It’s days like this which, despite the snags, make the rest worthwhile.
I shot horrendously. I tied up the boat after a 12-mile trip in the chill morning air to discover I’d forgotten to put my boots – the most important piece of equipment – in the boat (so I motored back to the dock, and got ’em, adding an hour to the endeavor). Leslie and Angus waited patiently.
But oh, the birds. In just two hours of hiking (very hard hiking) we saw over 100 chukar in at least four coveys. I haven’t seen this many coveys of this many birds in quite a while, maybe ever. I bagged only one bird (no excuses, but man, that is hard to take), and my friend Dan (who hunted elsewhere this day) thought it was the largest chukar he’s ever seen (he’s a retired US Fish & Wildlife bird biologist and lifelong upland hunter).
So here’s a short video of the day. Enjoy.
That was a great video. It really captured the ups and downs of chukar hunting. I could relate to the heavy breathing as you try to hurry to your dog on point. Than the sitting down after missing the shots. The shadow of your beloved photographer in the background seeming to be wishing you luck on your next opportunity. Very well done! Oh and great job to your better half on the filming.
Thanks, Alan. Your comments are poetic. Whiffing on a cloud of chukar is hard to take, but I’m lucky to have Leslie get it all on film, the good, the bad, and the ugly shooting!
Great footage. Leslie, if you and Angus ever decide to dump the old man, keep me in mind as a replacement.
Larry, you do know I read these comments… 🙂
Those flushes were Epic…love it. Have to get up there some day. Lets trade…you come down to AZ and I will guide you to three species of Quail and I will come up and climb those hills for Chukars with you. Deal?
Thanks for the nice comments, Spencer.
Interesting, I met you at the dog park, ran into you at Payless, and now found your blog!
Looks like some good hunting! Is that in part of the area that burned last year? I have been curious if the birds have recolonized that area or not.
Cool. I remember you and your Brittany. This area isn’t one that burned last year – Brownlee fared pretty well in that regard. We did find birds last winter in a tiny burned area that had some excellent bunch grass regeneration.
Very nice video. I lost my old bird dog this summer and I’m starting a new pup this fall. Your video gave me extra motivation to start hunting this year. Thanks
Sorry to hear about your dog’s passing. Never easy. Get that new pup out!
Loved the video. Hills like that and chukar are two things we have none of in my neck of the woods, nice to get a 2D taste.
From an orange and white Brittany owner, it is nice to a see a staunch liver Brittany at work, and as Mark noted, I am grateful about our lack of highrise bird haunts here in the flatlands. As hard as the hunt was on you, I can’t imagine how hard it was on the bagpiper-videographer who followed behind.
First- Sometimes one bird can be more than enough.
Second- Outstanding bird hunter soul food footage, I got chukar bumps on my arms right now.
Thirdly – Kudos to the camera operator, to be able to take great footage like that AND play the bag pipes so flawlessly while traversing such steep terrain takes some serious talent and a set of lungs that would match those of a sherpa.
Thanks! It was actually a sherpa on the pipes, who was following Leslie, who was unable to get a shadow shot of him and (part of the deal) wouldn’t allow a direct photo of him because of something like stealing his soul…
I am really missing your bkog the last two weeks. I hope you are getting out.
Thanks, David. I have been getting out, just haven’t had time to post. Will get something posted soon.