December 9, 2010
Charity Upchurch
Bird Dog Training, Hunting Tales, Puppy Update, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons
Bird Hunting, Chukkar Hunting, Dog Training, Glendo Wyoming, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Hunting Wyoming, Puppies, Richard Wolters, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons
Trying to get back into the groove with being a stay-at-home mom again and hope to get on a better schedule with posting on the blog. I have so many things that I want to write about, but the time gets away from me!
Here’s what Sean has to say about Gauge a.k.a Male 2.1 from the 2010 litter ( I’ll post a picture to go with it as soon as I receive one):
“I have been training Gauge with Wolters training methods, and it has been absolutely wonderful and incredibly fun! After getting the basic commands down, retrieving and pointing commands went very well. This is the first dog I have personally trained for bird hunting, so I was a little nervous with how things would go, but Gauge made the process great! I was shocked at how much of a “natural” he was in training! The first true test came three weeks ago. We have a local bird farm outside of town that many hunters use for dog training purposes. After contacting the owner, we scheduled our first “hunt” with the idea of focusing on training purposes for Gauge. Starting with Chukkars because of their smaller stature, Gauge did great in tracking down all three birds, holding three beautiful points, and flushing the bird on command. Retrieves didn’t quite go as planned, but I think that was more a product of actually dealing with a live bird. Gauge would actually release for the retrieve and then point the dead bird. Pretty funny actually! All in all, it was a GREAT day that I couldn’t have been more excited about.
Gauge’s first real hunt came the first Sunday of November in Glendo, WY. Every Sunday in November they host a free youth hunt in the area, and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to work with Gauge exclusively while my 16 year-old brother-in-law did the shooting. Gauge did wonderful. He tracked down and pointed several pheasants on the day, and even retrieved well. This past Sunday, we participated in the 2nd youth hunt, and Gauge was even better than the week before! He pointed and flushed 7 birds (due to an “off” shooting day by my bro-in-law), and actually chased down and caught a pheasant after a flush and chase that lasted roughly 20-30 seconds. He was an absolute stud this past Sunday, and I’m greatly looking forward to 2 more youth hunts this month, as well as 3 scheduled hunts of my own in the next few months. Most hunters in this area use retrievers, so for them to see a pointer in action has been not only neat for them, but has made me very proud. I was very skeptical when reading Wolters’ take on hunting a dog as soon as 6 months of age, but have no doubt in my mind that with consistent, constructive training, it is not as farfetched as it may sound!”
Thanks, Sean!!
December 1, 2010
Charity Upchurch
Bird Dog Training, Hunting Tales, Puppy Update, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons
Bird Hunting, Dog Training, Ducks, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Hunting Nevada, Korthals Griffon, Pheasant Haven, Pheasant Hunting, Water Retrieve, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons
Pete, Whiskey and some Nevada ducks
Looks like Pete and Whiskey (Alpha Male 2010 litter) had another great hunt!! According to Pete, “We are wet and cold but Whiskey put the hurt on the ducks today several water retrieves in nasty conditions and even dove after a cripple (I need to shoot better).”
November 2, 2010
Charity Upchurch
Bird Dog Training, Hunting Tales, Kennel Update, Sire and Dam Ability
Bird Hunting, Dog Training, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Johnson County Nebraska, Korthals Griffon, Nebraska Pheasant Hunting, Pheasant Hunting, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons
Sue retrieved the lone pheasant of the morning
The morning of Saturday, October 30th was spent by Charles and the dogs on the Brinkman farm in Johnson County, Nebraska. Mid-morning, Sam pointed this rooster, it flushed and Charles shot it. The bird came down between the two dogs and began to run. Fortunately, Sue was there to cut his run very short, about 5 yards. She made a good retrieve in thick cover.
All but two of the birds sighted that morning were hens, with nine pheasants seen in total. I thought that sounded like a good number, but Charles considered it down from previous years. They also got into a couple of coveys of quail, both pointed but none bagged. Last winter was a rough one for quail. Charles and the landowner’s son were both concerned about working the quail over and hope to let the quail population recover adequately before they focus on hunting them.
