How to hunt new land for the first time!

goldenboy

goldenboy

Well-known member
Okay guys here is a question for you to chew on. I am going to hunt the first week of Dec. at a new place. The farm has many quality plots of land to hunt with varying terrain. My question is this. When you walk into a new place to hunt what are the top three or four rules that you apply to finding, trapping, and successfully getting to the birds on a piece of property you have never hunted before? I know the basics like hunt into the wind etc. But what other time tested tricks of the trade have you used to figure out which way the birds might try to escape? Just looking for some tips that might come in handy. We will have a large group so we should be able to block or surround them on bigger chunks. Looking forward to every ones wealth of knowledge! In my group they all look at me to figure out the plan and to know what to do, help me!
 
I always hit edges first, to flush birds into the middle to have a crack at them later..it also depends on the type of day..mid day im hunting loafing cover near food, morning im hitting the roost..the golden hour im..not telling
 
I've been outsmarted by roosters so many times that I don't formulate detailed strategies anymore. I basically just turn dogs loose into the wind and follow along and see what happens. I'm certain I'm not any less successful doing that than when I used to try to think things out.

I don't hunt in big groups with drivers and blockers, though -- I just don't like it. That scenario definitely calls for some planning to keep it from ending up in a cluster you-know-what.

I have a setter with a lot of range, a medium-ranging pointer and a Lab to bust heavy cover. I like to just let them do what they do while I enjoy the ride, and I'll try to make adjustments as I go. It's always fun to find out what a new piece of ground has to offer.
 
If its big I always take a piece of it take a triangle out of it and push phez where they are trapped. When I pull up to a new piece and I have seen sign roost and such and I don't find them I try to hit every square inch I remember hunting Hillsdale lake and I seen a big roost where quail had been for 3 or 4 trips I blanked I said they have to be on the other side of the road well the next trip I made it there they sure was lol they wont be to far from where they have roosted.After I blank and think birds should be there I always sit and look at the land I like to move lots,take breaks but keep at it.
 
PUT the dogs in the area and let them find the birds. The dogs know more than we do they have the nose. Watch you dogs they get birdy pay attention. the short answer is you never know. There is no set answer to that Question, you would have to now, were the birds are, before you enter the field. Im not a big fan of in the wind. They can hear you, come in at them. Try the 180 and see what happens. Try it it works. :thumbsup:
 
I'm heading to a new spot Saturday. Its about 500 miles away from me and there's about 30,000 acres combined in the two NWRs up there. I know what pheasant habitat looks like and the dogs know how to hunt them so I'll drop them in some good cover and let them do the rest.:cheers:
 
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yup...depends on the day...terrain, cover, weather, wind and time of day...they all are factors to consider....you do your calculations and put faith in your dog. They hold the key to success...and sometimes...well..its just blind luck lol
 
jmac said:
PUT the dogs in the area and let them find the birds. The dogs know more than we do they have the nose. Watch you dogs they get birdy pay attention. the short answer is you never know. There is no set answer to that Question, you would have to now, were the birds are, before you enter the field. Im not a big fan of in the wind. They can hear you, come in at them. Try the 180 and see what happens. Try it it works. :thumbsup:
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You know jmac that sounds like a good plan. The key for me is don't be afraid to try something different. As soon as I think I have them figured out, they will smoke me for awhile until I change my tactics. One thing I know for sure, if hunting near a large body of water push the birds to it no matter how the wind is blowing. Frozen or open, those birds don't like flying over large lakes. When they are young, and the water is open, they don't see it as an escape route. When they get older it seems it sticks.
 
LoneRooster said:
I always hit edges first, to flush birds into the middle to have a crack at them later..it also depends on the type of day..mid day im hunting loafing cover near food, morning im hitting the roost..the golden hour im..not telling
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I strongly agree! I used to be a pretty hard core bass tournament guy (explanation for my username here) and often had to figure out new stuff quickly. I would take a small section of the lake or river and work just that small high percentage spot very hard. It might have been a big lake but I got to know a small piece of it pretty well.

