Hello!  I am Andrew!

 

Hunting is something I have always had interest in despite growing up in a family that strictly got all of their meat from the grocery store. Neither of my parents or immediate family knew the first thing about hunting, fishing, or really any form of outdoor recreation related to wild life.  As I grew older and developed closer friendships with several different people my knowledge of the outdoors began to grow and I slowly became more and more integrated in the natural environment that surrounded my urban upbringings.  I started going on small camping trips with friends and learned to fish for trout in the rivers and streams of northern New Mexico.  These camp/fishing trips excited and stimulated me and always left me in a state of anticipation for the next outing. I began going on solo fishing trips that were really meditative and allowed me to decompress and reflect on life, always leaving with a feeling of contentment no matter how many fish were caught. 

 

After I graduated high school and grew into early adulthood the friends I had been making had been steering me further into outdoor recreation.  I started going on long distance hikes, summiting local mountains, and toying with the idea of getting into big game hunting.  One day one of my good  friends asked me to put in for archery elk with him and all of his close friends and family. Low and behold the only person to draw a tag that year happened to be me… the only one of the group who had never elk hunted, let alone shot a bow.  Regardless of having zero big game hunting experience, and never even holding a bow, I was committed and ready to give this opportunity everything I had.  In short order I bought a good used bow and began frequenting the local archery range.  Through the archery range I was immediately absorbed into an amazing community of bow hunters that took me under their wing and helped me become the best I could be.  I joined a shooting league, and began working on my aim.  During the months that turned into weeks leading to my hunting window I started scouting.  Every weekend for two months leading to that first hunt I was exploring the depths of the Gila National Forest in pursuit of elk. These solo scouting trips were pivotal in the development of my love for the outdoors and the pursuit of wild game.  Opening day was finally here, and after weeks of honing in on the local bulls I found myself in the earliest hours of dawn hiking into where i suspected id run into the elk i had been scouting. I must have done something right because just after legal shooting hours 2 bulls and a cow began making a straight line right towards me.  At this point in my hunting career this was actually the closest I'd ever come to a bull elk. One was a spike that had walked right past me, less than 15 yards, the other was an impressive bull that parked broadside not 20 yards right in front of me.  Regardless of the perfect opportunity i had right in front of me… I never let an arrow fly that day. I couldn't help but just stand in astonishment of getting that close. For me that was a successful hunt.

 

Fast forward about a year, and the man that I now consider my brother invites me on my first gambels quail hunt. The three of us set off on what was the beginning of a new adventure that now consumes every bit of my soul.  I had always loved dogs and grown up with several through the years, but this was my first experience being around a pointing dog. And a great one at that. The first time I saw that dog on point, followed by a covey rise, I was hooked. That experience far exceeded any other wild game encounter I've ever had and at that point I knew upland hunting was for me.   Luck would have it that in my early years I was actually hunting behind my oldest dog Jas’ mother, Dani.  I began tagging along every hunt I could just to get another opportunity at watching this dog find birds. I couldn't get enough. The holiday season following my first year quail hunting I had the pleasure of getting to go on a New Mexico Desert quail hunt with the owners of Perfection Kennels. I was allowed the opportunity to hunt behind the best bird dogs in the country that weekend. Ill never forget hearing Jons tracker go off and him saying “Charlies on point some 200-300 yards off”. It took us a while working through the rough desert terrain to get to Charlie and when we did he was standing perfectly still. Pretty as a picture.  As I walked up past him I couldn't believe what I saw.  One of the biggest covey rises of my life, And I was lucky enough to be able to take one for him. Those early moments watching these dogs work changed my life in all of the best ways possible.

 

A couple weeks after my holiday hunt in New Mexico with my good friends at Perfection Kennels I got the best phone call ever.  They knew of a person looking to rehome a 3 year old GSP named Jas, and I was the first person they thought of that would be a soft place for this pup to land.  A short while later, here she was, making herself right at home with me.  In short order Jas and I got to work and started wandering the New Mexican deserts in pursuit of the illusive gambles and scaled quail. We instantly became best friends and we are still to this day inseparable. Ive had the pleasure of hunting in multiple states for a variety of different upland species with jas and we have made the most of our last 7 years together.  We eventually landed in northern Utah and became Chukar Chasers.  Of all the upland species I've hunted, Chukar has by far been my favorite. The challenge of navigating Chukar country makes every bird find that much more special. The difficulties of chukar country have shown themselves to Jas as she's aging but the fact that she's still able to do it at 10 years old is a blessing for us.  In anticipation of Jas’ retirement we started putting feelers out to add another GSP to the family. 

 

Summer of 2025, The next generation is born.  I had been anticipating this litter for the better part of a year, and finally there it was.  Born into the best family I could ask for.  The Perfection Kennes family had brought into this world a litter of puppies surely to take the world by storm, and I was lucky enough to be on the list.  These puppies saw birds from the time they opened their eyes and were immediately immersed in the hunting environment and learning from the best dogs possible.  They were all destined to be champions and phenomenal hunters.

 

Enter Trudy, aka Gertrude McFuzz, aka Perfections Letter in the Mail. Granddaughter of the best dog i've ever hunted behind, Odysseys Perfect Traveler “Charlie”.  Trudy started off her life with me stuffed in a backpack being carried all around chukar country busting all the birds Jas would find for us. We did this every weekend until she was old enough to start walking for herself.  During the week, Id take to the foothills of Salt Lake City with a bag full of pigeons and would plant them for Trudy to find.  All of my time was spent developing this little pup into the best bird dog possible, and after spending countless tiring days hiking with her and helping her hone in her skills she has become a remarkable bird finder and companion.  Trudy is a testament to the theory that “wild birds build a good bird dog”.  

Our home never felt empty before but the addition of Trudy has really given me a feeling of completeness in our home, and our team of dogs. 

Watching my dogs grow and develop throughout the years have truly been the most fulfilling moments I've lived out.  The joy that comes from watching these dogs use their instinct in the most pure wild form is remarkable.  Any time I have the opportunity to share my experiences with other people with bird dogs, I do anything I can to try and convince them that the bonds they'll build working with their dogs will truly change their lives forever.  It brings me so much joy to offer any help, advice, or share my experiences with people showing interest in this way of life. Ill always stop and talk bird dogs whenever the opportunity presents itself.

 

During our hunting season there will never be a truck in the driveway because we're out living our best lives in the rolling hills and rocky ledges of Utah's west desert. The love and satisfaction I receive from my dogs is life's most precious treasure for me and I'm constantly working on furthering my bond with my dogs, and doing everything I can to let us live the best lives we can possibly have.