Kevin Diekroeger and I love the challenge of shooting birds in the timber, so we decided to try the first all in the woods quail hunt. The plan was for me to set a large covey of birds (16) in the large food plot in the middle of the thickest part of the Sonnemann timber. Go in, point the covey, knock down a couple and then hunt singles spread out in the woods. The plan did not work, I set out the big covey in a nice batch of grass in the food plot and got all of three steps before they erupted, scattering south into the timber. I went and got Kevin and his wirehair, Ina, (Penny was on the disabled list due to pulled tooth) to find all the singles. Even without a nice rise we had an awesome hunt. We found 15 of the 16, a couple birds two to three times, and came back with 11 quail. Lots of great points and those birds in that woody cover fly great. It is a fun, challenging hunt that required at least a box of shells.

Bud Harold invited Doug Sorter to join him on a quail hunt. Bud brought his old pointer, Nitro, and Doug, his young lab, Cole, for the hunt. We started in the East Bottom Field, going after quail coveys until Nitro reached his limit. Bud’s new pointer, My Girl, came out with Cole to go after a few more coveys. Then my setter, Ava, got into the action to help find the birds and teach My Girl some backing manners. The hunt ended with a nice pheasant double rise and fall.

Kevin Diekroeger came out on a chilly morning to hunt some quail. I set three nice coveys over at the Tinkerfarm Field, around the old pond bed and joined him for the rises. All the coveys were on the move, so we got flushes from the timbered fencerows, just the way Kevin likes it. I had to let him finish up the singles and they all had a enjoyable morning in the field.

Bill Warix and Alan Feezel each brought out their German shorthaired pointers, Whip and Harley to hunt some pheasant. I set out some big birds in the East Bottom Field and along the new milo on the south part of the Clubhouse Field. The dogs found all the birds and Alan and Bill were able to knock down most.

Mike Mills and Chip Fiedler brought out their brittanys, Gunner and JD to hunt some pheasant and quail. I set them up in the Cabin Field and was able to stick around for one covey rise. The dogs did a fine job and the birds were flying well, so they had a good hunt and a nice time in the field.

Mike and Greg Johnson came down for a couple of upland bird hunts. Colton Wilkins guided them the first afternoon, going after chukar in the Clubhouse Field. Preacher did a nice job and the hunters only let a couple chukar get away. Nice dinner and fun times in the clubhouse before biscuits and gravy, eggs and bacon in the morning. Jeff Powell took them over to the North Tinkerfarm Field to hunt pheasant. Meg and the rest of Jeff’s pack found the birds and Greg and MIke knocked most of them down.

Jeff Marshall brought down some of pointer pups to get them on some quail in a new environment.  I am keeping Itty Bitty and Sue to give them some more training and new experiences in the field.   

The pups did great, finding and pointing the quail in the prairie strips in the East Bottom Field.  They had a blast, all of them getting some points and a bird or two to retrieve.  

The pups are five months old.   The dam is Jeff’s pointer Jenny and the sire is Fenton’s Elhew Bo.  These are going to be some really nice pointers.   These two females and a third male are available now for $400 each.  As they get more training, the prices will increase.  

Lumie Jones set up an upland bird hunt for his deer hunting buddies, Chris, Johnny and Jim Carson and Hugh Rhodes. i guided them along with Sol, Ava and eventually MyGirl in the Clubhouse Field, going after some pheasant, chukar and quail. Lumie and Carsons did a nice job knocking down the birds, while Hugh, recovering for a shoulder injury came along for moral support. Excellent morning in the field, came back with almost all our birds.

Marlin, Jacob and Stacy Filer came out to hunt some pheasant and quail. Steve Sanders did the guiding in the Cabin Field. Stella, Spec and Jake did a nice job and they came back with all their birds. The next morning they came back again along with Lynn to hunt some pheasant and chukar. I got out Sol and Ava to find the birds in the Clubhouse Field. My pointer in training, Jenny, decided to join the hunt a couple of times, helping but not helping. Some good shooting and we came back with all the birds for a second day in a row.