Cove Mountain Kennels

I just got this text from a client in western Idaho this weekend regarding his Bella/Smoke puppy while I was out hunting with the dogs. We love hearing about our pups from clients.

We love chukar hunting. It is a great challenge for both dog and hunter….and I always love a bonus, unexpected hun that mixes up with a chukar covey. Here are a couple of shots from this season.

This is a nice litter of Brittany puppies that are doing very well. These are well-bred pups with very proven parents (don’t take our word for it as their AKC field trial placements speak for themselve). They have 13 placements between dam and sire. Please read below for more info on parents. Ready for homes between Nov 27-Dec 4. Call or text Nick at 314-954-5424 for more info or to arrange a deposit. Located near Pocatello, Idaho about 2 hours north of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Hungarian Partridge have a few names. I call them “Huns,” which is pretty common among bird hunters. Idaho Fish and Game must somehow take offense to the “Huns” or “Hungarian” part of the name and just call them Gray partridge. You could also call them “flighty.”

Huns like areas near agriculture and do not need very high standing cover to hide in. They are flighty and not easy to nail down on a point if they are in a covey. Singles and smaller groups hold better. Their meat is a mixture between a dark sharp tail grouse and the lighter meat of the forest grouse species. I really like eatingHuns. Also, their plumage is sought after by flyfisherman for tying traditional wet flies, soft hackles flies, and some nymph patterns.

I had a snow day off of work due to a freak October snow storm and was able to sneak out in the evening with Bella. We were targeting Idaho Sharptails, but found these instead. Bella did not disappoint.

Do it as much as possible.

Puppies are due first half of October. Get in on the ground floor. $200 deposit holds a pick. These dogs are hunting and competition dogs. Between them, they have 13 documented AKC hunting field trial placements (9 for sire, 4 for dam).

Pups are located in Inkom, Idaho, about 2 hours from Salt Lake City, SLC, Utah.

SIRE: HIDEAWAY’S WHITE SMOKE (9 AKC field trial placements)- Smoke is an accomplished bird hunter and field trial dog. This is a special stud dog who had proved himself time and again in front of AKC field trial judges. He has 9 official AKC placements to his name and multiple points in both Open and Amateur divisions. Cove Mountain Kennels recently acquired this dog to add to our breeding and hunting program. Smoke started doing well even when he was young. He was the 2013 Western All-Age Futurity 4th place and continued to impress judges throughout his career as a competitor. His was sired directly by NGDC FC/AFC San Dee Blazing Shane. His mother was FC/AFC Hideaway Red’s Bess Bet. However, most importantly, this dog not only has the genetics, but he has proven himself as a stellar competitor and hunter. The more recently in the line that the dogs have been proven through AKC field trial competition or hunt tests the better the chances of producing quality hunting or competition puppies.

DAM: Jeb N Ducks Orange Roughy Rouge – “Rouge” (4 AKC field trial placements)

OFA GOOD

Rouge is a stellar female with a build that we really like out here in the west. She is leggy and fast and has an incredibly hard point, a trait she passes to her pups. She was campaigned on the AKC field trial western circuit for a short period of time and was able to take four placements. She runs a very thorough pattern that is perfect for the foot hunter. She is a sweetheart, loves kids, adults and other dogs….but most of all she loves birds!

Call or text Nick at 314-954-5424 for more info.

For the past several years I have been cooking some game in the field. It is a great way to enjoy a snack or meal and feel like a hardcore caveman at the same time. I have tried a few methods and have found one I like a lot. I use it for grouse, deer, elk, antelope heart or tenderloin, and even some dangerous game on African hunts.

The simplest way to cook is just putting a stick through meat and putting it on a fire. This tends to really dry out the meat, however, so I generally do not do this much. My recommendation is to take some tin foil and a dry marinade mix of your choice. Put the meat in tin foil with the spices on it, wrap it up and put on a small fire with a flame or even just the hot coals. Flip it after a few minutes, then take it out and enjoy. Tin foil and a small baggie of spices weigh next to nothing, but can really make a nice snack in the field.

Bring out your inner caveman (or cavewoman) and cook some meat over a fire in the field. Wipe your greasy hands on your pants, and then keep hunting.

Sporting Classics recently published an article I wrote on an Australian Water buffalo hunt. It was a pretty wild experience. Here are some highlights if you are not a subscriber.