Annual hunting dog trials to be held at county ranch

By Kathy Thomson

For the fifth year in a row, trainers, owners, and highly skilled hunting dogs from across Texas and surrounding states are expected to travel to the Crooked Tree Ranch in Shackelford County for the Region 7 American Field Trial Clubs of America (AFTCA) Amateur All-Age Championship and the M. G. Perkins Amateur All-Age Derby Classic.

The competition will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 17.

The Region 7 Championship was held at a Shackelford County ranch for several years, then moved to a different part of the state when the local quail population declined. The field dog trials returned to the Albany area five years ago after more favorable weather allowed the quail to stage a comeback.

Adrian Jackson and Scoot Terrell will judge the 2020 event. John Benoist and Tyson Traw have been selected as the field marshals. Dr. Buck Neil is the trial chairperson and Ray Black is the dog wagon driver.

Entry information can be obtained by email from AFTCA Region 7 secretary Mary Ann Gustafson at redset@austin.utexas.edu.

The regional championship is a qualifying trial for the AFTCA National Amateur Invitational Championship.