All in all the hunt was considered a success. Every bird that was put up was worked by the dogs and flushed in range. An accomplishment when hunting wild pheasant.
Thank you to our friend, Marvin Brinkman, for hosting the hunt and providing the picture!
October 24, 2010
Charity Upchurch
Bird Dog Training, Puppy Update
Bird Hunting, Dog Training, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Hunting Nevada, Korthals Griffon, Nevada Hungarian Partridge, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons
The dog news just keeps pouring in tonight! Just got a great shot of 2010 litter alpha male “Whiskey” and Pete out in Nevada who got into some Hungarian Partridge over the weekend. Great job guys!
Pete and Whiskey with their Hungarian Partridge
We’ll be out visiting my grandparents near Yosemite, California the summer of 2011 and I hope we get a chance to swing by to visit Pete. I really want to have a good look at Whiskey. It excites me to see the rough sagebrush country that he has to work in and his coat doesn’t show any signs of wear and tear. Weak coated dogs would have balding or bare patches on the shins of their front legs, but I see no sign of that here. His head furnishings are beautiful. I am very excited for what Sue and Sam have produced and absolutely ecstatic about the great job Pete is doing with the dog.
October 24, 2010
Charity Upchurch
Bird Dog Training, Hunting Tales, Kennel Update, Sire and Dam Ability
Bird Hunting, Dog Training, Duck Hunting, Ducks, Gadwall Ducks, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Hunting North Dakota, Korthals Griffon, Sharptail Grouse Hunting, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons
When I talked to Charles on the phone at 5 PM and he told me about his success in the field, I told him to take the picture before the sun went down. Somewhere in North Dakota, hanging from a tree in the dark are two gadwall ducks and a sharptail grouse.
A little too late for a good shot...
He called while I was cooking supper and he knew not to call back and interrupt the premiere of “Sherlock” on Masterpiece Mystery, so I don’t have the details of the hunt. The full text of his e-mail about the birds was as follows:
“Not bad for a short afternoon hunt. 1 sharptail and 2 gadwalls. A double on the ducks. Skeet pays off again.”
If you are not familiar with gadwalls, here’s the page on the Ducks Unlimited website describing them: http://www.ducks.org/news/1069/duckofthemonthgadwal.html
We’ll see what they come across tomorrow!
October 20, 2010
Charity Upchurch
Bird Dog Training, Hunting Tales, Puppy Update, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons
Bird Hunting, Dog Training, Duck Hunting, Ducks, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Korthals Griffon, Puppies, Water Retrieve, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons
The pups will be six months old on the 30th and our good buddy, Pete, out in Nevada gave us an update on Spring 2010 litter’s alpha male without us even asking. I will be getting e-mails out to my other owners over the weekend to try and get other pictures and updates, but this is enough to make a dog mama proud! Thanks, Pete!
Whiskey’s first water retrieve at 6 months
“A little update on Whiskey. Chukar opener was on the 9th and was one of the most disappointing in years. I only harvested 9 birds in three days. Whiskey was outstanding. It rained all week and birds were scattered and if it weren’t for the dog I would have come out of that hunt with no Chukar. We retrieved every bird that I shot and a half dozen for one of my hunting partners that didn’t have a dog. All birds that Whiskey recovered for my hunting partner where done on scent alone. We got into the Quail on Sunday and Whiskey was hunting with two older very accomplished dogs and my 6 month old pup performed like it was his 5th season.
