2025 Magic Valley OLR Test Season
During the typical breeding season, I bred out a team of my personal YB to run what we call the MVOLR test season. All birds were bred starting in January 2025, and all subsequent rounds were old enough to be weaned by mid May. These birds were all vaccinated and treated, just like intake would go at an OLR, and transferred into a small race loft here on the property. This small loft is located directly next to the MVOLR building. I settled, loft flew, road trained, and drove all the races myself. The goal of this season was to train and race these birds in a manor that represents how the MVOLR in 2026 will conducted. The birds flew a South course down Highway 93 and Hwy 318, with the final race station West of the Alamo, Nevada landing strip. Birds flew from South to North ending at our loft location in Kimberly, Idaho.
Another objective for this test season was to find quality release stations that were safe for the birds and accommodated staying at the location the night before. Additionally, I wanted to make sure the locations were trailer friendly and minimized the amount traveled on unpaved roads due to dust.
Below are the race results along with a link to the release videos posted on YouTube here. Videos of all the races and a few of the longer trainers are available. This is a lot of information to read through. If more clarification is needed please feel free to reach out over the phone 541-280-9390.
Season Stats:
Total Flown Road Training Miles - 1,564 Miles ( 1,162 miles before Activation Race + 402 during race season )
Flown Race Miles - 1,385 Miles ( 125mi, 150mi, 201mi, 249mi, 301mi, 359 mi )
Season Total - 2,949 Miles
Settled 67 pigeons with no replacements
Between settling birds and BEFORE Activation - 1,162 Flown Road Training Miles
53 Pigeons went to Activation Race, 53 Pigeons home on the Day
45 Pigeons home with 48 hrs of Final 359 Mile Race!
Race Results:
125 Mile Activation - 1,549 y/min first drop
53 birds shipped, 53 returned - 100% on the day
150 Mile Race - 1,526 y/min first drop
53 birds shipped, 53 returned - 100% by 12:45 on the day
2 injuries - missed the next two races
201 Mile Race - 1,768 y/min - 4 Bird First Drop
Second drop of 24 birds @ 1,538 y/min - 96% on the day, 98% return by end of second day
51 Birds shipped, 50 returned
249 Mile Race - 1,579 y/min - 15 Bird First Drop
50 birds shipped, 50 returned - 94% on the day, 100% return by end of second day
-2 Injured birds from 150 mile race missed 201 and 249 mile races, but ready for 301 mile race
-Lost 2 birds on a 67 mile trainer going into 301 mile race
-Bird count from 249 mile race to 301 stayed the same because of this
301 Mile Race - 1548 y/min - 13 Bird First Drop
50 birds shipped - 46 birds on the day, 49 by end of second day - 92% on the day, 98% 2nd day total
359 Mile Race - 1,462 y/min - 4 Bird First Drop
49 birds shipped, 34 Day birds, 45 birds returned within 48 hrs of Final release
69.4% Day birds, 91.8% Total return from final!