South Dakota Hunt

Hi everyone

Well we made it back from South Dakota and Ike's second hunt. We took a few more days and did some hunting at a new location Ringneck Retreat - The Tschetter Family - and a more hospitable group you just won't find. Ike held his own there but we didn't hunt him too hard those days as we weren't sure how hard we would have to use him the last two days at Winegar Farms in Wessington Springs. But hunt he did - I have a few pics but wanted to share a couple stories. First day at Ringneck, Ike is working really hard in the cattails and I can't seem to get him out of there and low and behold he comes popping out SKUNKED!!! Right in the face - and man did he stink.... Well, Darik the owner of the lodge had a concoction that took care of it Baking Soda, Peroxide and a little Dawn Dish Soap... It really worked on him - not so good on the collars... But that didn't stop him.. he kept on hunting...

The last day there was a classic point - he was working CRP grass and quartering into the wind just like he (and I) knew what we were doing and he locked up on a hard point just like the pictures show. Ike 1 pheasants 0..

At Winegar Farmson Sunday Ike was hunting on almost every push but kept getting stronger and stronger on each one. We were going on the downwind side of a shelter belt and some thigh high grass when he got really birdy and BAM he locked up on a bird - Uncle Ken and I got that one- then a few minutes later he got birdy again in the fence line. Locked up and I flushed that one and he turned towards me and locked up on another one. - Got em both so Ike and I limited out in one pass. But that just made up for the day before - I only got one then so it all evens out..

Can't tell you how proud I was of Ike - He may be small but he has no quit in him... but let's just say he is sleeping quite soundly since his arrival home... Can't wait for the next time to say, "Ike, find that bird!"