Search results

Sharing this class ... I do not know the people involved, but thought I would share for anyone thinking of hunting in rattlesnake country this fall. If anyone attends or is already planning on attending, please share how it went.

Coming to your favorite hunting spot near you. https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/wisconsin-solar-farm-prairie-chickens/

Food is Misc ??

A few years ago now I drove out about 150 miles west of the Twin Cities to a pheasant spot. Dog and I got out at 9AM sharp. 20 minutes later dog on point. Two roosters flush. Double. Done. Back at the truck by about 9:40 or so. That part of MN does not have much in the way of other...

East Central region Sharptail population is hurting. Many years ago I went out on Sharptail opener on a new WMA just added to the DNR mix. The EC cover is quite a bit different than what I hunted growing up in ND. Did not see a bird. The NW region has a better balance of Sharptail cover...

My Brittanys move to IAMs senior dog food when they turn about 8 or 9. My dogs have no problem hunting hard and the past 3 have all lived to 14-15 years of age. My current oldest Brittany (14 years, 8 months) retired because she had severe breathing issues when hunting hard (she never knew...

It is my understanding that most people believe that prairie chickens followed the settlers into ND while the sharptail was considered native to the area. The prairie chicken population went through a huge boom then bust cycle ... like many animal populations that move into a new area. The...

Most wildlife biologists pay their dues via internships and working at paygrades below their education (techs) especially at the Federal level. Most get to a nice career position but it takes time. I took several upper level Wildlife management classes at my University even though it made no...

I do not use e-collars as a training aid. I have trained six Brittanys and am on number seven now. If I needed to, I suppose I would use one. Thought about an e-collar if/when I know they are chasing deer (they all seem to do it just once around the age of 1, but all stopped quickly on their...

UND is indeed helping the ND G&F https://gf.nd.gov/magazine/2021/jun/prairie-grouse Population in GF county has dropped 90% from 20 years ago.

Sandhills (aka Sheyenne National Grasslands) Chickens circa 1980s. photo credit: me

I am not sure the ND biologist really knows exactly why the decrease. Much hypothesis and conjecture with no money and likely not much interest for further research. Sounds like a good opportunity for an advanced degree thesis. I am sure it is grassland and the constant fight between...

Interesting side bar:

There is a private club that operates south of Morris. There are at least 3 Guide/Outfitters operation around or near LQP. Simple google searches will pin then down pretty quickly. All of these are focused primarily on waterfowl. I can't imagine any guides making a living guiding pheasant...

Yes I have camped in the Little Missouri National Grasslands in a VW self contained camper in 1982. It was great. We camped right in the middle of where we hunted.

Barnsville is on the southern edge of the MN DNR Pheasant range map. Most of the prairie chicken range is north of that...

ND had a PC season may once or twice. Population has always struggled some. I set up a blind and photographed Boomers in the Sheyenne National Grasslands a very long time ago. The Sheyenne National Grasslands is a unique place. It is a Whitetail mecca. It is surrounded by some of the best...

Pheasants are not that common in most of the prairie chicken range pheasants ... exception is the southern units especially after a mild year or two. In MN hen pheasants are known to drop eggs in prairie chicken nests and this can be detrimental to the overall population. Maybe pheasants...

My 20ga. Orion (owned for 40 years now) shoots lead 6s and better yet 7.5s (great for ruffed grouse). Never has patterned lead #4 or Steel shot #4 and larger very well. In my 12ga. I also prefer the "orange box" Federals in #5.

First birds were easily my best two. Truly a pair of boomers. I don't think I will get close to this again. This was when season was in mid-October.