Category Archives: News

Central Prairie Field Trial Club – Spring Trial Coming Up

The Central Prairie Field Trial Club will be holding its spring trial here in the Sandy Run Hunt Co. fields on March 19-20, 2016.  Saturday will have the Jimmy Dale McNutt Memorial Amateur Shooting Dog, Amateur Derby, Amateur Gun Dog, and Amateur Puppy Trials.  Sunday trials will be the Open Shooting Dog, Open Derby and Open Puppy.  Check out the flyer below.

If you have a good hunting dog, you should consider entering in the Amateur Gun Dog Trial.  The dogs in this trial run the course with another dog, need to be able to find birds, back dogs on point and hold their point until the bird flushes.  Sounds like your dog can do that easy enough, bring him out, maybe you will get one of mine in a brace.

If you are looking for hunting dogs and puppies, you can make some contacts with some folks who know where there are some of the nicest hunting dogs for sale or on the way.  Plus the trials give anyone a chance to see some classy looking dogs in action.  Bring your horse, ATV or walking shoes to be part of the gallery.  

Check out some video from the club’s fall trial at Sandy Run.

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2016 Youth Pheasant Hunt Coming Up!

Our annual Youth Pheasant Hunt hosted by the Cumberland Trail Chapter of Quail and Upland Game Alliance is coming up on Saturday, January 23rd from 9 am to 4 pm.   The cost is only $25/hunter, and each hunter will get to hunt for two pheasants,  a door prize and food and drinks.  Clay pigeon shooting will be available all day.   This hunt has limited space, so please call to make your reservations for the time you desire to hunt.   Participants must be 16 and younger, have a hunting license and be accompanied by an adult with a FOID card. 

Check out some videos of our past youth hunts.

Ross, Nick, John and Bill w/Cahill Pheasant and Chukar Hunt

Ross Recker set up a pheasant and chukar hunt for his buddies, Bill and John Segelhorst and Nick Dressler.  I set out a pile of birds in the prairie strips and food plots in the Tinkerfarm Field and John led the group with his german shorthair, Cahill.  I wasn’t able to see any of their hunt, but heard some incredible barrages of shots coming from the Tinkerfarm.  They ended up with a nice bit of birds for their bachelor party that evening.

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Bill, Tony, Whip and Lady Pheasant Hunt

Bill and Tony Warix brought out their two German Shorthaired Pointers, Whip and Lady for a pheasant hunt.  The dogs got to hunt some birds I stocked in the north end of the Tinkerfarm.   Whip found all the birds and they came back with most even picking up an extra quail.

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Mushroom Fest 2015 on May 2

Mushroom Fest 2015 will be held on Saturday, May 2nd at 6 pm at the Sonnemann Cabin, one mile south of the Sandy Run Clubhouse.  Come and enjoy some mushrooms, crawfish, corn, tators, chicken, fish and more.  Bring and chair, what ever you like to drink, a couple of shrooms and a dish if you want.  Always a great party, chance to meet other hunters and enjoy some awesome food.

 

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Vandalia Ground For Sale

My family has some land for sale in Vandalia, IL.  This tract is 15+ acres and consists of a 12 acre field with 8.9 acres tillable.  The remaining 3+ acres is wooded and a would be an awesome home site.  This ground is located on W. Fillmore St.  just west and north of the First Presbyterian Church.  This ground is located in a neighborhood, close to schools, churches and parks and is zoned for light commercial/residential. 

We are willing to split the tract into 2 pieces if you are looking for just ag land or the home site.  Looking for $12,000/acre, but if you are interested contact me to make an offer.  618 292 8680

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Gary, Mark, Gabby and Gizmo, Pheasant and Chukar Hunt

 

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Gary McMillin brought out his buddy Mark Brown along with his two German Shorthair Pointers for a pheasant and chukar hunt.  The pheasants got on the move early with the bright sun and melting snow so Gabby and Gizmo had a great time hunting down the birds spread out around the Clubhouse Field. 

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Introducing the Southern Illinois Grouse Hunt

I would like to introduce a new hunt available at Sandy Run Hunt Co., I call it the Southern Illinois Grouse Hunt.  I have lived and hunted in some places that have grouse hunting, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado and Virginia.  I really enjoyed the challenges of grouse hunting, the quick birds, heavy cover and rough terrain all make for a fun day in the field.  I designed a course through the timber, pine groves, locust thickets and prairie edges to simulate the type of grouse cover I have hunted in the past.  Unfortunately, I do not have grouse available, so I use chukar partridge as a replacement.  Although they don’t have quite the rise of a grouse, I remember the firs grouse I heard take off, it sounded like someone was starting a diesel tractor in the woods.  But, chukar fly hard and can be a difficult shot in the dense cover. 

Check out the video of me and Dewayne on the first Southern Illinois Grouse Hunt, it was a lot of fun, interesting shooting and really nice time in the field.

Here is a video of the first brave souls to do the hunt.

2015 Youth Hunt

Our annual Youth Pheasant Hunt hosted by the Cumberland Trail Chapter of Quail and Upland Game Alliance is coming up on Saturday, January 24th from 9 am to 4 pm.   The cost is only $25/hunter, and each hunter will get to hunt for two pheasants,  a door prize and food and drinks.  Clay pigeon shooting will be available all day.   This hunt has limited space, so please call to make your reservations for the time you desire to hunt.   Participants must be 16 and younger, have a hunting license and be accompanied by an adult with a FOID card. 

Check out some videos of our past youth hunts.

 

 

Zac and Jake Upland Bird Hunt

 

Zac Collins and Jake Phillips got together for an upland hunt over at the Tinkerfarm Field.   Steve Sanders brought out Susie and Rose, his pair of pointers to do the guiding.   The dogs did their job, but it sounded like the hunters were a little off with their shots to start off.  After tracking down all the scattered birds, they ended up with a good number and fun day in the field.

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