fee will be $25.

Our Proven Point system will remain the same. You will receive points for the number of dogs you best. At the Nationals we will present the Certificates to the new Proven Champions.

Hope to see you all at this years events and try to bring some new competitors with you. Let them run your dogs in the Hunters Division just to get them started.

Josh Tucker our own Owens Dog Box Dealer will be donating another dog box for our Nationals. Thanks! Josh. If you need a new Owens Dog Box give him a call. Ph. 217-638-1964. I know Josh gave out some good deals on boxes last year to our members. He is back to his old job selling cars and trucks again.  Oh by the way Josh and Amy are expecting in Feb.

Just talked to Tony with Boyt Harness Company and they will be back on board this year. They have been such a loyal sponsor for PHU. So lets show them some support and buy some new cases or bags we have been needing. I need to do some updating myself, some of my cases are over 15 years old. As you know they make the very best products. Hunting coats, vests, shirts, guns cases, and bags. Check out their catalog on line.  www.boytharness.com

Country Vet Dog Food is going to be with us again this year. I talked with Gary Kubicek at the Pheasant Fest and he showed me their new product they will have this year. It is called Sportsman Select with 24% Protein and 20% Fat this will be a great food for the winter. We have been feeding their green bag all year long and the dogs are doing great. www.countryvetpetfood.com

Kory Kraus has 6 German Shorthair Puppies. 3 black and white and 3 liver and white. For sale  kkraus@westcentralfs.com

Bob Miller had to put his good friend and hunting companion Joe to rest this month. Joe was 13 years old but had a very good life and left lots of good memories behind.

I know it is to hot to be thinking about running dogs in this kind of weather, but fall is just around the corner. The kids around here will be starting school in a couple of weeks. It won’t be to long before we will be thinking where did summer go.

.
Next Year Dates.

 Oct. 9 &10 Pheasant Bonanza,

 Nov. 13 &14 Smokin' Gun,

 Dec.11 &12 Salty Dog,

 Jan.8 & 9 Heggemeiers,

 Feb.12 &13 Gobblers Knob,