Spent another blessed day in the field with good company, my hunting partner and lots of arrows in the air. We walked away with three pheasants and 4 Chuckar. Great day. Love chasing birds with trad gear. Truly as raw and primal as it gets. Now how in the heck do I post photos?
That's awesome! Wish i was there. I've been trying for three years I think to do that hunt but it got snowed out. Forgot about it this year andit didn't get ssnowed out. Just my luck! Hopefully somebody posts some pictures
It was a "Big Time" for sure.
BT
Will get pictures loaded tonight.
The hunt started out as most hunts do, a wake up well before the sun was to come up. Bows in the truck, coffee in a cup and out the door, on the way to pick up bullcalf (J.D.). Crazy to be that excited about hunting small game but I was jazzed!
After an hours drive north, we arrived at the Valhalla Hunt Club. On the road just before the clubhouse, we spotted pheasants and chuckars along the side of the road. It is obvious that the dog was ready, he was sitting on top of the hill looking to spot some birds!
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Me and bullcalf met up with Marv Clyncke at the clubhouse, as he would be our hunt coordinator. Marv informed us that there would only be one flight of hunters for this year, a morning flight of 7 hunters (that count includes me and bullcalf). Usually there are two flights, a morning and afternoon that consists of at least 7 or 8 in each group. So obviously the numbers were down this year. After all of us had arrived and strung bows, we shot s few aerials for warm up. Thankfully the wind had died down at the hunt property from how strong it was at home or else our arrows would have been all over the place. Marv was the main photographer for this hunt, wish I had some of his to post so I will try and show what I took.
Hopefully BigTimber (Jack) and bullcalf (J.D.) will join in here. Not a real Colorado back country adventure as most would like to see but right now we have record amounts of snow in the mountains so the plains are much more inviting!
I will say up front that these are raised and released birds, not all wild birds (though they are around too), but still tough targets with a bow. The record for a whole days hunt up til this point was 5 birds if that lends any incite into how difficult it can be.
And with the practice in and bellies filled with some of the best homemade donuts I have ever ate, we were off!
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What a fantastic time with a great group of men. All sharing a special passion. As we spend time through the day admiring each others bows, I made the comment on one "what a beautiful bow." Marv replied, "They're all beautiful. When was the last time you heard some compound folks say, "wow, what beautiful wheels you have there." Ha, ha! What a perfect retort!
How the heck do I post photos?
That was one I missed for sure. That dang WORK nonsense always seems to get in the way of the things I really enjoy? Did Ben from Loveland show up? I don't think he's a member here. He sent me a text about going and was all excited about making the trip. Maybe next year for us. We did attend the banquet though, got to chat with Mike and catch up with some friends.
I'm glad I finally got involved with the Colorado Traditional Archers Society. The Pheasant hunt was a Hoot. Great bunch of guys, great dogs and a super guide. The Banquet was excellent also. Mike Mitten is a Stud.
What I remember most about the Pheasant Hunt was Bullcalf double lunging the first Rooster that got up. I believe Bullcalf also put a Texas Heart Shot on a Hen later on. I witnessed some fine shooting during the hunt.
I came close to a couple of birds but didn't make meat on this hunt. I recall shooting at one Chucker who zagged (that's the story anyway) as I released and I think I missed him by at least 10 feet. It was a humbling experience.
I'm looking forward to the High Country Shoot. Hope I can make it.
BigTimber
I missed the pheasant hunt this year, always fun. We did have a good banquet though and the High Country Shoot will be awesome as always.
I'm going to have to pay more attention to my schedule next year and take Friday off to hunt pheasants. This sounds like a ton of winter fun.
homebru
Sorry about the delay, should be farther along by now. We crossed the creek bed and started up thru the middle of the trees in the bottom. Soon enough we were on the first bird.
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bullcalf was the first to strike, hitting the first rooster to come up. The rooster continued for about 100 yards thru the air before going down. Reba (one of the pointers working in front of us and a great bird dog) tracked down the rooster and brought him back. What a way to start off the day, first bird in the was also the first on the ground! I would not have bet on that happening!
As we continued on thru the bottom, more birds were found and kicked up. So close and yet so far on most. Another member of the group brought down a hen pheasant from the air, two birds down on our first sweep! More birds continued to be found, more arrows in the air. It was getting western for sure! On one hen, i watched as my arrow skipped off her back.....what a rush and let down all in one!
As we moved along, it was nice to meet one another or old friends catching up.
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Soon enough, dead eye bullcalf was able to bring his second rooster of the day to bear. The bird was able to travel about 150 yards before landing. We marked the location and were able to find the bird along a steep bank along the creek bed.
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After the second rooster and third pheasant of the day, we had a dry spell. we made a loop to the south following the creek bed (coming across the 3D range and flinging a few) we circled around to the east and then north, arriving at the north end of the boundary. Shots were few and far between and few birds spotted outside the treed bottom. We then headed west and arrived at the north end of the creek bed for our first sweep in this area and kick out the plum thickets.
