Early Season Reflections: Birds, Dogs, and the Wide-Open Prairie

Hitting the Prairie Again
I was fortunate enough to spend most of September out west, and there’s just something special about those early-season hunts. After months of being cooped up, both the dogs and I were itching to get back into the field. There’s an energy that comes with that first trip of the year—the anticipation, the crisp mornings, and the sight of endless prairie grass waving in the wind.
This season, bird numbers seemed a little lower than in past years. Don’t get me wrong—we still found birds and had some great days with full limits—but there were also days when I never pulled the trigger. In the area I was hunting, the grain harvest hadn’t yet taken place, and I suspect those standing crops provided plenty of food and daytime cover. I’ll be heading back later this month, so we’ll see if that theory holds once the combines have rolled through.

Rose & Koko out on the prairie

The Dogs: Rose and Koko in Top Form
​We focused mainly on sharptailed grouse and Hungarian partridge, with a few prairie chickens mixed in. The dogs worked beautifully.
Rose, as always, was a bird-finding freak. She covers the prairie with effortless speed and grace, and when there are birds around, she somehow knows exactly how to zero in on them. Watching her on the open prairie is a sight that never gets old.
Koko also impressed. Her closer range makes her an excellent “backer” to Rose, and she’s really come into her own this season. Rose isn’t perfect—no dog is—and when she misses birds, Koko’s right there to pick up the slack. She’s also learned to work different ground from Rose, which has turned into a real win-win for me.

Rose and Koko after a good days hunt with sharptailed grouse and a Hungarian partridge.

Hunting with Friends: Sundance GSPs
One of the highlights of the trip was spending time with Fred from Sundance GSPs and watching his dogs work. Isaac stood out—last year I saw him as a young pup, and now he’s filled out and matured into a serious bird dog. Definitely one to watch!
And of course, Lina will always be one of my favorites. She’s eleven now, but you’d never know it by watching her. I still remember my daughter dressing her up in scarves and costume jewelry when she was a pup at our house—those memories make seeing her in the field even sweeter. Lina’s still a bird-finding machine; keep your eye on her long enough, and she’ll be locked on point before you know it.

Watching the Next Generation Work
I also had the chance to watch Ridge—the sire from our “A” litter—stretch his legs on the prairie. Back east, Ridge is a woodcock-finding machine, so seeing him adjust to open country was a real treat.
Evan’s other dogs, Zuri and Bailey, were equally fun to watch. One day I limited out early and tagged along with Evan just to see his crew work the rolling terrain. Zuri’s got a motor, and I like it.

Evan Roberts with his dogs, Ridge and Zuri along with some sharptailed grouse and a prairie chicken.

​Looking Ahead: Pheasants, Ducks, and Future Plans
In another week or so, I’ll be heading back out west for round two—this time to chase pheasants and ducks. I’m also looking forward to hunting over a few different dogs, which always gets my gears turning about future breedings and pairings for Vanguard Gun Dogs.
Until then, I’ll be daydreaming about the prairie, the dogs, and the next covey rise.

— Jeff Tucker
Vanguard Gun Dogs | Proven on the prairie