Although this post doesn’t have much to do with chukars, I hope the recent sightings and successes carry over to this fall. The 2022 season is starting out in fantastic fashion. Let’s just start this post with a little Hungarian partridge action. Jake, Grady and I went in today in search of an arrow fired by Conner last evening. We bumped three pairs of huns. The hens obviously haven’t started sitting yet and I’m thinking that is a good sign.
We also spotted these two bucks who have already shown some good antler growth.
A good sign that the Spring conditions have been optimum for big game animals.
I also saw a few cow elk that looked very healthy.
Here’s why I was looking for Conner’s arrow today.
Yes, he arrowed his second turkey for the year. He has become quite the turkey whisperer. But it didn’t come easy for him. I filmed from about 400 yards away while he tried to coax the Toms in for an archery shot. Here’s what I saw for over two hours. At one point you can see the decoy and Conner is tucked back in the brush somewhere.
The wind was blowing pretty hard and I couldn’t hear Conner calling but I could tell by the way the Toms stretched their necks out that they were somewhat interested but not quite ready to commit. As the camera light faded, I turned to the binoculars and was shocked when the turkeys suddenly sprinted past Conner into the thick brush, gobbling as they ran. A golden eagle came diving down and nailed one of the turkeys. The eagle stayed there for 15 minutes or so and then flew off. I have no idea what happened to the turkey but this pile of feathers was the only evidence of what I had seen.
Conner took advantage of the situation and put a second decoy out in the opening and eventually talked four of the Toms back out into the opening. The biggest bird made a mad dash towards the decoy. It was his last dash.
Conner’s got another friend who is trying to shoot a Tom with his bow and I’m sure he will be putting a lot of effort into helping him be successful. Here is what he has done so far this Spring. Reese, a youth and his first turkey. Reese is the kid in the middle.
Conner called this Tom in for another youth up in the snow. Landon’s bird.
Two different set ups got Wyatt these two great Toms.
That’s my load of wood in the back ground. I made them help me load the wood in repayment for having to pull them out of a snow drift.
A couple of big time duck hunters, Jack and his son Scott, shot these three birds called in by Conner.
And probably the coolest. Conner’s girl friend Ahsley’s first hunt ever and first time firing a gun.
I was along on this trip and was lucky enough to get to film it. Probably as much fun as I have had on a turkey hunt since my daughter shot her turkey a few years back. Most of these hunts I had a little part of and I can say that each one of these hunters worked hard and were such a joy to be around.
Although Conner still likes to pull the trigger, he has become a great photographer and has some fantastic pictures of these hunts. He got dozens of great photographs of last evenings hunt. I’m a pretty proud grandpa.
So, you can see why I’m excited about the 2022 season. Although it ain’t chukar, it’s a darn good warm up. One more thing. I can’t let Conner have all the accolades. I spend a little time in the mountains on my own once in a while and fortune smiles down on me. My second bird this year.
The Reigning Chukar Champions 