January 18, 2002

Here in the south central region of Oregon we don’t have many pheasants. The reason of course is a lack of survivable habitat. There is a local organization that raises money and purchases pheasants for release in the Oregon side of the Klamath Basin. If it were not for them there would be no rooster hunting at all. However, competition for those few birds is pretty intense.

For Chukars the same applies only worse. A two-bird bag limit on a few dozen released birds doesn’t provide much time to get a good bird dog warmed up. Quail are even worse.

So how does one get, and keep, a good birddog trained and in shape for when the master has a chance at some great wild bird hunting?

The solution is to visit a game preserve where birds can be planted and the dog and the situation can be controlled.

I have found a good friend and co-conspirator in Bert Holzhauser and his Rising Sun Hunt Preserve.

His birds are always strong and fly hard whether they are ringnecks, chukars or Hungarian partridge.

His land base is large enough and the wildlife cover is diverse enough to provide a variety that will help develop any dog into a great hunting companion.

In the event that you do not own a dog Burt’s English pointers or black labs are excellent dogs to hunt over. Bird hunting is nothing without a good dog and his "staff" includes some of the best.

I wouldn’t think of starting our upland bird season without exercising "Pokey the Frog Dog" for a day or two at the Rising Sun. After a morning working birds in a controlled environment Pokey, my German shorthaired pointer, hits the field on opening day with both of us confident of his abilities.

When the regular state season is over and the blood still demands a day afield there is always Burt’s place. And so we ease off of our addiction by tapering down with a final bird from the Rising Sun Hunt Preserve.

Jack Elbert,

Editor Oregon Bowhunter Magazine

Outdoor Columnist Klamath Falls Herald & News

Member Outdoor Writer’s Association of America