Recent content by Randy S

The guys I grew up with never party hunted. And if you got your birds first, you birddogged for the guys still hunting. I've had guys practically beg me to shoot a bird or two for them. I would intentionally miss to make them feel better. But just last season, I shot a bird for a buddy and I...

II don't believe any of the negative comments were directed at me, but, I didn't say "home freezer doesn't count." I said proof of origin, of the birds in a home freezer, isn't required. I was licensed in Iowa, NE, ND and SD last season. Including 2 SD licenses during pheasant season. (2 other...

The Iowa DNR conducted a survey of winter pheasant movement many years ago. They determined that the birds only required suitable winter cover near the center of each township for good survival. A township in Iowa is 6 x 6 miles. So winter cover could be spaced about every 6 miles.

When I lived in Nebraska, I also hunted Kansas a lot. My local CO claimed that I couldn't possess upland birds I'd taken in Kansas, in my NE home. His logic was so convoluted that I was embarrassed for him. We called the head office in Lincoln and his supervisor told him that if I was legally...

I've seen three pairs of white partial white birds. So my guess is yes it's hereditary. There was a stretch in eastern Iowa roughly from Charles City to Independence that put out a lot of true and partial albinos 30-50 years ago. I never shot one but saw 7 different white pheasants in the...

I've spent a week in ND and three weeks in SD and leaving Monday for another week in each. Like most, saw few masks. I don't understand people who'll wave, stop and hold a door for a stranger, but won't wear a mask simply to be courteous. I don't care how effective wearing a mask is, I'll do it...

Some northwestern counties are non-tox on all public lands. You'll have to read the regs.

Hunted western public opening day with a buddy and we had our 6 birds in less than two hours. Skipped to Nebraska and I shot three more but lost one. My buddy didn't want to buy a NE license so he rested.

Hunted west river Sunday - Thurs. Had a dogless friend along which really taxed my little springer. Pheasants were spotty but sharptails were everywhere. Brought home 22 grouse and 18 roosters. About what I would expect in that heat with one dog.

Cover on the lower hills and meadows is too tall for grouse unless it's been recently mowed. The birds don't have a choice but to stay high. All you can do is keep walking. Also, move to a different area. Winter survival and nesting success should have been good. If you're not finding birds...

In 100+ trips never a venomous snake. The only rattlers I've seen in Nebraska were in the southwest around Scotsbluff. I've heard of dogs and porkies but I've never seen one anywhere in Nebraska except northern river bottoms and the Pine Ridge. I wouldn't give either a second thought. I don't...

If you're headed to the Sandhills, they aren't like northern sharptails. Nebraska prairie grouse only use brushy/tree shelter if it's very hot like upper 80's, and still only a few. Grouse will be up high and out of the wind. The sandhills are sub-irrigated so grass on lower ground is thick and...