Rainbow of gun dog breeds turns out for Chukar Challenge

This time a Lab won the grand prize.

In the past it’s been a springer spaniel, or a German shorthair, setter, Vizsla or some other breed.

That’s the beauty of the Chukar Challenge fun hunt put on every few years near Medical Lake by the Spokane Bird Dog Association.

It reminds a hunter that all of the hunting dogs have a gift to appreciate, even if it’s not his chosen brand.

A lot of training, in most cases, led up to the event last weekend. Most of the dog’s released in braces throughout the day performed at a high level. Some did not.

But just as one shouldn’t judge Steph Curry one game at a time, dogs have their good days, and some outings are not so good.

When the dust settled, the winner of the event was Jim Malm and his Labrador retriever, Lily. They clocked the best time for finding, shooting and retrieving two chukars – 4 minutes, 34 seconds.

You’ll know Malm on the street when you get downwind of him like a good bird dog would do. His prize was a large jar of garlic dill pickles.

“Some people got too serious when the prize was money,” said Dan Hoke, bird dog trainer and event organizer.

“This event is for the dogs.”