Hunting Washington Forum
Other Hunting => Upland Birds => Topic started by: Lee Root on October 24, 2014, 09:10:36 PM
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(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0805_zps4c4c2cf7.jpg)
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Looks like a happy dog, I'm hoping to hunt on your side of the mountains soon.
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(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0803_zpscee7e4a2.jpg)
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Ah lee your killing me, :chuckle:
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So, what's the secret to hunting these wary little birds? I hunted over by the Snake River on Thursday and Friday and I found both coveys in the middle of fields and they jumped me at 50 plus yards each time. No real good chances for a shot? I am determined to get one though just need to figure them out.
Congrats at bagging some nice birds!
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Lee lets the dog catch them. Look at the pictures, he is busy taking pictures during the flush so his stellar pup had to run it down and catch it. Look at the other picture that hun is still alive so the dog must have caught it while Lee was running the camera :chuckle:.
In all seriousness the only huns I have ever shot were late in the year in about a foot of snow. Early they are generally a little more flighty from the little experience I have. They are fun little birds, good luck guys.
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Mark them down and get on them before they covey up again,they are a bit more cooperative once busted up into singles.If you have to bust them up as many times as it takes to get them near the riparian cover near the edges of the stubble.I've busted the same covey half a dozen times before I got a successful discharge.Perserverance and grit is what wins out on the little red devils.They are a 1/4 mile radius bird,meaning they have a home range of 320 acres,you can find them again if you go back.Chukars are the same.Pheasants are where they are and are the least predictable.I always survey a hun covey flush and if there are only half a dozen birds give them a free pass and let them go.I saw alot of different coveys last week deer hunting,most had 12 or more birds,one covey had 8 and one was but just a pair.They need lots of eyes to survive.Good luck next time out!
So, what's the secret to hunting these wary little birds? I hunted over by the Snake River on Thursday and Friday and I found both coveys in the middle of fields and they jumped me at 50 plus yards each time. No real good chances for a shot? I am determined to get one though just need to figure them out.
Congrats at bagging some nice birds!
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Lee. If you live in Omak I am sure you are familiar with desert canyon golf course. These little guys were running along the driving range while I was playing golf. They are moving, of have moved into the state in a big way. We hit a good size covey at 2200 feet opening day. Some days we catch them in the lower lands. They have adapter to chukar habitat and have adapted to eating bugs and cheat grass. The Huns located In the prairies of Montana and the Dakotas are generally a little larger so I have found, and eating wheat / bugs / corn. Corn being the food that fattens them up. Once you bust them up they are VERY tough to get a second chance. Good times, great photos. I have to share one from a few years back.
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Huns are my favorite bird to hunt. I've always found it easier to get shots after I have bumped them once.
I shot two today while hunting mostly for pheasants. Really pretty bird.
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Love hunting Huns. Been finding them in the wheat stubble this year and I agree with you guys the singles are easier to get.
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Look who found his way to the forum! This is Matt.
Sent from my C811 4G using Tapatalk
What's up Matt? You need to get out to the East Side and chase some chukar with me.
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One of my best pictures of Cass with a Hungarian.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/P1060890_zps375c936b.jpg)
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Another favorite of Cass with a Hun and ice on her beard.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/web_937_zps755acd71.jpg)
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Addy with one.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMG_1353_zps17dcf77e.jpg)
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A nice even mixed bag.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/web_240_zpsda56efd7.jpg)
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Great pictures Lee, even one with a gun. Does that mean the dogs do not do all the work on every trip :chuckle:.
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Yeah, I shoot a few. I just realized that the gun in the picture is not mine, but a friends. Mine has a few dings and the stock is glued back together just behind the trigger guard. I had it fly out of my hand and end up at the bottom of a 20 foot cliff. It still shoots...
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0343_zps0f98a332.jpg)
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Nice birds gentlemen, that's the first time I've seen a Hun up next to a Chukar. They are a teeny bit smaller. How about the taste difference between the two? I've heard that Huns are quite good eating. Looking forward to getting one of those little buggers next time out.
Keep at it guys!
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I love hunting huns. They are a bit easier to bring down than chukars, and they do have the bad habit of staying put where they land after they are flushed. Not too difficult if you pay attention. Like chukars, if they fly around a ridge, they'll be around the corner on the other side about the same elevation.
(http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j231/marklart/2012%20Hunting%20Photos/P1060585.jpg)
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Huns are one of the few uplands other than the quail that is doing well in the north central part of the state. At least from my observations they are doing well here.
