Iron Range Retrievers Club

The Minnesota Iron Range Retriever Club focuses on improving the performance of retrievers in the field, with a training program specifically directed towards hunting dogs. They offer club training nights every Tuesday from May through August, where members assist retriever owners. The club also hosts various events including AKC sanctioned and licensed retriever field trials, informal trials, and NAVHDA tests.

Pricing Summary

Annual membership dues are $60.

The Minnesota Iron Range Retriever Club was formed in 1951 by a group of hunting dog owners from the Virginia, Eveleth, and Mountain Iron area. Their primary objective is to improve the performance of retrievers in the field and educate the public about wildlife conservation through the use of trained hunting dogs.

The club offers training nights every Tuesday from May through August, where club members assist retriever owners in training their dogs. They also host various events, including AKC sanctioned and licensed retriever field trials, informal or picnic trials, and NAVHDA tests.

A substantial majority of the club members are waterfowl and upland game hunters, and their retriever training program is specifically directed toward hunting dogs. The club owns extensive grounds with a clubhouse and world-class training ponds, which have also served as the site for prestigious national championships and hunt tests, attracting top retrievers from across the United States.

Accomplishments

The Minnesota Iron Range Retriever Club, established in 1951, is a Minnesota non-profit corporation that has been dedicated to improving retriever performance for over 70 years. They have a long history of hosting prestigious events, including the National Amateur Championships in 1997, 2001, 2005, and 2009, and the 2008 Master National Hunt Test. The club has also hosted the American Chesapeake Club’s specialty field trial four times. They are members of numerous national retriever organizations, such as the National Retriever Club and the Master National Retriever Club, and are sponsor members of conservation groups like Ducks Unlimited and the Ruffed Grouse Society. The club owns and has developed extensive training grounds, including world-class training ponds.

How to Get Started!

To get started, individuals interested in joining the Minnesota Iron Range Retriever Club can obtain membership forms by writing to their P.O. Box, emailing them, or downloading forms from their website. Membership is open to all outdoor sports enthusiasts and hunting dog owners, with annual dues of $60.