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Pointing dog trials
Illinois bird dog field trials: Chandlerville, Pinckneyville and Orchardville placings
30 placings from 13 trials, copied from American Field and checked November 13, 2026.
Photo: ALAN SCHMIERER (CC0 1.0)
Illinois field trials, the overview
American Field reported 13 trials from Pinckneyville, Chandlerville, Orchardville and McLeansboro in 2025 and 2026, each run by a field trial club or a regional championship.
Pointers and shorthairs took 17 of the 30 placings and setters 12; males 14, females 16. Mark Mar 25, 2027: Region 5 (AFTCA) Amateur All-Age Championship 2027 is the one trial still ahead.
The Illinois trial still ahead
American Field posts the listing before the club posts entries, so details come later.
| Date | Event | Host | Venue and county | Time and extras | Book | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25, 2027 | Region 5 (AFTCA) Amateur All-Age Championship 2027 category: bird dog field trial | American Field | Event page | Source |
American Field calendar, read November 13, 2026.
Every placing from the Illinois trials
Each row is one placing as printed: the stake, first place or runner-up, the dog, its breed and sex, and the owner and handler.
| Ran | Report | Stake and place | Dog | Breed and sex | Owner, handler |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 9, 2026 | National Red Setter Shooting Dog Championship 2026 | first in the National Red Setter Open Shooting Dog Championship | Firefly's Beeline | Irish setter female | Dennis & Bonnie Hidalgo (owners); Dennis Hidalgo (handler) |
| Apr 9, 2026 | National Red Setter Shooting Dog Championship 2026 | runner-up in the National Red Setter Open Shooting Dog Championship | Gratitude | Irish setter male | Roger W. Boser (owner-handler) |
| Mar 15, 2026 | NGSPA Region 5 Championships 2026 | first in the NGSPA Region 5 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship | Stoney Hill's Pinnacle Dee | German Shorthair female | Dr. Kirk A. Loftin (owner-handler) |
| Mar 15, 2026 | NGSPA Region 5 Championships 2026 | runner-up in the NGSPA Region 5 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship | Two Ponds Blanco Roux | German Shorthair female | Jason Brooks (owner-handler) |
| Mar 14, 2026 | Central Prairie Field Trial Club 2026 | first in the NBHA Amateur Shooting Dog | Glover's Flintsone | setter male | Jack Glover (owner-handler) |
| Mar 14, 2026 | Central Prairie Field Trial Club 2026 | runner-up in the NBHA Amateur Shooting Dog | Beaucoup Creek Abby | setter female | Don Heisner (owner-handler) |
| Mar 6, 2026 | Mid-State Bird Dog Club – Illinois Amateur Shooting Dog Classic 2026 | first in the Illinois Amateur Shooting Dog Classic | Erin's Southern Comfort | pointer male | Sean Derrig & Sean Pat Derrig (owners); Sean Pat Derrig (handler) |
| Mar 6, 2026 | Mid-State Bird Dog Club – Illinois Amateur Shooting Dog Classic 2026 | runner-up in the Illinois Amateur Shooting Dog Classic | Rolling Hills Ty | pointer male | Jeff Wagoner (owner-handler) |
| Mar 6, 2026 | All-America Championships 2026 | first in the All-america Derby Championship | Rester's Wildflower | pointer female | Julie & Pat Roach (owners); Luke Eisenhart (handler) |
| Mar 6, 2026 | All-America Championships 2026 | runner-up in the All-america Derby Championship | Silver W Orange Crush | pointer male | Dr. Debbie Ozner (owner); Luke Eisenhart (handler) |
| Feb 14, 2026 | Southwestern Field Trial Club 2026 | first in the First stake | Spoon River Allie | pointer female | Jeff Hainline (owner-handler) |
| Feb 14, 2026 | Southwestern Field Trial Club 2026 | runner-up in the First stake | Erin's Stellar Cabernet | pointer female | Mike Duvall (owner-handler) |
| Oct 25, 2025 | Central Prairie Field Trial Club 2025 | first in the NBHA Amateur Shooting Dog | Beaucoup Creek Buck | setter male | Don Heisner (owner-handler) |
| Oct 25, 2025 | Central Prairie Field Trial Club 2025 | runner-up in the NBHA Amateur Shooting Dog | May's Legacy Of Justice | pointer male | Kenric DeLong (owner-handler) |
| Oct 25, 2025 | Central Prairie Field Trial Club 2025 | first in the NBHA Open Shooting Dog | No Limits Little Slick | Gordon setter female | John Landolina (owner-handler) |
