Baby season has begun

I'm sure everyone expected to see baby upland birds on this post but thankfully they haven't begun to hatch quite yet. I say thankfully because the amount of rain we got the last week would have caused fatal effects on chicks.

My observations show that turkey's are the first to hatch followed shortly by the rest of the upland birds with quail trailing the hatch. Yesterday we found two turkey nest on our hike and both were still sitting on by the hens. I know there are a few that think the dogs and I should stay away from the upland birds and other babies this time of the year but to my knowledge I don't believe we have ever caused any harm.

This first nest was a perfect example. This first picture is Grady pointing into the thick brush.
                                                                             

When I moved in a hen turkey ran off but not too far. I looked into the heavy cover and found a nest with nine eggs,

The dogs and I left the area and came back a couple of hours later. I whoa'd the dogs and moved in and took this picture.

She nervously stayed on the nest and I backed out to resume our hike.

Here is nest two with a count of 8 eggs. 

One of the nests is only a 15 minute hike to, so I'm going to try and check every other day and see what the hatch day is for curiosity sake.

The big game has begun having their babies and by the amount of lone cow elk and does I'd say the next two weeks will have much new life on the hills. Here's some pics of new life on the mountain.

Chukar Rama

Spent this morning watching some dogs run in the GSPCI fun event called the Chukar Rama. Had a good time and saw some pretty good dogs along with met some good people. I wish I could have stayed a little longer and filmed all the contestants but my boys were anxious to get on the hill so I had to go. It's almost 14 minutes long. When I left, the last guy, Luke Smith with Huck was leading with three birds in a very short time. A few pictures of some of the dog contestants and the leader of the pack Pat O'Kief.

Summer is coming too fast.

Readers have slowed down quite a bit so I figured I'd wait until I had some fun pictures of spring birds before posting. The spring has started out fantastic for upland bird hunters. We've been seeing a lot of everything and are now awaiting the big game babies as well as the upland babies. Here's a few of the boys out there doing there job.
Let's start with some Gobbling Jakes.

                                                                 Next a strutting blue grouse.

       A ruff grouse that charged me to keep me from his ladies.
                                                                             

And of course the big rooster pheasant watching over his harem.     
                                                                               

The quail haven't completely paired up but I'm seeing plenty of them.

Although we've seen lot's of huns this year we haven't been able to catch one for a still picture.
                                                                                 

This turkey came eye to eye with Conner and myself.

And of course there is my favorite among the upland birds.

The geese have already started hatching and pooping all over the place.

So, like I mentioned, Spring has really had a strong start with lot's of early moisture. We should have a very strong hatch but I'm not sure we'll have the big number of birds with the recent trend in our weather. It's getting warm and dry way too soon. We need moisture to keep insects coming for protein for the young birds. So keep your fingers crossed that we get some more moisture in the next couple of months.