Drying again

We’re back to being worried about this fickle weather. Barb, the dogs, and I went up north to Dworshak reservoir for an 11-day camping and chasing turkey trip. Everything was green, but we didn’t see any moisture the whole time. On the way home, the closer we got to chukar country, the drier it became. The hills are looking more purple and brown than green. Although we have had good growth for cover, we still need some more moisture. Yesterday we had a new record high of 96 degrees, and hot temperatures don’t help much. We still have time for everything to turn out well, but we need some help from Mother Nature.

We still took time out for training, Layne. At twelve weeks old, she has developed well. She has all of the yard training work down. She whoa’s, comes, and sits on command. I haven’t started heal training yet, but that will come soon. She retrieves the wing but has a hard time picking the whole chukar up, so she carries it by the legs. She also drops the wing or whatever else she is retrieving at the drop command. Tell her “dead bird,” and she starts covering ground, searching. These two videos are examples of what she is doing now, but she does much better when it’s just her and me. While trying to show off with some other hunters and Grady in the picture, her concentration wasn’t so good.

So, at 12 weeks and 20 lbs. I’m pretty happy with her achievements. I forgot how much energy a pup has. Grady has been a great big brother, and at times I wish he would lay the law down on her. She is always annoying him.

The chukars should be sitting on nests any time now. We could use some good rain over the next month to keep things growing for the hatch.

The turkey hunt was pretty good, also. The main goal was Nick’s girlfriend, Chloe. She got her first turkey.

That’s my grandson, Conner, with her. He doubled up with Chloe as Nick filmed. Nick later got his turkey, but was on the way home, so I didn’t get a picture. Greg, my chukar partner, got his second Tom for the year.

My brother Tom was up there fishing with his son, Monte, and his girlfriend Kim. We called this Tom in for Tom. This same Tom had played me for a fool the day before. Monte’s girlfriend also got a Tom, but we didn’t get a picture.

Here’s a picture of my bird before I dropped him.

But my prize trophy was this load of wood we brought home with us.

Meanwhile, after Conner and his crew left us, he took his girlfriend, Amaia, out with her grandpa, where he shot this double

And shortly after that, Conner called another Tom in for Amaia.

I know this is supposed to be about chukar hunting, but sometimes I just have to blow my horn about how lucky I am to have these guys in my life. I’ll get back to the chukars soon.