Game Bird Farm
(Work-in-progress)
In 2011 I started working on the interior
of the barn I plan to use. The brooder area was completed and livestock based electrical wiring
was installed
using ground fault circuits, outdoor rated wire and outlets installed far up the walls. I hired a pro to do it and
everything passed inspection the first time.
In 2012 350 yards of clay were hauled in and the flight pen
area was raised in places by as much as ten feet
and then left to settle until 2014.
In 2013 both barns needed new roofs due to storms of the previous summer and got replaced in the fall. The old materials
were saved and will be used on the flight pen.
2014 - 2017 the pen will go up over the summer months and the interior
finishing will continue once the pen materials have been removed.
The plan is to have a game bird operation. It's really just a hobby that compliments my hunting and outdoor
life
but I hope it pays for itself and provides years of enjoyment.
I'll be raising
chukar grouse to be used for training hunting dogs. The birds will be sold to trainers and to the public in general.
It's
a five year project with the barn construction being completed first, followed by the flight pen. Next I'll raise
a small batch of birds to
test the facility and also to help figure out what needs improvement. The DNR has given me
the go-ahead, should be fun!
2010
Ground Breaking was
March 6th 2010
2011
Work on the interior
is underway
2012
Leveling
the pen area is in progress this spring
The steep drop off
by the pond needed roughly 10,000 rocks to ensure it would hold up and
after all the rain this spring I'm so glad
I got it done right away, it's held up well.
A couple of local farmers donated the rocks from rock piles they
had and hauled them over to my
place with the use of their tractors and dump trucks. My back thanks them!
In the mean while, lumber for the
outside pen keeps piling up...............
2015 - Flight
Pen Construction has begun.....May 16th 2015, the rest of the poles go up and then, the real work begins.....
I've been struggling with these as the never ending rainstorms (12.3 inches
since May 1st) keep filling up the holes.
I've had to continuously pump them
out until I have time to erect the poles. Almost half done now (July 15th)
FINALLY got the rest of the
poles up on Labor Day weekend 2016.
I injured my right arm
rotary cuff (again) back in May and it took nearly 3 months to recover or
at
least recover enough to use it hard.
September 2017. The right shoulder required major surgery and months of therapy which is
still on-going.
After 10 months of therapy I was able to continue construction,
good thing I'm not in a hurry!
Chuckar Grouse
Using Chukars For Dog Training
Chukars are very explosive when flushed and are
not nasty to handle like rooster pheasants, making them safer to use around young dogs.
Chukars are also easier to plant
than pheasants, and there is a better chance that they will still be there when you bring the dog up.
To plant
a chukar, hold the bird in your hand, belly up, holding his wings firmly against his body. Pull on his feet to stretch his
legs straight out behind him
for about 30 seconds or so. When the chukar seems to be dazed or in a trance, gently place
him down in the cover with his head underneath of his body,
and move away. Most wake up after about a minute or so and
stay where they are placed for a while. This generally allows for more than enough time
to hunt the dog into the area.
Usually the chukar will flush hard in the direction that he was facing when you put him down. As a rule try to place him into
the wind as the dog will be approaching from downwind.
When planting the bird make sure your dog isn't
watching or can't see you. Have someone keep his attention or keep him in the kennel. Walk in
with your dog from
downwind of where the bird was planted and let the dog pick up the scent. Knowing where the bird is and the general
direction
it will be flushing will give you the edge you need to down the bird and properly train your dog.
Save the dead
ones that aren't torn up too bad in a plastic bag in the freezer for training another day.
Below is a
link to the Minnesota DNR web site and the application for the permit needed to train dogs on DNR administered lands and private
property with and without live birds (there are some date restrictions that must be complied with on DNR lands)
Minnesota DNR Dog Training Permit.
Requirements:
Dog Training on DNR Administered Lands
(NOT involving
the use of live ammunition or the taking of birds)
1. Valid during the period April 16 through July, 14, only
on land administered by the DNR.
2. May only carry firearm with blank cartridges and shells on person
during closed season for any game bird.
3. Permittee must comply with all applicable ordinances and zoning laws. Local
ordinances may restrict the discharge of firearms and allowing dogs to run off lead.
Dog Training
(using live ammunition and/or taking domestic or banded game farm birds)
Individual Permit
1. Domesticated
birds, other than pigeons, and game farm birds must be marked in a manner that makes them visually identifiable prior to being
taken, by either marking with dye, or with a streamer attached to the leg. A band alone does not constitute sufficient visual
identification of game farm birds.
2. Permittee must comply with all applicable ordinances and zoning laws. Local ordinances
may restrict the discharge of firearms and allowing dogs to run off lead.
3. This permit does not allow the taking of
wild birds.
Dog Training Field Trials (using live ammunition or taking of birds)
May only
be issued to an Organization
1. Domesticated birds, other than pigeons, and game farm birds must be marked
in a manner that makes them visually identifiable prior to being taken, by either marking with dye, or with a streamer attached
to the leg. A band alone does not constitute sufficient visual identification of game farm birds.
2. Permittee must
comply with all applicable ordinances and zoning laws. Local ordinances may restrict the discharge of firearms and allowing
dogs to run off lead.
3. This permit does not allow the taking of wild birds.
4. The Commissioner may limit the
number of dates approved.
How To Design A Company Logo
Take a great picture, come up with a name and design and know someone (a friend) that can put it all together.
Worked for me! 150 decals have now been delivered.
(The website name Gun-Dog-Game-Birds.com has been
registered in my name and is currently under construction, it currently links to this web site)
