Sept. 18

The weather made a good change this week. A cool front came through and brought some moisture with it. The kind of weather that insists that I make a trip to the hills. I've injured my right shoulder and can't lift my arm above my head but it still will come up high enough to shoulder the gun on my left arm which is good since I shoot left handed.

I hunted blues for two days, one with Riley and the second with both Riley and Dakota. I decided to hunt an area where I usually hunt chukars and find some blues in between coveys of chukars. The blues were there but not in the numbers that I have found in the past. In fact I was a little disappointed in the amount of chukars seen. But I know I could go back to the same places in a week and there might be birds all over the place.

I was hoping to get a picture of Dakota on point but it didn't happen. His range has shortened considerable and Riley got all the action. The blues we did find held great and are going to provide a great dinner for Barb and I. Tom, I even put a couple in the freezer for you when you get back. I know how you enjoy a good grouse meal. The weather is supposed to heat up. If it does I'll probably just do some exercise hiking and give my shoulder a break until chukar opens in 12 days. Be safe.

Miles with Riles Sept. 9

Well my oversea friends. I finally made my first hunting trip of the season. Jeff, you'll be able to recognize the area from the pictures. It's the old log landing. I've been holding off for a cooler and hopefully damp day but it doesn't  look like it's coming for a while so I decided to take off early this morning and give it a go.

Dakota, Riley and I took off early this morning in hopes of maybe hearing a few bugles before we started hunting. One bull obliged us and answered our bugles three times. It was obvious he was happy where he was at and if I wanted to see him I would have to go to him. My archery days are over and I was just happy to hear his bugle.

Shortly after the sun came up a young red fox crossed our paths. As you can see there is a fire somewhere and the smoke is settling in. I heard there was a fire in Oregon that might be causing the smoky skies. Shortly after spotting the fox, Riley jumped a doe and fawn and hurried back to hide behind me. He's my 88 pound chicken when it comes to big game.

Our first blue came off the sage brush tops. There seemed to be a sufficient amount of blues in small groups but the scenting conditions were poor and Riley wasn't holding until he was right on top of the birds. Luckily some were holding tight enough for some five foot points. By the time we found the birds Dakota was tired and happy just to stroll along with us.

We hunted the top a little longer and took a couple more blues before heading for the deeper draws in hope for a rough grouse. It was a good decision because I had depleted the dog water and we needed to find some water. When we found the water we also found the roughs. The problem with those darn birds is they like the thick cover. They either flew through the thick underbrush or flew straight up in a tree and stared at us. Needless to say, we didn't get a rough. We did, however, spook a bear out of the thick stuff.

Although it's much better than what you guys are doing right now, it's a little early to get real excited. The dust and hot weather is tough on both the dogs and myself. Last week I had Riley at the vets getting a piece of cheat from his throat. Today he and Dakota were doing a lot of sneezing. I probably won't be out much until we get some moisture to knock down some of this dust but I'll keep you posted.

I hope the pictures I posted keep your hearts close to home. 

Miles with Riles

I've had a couple friends who are over sea and asked me to keep them posted on the chukar hunting. Hopefully, this blog will help keep them excited to get back to the states and some great bird hunting. Barb suggested I call this hunting year "Miles with Riles".
With Dakota's hips giving out, I have retired him to milder hunts on flatter land. I might even take a few quail trips for his thirteenth season. Quail aren't my bird of choice, but Dakota deserves to be kept active as long as he can.
My 88 pound GSP, Riley will be the solo star on our chukar hunts. I hope my weekly hunting blogs will keep you guys entertained while you guys are keeping us safe.

