Howie And Tammy Hill grew up on the Iron Range of Northern Minnesota.  Most say, it's the premier Ruffed Grouse Habitat in the UnitedStates. Northern Minnesota has endless timbered wilderness abounding with many lakes, streams, and beaver ponds.

   Like most country boys Howie could walk out his back door and be in the woods.  Howie and his young buddies Hunted Ruffed Grouse, Deer, Woodcock, Ducks, and Fished a lot.

   Howie started hunting at the age of 11 in 1965.  At that time Howie was given an adult German Shorthaired Pointer female named Spook.  Howie and pounded woods together, jumpshooting the many beaver ponds along the way.  A love was born for the German breed.

 In 1979, Howie opened up Northwaters Kennels, a boarding, training facilityfocusing mainly on Grouse Dogs.  Northwaters Kennels was located just outsideof Nashwauk, Mn. where Howie grew up.  It didn't take long before guiding huntswas to our operation.  Guiding Ruffed Grouse in Minnesota, Pheasant, Ducks,and Geese in the Dakota's.

   In 1995 Northwaters Kennels boarding , training , and guiding operation was shut down due to Howie having heart attacks.  Today we train and own 4 German Shorthaired Pointers named Blitz, Heidi, J. J. and Cage . 

   We only have a litter or two of puppies a year maintaining our high quality expectations as Ruffed Grouse Dogs.  Testing in NAVHDA ,  AKC Hunt Tests, and other test venues has given us  ways to exemplify inherent traits of our Grouse Dogs . 

 Ed Erickson, Wizzard, Howie, and Blitz at the opening ceremonies of the 2007 NAVHDA.Invatational in Mexico, Missouri. 

 Roland Drew greet Howie and Blitz at the  blind retrieve.     

INT'L CH / VC Grouse Points Blitz MH backed by Strike's Gamblin Joe.