Exclusively wild birds - No canned hunts!

"Hunts Calendar for 2006 - 2007"

1/29 - 1/31/2007 - Only 1 soul brave enough to get out in these conditions. It was 0-5 degrees each morning but we had some good hunting. Got all of our pheasants and decided to use up our turkey tags that were about to expire. We shot 3 Rio Grande gobblers. One was the biggest Rio I have ever gotten. I never bother weighing them but he had some big ole limb hangers (spurs for those not familiar with the term). It was a great outing. Would have been even better if I could have hit the broad side of a barn. It was a great bird season and now we're looking forward to Spring turkey huntin!

1/21 - 1/22/2007 - 1 hunter brought home 8 pheasants (limit both days) and 1 prairie chicken and 1 Rio Grande gobbler. Great conditions. We had 7 inches of snow the previous afternoon through the overnight hours. The birds were buried under the snow and we shot birds over point all day in the switch grass and over grown wheat stubble. It slowed their running down a lot. The second day they were out from under the snow and we got them in thickets and milo fields. I wish I could have stayed a couple extra days and enjoyed the perfect late season conditions.

1/14 - 1/15/2007 - 1 hunter shot 6 pheasants. It was cold, miserably cold. Zero degrees both mornings. We didn't even bother hunting until mid morning. That probably kept him from getting his limits both days (1 bird short each day) but it saved getting frostbite too.

12/29/06 - Pulled out of Kansas and went quail hunting in Central Missouri. Hunted until mid afternoon and moved 12 coveys, several had over 30 birds in them. It was a classic day. Way too warm, 65 degrees when I got in the truck after sunset, but good moisture and scenting conditions. Nearly all the coveys held for us to get set up for the rise and push them the way we wanted them. Thanks Dan for your hospitality. You're a first class farm boy and a model for quail habitat people to follow. Ten coveys within a 100 acre area is beyond great in anybody's book. A good time was had by all but none of us will brag about our shooting. We shot probably less than 30% combined knocking down around 40 birds and picking up 27. Tried out my buddy's 28 gauge Silver Pigeon. Great gun but not enough gun for me. I'm just not that quick a shot anymore. I knocked down over a dozen birds and picked up about a half a dozen. Gonna have to stick with my old 20 gauge side by side. I hit about 75% with it. I need to learn to stick with what works for me and quit screwing around trying out other guns. I'd guess we'll probably be doing this hunt again next year, especially since Dan is adding 300 more acres to the quail program. The state says 50 coveys is 2/3rds of what 300 acres in the program can produce! 2/3rds! That's a potential of 75+ coveys on 300 acres! By what I've seen of the first year, you're well on your way! I know one thing for sure, this guy will always have my best bird dog in his kennel.

12/28/06 -  3 hunters shot 1 rooster and it was the only shot fired all day. I guess after the banner year we've had I was due for a day like this. Mark, Logan and Merriam were troopers though. They hung in there all day with not a complaint. A free day for you guys next year. We made up for it the next day though.

12/27/06 - 1 hunter shot 1 limit of 4 pheasants. Rough conditions though. It was warm for this time of year (although I guess it always is now - thanks to global warming). Birds were flying out way ahead and not holding for points.

12/21/06 - First day of dry weather after I don't know how much rain. Everything was muddy and tough to hunt but scenting conditions were phenomenal. Afternoon quail hunt produced 16 birds for 2 guys. 2 limits. Tremendous shooting and didn't lose a single cripple.

12/2/2006 - 12/3/2006 - Two guys shot 5 roosters, 2 prairie chickens, 4 quail. Worst hunt of the year. It was hot, dry and plain crappy. We all missed a bunch of birds that should have been got too. I think I shot the worst of anybody, a new over under and I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. Sold that piece of junk immediately.

11/28/06 - 2 guys 6 roosters, 5 quail and 1 duck - making great friends and terrific memories for 2006

11/20/06 - Afternoon quail hunt in Central Missouri. Moved 7 coveys in just a few hours time and picked up 13 birds and lost about a half dozen cripples (we weren't shooting the best and the cover was thick) Pretty warm conditions for this time of year.

11/14 /06 - 11/15/06 - 2 guys shot 2 limits of pheasants (both days) 6 quail, 13 ducks (11 mallards, 1 green wing teal and 1 widgeon).  1 coyote at 60 mph across a wheat stubble field at 15 yards out the driver side window while the passenger, Alex of AB Joint Outfitters was steering from the passenger side! He'd already missed his 2 shots. Welcome to Kansas Alex! I think Alex has a new appreciation for big open fields and new Chevy trucks! Alex also got introduced to Kansas pothole duck hunting. Eight of the 11 mallards were shot in less than 5 seconds off 1 pothole with 5 shots. Tiggy and Misty were pretty proud of their 8 retrieves in under 2 minutes.

Pictured above is our rig. The box holds 9 - 10 dogs and is a low profile. We chose it because we get a little crazy sometimes (depending on the clientle of course) and it stays in the truck good at high speeds and doesn't throw dogs around. On the left and right are the shorthairs and in the middle ride the pointers. We run 6 dog Tri Tronics collars so all I have to do is hop out, open whichever type dogs door I want for a certain field and we're on our way. The labs ride in a box in the crew cab behind the driver for those times when a quick retrieve is needed. The truck is an '03 1500 HD. The last year that Chevy put out the Auto-Trac transfer case in the HD models. With 6.0 engine, K&N air flow system, power programmer and oversize tires it can flat get with it. It also has heated seats for those bitter cold days. Even though I'm a Chevy truck man, I think I'll have to choose a different truck when I change over. If you own a Chevy, watch out for corn or milo stalks puncturing the rubber boots on the steering linkages. It's a darn shame they have them built like that. Obviously we're geared to run and gun but if that's not your style, not to worry, we roll first class too. Lodging at a B&B that is so nice it is quite out of place in central Kansas and our guide dogs are top notch for gentleman's hunting. Dinner can be fine dining or country cooking, whichever you prefer.

11/04/06 - 11/05/06 - Opening weekend of pheasants in Kansas. 3 guys produced 3 limits of pheasants (both days) and over 20 ducks (mallards, gadwalls and teal) Pictured below is Alex Beasley of AB Joint Outfitters out of Texas with his limit of pheasants first thing opening morning with us. Alex has been up here for 2 weeks as of the middle of November and can now officially be called a Pheasant Junkie! Unlike a lot of people, this guy can shoot too, so it makes filling his limits a lot easier. I've lost track but I think Alex has been out 10 days already and he's got his limit everyday. My hat's off to you Alex. You make for a fun hunt!

10/28/06 - 10/29/06  - Opening quail in Texas with 2 guys moved 20+ coveys per day and shot 2 limits of quail both days.

 

SHADY MEADOWS GUNDOGS
SHAWN EISENHAUER
RR 1 BOX 51
HUME, MISSOURI 64752
(660)832-4233
(913)209-9647