The eyes have it

I went for a conditioning hike with Riley yesterday. We had to go to the high country to try and find some cooler areas. The area had plenty of old logging roads and game trails but once you got off of them it was very thick. I was very happy to see Riley's range shorten so much due to the thick country. Even with the shorter range I was glad I had my astro and a beeper collar on Riley. The collar said he was on point at 23 yards but I couldn't locate him. I got closer by pushing the locate beep and finally saw him on point in the thick cover. As I approached a grouse flushed but Riley remained motionless. I made as much noise as possible trying to flush another bird with no luck. No matter what I did Riley would not break point or come to me. I finally decided to beat through the brush and get him. I got about three yards away and noticed his eyes fixed on something. I looked for a couple of minutes and decided he must be still pointing the bird that had already flushed. No coaxing would get Riley to move so I reached out to grab him by the collar. As I did a rough grouse flushed right next to my right hand. Scared the crap out of me and Riley was off to find another.

Just wone word. TRUST

Push yourself

Probably the people that need this advice the most won't be reading this post. They are the people about my age and aren't to savvy about the computer and blogs. All the same I'll try and help those who are getting closer to the middle age.

It seems every time I have started up the hill training dogs or scouting chukar this summer it's been real hard motivating myself. I get started and within a short time I'm thinking maybe I'll make it a short one today. My hips are sore, breathing is labored and in general I feel pooped. But, because of the dogs I push on because I know they need a little more exercise.

What I have found is that every year it seems harder to get started but once the body gets lubed the hills seem a little flatter. Maybe the veins don't transport the oxygen to the muscles as fast as it used to or the heart isn't quite as strong as when I was forty but it seems like the oxygen finally gets distributed through the body and the next ridge doesn't seem quite so far.

Today I started up the hill very early. There were some clouds in the sky as the sun came up which helped the temperature some. I also try to walk the shaded side of the draws when possible to help the dogs. As I mentioned, about a half hour into the trip I was feeling bushed. I decided to get to the top of the first ridge and than decide how long of a trip I wanted to take. Ten minutes later I was there and that burning sensation in my lungs and legs was gone. I looked the country over and made my plans for the rest of our excursion. It was just a matter of pushing myself over the hump.

In my athletic days they used to call it "getting your second wind" or "pushing yourself over the hump". Today I call it just pushing yourself for the pleasure of getting there because of all the great experiences you have had in the past. Most pleasures in life are usually gained through some type of effort and chukar hunting is no different. As you gain a little age it sometimes becomes a great feeling just to push yourself over one more mountain, but that can't be done without getting over the first hump which seems to be the toughest one for me.

When I train or hike I always go with my hunting garb minus the gun. This way I keep reminding myself of what I need to put in which pouch making it more convenient for both me and the dogs.

Today I hiked to the top of this first ridge before I got the good blood running through my body. I picked the farthest knob on the left of this picture as my destination figuring it would produce several coveys of huns and chukars to work the dogs on.

I was a little disappointed in the birds although I saw lots of tracks and dust bowls on the dusty trails But the dog activity helped to keep the blood pumping in anticipation. On the whole trip I only had seven points and honors and three of them were unproductive but the excitement was still there as I walked out in front of the pointing dogs.

I am retired now so I have a lot more time to hike the hills. I go at least twice a week not only because I enjoy it but because I know that if I don't it will be harder to get started  again once I slow down. I had a knee replacement five years ago and a few other mishaps that have held me up for a few weeks and each time I felt like I had a gorilla on my back for a month. The conditioning came back but it's a lot easier if you don't let it go. So you guys over 60 keep pushing yourselves and lets not let all the 30 and 40 years old guys have all the fun.

Chukars: The perfect upland dog bird.

