Recent content by Woollybob

This is a pretty good summary. In SD I have found it to be the ground that is just a little too hilly and barren for phesant but still near crops. I also find that they really like to be close to sunflower. Over the years I have just tried to mark where we run across sharpies while pheasant...

Heading out there around the same date. 60 is about the limit I like to run the dogs but hoping some error in the forecast that far out. More concerned about harvest. Does not sound like anyone has started on corn in the area I hunt.

Did not run the bird through a metal detector but if the one from this weekend had a pellet, someone was out hunting before opening day.

I don't believe the orginal post was serious, but since we are on the topic - I also took a hard look at the Tahoe and Suburban and GMC equivalents. What turned me away (other than the +$25k over truck price adder) was that these are no longer a truck chassis with the back enclosed & trimmed...

Not that uncommon to catch a wild (healthy) rooster if you are running a lively flusher. I would say maybe one out of a hundred or couple hundred birds when no snow on the ground - just personal experience/estimation, have not kept stats. Much more common in deep snow. Unfortunately they are...

No - I don't. My comment is directed at when SD is speaking within the context of pheasant hunting and cites how many acres are available for pheasant hunting. Which is true technically - you can hunt tens of thousands of acres of picked bean fields, grazed pastures, or barren rocky hills - but...

Looked at that area on the map - Ziebach County. Looks like it is largely moonscape high country. Few crops around. Would expect sharptail grouse, but anyone think there will be significant pheasant numbers around there? There are a few areas of crops, but not sure where this land is located in...

Depends on what you mean by 'central'. If you are just East of the MO river, should have few problems. I hear they are more prevalent near and West of the river, but I steer clear so no firsthand knowledge. Never seen one in 15 years (East river) during pheasant season. Having said that, steer...

I recently went from MN to West of Aberdeen and back without seeing a single bird. When it is windy you will not see many out. Without any dew (or much moisture period) no need to go into the open to dry out. And 9am+ is not prime viewing hours. But I hear you - back 'in the day' you would see...

Happens all the time. Sit on a spot for 2 hrs just to have people roll up right at shooting time, get out, slam doors, fumbling with gear and yelling at dogs... MN opener is a zoo, but I would not miss it. There are just more hunters on opener than there are decent spots so having the field to...

I don't make the laws. But a 12 year old kid can use some handicap to create a great experience. Most adults have the attention span, shooting/hunting experience, and physical ability to burn boot leather all day to scrap out a few birds on public land. This is a chance to build some great...

Youth hunt is a blast. We did that before our kids aged out. I really miss it - Have the whole state to yourself and every piece of public ground is virgin. I think we saw one other truck in 4 years.

The correct answer is 'it depends'... I think you could do pretty well with a few key things: 1. Get the book Modern Pheasant Hunting and read it. It's not that long and only $5 (used) on Amazon. Will answer all the questions above and many you do not know to ask yet...

I find it a just irony that once they stopped the roadside count the majority of the state experienced several of the best years of the last 15 or so (except 2021 drought) in terms of bird numbers. And they took away the means to show that improvement prior to the season start each year - The...

Fair question. I hesitate to answer as I do not want the thread to turn to 'here are some dogs that do all that', but here goes: It goes back to what I value more in a dog for my situation and me wanting to follow my own experiences vs 'the talk of the training and hunting clubs' (despite that...