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Not so well in the mouth of this fellow. Dinner last night was two huns.. This was a cripple that he caught. I went to take a picture of Gage pointing the cripple and it had enough steam to try to fly another 15 feet, but with Gage on its heels, this was the result.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0807_zps22aae006.jpg)
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I am sure there are 100 posts about the guns you guys are using, just wanted to ask 101. What are you Hun and Chukar hunters packing? I got a BPS 12. Heavy, but it shoots straight enough.
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I am sure there are 100 posts about the guns you guys are using, just wanted to ask 101. What are you Hun and Chukar hunters packing? I got a BPS 12. Heavy, but it shoots straight enough.
Nothing the matter with your BPS; I have one in 16Ga. that I occasionally pack. I love the 16Ga.; so I normally pack a DeHaan SXS or one of two Remington pumps in that gauge. However, my last Huns were taken with a Weatherby semi-auto in 28 Ga.; light and deadly with 3/4OZ. of #6's.
Tom
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Ace was on fire yesterday. We hit 8-9 coveys from small to large. Huns and chukar plentiful!
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Dogs had a great day. Found a few coveys of huns and quail.
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Ace was on fire yesterday. We hit 8-9 coveys from small to large. Huns and chukar plentiful!
Merkelman, what gun am I drooling at? Benelli? That wood stock is saweeeeeeet!
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LOL, it's actually the Beretta X-tra wood you get on the 391 Teknys. If you peel off the finish it is a plain piece of wood! I am good friends with the owner of Pacific Sporting Arms and bought this the day it came in because it was light! Redmond eh, my offices are by willows run...
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I see your Huns and raise you a chukar....
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0943_zps7f2acd67.jpg)
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Surprised they have not all frozen ! How cold was it over there ?
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I see your Huns and raise you a chukar....
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0943_zps7f2acd67.jpg)
I'll raise you 2 chukar
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Game on,lol. I'll be over in your neck of the woods next week! Perhaps a beer over at the Olive Garden! Then some smack down on the birds!
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Game on: 6 chukars and one hun.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0978_zpsefd606c1.jpg)
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Looks like a good hunt, I have not made it over for upland hunting yet, going to have to head over.
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Game on: 6 chukars and one hun.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0978_zpsefd606c1.jpg)
How are the birds holding with this snow Lee Root? Haven't made it out since the snow hit.
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I will let ya know Wednesday! Lol
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Awesome looking dogs! And birds! Heck of a day Lee!
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I will let ya know Wednesday! Lol
5 coveys for five hours of humping the hills. Sorry no photos to post. Plenty of Huns and Chukar out there this year! Best yet we pushed up the local heard of elk. Nice bull at 50 yards checking out my GSP. THAT WAS COOL!!!! HAPPY TURKEY DAY TO ALL.
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A little back leg pointing action.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0981_zps310573ed.jpg)
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(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0982_zps395daca9.jpg)
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Today's hand: Two Huns and 5 Chukars.(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0993_zps773e014d.jpg)
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Took my pup on a solo trip while my 3 year old Brittany heals up. He pointed one covey. He's really coming along well.
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(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP1057_zpsf743ccbe.jpg)
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To all the guys that posted pics in this thread. Awesome and thank you! Love the upland pics.
SR1
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Gage pointing in the sage. His intensity on this point was fun to watch.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP1048_zps90e13ce9.jpg)
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Awesome! Great job!
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Great day for Huns and Chukar.
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I am envious of these chukar and hun pictures, i have yet to harvest either.
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Shot my first Hun today, pretty stoked
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Nice male!
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I've shot a bunch of huns but don't know how to tell a male from a female. Can anyone show examples and explain the difference?
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The distinctive brown patch on the breast.
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The distinctive brown patch on the breast.
That is the best guess after they are dead and while generally true it is not always the case. Having raised several hundred huns in my years of game farming the dark brown horseshoe shape on the breast can be on both males and females (if you put what ends up being two males in the same cage you find out real quick :bdid:). I used the patch on the chest as well as the amount of orange skin just behind the eye. But honestly I usually only tried to sex them in the early spring. The male call helped as well. Cool little birds for sure.
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Congrats on the first Hun. Looks like a Cynergy, don't see too many of those around.
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Congrats on the first Hun. Looks like a Cynergy, don't see too many of those around.
Thanks. You're right, Cynergy 28ga. Now I just need to bag a chukar, that's Washington's only upland bird I haven't shot yet
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Have you harvested a spruce grouse and mtn quail as of yet!
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Have you harvested a spruce grouse and mtn quail as of yet!
Spruce grouse yes, mountain quail no... forgot about that one, I guess I have two more to get. Do we have bobwhites in WA? Because that would make three :chuckle:
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I need the Spuce grouse!! Enjoy the harvest of the day!