Watching a bird dog do his thing can be a fantastic experience. You need birds to make it happen. But which upland species is the best bird for bringing out the best in a dog? You'll probably get as many answers as there are upland birds. Since I am not a world traveler, I have limited experience. My travels have only taken me hunting in four western states where I have hunted pheasant, California quail, bob white quail, sage hen, Hungarian partridge and chukar. Although it is exciting to watch a bird dog work any of the above mentioned birds, I think chukars provide the best over all experience for an upland hunter and his companion.
There is nothing like hearing the flush of a cock pheasant as he takes air. The cackle, brilliant colors, and long tails make the heart pound in both canine and human and that excitement is many times the reason for a missed shot. It takes a good dog to get pheasants to hold and he/she must be a good tracker because crippled pheasant can run a long way and hide in dense cover. But pheasants aren't my number 1 bird for pointing dogs because of the cover they live in. Most times pheasant hunting is done in groups with blockers and pushing the birds. When a dog is on point it usually is heavy enough cover that you can't enjoy the beauty of the staunch point. Also many times you don't know whether the dog is retrieving the bird until he is within a few yards. Another negative when pheasant hunting, in my opinion, is that there is a lot of human noise since the hunting is usually done in groups. Human noises can be distracting to dogs, which takes away from the hunting experience.
Quail are a fast action bird. When you find the birds there is usually a lot of shooting in a short order. That is probably one of the best reasons to take youths quail hunting. They need action to keep them involved. But quail aren't the best bird for a pointing dog. Once again the quail like thick cover to retreat to. Many times you know your dog is in there on point but can't see him. I like walking in front of my pointing dog and doing the flushing which is impossible many of the times. Quail also like to hop from branch to branch in the bushes high over dogs heads which often times will cause many dogs to bark since these birds aren't playing by a pointing dog's rules. That brings me to grouse.
Grouse are a great bird for the solo hunter and dog. There is usually lots of ground to cover and a mixture of thick and open country. Dogs are a little more visible when hunting grouse where I do. My problem with grouse is that often times they fly straight up into the tree close to the point. The dog's see this and soon have their front legs on the tree trunk  barking up at the treed bird. I can't force myself to shoot a bird out of the tree or even flying from his perch.
Although I haven't hunted sage hen for twenty or more years, it was more of a slaughter in those years than a hunting experience. When you found the bird they were in such large coveys you had your limit of three in about ten minutes.
I have to lump huns and chukars together as far as the perfect bird for a pointing dog enthusiast. The only real differences between the two as far as hunting is concerned is the terrain and the fact that huns usually take off in one big group while chukars will often have some stragglers.
Chukar hunting, although usually quite hilly, means lots of wide open space. In that space you can usually see a pointing dog ranging at greater distances, which I prefer so I can see the dog work. You sometimes also see flushed birds at a distant, but crap happens. In chukar country you can watch a dog use the wind and slam to point. Also, you learn to appreciate the retrieve of your dog. The country is so steep it often requires a 200 yard retrieve or longer and usually straight back up the hill. Watching a dog make a 10 or 15 minute retrieve is proof of the respect we owe our hunting companions.
As far as the birds themselves, what a ride they can take a hunting dog on. They may not leave as much scent as a pheasant, but what they lack in smell they make up for in numbers. Chukars like to covey up which leaves plenty of scent and some to spare. They move up and down the steep hills and leave plenty of scent in the cheat grass covered slopes. The coveys are usually spread enough to confuse a dog as to where exactly the smell is coming from. Although they do like to run uphill, a good pointing dog can usually stop and hold them in the sparsest of cover. They very seldom fly uphill giving the shooter a reasonable chance of positioning himself for the shot. In my opinion a chukar will hold as long as a quail giving the hunter plenty of time to approach his dog and appreciate the abilities of this canine predator. As I mentioned earlier, chukars don't always flush simultaneously. Quite often there are stragglers. It is always impressive to see your dog hold point while a covey is rising because he is making eye contact with one that is still holding. It is equally impressive to have your dog retrieving a bird uphill and then locking in on another bird while still holding the dead bird.
Obviously the chukar is the bird of choice for me. Because of the open country they dwell in and because of their willingness to hold for a pointing dog. Another pleasure of hunting chukars is generous bag limits and the big country. A person can park his vehicle, start walking and hunt for six or eight hours before returning to the truck. During the excursion it's not unusual to have fifteen or twenty points or more. Just watching the enthusiasm of the dogs as they cut the scent and try to locate the birds is enough for most. Throwing in all the different animals you might see while traversing the hills is another plus to the chukar hunt. Add the different shooting scenarios the flushing birds create and you find the chukar a formidable opponent for both you and your dog.
I have never had a bad chukar hunt. I enjoy every one because of the great dog work. But success is only when I have combined my ability as a human with my dogs predatory advantage and bring home some meat. Chukars and chukar country provide the perfect challenge for me and my dogs.

