2026-2027 Upland Bird Thread

[Gr8bawana]

My son and I got out for 1 day of quail and chukar hunting on opening day. The valley we always hunt has always held good numbers of both birds, especially early season.
We only jumped 2 coveys of quail and never saw or heard any chukars. Perhaps the big rainstorm and flood a week before had them scattered into the wind?
At any rate we only shot 1 quail a piece.

 

[marshman]

A good day in SD.

 

[Jbotto]

Had a great day yesterday. Chased Wyoming Sharptails for the first time ever. Pheasants kicked our butts, but still found one each. I found a nice shed to round out the mixed bag. Had too much fun in a new area that I forgot to take much for pictures

 

[NWhuntinfool]

I decided to start an annual bird thread for everyone to post their hunts. I’m a little late this year. I had a September deer tag that has given me PTSD. The tag was down to my last weekend day. Son asked if we should just get out of the beatings and go Sage grouse hunting. View attachment 418828

It was a good hunt. Love hunting Sage Grouse in beautiful country.View attachment 418827

Weather got warm last weekend. I met my buddy at 6am and we were at the hill a half hour before light. I’m getting ready at the truck and Cady goes on point about 50 yards away. I walk to her in sneakers without a shotgun. She keeps relocating. I’m half trying and a flock of birds flush up the hill. Try harder Bryan.

Cady’s next point was a group of birds running uphill. She pointed and relocates and I hobble uphill towards her. She finally pinches them against some rock. I hobble forward, breathing hard. Chukars go up and I kill one going right. Another group goes left and drop one going left. Report double.

While all of this was happening my buddy’s dog was 400 yards away on point. He missed a double on Huns. We meet together and circle to stay in the shade. We get into another group of chukars and I roll one. My buddy missed and starts blaming his shotgun. He asked what I’m using and I respond IC choke with 7.5s. He just stares at me. We had a wild flush walking out.View attachment 418829

We’re back to the truck by 9:30am. Weather needs to break. Moose this weekend and sharptails next weekend.

Such beautiful birds!!

 

[NWhuntinfool]

Had a great day yesterday. Chased Wyoming Sharptails for the first time ever. Pheasants kicked our butts, but still found one each. I found a nice shed to round out the mixed bag. Had too much fun in a new area that I forgot to take much for pictures View attachment 421610

Do you hunt with dogs?

 

[The_Jim]

We’ve been out every weekend since youth opened. Taken home a couple roosters each weekend.

Got to hunt some private ground this Saturday. An older gentleman that runs enough cows to make ends meet and has enrolled almost all his farm to crp. Partnered with pheasants forever to rebuild the habitat. Took home 3 roosters and 9 quail. All wild birds, which made it even better. My bar is low but this was 100% the best bird hunting I’ve ever had.

The dog gets a break the next couple weekends while we head to the Sandhills to fill some deer tags.

 

[NoWiser]

Tomorrow is a holiday and I was sick of work, so I took today off, too. I decided each kid could play hooky one day and spend it uninterrupted with me. Today was my daughter’s day. We started it with a sneak and her first goose. We ran home and got the pooch. My daughter was a spectator, but she got to see Dewey’s first honest picture-perfect point. I’m not sure today can get much better, but we’re going to grab the .22 after lunch and try to find a fat fox squirrel or two.