We are a passionate group of men and women with decades of experience spread across the versatile breeds backed by the greatest testing system in North America.
If you go to a Cardinals game you can buy 3 beers for the same price as our Annual membership. Instead of 3 beers, buy 5 beers then purchase a membership online below!
Each year, In the Spring and Fall we host a two day test for the Natural Ability, Utility Prep, and Utility levels.
After hunting season, we host monthly training days in Missouri and Illinois with the goal of advancing our handling skills and dogs capabilities. Before each training day all paid members will receive an email to place bird orders. Birds will be purchased through one of our vendors and we will bring them onsite for use at the training day. If you purchase birds, please bring a crate or bird bag. If you need guidance purchasing one, please reach out to anyone on our leadership team!
On the day of, groups and fields will be assigned and championed by a seasoned member of the chapter. Depending on the location and focus we will setup a variety of training stations and drills for the various experience levels. Members are encouraged to help and assist other members in the planting, gunning, or other training needs.
For event details, please check out Facebook page!
The people behind the scenes who volunteer their time and effort towards making the chapter a greater experience.
Tim Materkowski
I’ve been running NAVHDA since 2018 and a member of MoUplands since 2019. Currently, both my GSPs will be running in the 2021 invitational. Ike (right) has AKC Advanced Master Hunter title. Future plans are to get Demi (left) her AKC Master Hunter title finished this spring and move toward Advanced. Both dogs currently run in NSTRA, where I sit on the Board for the Illinois Region. I am a certified IDNR Wingshooting & Hunters Wingshooting instructor and a youth coordinator for local Quail Forever chapter.
Steve Remspecher
Joined Navhda and Mo Uplands in 1999. My breed of choice is the Deutsch Kurzhaar and I test my dogs in the Navhda and Nadkc ( German ) testing systems. During this time period I ran 6 dogs through NA, 4 through UT and 2 through to the Invitational. I have owned GSP's starting in 1974 and have produced two Deutsch Kurzhaar litters. I love to upland and waterfowl hunt.
Lee Abbott
I joined the MO Uplands chapter and NAVHDA in 2019. Since then, I've become the chapter's test secretary and my favorite part of the job is getting to talk with so many people from around the country looking to test with us. My wife and I own four GSPs and we're grateful they let us live in the house with them.
Russell Runge
I've been a member of NAVHDA and Mo Uplands since 1999. I currently have a GSP and a GWP and have run 4 dogs through NA and 2 through UT. Looking forward to testing my new Sundance puppy Hans in the spring test.
Christy Langston
Brandon Whitfield
I joined NAVHDA in 2017 after listening to the Hunting Dog Podcast. My favorite breed is the GSP. My favorite dog was Macintosh - He was an all liver GSP my sister I grew up with, and my dads best bird dog. I now have a little boy and girl of my own and they are being raised with an all liver GSP - VC Too Much Jager.
Jennifer Matthews
I joined the MO Uplands NAVHDA Chapter in 2020, in an attempt to learn how to turn our first GSP into a hunting companion for my husband. My husband, Jim, and our daughter, Lexi, live in St. Louis with our GSP, Scout. After each training day, I found myself excited to continue working with Scout on everything we learned & eagerly anticipating the next one! The training days & NA test have prepared us to now be enjoying our first hunting season together.
