Todd Davis set up a pheasant and chukar hunt for his son, Tyler and friends, Michael and Quentin Smith. Steve Sanders guided the group around the Cabin Field with his pointers and lab. It was the boys first upland bird hunt and they had a bunch of opportunities and each harvested their first birds.

Dude and DJ Lemaster came up from Kentucky with their young squirrel dog, Jace, a Mountain Heist to get him on some squirrel. They had four good hunts, getting Jace some much needed work on squirrels. The last afternoon DJ and I took out a couple of bird dogs after some of the pheasant running around. DJ had a few opportunities but the leftover roosters are getting pretty smart. Enjoyable guests to have in the lodge.

Sean Abernathy set up a pheasant and chukar hunt for his two sons, Michael and Ty, and friend Kevin Carroll. I set out some birds in the Clubhouse Field and got Sol and Ava out to find them. The weather was sunny, warm and a bit breezy, so the pheasants were on the run. The boys both knocked down their first birds, pheasants and chukar and we headed back to trade out pups and get some water. Mack and Hildy got to go after the ones that got away and they did well cleaning up some hidden chukars and running pheasants.

Keith and Don Criner came up from Arkansas with Tyler Ginn, Don Brawley and David Bailey on their way to waterfowl hunt on the Illinois River. They stopped by for an upland bird hunt, a bed and some food. I filled up the Clubhouse Field with pheasant, chukar and quail for the first round and got out Sol and Mack to find them. They picked a warm afternoon and it seemed that we saw pheasant running down every path we came to. After many points and shots, I changed dogs added a few more birds to the mix and got out Ava and Hildy. Another successful trip around the Clubhouse and into the pasture and bottom fields after the moving birds. I smoked some chicken for dinner and filled them with coffee, eggs and bacon for their trip north the next morning.

Sean Abernathy set up a pheasant and chukar hunt for his two sons, Michael and Ty, and friend Kevin Carroll. I set out some birds in the Clubhouse Field and got Sol and Ava out to find them. The weather was sunny, warm and a bit breezy, so the pheasants were on the run. The boys both knocked down their first birds, pheasants and chukar and we headed back to trade out pups and get some water. Mack and Hildy got to go after the ones that got away and they did well cleaning up some hidden chukars and running pheasants.

Larry Kleiner brought out his crew of wild bird hunters for a warm up on some quail a few days before the season opened. Six hunters brought six dogs. There was Holly, Candy, Trigger, Ginger, Daisy, and Molly . . . I think, mix of setters, pointers and german shorthairs, bunch of dogs in the field. I set out some nice sized coveys in the Clubhouse and Bottom Fields. I was able to stick around for the first three rises and they only let a few escape into fencerows. I hope they had as much fun on the wild ones.

Jason Houser and Justin Howard climbed down from the deer stands to take a chance on some pheasant and quail hunting.  I believe this was a first for Justin trying out upland bird hunting. I set out some pheasant and quail in the Clubhouse and East Bottom Fields for Sol and Mack to find and point. Lots of good rises by the pheasant and quail and soon the hunters were knocking them out of the sky. Beautiful, fun day to be out in the field.

Joker comes from Jeff Marshall’s kennel and is around a year old.  Jeff worked with Joker on field trial running and introduced him to birds.  I have had Joker about a month and have worked on some handling and letting him find and hold birds.  With no whoa training he finds and points birds and holds them long enough for me take several pictures.

Last Sunday he won first placement in the Central Prairie Field Trial Club Amateur Puppy Trial with two finds and some pretty running.  He is sired by Fenton’s Elhew Bo and his mother has some Bad River blood.  

Today, November 7, 2017,  he is for sale for $750, but this price will increase as I get more training into him.  Joker still has potential has a walking field trial dog and with a bit of handling training a very nice bird hunting dog.  

The Central Prairie Field Trial Club held it’s fall field amateur field trial at Sandy Run Hunt Co. They picked a beautiful day, bit of frost in the morning, cool and sunny all day. The shooting dog and derby trials were held in the east and west Bottom Fields. The club ran the Gun Dog and Puppy Trials at the Cabin Field. Gary Matevy won the shooting dog trial with Butch along with top place honors in the gun dog trail with Sammy. Dan Crunk’s Betty got second in the shooting dog with Jeff Hainline’s Star getting the last placement. Don Heisner got first in the Derby with his setter, Buck with Brad Hire and Burr getting second and Brad Hargis third with Red as well as third in the Gun Dog Trial with Jack. Charlie Brolin got second in the Gun dog with Cooper. In the puppy trial, Jeff Marshall’s Joker got first with Eryn Pearson’s setter, Kilo getting second and Rosy with Jeff Hainline getting third place. Lots of good dog work and one of the first fall weather days made for a great trial.

Travis Devall came out with his two setter, Patches and Zip and pointer Sadie. Dean and Sandy Devall came along with Sadie’s brother, Cy for an upland bird hunt. I set some pheasant, chukar and quail in the south end of the Tinkerfarm Field. With some good dog work and shooting they came back the all their birds plus an extra quail.