Hunting in Norway 2023
In September 2023 (for the fourth time), my setters and I went far north to hunt grouse in Scandinavia. Starting again with a few days of hunting for black grouse and capercaillie in more wooded areas in the south of Norway. Then continue north-west, towards Bergen, into the Hardangervidda National Park. A dreamlike, seemingly endless high plateau above the tree line and, at 8,000 km², the largest plateau in Europe. A wonderful nature and hunting experience, albeit very demanding for hunters and dogs. I am very grateful for all the special moments I was able to experience during this hunting trip among English Setter friends.
European Championship GT 2022
Nis (Serbien) 31.Oktober / 01.November 2022
English Birdland's CHABLIS: European Champion GT 2022 (best female)
1st day: Recall - Judges Provost (FR), Urra (ES), Anthimou (GR)
2nd day: 1.Excellent - Judes Sormaz (SRB), Fabbricotti (IT), A.Jost (AUS)
As a result, Chablis wins the Championship for English Setters as best bitch for the second time in a row and once again brings home the important title. Also English Birdland's Black TONY, presented by Dr. Cetina Thiel classified with a 3.Excellent. Also the other German dogs of Team Birdland presented themselves very well and received many compliments for their qualities.
German team
- English Birdland’s CARLSBERG/ Michael Kühner
- English Birdland’s CUCCAS / Nina Wollmann
- English Birdland’s ACDC / Nicole Bönninghausen
- English Birdland’s Black TONY / Cetina Thiel
- Cucca‘s HASTA la Vista / Nina Wollmann
- English Birdland’s CHABLIS / Nina Wollmann
European Champion Males: Nencini’s UNICO, Z. Nencini Claudio, F. Albamonte Sandro (IT)
Vice-European Champion Males: COBRA, Z. Ragazzini Vincenzo, F. Valerio Antimo (IT)
11 participating nations: Switzerland, Italy, Serbia, Germany, France, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Greek, North-Macedonia, Croatia, Spain
Hunting in Norway 2022
In mid-September 2022, my husband and I started our Scandinavian journey via the Puttgarden (Fehmarn) ferry connection to Rödby (Denmark) to our first destination Sweden. There we were warmly welcomed by the new family of our puppy "English Birdland's EROS". During the following two days we took part in Swedish field tests on pheasants and partridges in nice hunting grounds around Ystad. Neither Chablis nor Cuccas made it into the qualifications but were particularly praised for their breed-typical style, passion and hunting efficiency. It was extremely interesting to get to know the Swedish dogs and the different evaluation system - and to make many new acquaintances with setters and pointer people who live the same enthusiasm for British Pointing dogs as we do.
That same evening, we continued our journey 700km northwards to Norway. Passing Malmö, Copenhagen, Gothenburg and Oslo in a hurry – city tours were not included in the program. Our friend Tor Fløysvik lives with his team of setters (Kennel Dancaettens) in Kongsberg, about one hour north-west of Oslo. There we hunted in the following 3 days intensively in the autumn forests with guns and dogs for black grouse and capercaillie. Brightly colored foliage, idyllic moor lakes with reed fringes, yellow ferns on lush green moss beds, endless expanses of berries and heather - a fantastic experience to see the dogs working in the wonderful Scandinavian nature!
Especially my male Losey impressed me with his hunting efficiency. Several times he managed to find and point black grouse. Unfortunately, however, a good shot was not possible. On the third day, I was able to shoot a young black grouse in front of his grandson Pomeroy. Horrido - the joy was overwhelming!!!
The journey continued about 3 hours in a north-westerly direction to the Norwegian "Highlands" to hunt for grouse with our setter team. The goal was the mountain lodge "Halne Fjellstugu", located on a huge mountain lake in front of an almost surreally beautiful panorama of the "infinity" of this inviting high plateau far away from any human settlement. The tree line in Norway is already around 1000 meters above sea level. Above that stretch gentle hills with heather and berry plants that are no more than knee-high, colorful autumn colors in the sunlight - fantastic conditions for hunting with English Setters! But the icy wind gave us an idea about the cold and mercilessness nordic winter.
The evening before we got a briefing on the circumstances. With the help of maps, one was forced to orient oneself to cardinal points and natural features in order to exploit the hunting areas and at the same time find one's way back to the base station. Unimaginable in Germany! The next morning the small hunting groups (each 2 hunters and an accompanying person with 3-4 setters) started across the lake in motor boats. How exciting for humans and dogs! The dogs hunted individually or in couples and were rotated about every half hour to conserve energy throughout the day. But all the hardships are worth it for the moment when the brown-and-white birds fly away in front of the pointing. Unforgettable moments when a grouse is falling down and your own dog fetches it with pride – I am so grateful to live that.