Last weekend was Nevada waterfowl opener and since the Chukar hunting was so bad I decided to give the Ducks a try. I have had Whiskey in the water several times retrieving dummies but he has never even seen a duck before Saturday. After only hunting for a few minutes Saturday morning I dumped a pair of huge mallards at first Whiskey was not crazy about retrieving something that almost outweighed him but after dragging the first pair of ducks back to me by the wing he was hooked on Duck hunting. Sorry for the lack of pictures, like a big dummy I left my camera at home for the chukar opener and only had my blackberry for duck. I promise better pics in the future. Whiskey is doing great on all of his verbal and e collar commands and is picking up hand signals very fast. We are still working on holding point, he is creeping on birds but for 6 months old I am amazed on how well he is doing. On the home front Whiskey is a terrific companion and one of the funniest personalities I have ever seen in a dog.
Whiskey is making me look like a genius. Just get these dogs on birds, teach them commands, and socialize them properly and 90% of the battle is won. There is so much potential with these dogs, I was kinda dreading this hunting season, breaking in a new dog but I can’t wait until Friday when I throw all of my stuff in my truck and get him hunting again (5 weeks in a row now). Pheasant season opens in November.”
Whiskey’s first duck hunt — he looks like Sam Jr. to me!
October 19, 2010
Charity Upchurch
Hunting Tales, Kennel Update, Sire and Dam Ability, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons
Bird Hunting, Dog Training, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Korthals Griffon, Prairie Chicken Hunting, Southeastern Nebraska, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons
Southeastern Nebraska’s prairie chicken population has recovered to the point of having a limited season. Hunters who apply for the tags are limited to three prairie chicken for the whole season, Sept. 18-Jan. 31. Charles, Sam and Sue ventured down last weekend and were able to scare up a few flocks.
What surprised me was to hear his report of the habitat that they occupy. I assumed that the prairie chicken would be the same as pheasants, favoring heavy bunches of tallgrass. They actually are more commonly found in the shorter, more sparse brome grass. Similar to the chicken and grouse in the Sandhills, they are most commonly found on the sides of hills.
Here are Sam, Charles, and Sue, with a couple of prairie chicken roosters, while Caleb looks on.
Some great Wirehaired Pointing Griffons!
October 3, 2010
Charity Upchurch
Bird Dog Training, Hunting Forecasts, Hunting Tales, Kennel Update, Regional Update and/or Misc., Sire and Dam Ability
Bird Hunting, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Korthals Griffon, Pheasant Hunting, Pheasants Forever, Snipe Hunt, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Charles took Sam out last Sunday for a snipe hunt in Saunders County, Nebraska. Yes, snipe do exist, and a “snipe hunt” isn’t a joke! They are a swamp bird that sort of looks like a small woodcock. I’ve never shot one myself, but I have seen them flush out of the marshes. They fly in a strange zig-zag pattern.
Sam, Charles and Caleb with three snipe
I received some additional photos from the Heartland Chapter #491 Pheasants Forever Youth Hunt that took place a few weeks ago. Thanks to chapter member Ron Funk for getting these shots.
Sue on point
Sue retrieving a pheasant
Charles, the unidentified youth (again) and Sue filling the game bag
The dogs are getting this weekend off due to doe only deer season. Charles didn’t have any luck yesterday morning and decided to take our 6 year old son, Conrad, with him today.
Conrad’s first deer hunt
We’ll see if they have any luck with the afternoon deer hunt. The dogs will be back in action next weekend hunting ducks in the Sandhills.
Thank God for “The Good Life”!
September 27, 2010
Charity Upchurch
Hunting Tales, Kennel Update, Sire and Dam Ability, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons
Bird Hunting, Gun Dog, Heartland Chapter Pheasants Forever, Hunting Dogs, Korthals Griffon, Pheasant Bonanza, Pheasant Hunting, Pheasant Pot Pie, Pheasants, Pheasants Forever, Pheasants Forever Youth Hunt, Tekamah Nebraska, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, Youth Pheasant Hunt
Charles and Sue had a grand time guiding at Pheasants Forever Heartland Chapter’s Youth Hunt on Saturday, September 25th at Pheasant Bonanza in Tekamah, Nebraska http://www.pheasantbonanza.com/. I wasn’t there to witness, but Charles said that Sue did a great job pointing and retrieving the birds. She’s got the point part down on the bird box.
