The Cumberland Chapter of the Quail and Upland Game Alliance held their annual youth pheasant hunt at Sandy Run Hunt Co. on January 28th.  Almost forty kids participated in the hunt, shooting at nearly 700 clay targets and more than 80 pheasant.  Except for a fairly strong wind the weather was picture perfect.  This year the QUGA chapter bought all the birds for the hunt, getting the price per hunter down to just $10.  The hunters ate all the chili I made and a pile of hotdogs.  Most of the hunters were able to knock down at least one bird and if not they all went home with a door prize, full stomach and few less shells.

Bill Warix and Alan Feezel came out with their two shorthairs, Whip and Harley to hunt some pheasant.  I set out a few birds in the Clubhouse Field and then a bunch down in the East Bottom Field.  The wind got the birds up and moving, but Bill and Alan had a bunch of opportunities and picked up some bonus quail. 

Kevin Diekroeger came out with his pair of dog, Ina and Penny for a quail hunt.  I set out a few extra birds and picked up my gun to help with the harvest.  Some decent dog work and some good and bad shooting, I shot a limb in half trying to nail a bird flying through the trees.  

Terry Knebel set up a quail hunt for his buddy Jack Levy and shorthair, Sadie.  I set some quail coveys around the Clubhouse Field, trying to get them out of the strong west wind.  Jack claimed a lack of recent upland bird hunting, but he didn’t miss more than a couple of shots.

Dale Timmermann came out to hunt some upland game birds with his son-in-law Greg Triphahn.  Travis Devall brought out his pair of setters, Zip and Patches to find the birds spread out around the Clubhouse Field.   They picked a nice afternoon and some great rises and good shots.

Dean and Travis Devall brought out their new pointers, Cy and Sadie, along with the old lab, Peaches a chukar hunt.  Dean’s daughter, Karey Courson, her two boys, Blaze and Blake, and husband, David came along to help with the harvest.  Lots of birds in the air and a lot of orange on the ground, so nice chukar action in this video.

John Cavaletto picked a nice day to bring up his English Pointer, Burl for some quail hunting.  I tried a new method of releasing single birds into the Clubhouse Field and it worked well.  Burl was able to find all the birds randomly flown around the field plus some extras.

Harry Lyness and Leon Kersey were travelling back to Indiana and stopped by for the night, breakfast and a quail and chukar hunt.  Harry brought his Llewellin Setter, Abby to find the birds I set out in the Clubhouse Field.  Abby did a fine job and Leon and Harry did theirs and they had an enjoyable morning in the field.

Larry Kleiner set up a quail hunt with his buddies, Doug Hayes, Dave Schumacher and Bob Dasenbrock.  Each brought their own dog, Holly, Pepper, Dan and Libby.  Needless to say the birds didn’t have a chance.  I set some coveys around the Clubhouse Field and they cleaned up.

Chad, Justin and Cameron Lowry came out for an upland hunt. They brought out their young setter, Meg, to get her on some birds and she got into a bunch. Lots of good experiences and a chance to take a few birds home for dinner.