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At this point we are considering leaving these 4 acres or so out of any program altogether to allow us some flexibility to do what we want and get started on this sooner.

Any reason not to include the cedars, outside of them potentially spreading? As remy noted, I am not worried about that, we will have the CRP on a program to burn 1/3 of the property every year, and I spend a lot of time out on our other property with a chainsaw each year so that's not a worry...

As far as thistle control in your seedings, what has been your most effective method/herbicide/timing?

This is 100% pheasants, so I think we will go with a forb mix for the bulk of it. Was thinking about doing a portion of the tall grass prairie (big blue, switch, indian) in the section with the food plot similar to what you mentioned with the switch - we will just have to see what kind of...

Here is my excel sketch for the Shelter Belt/Food Plot combo we will be planting on our new farm this spring. Property is all crop now, about 120 acres. Will be renting this year and hoping to get it all into a program by the following year. Eastern Iowa. Any suggestions? for shrubs, will be...

There is a big difference. Not that bird dogs have to be perfect, but I've hunted with plenty that do more harm than good. As long as the dog stays within range and doesn't require a bunch of hollering and yelling, they can't hurt, but if they don't, you are probably better off without one.

If you treat them right and keep conditioned the CRISPI's can take a beating. I used to get maybe a month out of Danner's and other boots. I'm on my second pair of crispi's right now, and the first pair lasted 2.5 years (~120 pheasant outings, turkey hunting, deer hunting) and am going on year 3...

This was sparked from a comment in another thread, but thought it may be worth its own thread. Pheasants are the only thing I seriously hunt. I'll shoot a handful of bonus partridge and quail each year, but the primary focus is on pheasants. They are tough to kill completely dead, at least for...

12. I will need to become a better shot before I switch to a 20!

Pretty brutal no matter how you slice it.. On the optimistic side, the bird should have been plenty fat and healthy coming into this, and once we get past the next week, looks like we have several days above freezing to give them some relief. Rain in the forecast as well, hopefully maybe its...

I've probably got time stamped pictures of all but a few hunts. I'd have no reason to come on this forum and BS anyone. I've tracked every hunt in excel for the last 5 years, and could tell you the approximate time and exact location of every bird killed. I don't claim to be a better hunter...

Cripples - lose very few birds, but it does happen. We lost 8 birds this year total. Most of them being in bigger groups where someone shoots one a ways away from one of the dogs. I almost never lose birds alone, but that's where my golden retriever shines. Lacks a bit in other areas, but does...

You are correct, would not be possible with the ~75 days in the Iowa season and a bag limit of 3 per day. The most any one person could legally shoot in a season would be about ~225. I had ~150 myself. A handful of those would have been "shared birds", so hard to say exactly.

Without my biggest expense hunting is fuel and vehicle wear and tear. I would easily get several more years out of my truck(s) if I took hunting out of the equation!

The worst part is I never even left the state!

Some more photos.

Was fortunate enough to make it out hunting for at-least a quick hunt all but 15 days this past season in Iowa. Some of these were very quick "golden hour" hunts, but I had a few weeks of PTO, hunted every weekend, and didn't miss a Holiday. Very lucky to have a flexible work schedule. Of the...

One last hunt today with a good friend. We got our 6, and saw plenty more. Lots of hens as expected. I am concerned about the birds over the coming weeks with this nasty cold front coming through. Even the thickest tall prairie was full of snow, very little quality cover remaining for the birds!

Good call. Sitting by the fireplace as I type this!

Ended up with my 3 before 3, as that was the “closing time” I had placed in myself to allow the birds to settle back in before dark. Birds were holding tight as ever.