| Oct 25, 2025 | Central Prairie Field Trial Club 2025 | first in the NBHA Open Shooting Dog | Dave's Miss Scout | setter female | David Cates (owner-handler) |
| Apr 12, 2025 | National Red Setter Shooting Dog Championships 2025 | first in the First stake | Foxy Abragaelic | Irish setter female | Mike Fox (owner-handler) |
| Apr 12, 2025 | National Red Setter Shooting Dog Championships 2025 | runner-up in the First stake | Dale Creek Simply Next | Irish setter male | Debra Dlobik (owner-handler) |
| Mar 15, 2025 | Piasa Pointer and Setter Club – Illinois Winner's Classic 2025 | first in the First stake | P J Wildfire's Supernova | German Shorthair male | Frank Vicari (owner-handler) |
| Mar 15, 2025 | Piasa Pointer and Setter Club – Illinois Winner's Classic 2025 | runner-up in the First stake | Thumper Anything But | pointer female | Thumper-Brown's Starhawk. Mike & Suanne Duvall (owner-handler) |
| Mar 14, 2025 | Region 4 Amateur All-Age Championship 2025 | first in the Region 4 Amateur All-age Championship | Phillips Linebacker | pointer male | Orrin Ingram & Nathan Phillips (owners); Mike Small (handler) |
| Mar 14, 2025 | Region 4 Amateur All-Age Championship 2025 | runner-up in the Region 4 Amateur All-age Championship | Storm's End | pointer female | Matt Pendergest & Megan Henry (owners); Matt Pendergest (handler) |
| Mar 8, 2025 | Central Prairie Field Trial Club 2025 | first in the NBHA Butch Spelbring Memorial Amateur Shooting Dog | K Dell's Eagle Magnum Hotshot | Brittany male | Kenric DeLong (owner-handler) |
| Mar 8, 2025 | Central Prairie Field Trial Club 2025 | runner-up in the NBHA Butch Spelbring Memorial Amateur Shooting Dog | Craig's Runin Roxie | pointer female | Craig Hiatt (owner-handler) |
| Mar 8, 2025 | Central Prairie Field Trial Club 2025 | first in the NBHA Amateur Derby | Beaucoup Creek Abby | setter female | Dan Heisner (owner-handler) |
| Mar 8, 2025 | Central Prairie Field Trial Club 2025 | first in the NBHA Amateur Shooting Dog | Firebug | setter female | Charles Max III (owner-handler) |
| Mar 7, 2025 | All-America Derby and Quail Championships 2025 | first in the All-america Derby Championship | Shagtime Bill | setter male | Chris Cagle Sr. & Chris Cagle Jr. (owners); Ike Todd (handler) |
| Mar 7, 2025 | All-America Derby and Quail Championships 2025 | runner-up in the All-america Derby Championship | Beeler's Master Design | pointer male | Gordy Jones (owner); Ike Todd (handler) |
| Mar 1, 2025 | Illinois Open Shooting Dog Championship – Intensive I'm On Fire Winner and Alliwood's Eleventh Hour Runner-Up of the 2025 | first in the Illinois Open Shooting Dog Championship | Intensive I'm On Fire | pointer male | Steve Auxier (owner-handler) |
| Mar 1, 2025 | Illinois Open Shooting Dog Championship – Intensive I'm On Fire Winner and Alliwood's Eleventh Hour Runner-Up of the 2025 | runner-up in the Illinois Open Shooting Dog Championship | Alliwood's Eleventh Hour | pointer female | Adam DeLude (owner-handler) |
American Field results reports (americanfield.com), read November 13, 2026; first running day as each report gives it.
Grounds, counties and nearby state areas
Trial grounds are not hunting grounds, but the state areas within a short drive carry upland seasons.
| Town | County guide | Count | Dates | Nearby areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinckneyville | Perry County | 6 | Mar 7, 2025–Apr 9, 2026 | Pyramid State Recreation Area- Park Unit (7 miles) · Pyramid State Recreation Area Captain Unit (7 miles) · Pyramid State Recreation Area Denmark Unit (7 miles) |
| Chandlerville | Cass County | 4 | Mar 1, 2025–Mar 6, 2026 | Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (3 miles) · Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife Area (8 miles) · Anderson Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (11 miles) |
| Orchardville | Wayne County | 2 | Mar 8, 2025–Oct 25, 2025 | |
| McLeansboro | Hamilton County | 1 | Mar 14, 2026 | Ten Mile Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (5 miles) · Hamilton County State Fish and Wildlife Area (8 miles) · Alvah Borah State Habitat Area (20 miles) |
Trial towns from the American Field reports; land distances measured straight-line from the town point to each land record, checked November 13, 2026.
