Mike, Stan and Kyle Kuhns set up a pheasant and chukar hunt as part of an annual meeting they have with their veterinarian, Charlie Durbin. I fixed them some biscuits and gravy, eggs and bacon before the hunt. They discussed their hog operation while I stocked birds with the two guides they brought along, Jeff Powell and Darrell Ahlf. Darrell and Candy got to guide Charlie and Mike in the Clubhouse Field and along with some help from Doo they found all their birds plus a few extra pheasant. Lots of fun on a chilly, windy day.
Jeff and Aaron Haverfield came out with their two German Shorthairs, Billy and Millie for a quail and chukar hunt. I set out some quail mini-coveys and some chukar doubles in the Clubhouse Field. The dogs were on, finding and pointing the birds, but the shooters were a little rough at first, scattering the birds around the field and into the fencerows and timber. The wing shooting improved and the dogs got more good bird work and they came back with nearly all their birds and a spare pheasant.
Brad Bickhaus set up an upland bird hunt for his sons, Blake and Trevor and friends, Terry Knebel, Tom Hartman, Tom Lavelle, Chris and Alex Nuzetta, and Eddie Jacobs. Terry Knebel brought out his German Shorthair, Sadie to do some of the guiding, while Brad requested Jeff Powell to guide the other half with his team of Brittanys and Shorthairs. They chose the morning after the Continental Shoot so they had a few extra pheasants running around, but the wind was up and the temperature crashed and scenting conditions were tough and the birds were on the run. Even with the tough conditions they still picked up some birds and as always with Brad’s hunts they relaxed and had a great time.
Some nasty, rainy weather didn’t stop the shooters from coming out for the first Continental Pheasant Shoot of the season at Sandy Run. They got treated to over 200 pheasants flying over the field. The rain must have been distracting, because they knocked down 99 in the shoot. After drying out as much as possible in front of the fireplace we shared a nice lunch of pulled pork and all the fixin’s.
Steve Bowen set up a pheasant hunt for his buddies, Joe Reck, Marvin Forbes and David Jones. I filled up the Clubhouse Field with pheasants and got Curly and Doo out to hunt them up. The birds behaved well, giving the group lots of opportunities and they took advantage of most of them. The day was warm and damp, so swapped dogs and got Sol and Mac out to finish up. They did a nice job covering the field and we cleared the field of pheasants and only lost one on the day.
Chuck Gurkin and Gene Hodge came out with Gene’s German Shorthair, Abby for a chukar and quail hunt. I set out some doubles in the South Cabin Field, spread out in the foxtaill and the hidden prairie field south of the pines. Gene and Chuck were on knocking down all the birds that Abby pointed.
Brandon and Mike Dudley came out with their two Brittanys, Cy and Sam for a pheasant and chukar hunt. Brandon had not hunted the Clubhouse Field yet so I put out some birds and the quartet set out to find them. The pheasants were a little jumpy, but they got chances at all of them and harvested all the chukar.
Robb Frost set up a hunt for his friends, Brad and Clayton Ruckman. Robb and his German Shorthair, Suzie, like to hunt the milo strips at the north end of the Tinkerfarm, so I filled them pheasant, quail and chukar for the hunt. Suzie did a nice job and the birds cooperated giving the group some nice rises and coming back with pile of game.
Steve Henna set up a quail and chukar hunt for his son, Nathan, son in law Mitch Ashbaugh and his buddy Steve Knebel. I filled the Clubhouse field with birds, grabbed Sol and Mac and we all headed out to hunt. We got more than we expected finding some extra chukar and a bunch of pheasant in the field. After getting Curly and Doo some action, they had left a few quail but came back with more chukar and some bonus pheasants.
Dean Devall set up a pheasant and chukar hunt for his son, Travis and granddaughter, Chelsi. Travis brought along his two setters, Patches and Zip while Dean brought his two labs, Peaches and Gunner. I set out some pheasant and chukar in the Clubhouse Field and they all set out to find them. It took longer than usual for the Devalls but they came back with nearly all their birds.