By this time, more focus was being had on conversation than on the sky and the dogs. No surprise as we all watched as a chuckar flew over our heads and landed behind us in the sand of the creek bed. One of the other members and I looked at each other and decided to give it a shot and try to track down the bird. We marked where the chuckar moved off into the thicket and started our sneak in. Let me just say that I am bad with names so sorry for not remembering everyone's name! I spotted the bird hunkered up under a big cottonwood limb. By this time, we all agreed that ground pounding birds was readily acceptable. My first shot was just over the back of the bird, sticking in the dirt with a flu flu feather laying on its back. My second shot slammed the chuckar in the head. A shot I am quite proud of (and the only shot I was to make on a chuckar as well three years earlier). Notice how well I was able to get a good picture of my tradgang hat and sweater.
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That looks like you all had a great time! Beautiful dog, also! I'm astonished that in Colorado you guys have great weather and cover, and in Philadelphia there' are 10 foot mound of snows in my street!
We continued south along the creek, finding a couple more pheasants but nothing more than a few floating feathers to show for our effort. A draw ran along the ridge behind where we parked the trucks and Les (our guide) said we should give it a shot. Unfortunately, Yeager (a pointer, pronounced like the booze) was too enthusiastic and got too far ahead of us and flushed a covey of about a dozen pheasants up outside of bow range. We all tried some long shots,and while fun,was made in vain. Our group made a swing around the hillside and worked back up to the trucks. The guide said we had a few more minutes before lunch and I asked if I could make one more short sweep up the trees with Yeager. The guide gave me the thumbs up and I was joined by bullcalf and another member. Turned out to be a good decision.
jebeckjr, we lucked out this year with the weather. The last two years we have been snowed out. The sunshine, dry weather and winds usually make short work of snow on the plains. Go a couple hours west of where we were hunting and you will find enough snow to match yours!
We began our sweep up the trees, Yeager was quick to go on point. We were able to spot two chuckars out in front of him. My first shot was high and the bird flushed, only going a short ways to the north. My second shot at the second bird was also high missing its mark (notice a pattern?). bull calf was on and brought the bird to bear. Yeager began working north and we followed suit. Bull calf headed back to the truck and me and the other gentleman moved towards Yeager. Again, we spotted two more chuckars. I had the angle and my first arrow met it's mark and rolled up the first bird. I offered my angle for the other hunter to take a shot at the second bird but he stated for me to go ahead and take the shot. My next shot, again, was high. My second shot found it's mark and my third chuckar of the day was in the bag! Yeagar had headed back to the truck and we followed, ready for for supper (lunch).
We took a few photos to remember the day. We bested the old hunt record of five birds by two birds in only a half day hunt, quite the accomplishment and end to a great hunt.
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After another awesome meal of smoked beef brisket, pheasant salad, and other goodies, we said our goodbyes and were on our way. We then picked up some supplies on the way home to prepare for our upcoming hog hunt.....
If anyone who reads this ever gets a chance to participate in a hunt like this,I would greatly encourage you to go. These are pure fun, low stress hunt and a great way to spend the day. I hope I did a good job explaining my side of the hunt and have entertained you with our story. Good luck to all and God Bless!
Like the way I was always able to cover up my TG gear in all the photos?! Sometimes, I impress even myself with my brilliance and attention to detail.
Thanks for the pictures and the story Sheephunter.
BigTimber
GHreat story and pics. I envy you with no snow we haven't seen the ground in months.
Charlie, you have some skills at story telling, I was there and I still enjoyed going along for the ride. Thanks!
Thanks guys, happy to share! Heading off for a pig hunt at the end of the week and I have Hope with me, this could be great! Hope to share another great story.
Kevin,
It was your hunt too and you should tell your side as well. Come on!
Great stuff Charlie! What a thrill it must be to hunt with Marv :notworthy:
Pretty country to hunt, and hardly any snow.....I'm envious..
Thanks Curt, glad you liked it . The hunt is always a blast. It is definitely cool to hunt with one of the legendary peers that you admire so much, but Marv is very nice and down to earth and easy to get along with. Just a good ol CO country boy.
We do get our nice days with the weather but the snow and wind can raise heck. The wind knocked my camper over so it can be worse than the snow!
There's no question it was a great day. I've been involved in a number of "shoots" through the years and never have enjoyed one more than the CTAS annual pheasant hunt. Marv Clyncke, my friend and mentor since I was a kid, is always the perfect host and genuinely relishes the opportunity to engineer another Trad get together. My partner, Sheephunter, and I are prepping for our Texas pig roundup later this week. Marv had Duke and I've got Charley. It's great to have a hunting partner who enjoys God's creations regardless of how much blood is spilt. Just taking my bow for a walk with a good friend does more to relieve stress than most anything I know. That and a good horse between my knees.
God bless, all. Let's have a great turnout next year and be sure to let Marv know how much we appreciate all he's done to facilitate this gathering every year.