What an Illinois upland hunter needs
Rules and dates for anyone taking a bird dog afield in Illinois.
| Species | Zone | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| ring-necked pheasant (roosters only) | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 8, 2027 |
| ring-necked pheasant (roosters only) | South Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 |
| bobwhite quail | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 8, 2027 |
| bobwhite quail | South Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 |
| Hungarian partridge | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 8, 2027 |
| Hungarian partridge | South Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 |
Seasons from the Illinois Digest 2026-27; the Digest defines the North and South zones by road lines, so no county is placed in a zone here; checked November 13, 2026.
| From IDNR | |
|---|---|
| License | $12 resident, $57 nonresident (base prices before vendor fees) |
| State stamp | $5; A hunting license (or applicable exemption) plus a State Habitat Stamp are required to hunt |
| Orange rule | A solid blaze orange or blaze pink cap/hat and an upper outer garment displaying at least 400 square inches of solid blaze orange or blaze pink must be worn to hunt deer during all firearm deer seasons in counties open for firearm deer seasons. Not required for turkey; blaze orange or pink hat or vest encouraged when not actively hunting. |
| Where the zones split | Zones for rooster pheasant, quail, Hungarian partridge are divided by US Route 36 from the Indiana state line to Springfield, Illinois Route 29 from Springfield to Pekin, and Illinois Route 9 from Pekin to Dallas City, then due west to the Mississippi River. |
IDNR license and fee page and Digest hunter orange rules, checked November 13, 2026.
Send a date for the Illinois field trials list
No account, no fee. A link that shows the same name and date gets the row listed quickly; anything vaguer waits for a person to check it.
What to bring to a trial weekend at Pinckneyville
Every card runs a live search instead of showing an old price.
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Bird dog GPS collar
All-age dogs range wide over prairie and brush at the trial grounds; a GPS collar keeps a handler in touch.
Linked to the Illinois trials
Before a youth clinic or class, read the hunter education and youth hunting rules on the youth page.
Questions on the Illinois trials
Which Illinois trials have reports?
13 reports: National Red Setter Shooting Dog Championship 2026 (Apr 9, 2026); NGSPA Region 5 Championships 2026 (Mar 15, 2026); Central Prairie Field Trial Club 2026 (Mar 14, 2026); Mid-State Bird Dog Club – Illinois Amateur Shooting Dog Classic 2026 (Mar 6, 2026); All-America Championships 2026 (Mar 6, 2026); Southwestern Field Trial Club 2026 (Feb 14, 2026); Central Prairie Field Trial Club 2025 (Oct 25, 2025); National Red Setter Shooting Dog Championships 2025 (Apr 12, 2025); Piasa Pointer and Setter Club – Illinois Winner's Classic 2025 (Mar 15, 2025); Region 4 Amateur All-Age Championship 2025 (Mar 14, 2025); Central Prairie Field Trial Club 2025 (Mar 8, 2025); All-America Derby and Quail Championships 2025 (Mar 7, 2025); Illinois Open Shooting Dog Championship – Intensive I'm On Fire Winner and Alliwood's Eleventh Hour Runner-Up of the 2025 (Mar 1, 2025).
Where are bird dog field trials held in Illinois?
The reports on file come from Pinckneyville, Chandlerville, Orchardville and McLeansboro, in Cass County, Hamilton County, Perry County and Wayne County. American Field lists each trial under its town.
Are setters competitive in Illinois?
Pointers and German shorthairs hold 17 of the 30 placings and setters 12; the rest are other breeds.
What won the latest Illinois trial?
National Red Setter Shooting Dog Championship 2026: National Red Setter Open Shooting Dog Championship winner: Firefly's Beeline (Irish setter female; Dennis & Bonnie Hidalgo, owners; Dennis Hidalgo, handler).
What are the quail and pheasant dates?
ring-necked pheasant, North Zone: Nov 7, 2026 to Jan 8, 2027; ring-necked pheasant, South Zone: Nov 7, 2026 to Jan 15, 2027; bobwhite quail, North Zone: Nov 7, 2026 to Jan 8, 2027; bobwhite quail, South Zone: Nov 7, 2026 to Jan 15, 2027. Zones for rooster pheasant, quail, Hungarian partridge are divided by US Route 36 from the Indiana state line to Springfield, Illinois Route 29 from Springfield to Pekin, and Illinois Route 9 from Pekin to Dallas City, then due west to the Mississippi River. Illinois Digest 2026-27
What is a derby stake?
The reports list 17 shooting dog placings, 6 other stake placings, 5 derby placings and 2 all-age placings. Derby stakes are for young dogs; all-age and shooting dog stakes are for finished dogs.
Are there upcoming Illinois field trials?
Yes: Region 5 (AFTCA) Amateur All-Age Championship 2027 on Mar 25, 2027 at Pyramid State Park (Captain Unit), Pinckneyville, Perry County. Past listings with no report are removed, and the form on this page accepts a new club date when you include a public link.
Does entering a trial require an Illinois license?
Neither the reports nor the calendar listings opened for this page mention licenses for trials. Hunting birds in season takes the hunting license ($12 resident, base price) and the $5 habitat stamp.
What clubs are behind the Illinois trials?
The report titles name Central Prairie Field Trial Club, Mid-State Bird Dog Club, Piasa Pointer and Setter Club and Southwestern Field Trial Club. Regional and national championships also run on these grounds.
Who handled the most placed dogs?
Don Heisner (2), Luke Eisenhart (2) and Kenric DeLong (2), counting placings where the report names the handler.
Other photos on this page: cuatrok77 (CC BY-SA 2.0); ilouque (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0).