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.  

John and Garrett Wright came down from Pana with their buddy Tyler Seibert to hunt some pheasant, quail and chukar.  They picked a wet day, so I set out a few more pheasant and a covey or so less quail.  Steve Sanders brought out a few pointers and his lab to find, point and flush the birds out of the Cabin Field.  Pheasant were running, the chukar were flying and the quail were staying out of the rain, but they had a nice hunt and came back with a mess.

John Germanceri set up a hunt for his friends and family, Jeff Winfield, Nathan Goncher and Eric Valentine.  They brought along their  Pudelpointer, Jake to help Jeff Powell and his dogs find the pheasant and chukar I stashed around the wet Clubhouse Field.  I am not sure what happened, but they came back with more roosters than I put out, but let almost all the hens go, quite chivalrous. 

Spencer Patton came by to try out the English Setter pup, Flip on a few quail.  Dr. Robb Frost, Troy Williams and Shawn Garrett came along to give their approval and then hunt some mini-quail coveys with Robb’s German Shorthair, Susie.  Flip had fun, found all the birds, pointed a couple and got to find one dead and I think a new home.   Susie did a nice job on the quail in the drenched field.  

Philip Marti brought his lab, Reba, for a warm up chukar hunt.  I set some chukar single and double sets in the East Bottom Field and Reba found all the birds.  Philip and Reba had to head into the woods and across the creek to get them all.  Reba did a nice job and is prime shape for her big hunt right before Christmas.