Joe Mitterer brought out his new German Shorthair, Gracie for his first quail hunt along with friend Carl Dixon and his Braque, Belle.  I set some quail and chukar singles all around the prairie in the South Tinkerfarm Field and the pair worked through them.  The dogs found all the birds and had to find several more than once, some good work for Gracie.

Steve Sanders got to trade is guiding hat for a shotgun when his son, Travis and grandson, Tyson came up from Florida for a Christmas quail and chukar hunt.  I snuck out to the Cabin Field just in time to see the last chukar rise and a double hit by the trio.

Larry Jones came out with his family, Brian and Caleb Lewis and Shawn Hayes to hunt some quail with his Brittany, King.  I set out some quail coveys in the Cabin Field and brought my setter, Doo to help find the birds.  King and Doo worked well together and they found all the birds a returned with most, only  a couple escaping to the timber.

Jim Self came out to hunt some pheasant and chukar. Steve Sanders brought out his pointers, Rebel and Sue to find the birds I stashed around the Clubhouse Field.  As usual the pointers did a nice job giving Jim plenty of opportunities and Jim did his job bringing back the game.

Rich Vierra brought out his Springer Spaniel, Rocky and Ray Takmaijian his Cockers for a Southern Illinois Grouse Hunt. I set chukar throughout the timber and Hannah guided the hunters through the woods.  The chukar were a tough quarry, giving the hunters just a few tough shots through the limbs.

Jim and Liam Conley drove down to enjoy some upland bird hunting.  Their first afternoon, I set out some pheasant, chukar and quail in the Clubhouse Field and got out Sol and Ava to find the birds.  Lots of action, with both hunters emptying their guns on fleeing birds.  Mac and Doo helped with a bit of clean up.  We had a nice supper of pork steak, fried oysters, steamed green beans, ect and then a breakfast of biscuits and gravy.  Travis Devall brought out his setters to find the pheasant and chukar I set out in the Cabin Field.  Patches, Zip, James and Liam did a nice job, coming back with more birds then I set out.  

Bob Dasenbrock snuck away from work and sleep a few hours to get his setter, Libby, a chance to hunt some chukar.  I set some chukar in the Clubhouse Field and the pair did a nice job clearing them out.  Bob’s new 28 ga over and under was up to the task, knocking the feathers out of the birds Libby pointed.

Gene Hodge brought out his daughter, Brittany and shorthair, Addie, for a pheasant and chukar hunt.  I set out some birds in the Clubhouse Field and Addie found all the chukar, but the pheasant were on the move, so Doo came out to help out to get a few more flushes for Butch’s collegian on break.

Here is my Christmas Gift to you all.  Here are some pics that made me smile from the first part of the Sandy Run season.  Hope you enjoy them.

Jake and Josh Groesch came down for a pheasant hunt on a cold, wet nasty day.  Travis Devall drew the short straw to have to bring his dogs out to track down the running pheasants I set out in the Cabin Field.  But, Patches and Zip did their job, finding more pheasants plus a couple of chukar spread around the big area.  Just wished Travis would have cleaned off his camera a couple more times.