Clint Rybak brought out his lab, Barkley and his friend, Phil Hocher for a pheasant hunt. Phil brought his new Boykin Spaniel, Jake, to get in on the action. We jumped a couple of pheasants on our way down to the East Bottom to hunt the pheasant in the milo strips. Good weather and a little snow, some good dog work made for a nice day in the field.
Gary McMillin came down to get his two shorthairs, Gabby and Gizmo out for their first pheasant hunt of the season. He picked a nice day, cold, light wind and a couple inches of snow. Gabby and Gizmo did a nice job finding the birds and Gary came back with most.
Larry Jones and Jimmy Robinson came out with Larry’s pair of dogs, King and Ike to hunt some quail. I set out some mini-coveys around the Clubhouse Field for Ike and then for King and Ike to hunt together. Ike had one get under the trailer tower, but we got it out and had a few nice rises and some good dog work.
Stacey Prater came up from Arkansas with Tom Davenport and Terrell Jennings for a couple of upland bird hunts. Icy weather was forecast, but we were able to get in a couple of nice hunts. Their first afternoon, Colton Wilkins, brought out his pair of dogs to find the pheasant, quail and chukar in the Cabin Field. Nice hunt, then we sat down to a grilled chicken dinner and a pleasant evening of cards. The next morning I served biscuits and gravy and then filled the Clubhouse Field with pheasants their chosen quarry for the second hunt. First Sol and Mac did the easy work, and then Doo and Ava got to the tough job of finding the birds spread around the field, pasture and fencerows. Fun weekend getaway and some great upland bird hunting.
Jeff Zenhoefer came out with his hunting buddies, Harlen Lucas, Rob Buhlinger and Joe Zahn to hunt some pheasant, quail and chukar. I filled the Cabin Field with birds and Travis Devall brought out his setters, Zip and Patches to do the guiding. Tons of action, with a bunch of birds and a bunch of shooting. Great hunt.
Ray Rudy set up a hunt for his friends, Willie and Matt Bone. I set out some pheasant, chukar and a quail covey in the Clubhouse Field. Greg Ireland brought out Daisy to find the birds and did her usual great job, she found all the birds and they brought back most.
Wil Bryant set up a hunt for all his Air Force buddies, Tim Gunley, Todd Goeb, Gerritt Schroeder and Tyler McCrory. Jeff Powell guided them in the icy, Cabin Field, hunting for pheasant, chukar and just a few quail. Lots of morning action and then chili for lunch and back out in the Clubhouse Field for some afternoon hunting. Steve Sanders brought out his pointers for some upland bird hunting with a few more quail added for the dryer conditions. More fun and lots of birds in the air and on the ground.
Cory Harris set up a pheasant hunt for his daughters, Adrianna and Bailey. He choose Jeff Powell to do the guiding with his mix of Brittanys, shorthair, and setter to find the birds. The girls were able to knock down a few as Cory played back up.
Matt Ritter set up a pheasant hunt for Macy Zumwalt and Tom and Joey Leidner. Colton Wilkins brought up his setter/shorthair team to do the guiding. They did a nice job hunting the pheasnts from the East Bottom field.
Cameron Withers came out to hunt some pheasant and chukar with his buddies, Kyle Guffey and Johnny Lotz, Uncle Joe came along for moral support. I brought out Sol and Mac to hunt the birds I set out in the wet Clubhouse Field and the boys did not give them much of a chance. We found all the birds plus a couple extra pheasant and a quail or two.