I just wanted to take this time to wish you all a Merry Christmas and thank you for making this blog such a pleasure for me. Chukar hunting has been such a positive influence on me and keeps my mind straight. Trying to learn more about chukars, the country they live in and the dogs I follow in pursuit of them has obviously been my passion.
Over the past 15 or more years of talking chukar through my blog I have gained many friends. Most of them I have never personally met. but by the comments and emails I get, I know we have a great love for hunting dogs and the great outdoors. We have kept it positive and shared some great stories and pictures.
I’m not going to try and mention all the names of people that I have corresponded with because I know I’ll miss someone. Just know how much I appreciate you. I can quickly count 13 states from where I get comments from and I’m sure there are more.
18 months ago we lost our daughter. My family has always been the most important thing in my life. Her death was devastating to us. We had a special relationship and most of the time my mind is consumed with missing her. Having a passion helps keep the mind positive. And that’s what this blog and chukar hunting has done for me. Being with my dogs on the mountain is my drug of choice. Plus, the higher I get on the mountain, the closer I am to Kerri and I can feel her love.
So understand how much you all have helped me enjoy my life. It’s not all about me, but the life we enjoy chasing our dogs. Your comments and correspondence have helped motivate me to keep talking chukar. So, thank you and Merry Christmas to all of you dog lovers and chukar chasers reading this. You guys have been the best medicine I could have.
I sometimes wonder if my blogs are getting my points across and too much about me and not enough about the dogs and chukar hunting. But a recent message from a chukar hunter in Utah hit home for me. He mentioned that he enjoys reading about my experiences and it helps get him through the days when he is not on the mountain with his dogs. It was amazing to hear of how much we have in common and how chukar hunting has been such a positive addiction in our lives.
Steve Smith is that gentleman’s name and he sent some fantastic photo’s of his setter’s that he allowed me to share. They are all great, but this one here should be on the cover of a dog magazine.
Thank you Steve for the great photo’s.
May the remainder of this year and the beginning of next year be filled with dog points and retrieves and peace on the mountain as we follow them.
The Reigning Chukar Champions 
You are and always will be the man, merry Christmas and heal fast my friend.
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Merry Christmas to the entire Szurgot Klan! I also enjoy reading all blog posts, even if I don’t respond, they are always uplifting, educational, and just plan enjoyable!
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MERRY CHRISTMAS to the lucky man who lives in the land of milk, honey and chukars. If I make it to Idaho in June and get a chance to meet and visit with you, I hope you will have recovered fully from your current status and you will be ready to go rock hopping with the dogs.
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Larry, Merry Christmas. Thanks for your great blog posts and photos. Keeps me looking forward to my next trip. One question for you: Do you ever have to boot your dogs or do you ever use a chemical pad toughener? If so, what do you like? (I suspect your dogs are out in that country enough that their pads get tough the natural way). Thanks again. Robb
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Have a merry christmas Larry and Barb. I know it has been a tough year. WE SEND YOU OUR LOVE. GRACIE.PIPER KATE AND ALAN
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Robb, I have never had to use boots or a pad toughener. When we are all healthy, I try and get into chukar country at least twice a week through out the year which helps keep their paws tougher. They’ve had a few sores but never anything major.
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Have a Merry Christmas. Hope we can meet up some day before the season. Good Blog keep up the great work.
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Merry Christmas Larry. I am new to your blog, just within this past year. But I truly love reading your stories about chukar, dogs, and the mountains. I look forward to future stories. Phil
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Thanks Phil and Merry Christmas to you. I hope your seasons of chasing dogs and chukars has been as rewarding as mine have. Also, thanks to you guys like those commenting from above for sticking with me for all these years. Hopefully we’ll have several more years to go and wild stories to tell. This site has been second to doing the actual thing for me.
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So sorry to hear about your daughter. I agree with you, being outside, spending time with your dogs in God’s country is good medicine. Someday I will look you up Larry, if I can ever get to the SW side of Idaho. There is a lot of winter in most of chukar country, unfortunately.
Merry Christmas!
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Thank you Hanson. She was the best and is with me where ever I go on the mountain keeping an eye on me and the dogs. Looking forward to meeting you some day. Until this last storm there has been a lot of open southern slopes for the birds but they are all white now. I haven’t been in the Owyhee’s for a few weeks but from what I hear, they may need some help from mother nature. Hopefully the warm weather next week will start creating more open slopes. 49 degrees supposedly around here on the 28th.
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