Huns in Saskatchewan?

[Wes Stueber]

Hi guys,

A friend of mine and I are thinking aboutSaskatchewan to hunt Hungarian partridge w/ our dogs this fall. Does anyone know how their populations are roughly at this time? I know they have a lot of snow on the ground now, as long as they don't have a cold, wet spring?

Anyone have a concensus as to what it may be or has been the past few years? Any help would be appreciated, or where to ask? Thank you all.

Wes Stueber

[C.O.B.]

You might check with PGCA member Jack Cronkite as he lives there. He hunts a lot of Pheasant but might have an idea about the Huns. I loved hunting them in Manitoba. If you have never hunted them they are a vey hard bird to kill cleanly.

[C grade]

I think I may want to be COB when I grow up-if I ever do!
David

[Gerald Majors]

The last two years has seen a severe decline in the population. We hunt in Montana and try to go on up into Canada for several days. We have gotten to know a couple of conservation officers up there and last two years we would call them right during the season (mid Oct) and they told us not to waist our time. Warm weather and drought hurt them and at least in Montana most areas were over grazed. 4 years ago you could get up 12-15 coveys everyday and more some days. That's the bad news but the good new is right now things seem to in favor of at least a small rebound. Someone else may have a different take on the situation. I'll be checking with my contacts thru the year so check back with me.
Gerald

[C.O.B.]

David you should come to the Upper Pennisula of Michigan for some Grouse hunting.

[C grade]

Rich
I tried that once-pretty country and great grouse dogs but us Southern Boys like to go through at least a box of shells a day.
David

[C.O.B.]

David as you grow older and thus wiser you'll embrace the difference between hunting and shooting

[Jawjadawg]

I can't speak for Saskatchewan, but I had pretty good success this year finding Huns in the wheat stubble of freshly cut fields in the oil country of N. Dakota. Mid October. Only problems were hunting in 60 degree weather and the freshly cut wheat did a number on my dog's feet. That, and my dog had never seen birds flying over an open field. She lost her mind the first few days, and I nearly followed suit.

I heard about people struggling a bit in Montana who had hunted there at the same time I was next door in ND. Odd how these things work. I hope to return again this year, but who knows if the birds will follow suit?

[Wes Stueber]

Hi guys,
First off, thanks for all of your great comments, I really appreciate it! I've checked w/ a friend who has gone up there the past 24 yrs. now and he said the last 2 yrs. were the worst he has ever seen for Huns. Although he did state that the waterfowl was excellent! He said the cold, snowy winters they could handle, however the drought and cold, spring rains put the hurt on their chicks, he thought?
Hopefully, the weather will get back to normal up there soon. A birdhunter must be an optimist!
Thanks again, and keep the notes coming - they're all good to read and learn from.
Parkers in the field,
Wes

[Bruce Day]

Wes, you are always on our partner list. We've done NoDak and Montana, great birds, great and much loved country for me. When I lived in NoDak, we'd hunt southern Manitoba and Alberta, huge numbers of sharptails and Hungarian partridge, heaven for sure. You'd have to check on spring and summer conditions with fish and game. Very little hunting pressure.