Hunting Chukars at the Little Creek Game Bird Farm

Checking the weather on Wednesday evening, it looked cold on Thursday, but clear with little wind. It would be a beautiful day, and a call to Little Creek Game Bird Farm near Arlington, Nebraska confirmed they still had plenty of birds. Their suggestion was to hunt Chukars. That sounded really interesting, and the more Betty and Dalvan described the bird the better it sounded. For me the big plus is they are excellent eating.

Inside the lodge at The Little Creek Game Bird Farm

Next came a call to my good friend John to see if he wanted to meet for breakfast and then head to the game farm, and of course Junior his chocolate lab would have to come along also.

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I wanted to do a little research about the bird and this is the information I found. The Chukar is a Eurasian upland game bird in the pheasant family. The bird has its native range in Eurasia, from the Kashmir region, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and northern Republic of India in the east to southeastern Europe in the west. They prefer rocky, steep and open hillsides. Hunters consider chukar one of the most challenging of all game birds. Its quick flight, steep habitat, and tendency to run, make it a challenge suitable for only the most dedicated and physically fit bird hunters.

The area where we hunted looking straight east.

Got to the photo section, and under my pictures, there is an excellent picture of one. Dalvan told me on the phone that they have a really large breast, and that makes for excellent dining.

John and I arrived around 9 AM to a bright and sunny blue sky, light wind out of the southeast, and it can’t get any better than that. Dalvan told us he likes to put the birds out in pairs to make it more interesting. After coffee and rolls we headed out to an area along a creek where the snow was not too deep. The creek while not deep is in a ravine about fifteen feet deep, and there were a lot of snow bridges across. Betty and Dalvan warned us not to try and cross the creek on the snow bridges as other guests had tried, only to end up in the water. The creek is not deep, one to two feet, but it is a drop from the ground above. Standing grass is along each side out about 20 yards, but now it was down from the weight of the snow and ice. The snow in the grassy area was still knee high when you broke through the frozen crust. To our right was a bean field, and the walking was really easy there as the wind had kept it clean. John and I took turns walking in the grass behind Junior, and then walking in the bean field.

Great sport, but the best part is they eat really well.

It did not take long, and Junior went on point. We were told the birds might run first, but the pair jumped and flew, and there was not a lot of time to get off a good shot. They did not necessarily fly off into the wind, but went in every direction possible. Junior jumped another pair later and one flew straight at me, while John got the other as it flew off to his left. The bird that flew toward me hooked off to my left and flew back toward the pen. We knew where he went, and the plan was to get him later.

We harvested a total of 12 birds and headed home by noon. That evening we feasted on fresh Chukar to round out a really great day. I highly recommend hunting Chukars, and plan to make another visit to the Little Creek Game Bird Farm before they close.

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Good Hunting, Good Fishing, Good Luck.  Hank.

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It's a Hog Hunt



Ever since my good friend Joni went down to Texas and shot a really nice big wild hog, I kept thinking about a trip of my own.  Then when I got the report of the excellent meat that went with the kill, I knew it was time to start planning and researching in ernest.

This lady does it all, plus she shot this one with a 9 MM up close and personal.



There was no deer hunting to do as the midge disease had taken it's toll, plus my freezer was full of elk, duck, goose, pheasant, chukar,  and wild turkey.  So with idle time, the planning went into motion. 

The first thing was to research the type of pigs, hogs or whatever is out there.  Feral pigs are domesticated pigs that have escaped captivity and learn to live in the wild.  This is what Texas and some of the southern states have in abundance.  They are very prolific and that is the problem.  Ranchers and farmers are having a problem with the wild Feral pigs as they tear up the ground and have several litters per year.  The razorback hog is one whose line came from a domesticated pig that escaped and learned to live in the wild.  They are also in abundance.  The Russian Wild Boar was originally imported from Russia by large ranchers, turned loose and were then hunted.  The Russian Wild Boar can get extremely large and will weigh up to 500 pounds with tusks up to five inches long.   All of the wild hogs have one thing in common.  They have a really bad attitude and are extremely aggressive. 

