Fall 2024 Upland Redemption: Destination One

On our way to what will be our home for the next three months, I wanted to hunt somewhere that wasn’t too far out of the way, had a low possibility of rattlers, and had a chance of us returning to. And while I am dying to hunt Montana, it is too far to go and backtrack in a day and a half when I start the new job. So, I set my GPS to the Sand Hills of northern Nebraska. We arrived late afternoon because I had stopped about 5 places looking for ammunition and I got the girls out for a run. Still not certain if I needed non-toxic shot and not being able to find any, I didn’t buy a license either. So, I set the girls loose for a fun run to stretch their legs in the sandhill prairies.

They had a blast. We weren’t out for very long because it was very warm and we were losing daylight. No birds, though I didn’t expect any because we ran a recently grazed area and were fairly close to the road. We settled in for a good night’s rest.

Following a gorgeous Sand Hills sunrise, I looked for a new spot to run the girls. They worked great and we put up a nice covey of something, I do not know if they were Prairie Chickens or Sharpies. We were working the wind wrong and they flushed quite a ways off, so the girls didn’t get to scent them until afterward, but it sparked their drive and they worked hard to find more. It warmed up quickly and I needed to get back on the road for the final destination–South Dakota.

Ouch

Prairies

The National Grasslands

We arrived late afternoon, received a facility tour, and settled into our spot. This will be a little rough on the girls for a bit. They’ll adjust, but something I did not anticipate working at an upland hunting lodge, is that there would be birds right here at the lodge. And I don’t mean a few birds here and there, I mean dozens of wild pheasant right here in camp! So walking the girls around the employee area of the grounds was not fun. They are on point the whole time. I won’t be able to hunt here, since I am a nonresident and I’m not buying a 10-day license every 11 days! I will be getting a reservation license for the closest Reservation land, though. Hopefully, we will find some Sharpies and Prairie Chickens there. I am hoping I’ll be able to get to that reservation land after work, but at least on my days off. And Montana and Wyoming is on the radar as soon as I can figure that out.

So, we are here, on the prairies. As far as the eye can see an ocean of grassland with ditch chickens everywhere. I hope you enjoyed the photos and clips. There will be lots more to come on the YouTube channel.

I’m out the door for my first day of work here. Talk to you soon. I hope you are hunting your bird dogs! What we won’t do to get them on birds, eh?

Love, M.