Sue pointing the box of pheasants
The best tale I heard was where a pheasant went down on the far side of a barbed wire fence and Sue had no problem going through the fence to retrieve and back through with the bird in her mouth without dropping it. There will be more pictures of the youth hunt forthcoming from other members.
Unidentified youth, Sue and Charles at the 2010 Pheasants Forever Heartland Chapter Youth Hunt
Since I knew that Charles would be bringing home EVEN MORE pheasants to put in the freezer, he pulled a couple out before he left that morning for me to do something with. So I made my most easy, “half-homemade” pheasant pot pie.
- Place two whole plucked and gutted pheasants in a large stock pot. Fill with water and boil for a couple of hours or so. Defrost two frozen roll-out pie crusts
- Shred/debone pheasant meat, preheat oven to 375
- Sautee about 5 sliced mushrooms, mix with pheasant meat in a bowl
- Add about 3 cups of frozen mixed vegetables
- Add 1 can of cream of chicken soup, mix
- Warm the whole mixture up in a sauce pan on the stove, but don’t cook it too much
- Grease a round casserole dish and place one of the frozen pie crusts in the bottom
- Dump the grub in and put the other pie crust on top, cutting slits
- Place foil on the crimped edges of the pie and bake for an hour and a half or so
Pheasant Pot Pie
September 21, 2010
Charity Upchurch
Bird Dog Training, Hunting Tales, Kennel Update, Sire and Dam Ability, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons
Bird Hunting, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Korthals Griffon, Nebraska Sandhills, Sharptail Grouse Hunting, SKB Shotguns, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons
Charles and I were back in the Nebraska Sandhills for sharptailed grouse and prairie chicken opener on Saturday, September 18th. We arrived to our first special spot about 10:30 AM to a windy, chilly and misty morning. Due to the wind, the grouse were absent in the valleys and were only present in the high choppy dunes. Our first flush was only three grouse who popped up out of range, which told us the area had probably been worked over. Sure enough, we spotted the tracks of our most hated nemesis, the ATV, shortly thereafter. Yet we were undeterred and continued to work this high dunefield.
Charles and the dogs made it up and over the top of the ridge before I had a chance to witness the first grouse of the season being taken. According to Charles, both dogs locked on point, he flushed and shot the bird. Sam quickly retrieved.
Charles, Sam and the first grouse of the year
We continued working this dunefield for another couple of hours, but were only getting one or two birds up at 50-100 yard ranges before the dogs could even get a lock on them. Blasted ATV’s. So we moved deeper into our zone where the truck tracks ended and we knew we had the place to ourselves.
The second dunefield we worked on was much more productive. We busted up a coyote. Charles has been reading up on the European version of the versatile hunting dog, where they hunt foxes with these dogs, so he wanted to see what would happen if he sicked Sam on the coyote. Luckily, we were at the peak of a high dune so we could watch Sam chase the thing for about a mile into the valley. Charles headed down into the valley with Sue to make sure Sam didn’t get himself lost. As I was hollering and waving my blaze orange hat to get Sam off of the coyote, I heard the music of “blllrrr, bbblllrr, bbbllrr” as a flock of 10-15 grouse flushed about 30 yards behind me.
Once we were all back together, we headed towards where I thought I saw the flock land. I was walking alone and had a great shot at a 15 yard flush of a singleton, but my lack of practice came shining through and I totally missed it. We worked our way back towards the truck and came into another flock of 10-15 birds at 20 yards. Charles shot a double and once again I croaked. Each dog had a bird in their mouth…I probably should have had my camera instead of my gun!
Charles rounds out his limit of grouse for the day with Sam and Sue on retrieve
We were headed back to town by 3 PM, just in time for Charles to cook up some sweet and sour grouse over rice for supper!
I definitely have my grouse hunting homework cut out for me before next year: get into shape and get to the trap and skeet range!
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