Snake avoidance

Just a reminder for those who haven't ever had their dog trained to snake avoidance. Although very few dogs ever die from a snake bite the effect of getting bit is very ugly and can be very dangerous to their health. I have seen two dogs that were bit in the face and their heads were the size of basketball before the swelling went down. So, if you hunt the warm season I'd get it done and have a little more comfort for your dogs sake. Boise, Idaho should be having a class in the next few weeks.

Bored

Not much to talk about since my last post. We've only been up in the chukar hills a couple of times this month. I've been spending some time improving my pond and having fun with the grand kids. There is nothing like family and friends to help forget about chukar hunting for a while. Now that I've got new grass started around the pond Riley and I will have more time to venture back to the hills to observe numbers of chukars learning to fly. (I say that with fingers crossed)
Until then here are some pictures of how we spend our boring days.
My grandson, Conner, and I had a contest of who could outrun young Killdeer and catch one. Obviously he won.

Granddaughter Emily catching her first bass.

Granddaughter Megan catching her first bass.

My 2 year old grandson, Mac caught his first fish but my camera was out of batteries. It was a nice bluegill. Even the world's worst fisherman got some action.

Riley figures if Larry can catch one he could surely catch one of those bluegills in the shallows.

Barb and I took a camping trip and took in a few hikes in the old elk hunting stomping grounds. Barb and the boys enjoy our hikes.

This bull was keeping a close eye on them.

I could bore you with other such pictures but am anxious to get back to chukar talk. Here's to looking forward to cooler days and plenty of birds on the hill.

recent hatch

Was out this morning with Riley and couldn't wait to report my findings. We hiked for just over an hour and found four coveys of little ones. All coveys seemed like they were between 10 and 15 birds each. The first three coveys flushed and flew quite a ways so I thought they were about four weeks old. But after finding the fourth covey I think maybe they were only a couple of weeks old.

Riley pointed this baby. I could tell he was right on top of it but it took me three or four minutes before I found it. This chick could have fit in the palm of my hand.

I reached down to pick it up and take a picture in my hand and it and a dozen or so more took off and flew about two hundred yards just like the previous coveys. I was amazed how well they flew.
In captivity the chicks usually don't fly until about four to five weeks but I guess things are different in the real world. My boys and I are satisfied that we are having a good hatch so we will be spending the rest of the summer in the high mountain parks and drooling over the thoughts of being back on the chukar mountains in September.

last day of spring

Just thought I'd add a few pictures taken this last week of the spring. Hopefully I'll be seeing some little fuzzy chuks and huns in the next couple of weeks. If so I'll be savoring the opener of upland season.
There are still some Tom's left and I did see some real young turkey chicks (less then a week) but couldn't manage a picture.

The big game animals had a great spring

I'm sure the predators will help keep the thousands of birds that are about to hatch in check so that we don't run out of shells this season.

They could have made home a little more accommodating.

While out this week I saw lots of singles as far as chukars and huns go. I believe that's good news and hopefully in about two weeks I'll be showing pictures of fuzz balls. Have a great summer and let's hope for a great upcoming upland season.

Still looking good.

Went out with Riley to one of my favorite chukar spots and was pretty happy with what I saw. We saw no fewer than 20 different pair of chukars and one pair of huns. We didn't find any babies yet and couldn't find the nests. Most of the birds didn't fly far and by the way Riley did a lot of relocating, the birds were leading him away from the nesting area. The other positive sign was no birds were talking. With the number of birds we saw you would think they would be chatting some. Until the little ones are big enough for their first flight chukars don't talk as much. They, like other wild life don't want to attract attention to their nest or young ones. After their initial flight they start talking much more and forming bigger groups.

The really interesting fact is what my records show. The last time it was this late before I saw my first chukar chick was 2005. It was a great chukar year.
Also of interest. Lot's of insects out there.

Spring 2011.

