CHUKAR CHALLENGE, Fairbanks rod and gun Club

01/14/24

Every dog event I (Nikki) travel to in the great state of Pennsyltucky, it is always two hours away in any direction. So on this extremely cold winter day I got up at 4:30 AM and started to get ready. I am usually not a morning person except when it comes to dog events. This chukar challenge was Archer’s turn to go. Trying to enter three dogs every single time gets a bit pricey, so we take turns. As I grabbed the Garmin remote and collar the house erupted with barks and howls. When I even touch something from the basket that has all the remotes and e-collars in it everyone thinks it’s time to go to work. I hurried up to start the truck and gather the rest of the items I needed (vest, shotgun, shells, extra gloves, jacket, and water for Archer). By the time I grabbed the dog kennel to put in the back seat I was roasting with all the layers on. I let Arch out and he loaded right up ready to go. Little did I know that there was a snowstorm and shitty roads ahead of me. (Side note I suck at driving in the snow)

As I hit the road Bethany called me and we talked about if spots traveling were plowed yet or not. With the weather conditions it took her five hours to get to Fairbank Rod and Gun Club. Amy was the closest to it so she made it first. As soon as I pulled in I was met by Amy. We headed into the club house and was soon to find Miles (he did not know what he was getting into with us three girls that day). We headed to field three where Pointing Singles were being held to find out how soon I was going to be running. We had about an hour to wait to back to the trucks we headed. It was the windiest day of the year which made the temp feel even colder. Waiting on Bethany, Amy and I sat in my truck bull-shitting and playing our calls together. Soon Bethany arrived and all hell broke loose. The three of us were together again since our NH weekend trip. It was time for me and Arch to run. I had Bethany come along as my shooter. While we waited for the birds to be planted, the judges told us that the wild picked up and was swirling badly. Some of the people that ran right before us did not have good runs due to it. So we headed out to the field and he quartered the whole way down to the other side working against the swirling wind. We started back up the field and still no finds. Archer points further away to begin with and he had a couple points but couldn’t find anything. He slams on point 60 yard from where we started. So I start towards him because there could be a bird planted. I release him and he creeps fastly closer to the start. So Bethany and I come to the conclusion he was picking up the bird box since the birds have been sitting there and the sent is stronger. I get him to turn back and we search some more. We head back and he starts in circles and side to side. I felt so bad he was so confused on where the scent was coming from and blowing to. We ended our run with no bird finds.

Amy and Miles were up next in the first field for Pointing Doubles. They were running Jack and Logan two old boys. Bethany was up after that for Pointing Singles with Boone. While she ran Amy and I headed back to the clubhouse to find Jerry and get her and Trigger signed up for Pointing Puppy. She got signed up and headed to the puppy field. I waited for Bethany. Bethany, Miles, and I ate some lunch and then headed up to see Amy. As we got up there, we waited for Amy’s turn. As we waited somehow, we ended up throwing items from Miles’ truck and Amy’s truck. it started with gummy nerds, then shot gun shells, and finally DEAD CHUKARS. At one point a chukar came from the sky through the moon roof. After they ran, we headed back up to the clubhouse to await the announcement of the winners for each field and each fields dog of the day. We ran the dogs and let them stretch their legs. At one point Archer brings me a dead chukar. He stole it off of someone’s tailgate. None of us took any places, but Miles and Amy got bird dog of the day for field one Pointing Doubles. It was a blast hanging out with my best friends and meeting Mr. Miles. These are the moments I look forward to and hold onto to. I love running my dogs, but running my dogs with my best friends dogs is incredible. Everyone works so well together. I always joke about Boone’s crazy shorthair friends (Boone is incredibly calm and polite) I am convinced Trigger is a shorthair in a setter’s body. On to the next chukar challenge in February and then Spring training.

NIKKI