The Cochise Bird Dog Club

Our Past, Present and Future

     The Cochise Bird Dog Club (CBDC) was initially organized in July of 2003.  The basic purpose of the club is to share training techniques and to assist club members in the development of their dogs. A variety of formats are provided for club members to participate in, such as Field Trials, Hunt Tests, Fun Hunts, hunting trips and regular training sessions.  The club endorses and supports the Gibbons-West training techniques developed by the popular and well known Bill West and Bill Gibbons of Phoenix, Arizona. In this method, particular emphasis is placed on education of the younger trainer who lacks knowledge but can gain experience by having exposure over time to the training and practical experiences of the many and varied members of the club; many of whom train using the concepts of the G-W methods.

     Beginning with the original members of 5, the club has grown to more than 30 members.  The 5 original members who attended the first meeting, and have carried on with their membership, were Jim Klemski, Gary Tinkcom, Erick Haldorson, Sean Higgins and Dave Higgins.

     The club is situated in the famous county of Cochise in Southeastern Arizona where you will recognize such names as Tombstone, Ft. Huachuca, Cochise Stronghold, Ft. Bowie and other historical names that are steeped in the history of the Southwest.

CBDC Significant Milestones:

·        Organized July 2003

·        First American Field and AFTCA trial, Cowan Ranch, Dec 2003

·        July 2004, Incorporated.

·        Membership expands to 12 members, 2004

·        Formal Training Program commences 2004

·        Electronic Newsletter launched, 2005

·        AKC approved By Laws and Constitution, Dec 2005

·        Membership reaches 20 in 2005

·        First Youth Quail Hunt, 2006

·        Membership reaches 30 in 2006.

     Since our original inception, the club has grown and provided a variety of activities for the pointing dog owner. We are not breed specific and welcome any pointing breed owner to join our club in order to enjoy and to benefit from the mutual friendships and knowledge base that exists in the club today. We have sponsored 4 consecutive American Field/AFTCA sanctioned field trials, held our first AKC Hunt Test in March of 2007, conducted annual meetings for election as well as Christmas Parties and other social events.  Training sessions are conducted on a regular basis when the bird hunting season is not open with a particular focus on young dogs getting started correctly.  

     Looking ahead we have plans to expand our sponsorship of AFTCA type trials, continue with perhaps semi-annual AKC hunt tests and to conduct other events which the membership deems desirable. We annually conduct a Youth Quail Hunt for members of the Scholastic Clay Target Program and the participants are given the opportunity to hunt birds over trained bird dogs. Plans are underway to expand this program to include wider participation among the youth in the area.

Fund raising remains a critical component for the club’s well being and we annually conduct a shot gun raffle drawing for a nice over and under shotgun. 

     We use pigeons to train on a regular basis. We are planning to expand our Quail Johnny House project in 2007 on 1600 acres to which the club has access. The club has limited resources such as tables, awnings, bird holding pens, bird planting bags and other equipment that is needed to sponsor and host bird dog training and competition events. We continue to add to our capabilities in this area.