The Central Prairie Field Trial Club will hold its spring field trial at Sandy Run on Saturday, March 25th. The Jim McNutt Memorial Shooting Dog Trial will start at 8 am. Followed by lunch and then the amateur derby, gun dog and puppy trials. If you are interested in joining in the fun, call Butch Spelbring, 217 343 2871 for more information or to enter your dog. Drawing for braces will done Wedneday evening March 22. This is also a good time to come out and watch some nice dog work, bring your horse or ATV and join the gallery following the action.
Joe, Zach and Doug, Upland Bird Hunt
Joe Lawson came out for an upland bird hunt with his friends, Doug Forbes and Zach Townsend. Jeff Powell came out to find the pheasant, chukar and quail in the Clubhouse Field. They picked a nice day and had a lot of shooting and came back with more than enough for dinner.
Mike, Phil and Rick, Upland Bird Hunt
Mike Mottice set up a hunt for his friends, Phil Deters and Rick Crouch. Steve Sanders came out with his pointers and lab to find the birds in the Cabin Field. They had a good time finding the pheasant, chukar and quail coveys in the prairie and milo strips, even a few that flew into the timber.
Brad and Friends, Fish Fry Upland Bird Hunt
Brad Bickhaus had his annual fish fry/upland bird hunt on a beautiful February Saturday. I spread his groups around the Cabin and Tinkerfarm Fields. They started early to avoid the heat of th day with Steve Sanders guiding Brad’s group. Trevor brought out is young springer, Paisley, to guide his own group, while Gary Marco brought his dogs to guide the third group. Tom Lavelle even brought his shorthair, Jager, to get in on the fun and give Gary a few laughs. Always a fun day in the field and clubhouse.
Larry, Nathan and Jimmy w/Ike and King, Quail Hunt
Larry Jones came out with son, Nathan and buddy, Jimmy Robinson to hunt some quail. I set out three nice coveys around the Clubhouse Field and they sent Ike and King out to find them. Larry was shooting early and often and nailed a double on two of the rises. The birds spread out into the west fencerow and pasture, leading to some decent timber shooting.
Karolyn, Bob and Paul, Pheasant and Chukar Hunt
Karolyn Eilers and Bob Fullar came out to hunt some pheasant and chukar. Paul Willms was on the injured reserve but walked along for moral support. Steve Sanders brought out his pointers and lab to do the finding, pointing, flushing and retrieving. Fun hunt as the dogs found all the birds and a couple of stray quail.
Cletus and Dan, Pointer Quail Work
Dan Crunk and Cletus Roy came out to work their pointers on some quail. Dan and I stashed quail all around the Cabin Field. I got a bit of video from round 1 with Cletus’s young pointers.
Bryce and Ryan, Pheasant Hunt
Bryce Currie came out with his young Duck Toller, Cooper and buddy, Ryan Karcher to hunt some pheasant. The nice weather and high winds got the pheasants up and moving in the East Bottom milo and prairie strips. Cooper hunted hard and flushed the birds into a strong west wind that blasted a few of the birds to safety.
Rich and Ray, Spaniel Chukar Work
Rich Viera and Ray Takmajian brought out their spaniels to do some training on chukar. Some really nice dog work and some good shooting, even came up with an extra pheasant. Rich clipped the last chukar that flew about 200 yards up and away giving Sage a really long retrieve.
Charlie, Colton, Chuck and Shed, Pheasant and Chukar Hunt
Charlie Spenner came out for his birthday with his buddy Colton Shoemaker to hunt some pheasant and chukar. Chuck Johnson brought out his german shorthair, Shed to find the birds I placed in the Clubhouse Field. Shed did a great job and the boys followed up and came back with all the birds in the field.