Use the landscape to your advantage. You have the benefit of a big group of guys so that will help but still look at edges and corners....those are great pinch points.
Also....note the wind. I see you have goldens like I do. For most upland dogs the first 10 to 20 minutes isn't their prime hunting form. If I have a little wind, I try to hunt the dogs either downwind or in the less prime cover. Let them burn off the anxious dog energy. Then work then upwind into prime cover. The dogs will be game on and you'll look like a heckuva guide! :thumbsup:
 
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wind

hate to give jmac much credit but hunting with the wind to your back works and some days, that's the way to hunt as the dogs are likely to run with the wind, check and then hunt back to you and trap the birds and stop their running. another need trick is if you have say, a smaller field, maybe a 1/4 or less section, go to one end of it, honk the horn, slam the doors, yell, blow you whistle, whatever, then drive quickly to the other end and start hunting, works really well when you hunt alone or with just another guy. it is possible to outsmart those hunter hardened birds.

cheers
 
I say always hunt first what appears at the time to be the best part of the field. An experience hunter is often correct about where the birds are most likely to be at a given time. If you don't hunt the best first, when do you get to it the birds may have moved on.
 
Now here's a method you might imploy if hunting alone. If you are working a strip of grain and there's a chance the birds might be on the run, go to the other end of the strip and place a radio near the field.

Now, all of you are laughing -however, try this, it works! The radio noise will confuse the birds and may send them in the opposite direction, towards you!

Another ploy:

divide long strips of grain in half. Hunters enter in the middle as blockers. When the walkers meet you, change partners/places, and go to the other end. Everyone gets more shooting, less standing for long periods of time.

You can use this method for ditch hunts, also.

Have been hunting for 58 years - these are only a few of the secrets!!
 
jonnyB said:
Now here's a method you might imploy if hunting alone. If you are working a strip of grain and there's a chance the birds might be on the run, go to the other end of the strip and place a radio near the field.

Now, all of you are laughing -however, try this, it works! The radio noise will confuse the birds and may send them in the opposite direction, towards you!

Another ploy:

divide long strips of grain in half. Hunters enter in the middle as blockers. When the walkers meet you, change partners/places, and go to the other end. Everyone gets more shooting, less standing for long periods of time.

You can use this method for ditch hunts, also.

Have been hunting for 58 years - these are only a few of the secrets!!
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I love the radio idea!! But trust me soon as they here the truck stop there on to you. I like keep the truck moving have a guy sitting on tailgate slow down just a little where you want him to block then start at the other side where you want to push like I said I like small but thick areas break it down
 
Yes...some will leave, but not all. Obviously the birds on the opposite end will depart, but the radio will hold those that are running from the middle to the end.

I agree with the dropping a body off the back of the truck and continuing to the end; no stopping and slamming doors - less disruptive.

Here's another ploy: drive the birds to a convenient corner. Walkers spread out and drive the birds to the corner(s). Blockers need to be positioned at the corner - at least three.
 
New place or not, it pays to be in the right spot at the right time. Hunt the best roost cover at roost. Hunt the best feed just after and just before roost. Hit cattail sloughs or shelter belts if you get nasty weather. If you are hunting out of one truck make sure you are hitting the best cover with the wind in your face and walking spotty cover back to the truck with the wind at your back. If the area sees pressure from other hunters think about how most people probably approach the area, and work it in reverse. Don't start into the field at the gate, climb it at a harder to enter place. Walk across open ground instead of parking the truck against the good cover. Pinch the sloughs with a guy coming from the non-road facing side. If you are hunting a buddy have him drop you off in one spot, drive to another and start off in a new direction as your work to the truck. You cover more ground and keep the birds thinking twice.
 
carptom1 said:
You know jmac that sounds like a good plan. The key for me is don't be afraid to try something different. As soon as I think I have them figured out, they will smoke me for awhile until I change my tactics. One thing I know for sure, if hunting near a large body of water push the birds to it no matter how the wind is blowing. Frozen or open, those birds don't like flying over large lakes. When they are young, and the water is open, they don't see it as an escape route. When they get older it seems it sticks.
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Great point Carptom,

You have to switch tactics. If your doing sometime and it's not working, try something different. :thumbsup:

What's the definition of insanity: Doing thesame thing over and over, and expecting different results.:D
 
no

jmac said:
Great point Carptom,

You have to switch tactics. If your doing sometime and it's not working, try something different. :thumbsup:

What's the definition of insanity: Doing thesame thing over and over, and expecting different results.:D
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that's the definition of ignorance

cheers
 
I have developed a very sophisticated Differential Equation that analyzes multiple variables to identify the best approach to an area.

Depending on the number of variables it can take a significant amount of time to solve.

....... so the dogs start whining till I let them out, and I just follow them to the birds. ;)
 
SetterNut said:
I have developed a very sophisticated Differential Equation that analyzes multiple variables to identify the best approach to an area.

Depending on the number of variables it can take a significant amount of time to solve.

....... so the dogs start whining till I let them out, and I just follow them to the birds. ;)
Click to expand...

you got that right, there used to be an expression "just do it"

cheers
 
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