Lincoln Country Visitors Guide Spring 2022 - 28

FOR THE LOVE OF
BIRD DOGS
hunt'em up kennels celebrates 10 years raising german shorthaired pointers
Tucked away in a quiet bend in the Saline River at the far eastern edge of
Lincoln County is where you'll find Hunt'em Up Kennels.
Owner Kaj Larson (pronounced like Kye) recently celebrated 10 years in
business raising top-performing German Shorthaired Pointers (GSP's) and
training all breeds of pointing, retrieving, and versatile gun dogs.
Kaj has always enjoyed hunting, and after college, he began guiding hunters
with the help of his own hunting dogs. At first he had labrador retrievers, but
when it was time to get another dog, he wanted a German Shorthaired Pointer.
His first GSP, Ruger, pictured above at left, became an American Kennel
Club (AKC) Master Hunter and Kaj fell in love with the breed.
" I knew after awhile he was a special dog, " Larson said.
Hunt'em Up Kennels was formed in 2011, and through selective breeding
with Ruger and other GSP's, Kaj has raised entire litters of top-performing
pups, tested in field trials amongst the highest quality dogs.
Ruger, 14 years old now, was the beginning of Larson's line of several generations
of Master Hunter German Shorthaired Pointers. Pictured above with
Larson are Reign, a great-granddaughter; Citori, also a great-granddaughter,
Hope, a granddaughter, Pearl, daughter, and Sitka, a grandson of Ruger.
Developing the traits that make a finished and high achieving hunting dog
is the heart of what Larson works towards with each breeding.
" Trying to better them every generation, that's really my goal, " Larson said.
Larson has traveled to hunt tests and field trials all over the midwest, even
as far as New Jersey. He works to get them tested in the field, temperament,
health, and put a hunt title on them before they go to a new home.
Larson has pups scattered all over the country now, and plans to keep
developing high-performing dogs for his customers and his own interest in
the breed and hunting in general.
28
http://postrock.ksu.edu
Lincoln Country Visitors Guide Spring 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Lincoln Country Visitors Guide Spring 2022
