Christmas Red Letter Day x 2

[Dean Weber]

I have been blessed to be able to travel and hunt a lot of America and Internationally as well. However, the trip I just returned from (in my home state), is likely the best wing-shooting experience I have ever enjoyed. Good friends, nice dog work, and great Parkers highlighted the trip.

The intent was to shoot a trophy prairie chicken (long horn feathers, late season opportunity) and then get on South Dakota quail which are not necessarily widely found in SD.

Turned out, I was able to get 2 true doubles, one on prairie chicken and one on sharptails. This with a gun I had never taken out the house. The male prairie chicken is definitely a trophy.

The 2nd day provided an abundance of good fortune to take limits of Northern Bobs and then turn around and go after our state bird. This all with an amazing gun suited more for quail than pheasants.

I feel so fortunate to be near such a vibrant wild bird population. Merry Christmas to my Parker contingent. I wish you the best for the holiday and the New Year.

The guns are.....
1924 DH 16 gauge with 30" bbls Full/Full
1905 BHE 16 guage with 28" bbls Cyl/Mod

Pics
1 - Sparse SD prairie. Found birds in this thin stuff, hard to get close.
2 - A 2 mile strip of milo.
3&6 - Chicken double
4&5 - Trophy boomer chicken
7 - John & Joel are always ready to partner on these trips. Joel is photographer
8&9 - Parker BHE magic
10 - Bonus pheasants
11&12 - My SD quail limit. My first.

[Richard Whitfield]

Wow, that’s really special. Congratulations on such an incredible hunt!

[Brett Trimble]

Just absolutely superb!

Merry Christmas!!

[Reggie Bishop]

Excellent shooting with some mighty fine Parkers! Merry Christmas Dean!

[Rick Roemer]

Very nice. I would like to hunt prairie chickens someday.

[Dan Steingraber]

Wow, What a day. Truly a once in a lifetime experience. Congratulation's!

[Dean Romig]

Goodness - You had spome fine shooting! Congrats and a Merry Christmas to you!





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[Harold Lee Pickens]

Wow Dean! Where's the snow? Hope it's not too deep when I get there in January.
Didn't know you could get into quail, what a hunt.

[Daryl Corona]

Thanks for sharing Dean. You're truly blessed.

[Garry L Gordon]

A truly amazing hunt — one for the journal. Those wide open spaces really put things in perspective.

[Scott Smith]

Awesome hunt Dean. Thanks for sharing and congrats on that boomer chicken trophy. A Merry Christmas indeed!

[Dean Weber]

Wow Dean! Where's the snow? Hope it's not too deep when I get there in January.
Didn't know you could get into quail, what a hunt.

Harold, Merry Christmas!

Snow West of the Missouri river and South of 90 was non-existent. Was almost 60 the first day with an abnormal wind of 4 MPH! If only, we could put that in a bottle.

2nd day was East of Missouri river and 45 degrees for a high with same low winds. I found some snow deep in the tall bluestem grass and maybe a bit in some ditches, but that was it.

By the time you get here, it will likely be different......;)

As for quail, they are like chickens here in SD. They are not widely distributed through the state but can be found in good quantities in the prime areas. I think you are hunting by Huron which maybe too far East and North. Never know if someone is maintaining good habitat and predator control.

[Stan Hillis]

Stunning! Congrats, Dean.

[William Woods]

What great guns. What a wonderful hunt. I am envious of both. Congratulations.

[Mike Koneski]

Congrats and Merry Christmas Dean! Prairie Chicken, especially a cock worthy to be mounted, is a bucket list bird for me.

[Brett Farley]

Dean, thanks for the pics and tales of the hunt! What a great multi species hunt, especially SD Bobs! We were out there the first week of December and it was bitter cold and windy with 4-5” of snow and some ice. You hit the jackpot on weather too! We still had awesome hunting for roosters, Sharpies and some huns, but had to work at it.

[Ken Frazee]

Fantastic hunt well documented. Enjoyed this post and seeing the SXS's shown.