Well, I've been having a great spring despite the weather. Actually, because of the weather it's been a little refreshing walking the hills. Rather than telling a long story I figured it easier to just show some pictures and let you figure the rest.
Big male grouse strutting his stuff.

Blue Grouse nest late in May

Fox leading me to her den. I wasn't quick enough to get pictures of the young ones running under the rock into their den.

This rough grouse hung around on the ground for quite a while before flying into the tree indicating she had a nest close by but we never found it.

Always unwanted company.

Female grouse trying to encourage me to follow her. The wet little one had just exited an egg and it was time for me and Riley to leave mom to her duties.

Lot's of baby deer and elk around. The fawn pictures didn't turn out very good.
A little R & R.

Proud mom.

Doubly proud

Fighting over ownership.

Wheres my mom?

Riley pointing turkey on June 10. She reluctantly flew off, once again leading me to believe there was a nest or little ones close by. We looked briefly and then left to see her fly back five minutes later.

And last. Riley pointed this hun, who pulled the crippled bird act right down to me. I caught her, took a picture, took a picture of her nest and then vacated with Riley. This was also on the 10th of June. These eggs could be hatched tomorrow or in the next 23 days. Do the math and hopefully we're on our way to a good season.

Have a great summer.

The hatch

With the cooler and wetter weather we have had this spring I've been getting a lot of calls from hunting partners and other chukar hunters wondering what I think the hatch will be like. I, like every other chukar hunter, am very interested in what conditions make for the best survival of nests and babies. I have incubated and raised pheasant, chukar, huns and quail and know what changes in temperature, humidity and other factors can do during this artificial process for survival of chicks. I graduated from the great Boise State University (Boise State College at that time) with a minor in biology. I spend much more time in the field than the average guy. With that, I can say I don't know diddly squat about the hatch. But I have my beliefs so here goes.
Once in a while mother nature throws us a curve. But she is pretty forgiving. All creatures have basic instincts for survival and upland birds are no different. They do not no how to read a calendar so have no idea of what day they should start nesting. Certain weather patterns and conditions get the ball rolling.
Chukar eggs take 23 days to incubate. The hen will lay an egg a day or every other day until she is ready to sit the nest. Each day after laying the egg she covers the nest for protection. She does not sit on the nest until the final egg is down. Like in artificial incubation process the egg must be stored at a cooler temperature until incubation begins. By covering the eggs she is regulating the temperature. When she has laid the last egg she sits on the nest constantly beginning the 23 day incubating process. She gets off the nest only to turn the eggs occasionally and to eat and drink. Mother nature has given her the instinct to know she must keep the eggs at a constant temperature in order for them to hatch. In the artificial process that temperature is 99.5 degree. If you let the temperature fluctuate too much or not turn the eggs survival is compromised.
So here is where my theory comes in. The mother knows she needs help keeping the eggs warm during the times she is not on the nest. If the temperature is too cool she will put off laying eggs until it begins to warm. On years like this year upland birds may nest two to four weeks later than normal years. My guess is the majority of the birds will hatch between June 15 and July 1 this year instead of June 1 to June 15.
The curve ball I was speaking of is when we get that early false spring. We have two or three weeks of above normal temperatures which start the laying process followed by a big cool down and wet weather. The chicks are then hatched at a vulnerable time and survival will be tough. Also, eggs are more vulnerable to these conditions because the hen must get off the nest now and then to eat and the egg temperature may drop too much. In this case the eggs have been lost. In both cases the hen will renest especially if she has just lost the nest, but the clutch will be smaller.
This year's spring has been cool from the start and has warmed slowly. So, as I stated earlier, I think we will start seeing chicks running around in the next week or two. I've spent many hours in the chukar hills and my observations tell me that chukars are still sitting. But the only positive scientific explanation I can give is my HOPE for another banner chukar year.

