2014 Pheasant Season!

[padave]

I had the dogs out running the other day and they are rounding in to shape.

Turned out to be a cat.

Some of the local fields are holding up well.

Today I was fishing at a pond close to the above fields and I could hear the birds talking. It was a mix of holdover birds from last year and some of the new birds. You can hear the roosters over my boys talking.


The time is almost here.

This may be a dumb question. How can you tell the difference between last years birds and this years by the way they sound ?

 

[bauerline]

It's not the sound but where it's coming from. Some birds were in the woods (last year's) and the others were in the pen. None of the birds from this year were released yet.

 

[FLDBRED]

Looks like your pups are rounding into shape, not sure how Dugan will hold up, but I know he'll give it his all.

The Harvest Moon always meant the season was closing in.

 

[Roosterslammer]

How's Dugan? Is it his age or another problem?

 

[FLDBRED]

Lynn,

Dugan had a really good 2013 season. He showed no signs of slowing down despite turning 10, he was still capable of hunting consecutive days in a row. I had no concerns going into the 2014 season. Then in April he had a freak accident. He loves to explode going out in the yard in hopes of catching a lazy squirrel. Well as he left the door to go outside, something popped. It was as if he got hit by a car, he was in great pain. I feared for the worse. I had to carry him outside for the next few days. Long story short... He is slowly recovering, but he now is showing his age! Thanks for asking Buddy!

 

[Roosterslammer]

Fldbred, now I remember what happened. Like Dugan, I'm getting older and suffer from CRS. I hope you have another great year. Fall is once again in the air and another hunting season is upon us. Yehaw!!!

 

[FLDBRED]

You're right Buddy, fall is upon us! As I get older the seasons just mean so much more. The time spent with friends , family , and our pups is PRICELESS!
Ok, I'll bite, what is CRS ?

 

[bauerline]

Both the dogs are enjoying the cooler weather and so am I. We took advantage of Sunday evening's cool weather with a run where I've bee seeing and hearing some holdover birds. Nittany and Blitz each had some points and we put up two hens. I did see a rooster when I was going home. Here are some pics.

I think a bird ran from this point and ended up in this area to be pointed again

I never did flush anything from this point. It may have ran to the bean field.

Blitz did have one more find on a hen that did flush

Next time out maybe I'll bring the better camera to get some bird pictures.

It's less than a month until the youth season when the hunting begins.

 

[bauerline]

Fldbred, I hope Dugan gives you another good year in the fields this fall. It's hard to see them get older but it happens to the best of us.

 

[FLDBRED]

Fldbred, I hope Dugan gives you another good year in the fields this fall. It's hard to see them get older but it happens to the best of us.

Thanks Brian, it may seem unthinkable but if Dugan can't go, I don't want to either, what would be the point. If I get the chance to meet the big guy upstairs, the first question I'm going to ask him is why did he give something we get so attached to, such a short time here.

 

[parooster]

Anyone using any vacation time for the pheasant season? I've taken the second week of the season. I couldn't get the first week because of work,plus I think it'll be better for grouse also.

 

[bauerline]

I will be taking several days off but I spread them out and do all day hunts. With two young and active boys it's tough to get away for an extended time.

 

[bauerline]

Thanks Brian, it may seem unthinkable but if Dugan can't go, I don't want to either, what would be the point. If I get the chance to meet the big guy upstairs, the first question I'm going to ask him is why did he give something we get so attached to, such a short time here.

I think most of us agree that the dogs are the best part. I hope you can get out a little this year. Maybe some mid week hunts with less pressure.

 

[FLDBRED]

Anyone using any vacation time for the pheasant season? I've taken the second week of the season. I couldn't get the first week because of work,plus I think it'll be better for grouse also.

I have 3 weeks vacation and five personal days. I always use one week for the Pennsy rifle buck season and one day for the opener of the NJ buck season just because of tradition. The rest is for the bird season, plus I always get this strange flu this that time of year!

 

[snipet]

There is no doubt the season is fast approaching. The days are getting shorter, it's now still dark when I get to work. A lot of people are sad that summer is coming to an end, but not us. I am sure everyone here feels the same way, fall is what we wait for every year. Let's not rush it to get here because then it goes all to quickly.

isnt that the truth!

good to see everyone is getting their plans together already!

 

[FLDBRED]

Well with the recent posts and pictures of the Youth Hunts I just had to get out into some pheasant cover. My first stop was a SGL that we sometimes hunt being that it is closer to home. They also release birds for the youth hunts. I checked some of our favorite fields and wasn't disappointed. The Food and Cover boys sure have done a great job! I then circled to the far end and ran into a beautiful cock bird, I tried to get a picture but he never gave me a chance.

I then checked a favorite Co-Op and was pleased with the way the cover looked. To say we're excited would't do it justice, it's going to be a long couple of weeks!

 

[bauerline]

We must share a brain. I went by the local gamelands today, too. I first drove by a place that doesn't get birds for the youth hunt. I saw a woman running her dogs and let her know about the gamelands rule about dog training during the week of the youth pheasant hunt. It wasn't a big deal to me since there were no birds to chase in the area but I wanted to let her know.

I then drove to the area that does get birds. I didn't see any pheasants but there is good cover around (at least from what I could see from the road). I saw a lot of hawks flying around and I hope they don't get too many birds. I will be taking a boy out Monday morning so hopefully the dogs can find a few birds for him.

I then decided to let the dogs run on the edge of the club property that is close to home. The beans are out of the field but the neighboring property still has corn standing. The dogs did put one hen up and boy did she fly well. She headed right for the corn and I bet there are more birds in the area with all the crops still up.

In the evening I talked to a few guys who were fishing at the club pond. The one guy said that he saw three roosters in the morning close to the pond. Not all of those three birds were from the youth hunt. I'm glad there are birds in the area.

 

[bauerline]

FLDBRED,

How is Dugan doing? I know you said he was recovering a little. Will he be ready for the opening day?

I can tell that Nittany was a little stiff last night and today. I guess that's why we're looking at getting a pup in late December.

 

[FLDBRED]

Brian,

Dugan is really coming along nicely. I had him at the Vet last Thursday and he said Dugan was in excellent physical shape. I think Dugan knows what lies ahead and is wishing himself into condition. As you know, Springers make their reputation by hitting the nastiest cover they can find at a crazy pace. I'll do my best to try to limit that a bit.
We thought about another pup a couple of years ago for the same reason you mentioned, and it is the smart thing to do. But Dugan is a real character and I think it would break his heart, so we decided to wait.
I think in a couple of weeks he'll be match fit! Thanks for asking!

 

[bauerline]

Since I can't get out for grouse, I got a jump start on the season and went to a preserve with a friend from our PF chapter and my wife. It was a beautiful day that got warmer than expected. The dogs worked well and we even shot pretty good today. It was a lot better than a day of work!