It's hard to believe 2006 is almost over.  We've been really busy with the roll out of our new website and with planning for our 100 year celebration.  Hunting season here has been great, as grouse and woodcock numbers are up in Pennnsylvania from last year.  Ken spent a few productive days in Minnesota and Bill Reid spent a week in New Brunswick and Maine. 

Overall we've had our best year ever and could not have done it without our loyal customers and friends.  Thank you for your continued support and please accept our best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year!!!

Clipper and I only managed to hunt in Pennsylvania this year but had our best season ever.  The absolute highlght came just before dark the day before Thanksgiving.  We had hit the best part of a new cover and were really just on a march back to the truck.  Clipper was working back towards me and as I stepped over a blowdown I heard his bell stop.  When I looked up he was locked up on point as I've only seen him do when he's right on top of a bird.

I was only 15 yards away and Clipper was facing me.  There was very little cover between us and I figured it was either a woodcock holding tight or perhaps old scent from a grouse. 

When I was 15 feet from Clipper a huge grouse exploded up from in between us.  The grouse had been "set" by Clipper, torn between the instincts to run or to hide and essentially frozen in that moment of indecision.  As I sat with the bird and Clipper the sun dipped below the horizon and painted everything an amazing shade of red.  It was the perfect end to our fall season.

Customer Testimonial 

Subject: DeCoverly's Blue Snow 

Here is the newest photo of Blue out in the field. She went on her first real Pheasant Hunt and did great. She even had a runner and handled it like a pro.  Out of ten birds she found and pointed seven and we think that was only because the hawks got the other three.
 
Happy Holidays and best wishes for the New Year!
 
Mary Adamchik
Assistant Store Manager
Cabelas - Hamburg, PA

Dear Ken and Bridget,

All is going just fantastic with Meg's progress. We have killed about 50-60 chuckars and pheasants over her but this weekend I have to report an event of historical dimension.

The grouse population on my farm has made a significant rebound this season and my son Robert and I took Meg into a favorite covert and within about ten minutes she was on a solid point. We walked in and two grouse flushed simultaneously and Robert got them both.

This was Meg's first point on grouse and my son's first double. Has this ever happened in the entire history of wing shooting!?  We could not be more pleased with Meg as a bird dog and as a pet.

Have a wonderful Christmas,

Bob Sulzbach.