Razorback Wild Hog

Gathering up information about hunting this beast was easy.  The internet is full of information and the search was made to find a spot that would fulfill my requirements, and these are many.  On a trip like this I will be a long way from home. There are several things needed to meet my requirements:  1. A private room with a full bath.  The older I get the more privacy I require and when on hunting or fishing trips, I am just not into roughing it anymore.  2. An experienced guide that will put me on the animal hunted and after the shot, field dress the beast out.  I always help, but again it is called service.  3. Then I want the lodge or outfitter to make sure the meat is taken to a  processor.  There are excellent processors in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area, but I do not like transporting a carcas all the way home in the back of the pickup truck.  Most outfitters have a favorite processor that will prepare the meat for shipping, sharp freeze it, and you can put it in your own cooler.  4. All meals furnished. Going on a hunt and doing the meals takes the enjoyment out of the trip for me.  Having someone else prepare the food, serve it up, then clean up after is an absolute must.  If they serve Tusker Beer, that makes it a first class lodge.   All of the above lead to what is known as "Gentleman Hunting," and that is for me.

Russian Wild Boar

Searching the internet there are an abundance of outfitters and ranchers in Texas that want you to come to Texas and kill hogs.  In addition, they must have a predator problem because there was also opportunity to shoot a variety of predators.  There was one firm that was really advertising this opportunity to round out your hunt. Many of the outfitters and ranchers advertised "NO LIMITS."  Prices were all about the same, but the drive for me would be a long one, and I wanted to stay closer to home.  Searching Oklahoma, there again are a lot of spots to kill a big hog, and the prices were all similar.  Service in both states ran from "here is my land and go get em cowboy, you are on your own", all the way up to a first class hunt and being pampered like royalty.  Royalty is what I am looking for and that's for me.

Moving closer to home, I researched Kansas, and found there was no season, so I headed east on the internet to Missouri.  Here was opportunity. High Adventure Ranch near St Louis was the type of operation I was looking for to get out of town, enjoy the smell of gun powder in the morning, and have a new adventure.  ( http://www.trophywildboarhunt.com/missouri-boar-hunting.asp)  All the services required are within a days drive, and they process the animal themselves right on their property.  I spent some time on the phone and listened to the description of how business is handled and I knew this was the right place for me.   At the end of the hunt, all you have to do is load up and head for home on the final day.  Stay tuned.  This will be interesting.



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Good hunting, good fishing and good luck. Hank.

 

Duck Hunting along the Missouri River

Four thirty in the morning. The temperature is 31 degrees, wind from the Northeast at 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph, and wind chill at 15 degrees. It is humid and that makes it colder. Overcast one to two thousand feet, and it spits a little snow now and then. This is duck hunting along the Missouri River in Eastern Nebraska, and it can’t get any better than this. (To find out what happens read more)

How many times a year do you sit in a blind and only see blue sky with the wind switching to the south, but on a day like described, it is time to head to the blind. A blizzard is sweeping across South and North Dakota with freezing temperatures and the Mallards have had enough of Devils Lake in North Dakota and Sand Lake in South Dakota, and here they come. With six inches of snow on the ground 50 miles to the north, the ducks will be hungry when they cross the snow line and thirsty.

It is still pitch black when everyone is settled into the blind, and the birds that were kicked up, when we walked in, are returning with more locking up and floating in against the wind. You can hardly see them, but there is plenty of racket above and around the blind.

John taking a break

Count down is on to shooting time, and at the right moment eight of us all stand up. Up they come, and each of us pick out a drake for the first of many shots that are sure to come. As it gets lighter, you can see the migration is in full swing, and the birds are decoying right to the swamp for a drink after feeding all night. As they swing and circle the blind, locking up with their wings cupped, you can see the mud hanging from their feet. They are thirsty. It just can’t get any better than this and by noon we are limited out.  The sky starts to clear and it is time to go home.

Junior has been earning his room and board

What is always amazing, when they are decoying, they are really decoying, and you can be outside picking up birds and they still are trying to come in.

 

Good hunting, good fishing and good luck.  Hank.