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We live on a 120-acre hobby farm in Northwest/central Wisconsin where Bernie hunts and trains the dogs and we all
enjoy the great outdoors. We have three children--Morgan age 8, Maverick age 6, and Montana age 4; six German
Shorthaired Pointers--Domino, Reggie, Indy, Brook, Foreman, and Deion; three Havanese--Vivian, Rory, and JoVahna,
and four horses. We also raise about 1,000 chukars each year for training.
enjoy the great outdoors. We have three children--Morgan age 8, Maverick age 6, and Montana age 4; six German
Shorthaired Pointers--Domino, Reggie, Indy, Brook, Foreman, and Deion; three Havanese--Vivian, Rory, and JoVahna,
and four horses. We also raise about 1,000 chukars each year for training.
It all started back in 1988 when Bernie's parents, Chuck and Dorothy Birkenholz, decided to turn their dairy farm into a wild
game hunting preserve called Big Rock Hunting Preserve. That's when Bernie became interested in bird dogs. His first
German Shorthaired Pointer was a female named Whisky. She was a very tough hunting dog and they did very well
together. At that time, Bernie guided a lot at the hunting preserve, so Whisky was fortunate to have seen more birds by the
time she was one year old than most dogs do their entire lifetime. She was an awesome hunter, but she was also an
ill-mannered, undisciplined kennel dog that destroyed every pair of boots that were not put up at night in hotel room at the
tournaments. Bernie's friends learned quickly to put up their things when they stayed with him, but Bernie still proceeded to
buy new boots as often as underwear. She was something--she even chewed off the shifter in Bernie's truck one time
when he left her in there while he went into the tavern with his buddy to have a beer. They were quite a pair!
Whisky was the 1994 NATHA Dog of the Year Champion Puppy Pointer. And in 1995, Whisky was the NATHA Dog
of the Year Champion Top Gun Pointer.
In 1998, Whisky was the proud mother of a litter of 9, one of which was Domino, our female pick of the litter. We lost
Whisky in 2001 in a farming accident. It was really hard--especially for Bernie as he had owned Whisky before we ever
dated, so I was the third wheel in the early years.
We got Reggie in the summer of 2001, Indy in the summer of 2003, and Brook in the early spring of 2005. All of them love
the thrill of the hunt! We hope to be able to promote at least two dogs per year in the tournament hunting circuit, so we will
be keeping two puppies out of the 2006 litters.
In November 2004, Reggie achieved our highest award yet -- the 2004 THCC Doubles World Champion. The event was
held in Guthrie Center, Iowa, and featured the Top National Dogs in Tournament Hunting. The World Championship
Tournament is currently being aired on Fox Sports Network (FSN) and the Menz Channel, as are some of the other super
major events throughout the year. And in January 2007, it will air on The Outdoor Channel.
If you ever have any questions about German Shorthaired Pointers or the tournament hunting circuits, please feel free to
contact us at (715) 668-5783 or e-mail us at fencingplus@centurytel.net.
For more information regarding the THCC (Tournament Hunter Champions Club) which recognizes Tournament Hunting
Champion Titles, go to www.tournamenthunter.com.
game hunting preserve called Big Rock Hunting Preserve. That's when Bernie became interested in bird dogs. His first
German Shorthaired Pointer was a female named Whisky. She was a very tough hunting dog and they did very well
together. At that time, Bernie guided a lot at the hunting preserve, so Whisky was fortunate to have seen more birds by the
time she was one year old than most dogs do their entire lifetime. She was an awesome hunter, but she was also an
ill-mannered, undisciplined kennel dog that destroyed every pair of boots that were not put up at night in hotel room at the
tournaments. Bernie's friends learned quickly to put up their things when they stayed with him, but Bernie still proceeded to
buy new boots as often as underwear. She was something--she even chewed off the shifter in Bernie's truck one time
when he left her in there while he went into the tavern with his buddy to have a beer. They were quite a pair!
Whisky was the 1994 NATHA Dog of the Year Champion Puppy Pointer. And in 1995, Whisky was the NATHA Dog
of the Year Champion Top Gun Pointer.
In 1998, Whisky was the proud mother of a litter of 9, one of which was Domino, our female pick of the litter. We lost
Whisky in 2001 in a farming accident. It was really hard--especially for Bernie as he had owned Whisky before we ever
dated, so I was the third wheel in the early years.
We got Reggie in the summer of 2001, Indy in the summer of 2003, and Brook in the early spring of 2005. All of them love
the thrill of the hunt! We hope to be able to promote at least two dogs per year in the tournament hunting circuit, so we will
be keeping two puppies out of the 2006 litters.
In November 2004, Reggie achieved our highest award yet -- the 2004 THCC Doubles World Champion. The event was
held in Guthrie Center, Iowa, and featured the Top National Dogs in Tournament Hunting. The World Championship
Tournament is currently being aired on Fox Sports Network (FSN) and the Menz Channel, as are some of the other super
major events throughout the year. And in January 2007, it will air on The Outdoor Channel.
If you ever have any questions about German Shorthaired Pointers or the tournament hunting circuits, please feel free to
contact us at (715) 668-5783 or e-mail us at fencingplus@centurytel.net.
For more information regarding the THCC (Tournament Hunter Champions Club) which recognizes Tournament Hunting
Champion Titles, go to www.tournamenthunter.com.
| Lila, the animal lover (or animal "nut" as Bernie would say). If I won the lottery, I would love to build and run a really great humane society. |
| This picture was taken when Reggie was just a puppy. I had to explain to him that we don't hunt horses. |
| Future Big Rock Hunters Morgan, Montana, Maverick |
| Vivian and Domino. Yes, they can live in the same household-- though I was worried at first--didn't want Vivian to be lunch! |
WHISKY back in 1994 with our friend Mike |
Thanks for visiting our website! Bernie, Lila, Morgan, Maverick, and Montana Birkenholz To all of our servicemen and women, we salute you! |
The Good Old Days |
Bernie and Reggie sleeping in the camper at Nationals |
| The Birkenholz's |
| Domino and Bernie |
| Flyin' Gun Kennels Tournament Hunting Team Craig Steinbach with his dog Abby Bernie with Reggie |