Need your help, fellow pheasant enthusiasts!

On my drive that day to pick up a cornhead I seen birds by and in thick evergreen groves. Reminded me of a public area that had 3/4 mile of evergreen and honeysuckle. On days when it started to get windy/cold it was good for some pheasant. DNR decided trees weren't needed on public ground so they cut them down:mad: 300 acres of nothing now.
 
captaincoot said:
On my drive that day to pick up a cornhead I seen birds by and in thick evergreen groves. Reminded me of a public area that had 3/4 mile of evergreen and honeysuckle. On days when it started to get windy/cold it was good for some pheasant. DNR decided trees weren't needed on public ground so they cut them down:mad: 300 acres of nothing now.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the workd of encouragement Ccoot. Got a mile of new trees going in this spring with all cedars, Junipers and honey suckle.
 
I'll second the beneift of evergreen-like shrubery, thickets, etc.

I love hunting big block CRP with evergreen wind/snow breaks on the north and west side of the grass. Provides cover when needed, and prevents the grass from being overrun by the snow drifting.
 
UGUIDE said:
Thanks for the workd of encouragement Ccoot. Got a mile of new trees going in this spring with all cedars, Junipers and honey suckle.
Click to expand...

You the man:thumbsup: It takes all types of habitat to have a healthy pheasant population wish the DNR would figure that out. When they get big I'm coming up to hunt:)
 
I agree 100%
Grasslands alone are of no use to pheasants during Average Winter snowfalls.
The only reason there are pheasants and pheasant hunting is because of Winter cover. That is woody plants.
 
Case in point - should've seen all the little boogers BOILING out of the evergreens in the shelterbelt this past wknd w/near-zero & snow - looked like Christmas trees loaded up w/pheasants for ornaments!!! :eek:

Tall, heavy red-switchgrass was good too, but some of the more typical WIHA grassland stuff was all bent over beneath the snow & useless for cover.
 
Last edited:
DAKOTAZEEB and I went on a short hunt about ten miles from my house on Xmas day. Because of scheduling we went mid afternoon. I saw 9 birds on the way over, 6 roostis, all out feeding. It was pretty cold and not too long after the storm.
I met him on the spot and we proceeded into the slough. We only put up three or four hens, but on the way out noted 6 roosters in a bare field to the east. Birds were feeding while we were in the slough. Timing is everything.

By the way ZEEB, I went the next day at dark and did put up two roosters, well out of range.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top