Clean up hunt with Adam at Coon Creek

Well I planned a clean up for this morning before I got my wisdom teeth pulled this afternoon.  Found out Adam was hunting the field next to me so we hooked up and hunting both fields together.  It was fun to be out with someone on what to me seems like a more natural hunt, as you don't know going in if any birds will be in your field.  We ended up taking three birds today, all hens and saw two roosters that flushed way to early to even have a chance at them.  It was fun getting the dogs out and running them again today.  Forgot to take a picture.  I think the next hunt I will be bringing out the gopro to try and get some video.  I am giving each dog two birds on their count today as they really worked together on all three points.  Autumn is at 70 and Willow is at 145.

Guided pheasant hunt today

The dogs worked good today after they settled down.  It took them 15 minutes today to settle, but then they were on the hunt.  The guys did ok and took 11 birds today.  They released 15, and hit three more that kept on flying, and missed another 5 or more.  It was a good hunt, I just wished the guys would have taken a few more birds.  This puts Autumn to 68 and Willow to 143.   I am hoping Willow gets to 200 this year, but that will depend on how many guided hunts they do.

11 Illinois Coon Creek Birds taken

We did a nine bird release this past weekend and took 11 birds home.  Two were missed.  We even took both the birds on the double flush we got up.   Was out with uncle John and Will.  10 of the birds were taken in the first 40 minutes, and they were in all areas of the field.  Field four was a great hunt! Autumn is at 62 birds and Willow is up to 137.  I wonder what there numbers would be if I counted birds we missed the last two years?

12/7/14 hunt at Coon Creek

For some reason I have not had the energy to think about filming hunts this year.  Actually I should have filmed today as we had a great day in the field.  Actually we didn't miss a bird all day.  We released six birds and ended up taking 10 home.  We also hit some really long shots and the dogs were great on birds today.  I will try to get more pics of the hunt. Willow is up to 131 birds and Autumn is up to 56 birds.

12/7/14 scheduled hunt

I am planning a six bird release this Sunday.  Willow's paw is healing up well and I am hoping that she is able to go this weekend.  If not, Autumn is ready to go alone.  We are going in blind, as I am not sure what field we will be hunting or the condition of the grass.  We have a forecast of mid thirties and no rain, so it should be good.  I might try and get some video this time.  Watch for the update.

11/29/14 Went out with Uncle John to Coon Creek

My uncle has been a member at Coon Creek for the past few years.  Well, Norma his hunting dog, is now 14 and not able to make it out any longer. He got himself another GSP, Gertie, but she is not turning out to be a hunting dog.  Willow was out of the question today with two scraped up dew claw pads, so it was Autumn on her first solo hunt along with Gertie who was along for the walk.  It look promising for Gertie today when she went after the first downed bird with Autumn, but that was about all she showed for interest today.  She had a good walk.  Autumn was on fire for her first solo hunt. Bs he worked the field good and pointed birds from some good distances and moved in slow to show us where the birds were holding up.  We released six birds, pulled eight out with Autumns good points, and ended up hitting six  to take home.  It was a good day in the field seeing Autumn taking control and working the field hard with nice strong points and retrieves..  It was great seeing her do what she loves to do.  Willow was very upset that I left her home, but I keep telling her it was for her own good.  That puts Autumn to 51 birds!

31 for the year so far. We got 29 pheasants and two chuckers!

Sorry for not posting for a while, it's been busy here as we have added to out animal family with a bunch of ball pythons and a few chameleons.  I have been able to get out to both clubs a few times. I have Willow up to 126 birds and Autumns career has her up to 45 birds.  Willow has been her steady self, hunting hard and pushing through things that has caused her to already have pad issues.  This past weekend she really scraped up her dew pads on both legs good.  Actually, it was the first time I have seen her not want to go back into the thick stuff.  It must have been painful for her.  Good thing it was at the end of the hunt.  Autumn had a slow start this year, but the last two hunts really turned it up a few notches and is starting to top Willows production in the field.  She is build like a little tank and just wants to find birds now.  I will start to update after each hunt, as I think things are finally winding down here.