We hope everyone is having a terrific hunting season! Please share your photos and stories on our Facebook Group. Your Minnesota Chapter Board of Directors is hard at work planning for our 2024 Season. Here are some updates on what we are working on:
Membership Renewals-2024 Membership renewals will be opening soon, after we finish some maintenance/upgrades on this website and our payment processor. $10 discount for renewing by 12/31. Watch your emails for the membership drive announcement in the coming weeks.
Bylaws Update-All members were previously notified about an upcoming vote on a slight revision to the chapter bylaws. All members we have valid email addresses for will be getting an email soon with an electronic ballot/voting option. PLEASE watch for that email from a system called Election Runner and participate in the voting. Read the proposed change here.
SAVE THE DATE! Annual Meeting/Fable Fest will be Saturday Feb 3rd at Brookhall in Blaine. We are in need of a Coordinator to help plan and host this event. If you can help, contact Pete Aplikowski at 651-485-0055 or pete.aplikowski@mnnavhda.org.
Winter Positive Reinforcement Indoor Classes-Chapter member Bob Brearey will again be leading this course at Hooley Hall at Washington County Fairgrounds in Stillwater. Class will be on Mondays starting Feb 5th and run 10 weeks. Class will be limited to 12 handlers/dogs. Registration will be opening soon, so watch your emails for that announcement.
Joe Dolejsi Memorial Scholarship-Applications for the Joe Dolejsi Memorial Youth & New Handler Scholarship are now open. Click here to learn more about Joe, this program. and our new all online application.
Kelley Farms/Keystone Woods WMA-In conjunction with the Minnesota Field Trial Federation, we are actively involved in discussions with the Minnesota DNR about the future of dog training on these grounds which will be called Keystone Woods WMA. There are going to be public hearings/meetings this winter about future plans for Keystone Woods. We will provide all of our members with that meeting information when it is available.
2024 Training Plans-With the changes at Kelley Farms, we are making plans for expanded training at Four Brooks WMA near Milaca. We are also always looking for alternative training grounds opportunities, especially access to private water sites for DUCK SEARCH and BLIND RETRIEVES. We are also looking for some options for INDOOR heated space for additional winter training classes. If you know of any possibilities, please contact Director of Training Keith Larson. training@mnnavhda.org
2024 Tentative Test Dates-Test entries will open in February initially to members only. Here are our planned dates.
- May 11-12-Natural Ability-Four Brooks WMA-Milaca
- June 22-23-NA-UPT-UT-Four Brooks WMA-Milaca
- July 20-21-Natural Ability-Four Brooks WMA-Milaca
- August 17-18-NA-UPT-UT Iron Range Retriever Club-Virginia/Eveleth
- August 24-25-UPT-UT -Four Brooks WMA-Milaca
- September 7-8-Natural Ability-Four Brooks WMA-Milaca