„If God was a hunter, he would live in Halne/Norway.“ (Probably the most accurate summary)
Gallery wood hunt with English Setters:
Gallery grouse hunting:
European Championship GT 2021
Nis (Serbia), 19.-20. November 2021
GT means "Gibier Tiré" (=with bird retrieving)
English Birdland's CHABLIS: European Champion GT 2021 (best female)
1st day: 1.Excellent CAC/RCACIT - Judges Demaretz (F), Mitrovic (SRB)
2nd day: 1.Excellent CAC/CACIT - Judges Sormaz (SRB), Murarescu (ROM)
With these results, Chablis (only 17 month old!) was the best dog of all participating nations. At the same time, she also fulfills the performance requirements for the Serbian and International Working Champion (I.A.Ch.) - a historic achievement for a dog of her age, bred in Germany.
My two German male dogs were also able to classify on the first day of the Championship:
Excellent - LOSEY du Val du Ruth
Excellent - English Birdland's Black TONY
European Champion Males: Balboa Zagni del Duda, H: Pezzotta (SRB)
Vice-European-Champion Males: Edbel Ambo, H: Faissat (F)
Grouse hunting Norway 2018
Almost endless, open, spacious highland areas, far away from any civilization, gently rolling hills with maximum knee-high heather and berry plants, colourful autumn colours in the sunlight – dreamlike conditions for British Pointing Dogs!
In September 2018 I was travelling north again. Following an invitation from my Scandinavian friends, grouse hunting in the Norwegian Highlands was on the programme. The hunting grounds are about 800-1000 metres high and make every bird hunter’s heart beat faster. Grouse live in family groups and feed on heather and varieties of berries. Often you can find them in the lee of small hills, near some single high mountain birch with some protecting and wind-sheltering herbs or bushes. However, you only get hunting success if the dogs search in a very spacious and persistent way and manage to point and fix the birds in an experienced manner. It's really magical when these brown-white birds fly away in front of the pointing dog, against the background of wonderful autumnal Highland landscape. It is beyond words when a grouse is falling down on the shot and my own dog retrieves it to me with a proud walk.
At the same time we had the opportunity to hunt for Common snipe (gallinago gallinago) which reside in reed areas around the numerous mountain lakes before moving into the southern winter quarters. The highest nose performance and hunting experience of our setters was required to succeed. I was so happy to shoot my first snipe pointed by my English Setters in front of such a beautiful mountain panorama.
Deepest contentment and a pleasant quietness, when the tired two and four-legged companions rested in front of the open fire in the secluded hunting lodge after the long day's marches. A thoroughly natural experience that will be remembered forever.
Hunting adventure Norway 2017
I would never have dared to dream, but in November 2017 it became a reality: hunting with shotgun and my English Setters on black grouse and capercaillie in Norway's stunning natural landscape. Autumnal pine forests, interspersed with colorful broad-leaved trees, idyllic moor lakes, rivulets and streams with clear, cold water, rising fog and frost in the morning, rocks, overgrown with green lush moss, yellow colored ferns in reddish heather, knotty mountain pines - pure nature!
Physically like mentally a real challenge during the full-day foot marches. We only spent a few days in Norway, but enjoyed the hunt in the friendly circle of like-minded people to the fullest and brought along a lot of great memories and impressions. My only two-year-old hunting companion Losey managed (with no previous experience in this difficult mountain forest terrain) to find and point black grouse instinctively, to fix the birds, to lift them on command independently, so that I - for the first time in my life - could shot two blackcocks. For me a personal and unforgettable hunting highlight, a pure nature experience!
World Championship Pointing Dogs 2016
Droninglund (Denmark), 22.-24. October 2016
Pointing dogs German team: N. Wollmann / ES Solid Gold's Yoga, L. Vida / GS Puronperän Tiia, M. Ellenhorst / GS Jamainas Bajen, P. Labarre / POI Field Flyers First Flower, H. Sporleder / IS Lia v Kapellenpfad (Reserve)
Results:
N. Wollmann / ES Solid Gold's Yoga 1.Exc. CAC/CACIT (1. day), 2.Exc. (2. day)
= World Champion Individual 2016
Photos by Kim Henriksen
World Championship Pointing Dogs 2015
Nis (Serbia), 24. - 26. October 2015 (29 Nations)
Pointing dogs german team: P. Labarre / POI Field Flyer's First Flower, E. Schönau / POI Astor vom Mückenborn and POI Xanta vom Mückenborn, N. Wollmann / ES Solid Gold's Yoga
Sct. Hubertus german team Ladies: N. Jeuschde / ES Joe od Gmizica, N. Wollmann / ES Solid Gold's Yoga
Results Pointing Dogs
N. Wollmann / ES Solid Gold's Yoga 2.Très bon. In total amount with the result of P. Labarre/First-Flower (1. Exc) Germany becomes World Champion Team 2015
Results St. Hubert
N. Wollmann/Yoga and N. Jeuschede/Joe, 3. Place National Team Ladies
European Championship GT 2014
Kroatisch Geresdorf (Austria) 19.-20. October 2014 (12 Nations, 60 English Setters)
GT means "Gibier Tiré" (=with bird retrieving)
German participant: N. Wollmann / ES Solid Gold's Yoga
Results
N. Wollmann / ES Solid Gold's Yoga, 1. Exc. = European Champion GT 2014 (best female)