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From a couple of falls ago. I love to hunt grouse, but usually am training a dog for a test, or judging dogs in tests in September.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMG_2493.jpg)
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Nice Ruff''s Lee. These were from this year...PM ME ON DOG TESTING ETC
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From a couple of falls ago. I love to hunt grouse, but usually am training a dog for a test, or judging dogs in tests in September.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMG_2493.jpg)
What kind of test do you judge Lee?
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This is the only grouse I shot this year, spent most of the season chasing quail and pheasants.
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Looking back on the season:
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP1131_zps4a821fad.jpg)
Looking forward to next year. The Fat Lady Sang yesterday. Might just hunt some ducks this next weekend. Hope all had a good year!
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Lee, thank you for your photos and posts this past season. I enjoyed them very much.
Tom
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I am pleased to say that Yanka passed her VJP in Boise, ID. this last weekend with a nice score. She is now in training for her next test this fall, the HZP. Force fetch is first and she is already reaching for the dummy when her ear is pinched. NWGsp also passed with his male.
The VJP is like the Navhda natural ability test and was what the Navhda test was derived from.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMG_6155_zpsovmg1eil.jpg)
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Yanka. She is always in flight.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMG_6126_zpsbsg5ytjl.jpg)
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMG_6216_zpsxmdtaf8n.jpg)
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Thanks for the pics...enjoyed looking at them. You may have already said this but what breed are your dogs? They look like a wire haired Griffon but I am not sure...
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They are Deutsch Drahthaars.
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Those are some great pictures of yanka
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Sad to report the area in which I shot the huns that started this thread burnt to a total crisp. It was on ground bought for sharp tail restoration and in recent years I have seen a ton of sharpies there. Hard to say what fire does to them, but I won't be hunting there this fall. The fires in the Okanogan have been devastating to for lots of folks. It hasn't been fun trying to breathe here, but today it rained a little and cleared up. But then one of the areas blew up again. Lee
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Lee, we were up that way yesterday and man a LOT of good bird country has burned up to almost nothing. Finding good public ground up your way will not be as easy with all the fires. We did bump a decent covey of huns on our place, only the second time in 20+ years we have seen them on our place.
Good luck to you and your pups, I love your pictures each fall :tup:.
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Gage in Canada this fall. More pictures coming.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0120_zpsrphwzcwx.jpg)
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(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0119_zpsknzpvkmg.jpg)
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(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0115_zpshglngkca.jpg)
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Still going after huns and chukars. Gage!
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0154_zpsxuktn9r7.jpg)
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Gage can still make short work of rounding up my cripples.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0157_zpsojdb0q8w.jpg)
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(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0168_zpspyiqh4ww.jpg)
Yanka is getting some of the action, including this painful retrieve with a cactus in her face.
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Yanka.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0172_zpswzfzy22j.jpg)
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Had a good weekend all the way around!!
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Had a good weekend all the way around!!
Who is handsome young man in the last photo? Haha great hunt today can't wait to get back out.
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It was a great time...Ace and LUKE are hurting after two days of that stuff. Their pads are pretty shot!
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Jason, got out last sunday. numbers were good.. puppy performed well for her first official outing.. my shooting suffered greatly no excuse at all that I came in without limits on both!
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Had a good weekend all the way around!!
Nice work, happy brits! I will be out this Saturday with my Brit...totally agree with what others have been saying, huns are where it's at this year.
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Jason, got out last sunday. numbers were good.. puppy performed well for her first official outing.. my shooting suffered greatly no excuse at all that I came in without limits on both!
Mr. B, very nice. Love all the white grasses! Tough hunting but great results. See you soon!
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Yanka is getting it done. Solid points and nice retrieves.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0185_zps2wx6p3av.jpg)
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Her version of a "blind retrieve!"
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0183_zps81cchdhn.jpg)
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Jason, got out last sunday. numbers were good.. puppy performed well for her first official outing.. my shooting suffered greatly no excuse at all that I came in without limits on both!
Mr. B, very nice. Love all the white grasses! Tough hunting but great results. See you soon!
get that gopro and we will have 2 angles to take great videos for edit!
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Might do that. I only hope the fog takes a hike in the next few weeks!!!
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Another Hun of a day. Yanka with my first Hun of the year.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0238_zpsaqg7hvte.jpg)
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Nice size bird there Lee!
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hope the passes ease up and improve travel! last 3 windows have been no go's
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Gage came off of the DL. He tore the sheath of one of his toenails off early in November. I took him out twice this week. He is a riot to hunt over.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0246_zpsmregbbry.jpg)
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(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0244_zpslgoes7xr.jpg)
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(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0251_zpsvskobu4p.jpg)
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(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0251_zpsvskobu4p.jpg)
how thick is the snow over there
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Up past a chukar's knees.
