Utah has a great opportunity for youth hunters in that they have special “early” hunts for them.  They have an early hunt for ducks and geese and also an early hunt for pheasants.  They even go out and plant a few birds in special locations ahead of time so the youth and their parents know there are at least a few birds there for them to “find”.

Today was the opening day of a 3 day event for youth to participate in a pheasant hunt.  Ring neck pheasants are cool looking birds and they are fun to hunt….especially if you have a dog.  Dogs can find them and with the right dog you can watch the dog “work” a patch of grass, weeds, toolies etc. and when the dog goes on “point” you can walk up to the dog and signal it to jump the bird….a way fun and cool way to hunt pheasants.  The dog jumps forward and the bird flushes up and out of the brush.  The hunter then takes aim and drops the bird….well sometimes.

As a young hunter I remember doing this every year down on the farm.  It was a blast to say the least.  But then along came Interstate 15, highway 315 and suddenly all those memories are just that….memories.

This morning I got a call from the Weasel, asking if I would like to join him and Conner and Kenzie on  the youth pheasant hunt.  I had other plans and declined the offer.  Two hours later, they pulled up and wanted to share their experience with me and Bob.

How about that!  Conner got two pheasants in that short period of time!

As they pulled up to the Wildlife Management Unit they went to close to home, the folks that had been hunting were all pulling out.  Some had birds, others did not.  And so Weasel, Conner and Kenzie went out in hopes of finding a bird or two.  The limit is two.  They had been stomping the bushes for about an hour when Kenzie said to Conner…..”Look there!  There is a pheasant under that bush!”  Sure enough there was a pheasant under that bush and not only a pheasant, but a male pheasant!  One they were hunting for!  Conner proceeded to shoot it….and did so with ease!

With one bird under his cap, Kenzie promptly spotted another one trying to get away….She alerted Conner, who casually shot it as well….LIMIT!

They were back home 1 1/2 hours after leaving home!

And so, there you have a successful hunt story from Utah….But wait!  Without a dog nobody usually gets to shoot a pheasant!  Pheasants run fast, hide very well and will not jump to flush without a good dog!

SO!  Introduce the dog of the day!  KENZIE!  She is the one that spotted both birds!  And here she is!

Tongue out and all!  She pointed out the birds!

Bears Butt

October 11, 2014