Turkey slam

For most United States turkey hunters a slam includes the four species found in the states. The merriam, the eastern, the rio grande, and the osceola. In order to get all four species a person has to have more money than me, have time to travel the states, and have access to private land in Florida for the Osceola.
I formed my own rules for a turkey slam. These rules fit my budget a lot better. There are two rules in order for me to be successful. All four birds must be mature tom's and they must be shot in four different locations.
Although I've been fortunate enough to shoot two easterns in northern Idaho, they are few and far between so four merriams will have to do. Also, I already have an Oregon hunting license so I have to just incur the cost of two turkey tags in Oregon and two in Idaho.
With the seemingly endless winter still upon us for the opener in Idaho, I wasn't surprised to find myself hunting in snow. I hunted hard that first day and heard only two gobbles. I can't remember an opening day that the birds weren't hammering from their roost before sunrise until this year. Because of the deep snow I was unable to venture in as far as I have in the past, so day two took me further in because of a shortcut I found in years past. The birds were a little more vocal on this day but still unwilling to stay fired up. They gave me the impression that they weren't ready for love making yet.
On the eighteenth of April I tried a different location. I had seen birds there before but never hunted it but I knew the snow was gone from this area. I got on the hill early and was pleased to hear a distant gobble. As I worked in closer I heard him gobbling from the tree and then fly to the ground. I was within about 150 yards and quickly set up. A couple of yelps from me and two turkeys soon came over the ridge towards me. A jake and a tom. For three hours that tom spit, drummed, and gobbled at me from about 75 yards. He had me pinned down and all I could do was yelp softly with the diaphragm. He finally got bored with the game and headed up the hill. No amount of my calling could turn him around. He left me and the jake there to our miseries.
April 20th found me in yet a new location. I had to get up extremely early to get into this spot since it was a four mile hike up hill to this spot. I found it one year chukar hunting. When I got there the birds were really letting each other have it from the trees. I could hear at least three different groups of birds. I chose the gobbling below me. It should have worked out to my advantage. I could see several birds in a tree with my binoculars through the dim light. I moved into about 200 yards and let them have some soft yelps. They greeted me with a chorus of gobbles each time I would yelp. They finally hit the ground and they numbered 27 birds. They gobbled a few more times but then became consumed with fighting amongst themselves. They put on quite a show from 150 yards away and totally ignored my pleading to them for love. They suddenly quit fighting and started feeding in my direction. I don't know how many jakes and hens there were but I counted 11 long beards in the group. As they fed their way through the sage towards me, I could tell they knew where I (the hen) was supposed to be and kept looking for me with an occasional strut. At 35 yards away I was trying to make out which bird was biggest and they suddenly formed a line and marched straight away from me up the hill. Right below me was a red fox coming up the creek to investigate.
Well these birds were off to the races and they had consumed an hour and a half of hunting time so I headed back up hill to where I heard the other birds earlier. Luckily they were still there. I immediately got responses from two birds within 200 yards away and another Tom I could see strutting  well over a half mile away. Every time I would yelp they would answer. The furthest seemed to be most aggressive but I had two tom's within 200 yards. I called for a half hour and the two closer birds kept coming closer and then backing off. There was a small ridge about 30 yards away between me and the birds. I could see the fans once in a while but never the beards. Finally the bird that was way over there had crossed the draw and came up behind me. When he gobbled at about 30 yards behind me it was more than the two tom's could handle and they strutted over the ridge gobbling. I don't know which bird was bigger but I knew the bird my bead was on had a long beard and at the sound of the shotgun bird #1 was in the bag.

April 25th found me turkey hunting again. Although, it was hard not revisiting the spot of my last conquest, that's one of my rules. So I went back to the place where the big tom held me down for three hours. I don't know whether it was the same bird, because it didn't seem as big, but I called in a jake and a tom again. This time the birds came within 15 yards and a dose of number six gave me my second leg and last bird for Idaho. The time was 7:15 A.M.