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Up past a chukar's knees.
Place I hit on Monday was up to my knees. So frustrating to see the dogs on point then walk up to flush the birds and see them running on top of the snow 40 yards down the ridge.
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They got tall chukars in Okanogan county :chuckle:. I was in snow over my knees at our place but we are a bit further north and up in elevation from Omak. It was certainly cold enough over there the last few days. All the quail and huns around our place have headed for the valley floor and those gracious people who feed them. Saw a ton of quail in driveway in the Crumbacher development just off 97 heading up and coming home.
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Sonny's first hun at five months
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Crappy snow, fog, cut carpal pads, and after this picture was taken I added two more chukars to make a limit and a Hun. It was a good day, in spite of the conditions.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0312_zps4v9uujei.jpg)
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That sure is one happy looking dog! :tup:
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Recently I posted that the snow was up to a chukar's knees...Here is one in snow up to his ass:
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0298_zpsdjau7qxx.jpg)
Yanka walked right by this, as you can see from the prints on the left. Scenting conditions were weird today.
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Lee, I have been horrible at pics this year, but be happy to know that Cali is still hard at it. We moved in to the hun capital of Washington and see hunts them like mad still. I'm not sure what the life expectancy is of a draht, heck, I can't even recall exactly how old my dog is.....but she was the best money I have spent on a hunting dog. I'll be ready for another in 2 years.
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Recently I posted that the snow was up to a chukar's knees...Here is one in snow up to his ass:
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0298_zpsdjau7qxx.jpg)
Yanka walked right by this, as you can see from the prints on the left. Scenting conditions were weird today.
That is awesome! Though I think I can see its knees :chuckle:.
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Recently I posted that the snow was up to a chukar's knees...Here is one in snow up to his ass:
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0298_zpsdjau7qxx.jpg)
Yanka walked right by this, as you can see from the prints on the left. Scenting conditions were weird today.
I had a similar situation with xeno. I was wondering why he could not find the bird. Had to have been the snow
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My old girl, Addy with the last bird of the season. 'Til next year...Lee
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMG_2753_zpsgla7d875.jpg)
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Mr Root, great pic! All of the snow sure did throw a wrench in the works towards the end of the season. We had to chase quail on the closer and there just didn't seem to be the numbers as compared to huns this year.
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Just to let you know...I spent the last two weekends hunting ducks. Gage and Yanka took to the water like fish. Love a versatile breed of dog. I may just start a thread about a "Duck" of a day next year. However, while setting up our decoys the other day, guess what I heard calling from the far ridge? That's right, a bunch of chukars gave themselves away in the distance. So there is new ground to explore. Later Gents! time to go fishing, and dog training. Yanka has to pass a test next fall which includes blood tracking and about 25 other items. I am excited to get that done.
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Sometime back in December
(http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww184/Fishnfowler/20151130_142518_zpsj0bie4kh.jpg)
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Beauty!!
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Gorgeous wood grain on that double. Is that a Lafever?
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Beauty!!
Jason, 40 chicks have arrived, our fall training aids....
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Will call tomorrow!
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(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMG_2858_zpsycrxnxr9.jpg)
I keep pigeons year round and feed them in their alcove. Grain falls to the ground under it and the feral pigeons have found it. I trapped just under 100 birds last year and am up to about 30 this year. I band them with cable ties so I know which ones are my permanent ones and use the feral ones to train and shoot. When it gets close to time to test a dog I get some chukars from a breeder and use them.
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lee, I have lots of them too! coop and they are like flying rats! breed like crazy. Got pheasants this season to put in the freezer!
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Sometime back in December
(http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww184/Fishnfowler/20151130_142518_zpsj0bie4kh.jpg)
what kind of side by side is that in your picture? It looks gorgeous!
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Gage still makes a bird look small in his mouth.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0663_zps0aqchfza.jpg)
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Yanka
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/IMGP0642_zps1qmbbqaf.jpg)
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Finally got back into some Huns. (http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/vomokanogan/photo60_zps1foob9rg.jpg)
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Sometime back in December
(http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww184/Fishnfowler/20151130_142518_zpsj0bie4kh.jpg)
what kind of side by side is that in your picture? It looks gorgeous!
Sorry for the late reply. I feel like I'm jacking the thread somewhat, but that is an old Ugartechea. Here is a pic from this year to keep it current. I probably shouldn't take it chukar hunting, but it hits where I point it.
(http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww184/Fishnfowler/DSCI0533_zpsmldaa6kh.jpg)