Then the torrential rains came again and I was stuck at home working and waiting to go to Oregon. The dogs and I hooked up the fifth wheel Sunday the 8th of May and headed out. We had camp set up early enough to take an evening scout. The dogs appreciated the hike and I was a little depressed by the sign we saw. None the less we were there to hunt and hunting the next morn I would go. I was even more disappointed in the morning to not hear one bird from the roost. There was enough sign to say there were birds in the area but they weren't talking. I walked the logging roads and tried to raise a gobble but my efforts failed to interest any birds. Finally at 10:30 I heard a faint response. I hurried down the trail and got a response again. I set up and heard two responses to my call. Five minutes later two heads poked over the hill 25 yards away. I watched them gobble simultaneously and then they topped the ridge. I was disappointed to see two jakes and decided to sit still while they walked away. Suddenly another gobble came from the same direction but behind the two birds I could see. Fate was on my side. The big boy stepped over the hill behind the two jakes and displayed his fan. He got two good spit and drums in before I couldn't handle it anymore. Leg #3 done.
Back at camp I loaded up Dakota and Riley and head for another area 40 miles to the north. Once again we took a good scouting hike. Riley busted a couple of turkeys, giving me hope for the following day. At 5 A.M. I was on the mountain in search of the final leg. Shortly after shooting light I heard one gobble and headed in that direction. I set up and tried to get a response but heard nothing. After fifteen minutes or so I heard him spitting and drumming. I could hear him but couldn't see him. Finally behind a lg about 40 yards away I saw his white head peek over and then he would strut again. This went on for a half hour or so and then it was over. I have no idea what happened or where he went. He was just gone. I headed off in the direction of the bird but never heard or saw him again. But I did come face to face with a black bear. He must have thought I was one tough son of a gun. He turned tail so fast that I actually heard him fart as he took off.
About 11:00 A.M. I finally got another response. I could tell he was eager because anything I said made him gobble. I had a beautiful place to set up with a logging road in between us. He put on the best display of all four birds. He hit the old logging road spitting and drumming and pacing back and fourth. With each pace he got about five feet closer to me. I have never seen such vibrant reds, whites and blues as this bird showed. He was put to rest at 7 yards. So these two birds finished my slam, for whatever it's worth. (lot's of fun)

Although I was through hunting I decided to stay one more day and check another area out. So once again the dogs and I traveled to another area and took a scouting hike. We found plenty of sign and once again Riley flushed a couple of turkeys so I thought I'd give it an early morning try with a camera. Once again the birds were silent first light. I did have a pack of bear dogs give me some excitement. They were obviously on a bear and I could tell they were traveling the same trail I had used to get in there. I got up against a tree not knowing how the dogs would react to me. I knew the bear would run, but wasn't sure about the dogs. Luckily they turned before they got to me.
The dogs did elicit a shock gobble which I honed in on. After calling the bird pitched off the hill above me and landed in a draw 50 yards below me. Once again I set up with an old logging road between us. When the bird hit the road I moved to turn on the camera and the bird caught the motion and was gone in an instant.
One more turkey year in the books and time to prepare for the baby season and picture taking.

training and cameras.

I've been spending a lot of times in the last five weeks chasing birds and dogs with my camera. At the same time I've been trying to do a little training. I found it just as futile to try and train while trying to get that perfect picture as it is to train while hunting. The only way it works the way it should is if you have another person shooting the gun or camera while you're training.
Two days ago I was out trying to get a picture of Riley and the chukars flushing while I approached from the front. I never did get a good picture but I proceeded to let Riley start breaking at the flush. The same procedure he was doing towards the end of the gun season.
Today I left the camera in the truck. It took about 30 minutes to have Riley back into form. Proper training depends highly on applying stimulus at the right time. No matter what the stimulus is, e collar, rope, whoa, or whatever else a person might use. If a person tries to shoot a bird or take a picture and then apply the stimulus it is too late.
I was on the mountain for two hours with Riley and it took two corrections for him to remember what he is supposed to do on flushed birds. As we came off the hill we had three more hun pairs pointed. I flushed one pair and the other two pair flushed wild, but each time Riley stood fast until I released him. Because of prior mistakes in my training methods he won't release with an o.k. I have to slap my hands or leg or he'll stand steady.
I know that part of the way through the hunting season he'll start back with some of those bad habits but I usually live with it or put the gun up for a reminder lesson.