2025 season reports

I got my limit hunting with Roxy today, Skye was taking a rest after hunting all day Saturday and is doing good. A lot of pheasants around this year. The second bird I hit was not a good shot. Roxy chased him for who knows how far and came back with him. I always get nervous when a dog runs off chasing a wing tipped bird. She bailed me out though.
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Proud birddog dad moment. Hank this weekend flushed his first rooster and we got it! Tried a new area and pushed the edges next to some fresh cut corn. He started grunting, locked in, and next thing you know we got a rooster in the air. Put it down and I don't think I have ever seen a dog happier! Conditions were perfect. Some other fields around use had a few shots going off.IMG_6159.JPGIMG_6156.jpgIMG_6164.jpgIMG_6169.jpg
 
Great looking dog, well except he doesn't have any battlescars yet. He'll grow into those.
Wait until he brings back a running cripple, not much can match that feeling.
 
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Saw a number of birds on some private close to home and we managed to snag one. Spent the rest of the afternoon solo bumbling around at a few spots. Got up a couple hens. I’m due for a nice long drive next week ha.The springer did flush a turkey today. That was pretty wild.
 
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Public land hunts.

Our group of 3 got 3 on Friday. 2 of those were mine. Got caught in a sleet storm in a short sleeve shirt.

I hunted alone Saturday and got 1. Should have had 2.

For the 3 days, I hiked 9 miles, 9 miles, 11.5 miles.

The Saturday rooster was one tough old bird -- didn't event want to die by my hands.

Heading to SD Wed-Sunday. Some MN birds will have a pardon -- temporarily.

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All but 1 of my first 10 birds of the season (SW and SC MN) were first year birds. All 8 of my birds last week were adults. This was a little further south than where the young birds were taken, and more corn was out.

One of the birds got up a ways out, low and away. I thought it was a hen, since I could only see the rear profile. Then it gave a single syllable cackle. Took him down. Walked up, expecting to see a young bird. Nope. Full colors and full pointy spurs. Shouldn't have sworn at us.
 
I drove 2hrs and 45 minutes Saturday to get to a spot I've had good luck in the past. I know it gets hit hard as I've had to drive by it a lot when other hunters are there. I put up about 40 birds in 75 minutes and got my two in an hour. The first bird was a miscommunication between the dog and I. I wasn't sure exactly where she was but knew she was on point. When I shot the flush, I realized she must have been about 60 yards further to my right and 15-20 came up on the shot. Took us 25 minutes to find that first bird. Drove 2hrs and 45 minutes home, and walked in the door at 1:15. I did have a group of four in that field as well, they must have parked at the access on the busier road. They were hooting and hollering like crazy. They shot at one bird when I was there, which is crazy because the 15-20 I flushed went right to where I usually travel in this piece, and right where I ended up seeing them. I bet if they'd worked it into the wind and been quiet, they could have had a few birds out of that patch of cover.
 
MNMEAD said:
I drove 2hrs and 45 minutes Saturday to get to a spot I've had good luck in the past. I know it gets hit hard as I've had to drive by it a lot when other hunters are there. I put up about 40 birds in 75 minutes and got my two in an hour. The first bird was a miscommunication between the dog and I. I wasn't sure exactly where she was but knew she was on point. When I shot the flush, I realized she must have been about 60 yards further to my right and 15-20 came up on the shot. Took us 25 minutes to find that first bird. Drove 2hrs and 45 minutes home, and walked in the door at 1:15. I did have a group of four in that field as well, they must have parked at the access on the busier road. They were hooting and hollering like crazy. They shot at one bird when I was there, which is crazy because the 15-20 I flushed went right to where I usually travel in this piece, and right where I ended up seeing them. I bet if they'd worked it into the wind and been quiet, they could have had a few birds out of that patch of cover.
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That is a lot of birds for a Minnesota property. Couple questions...

1) How much do they charge per bird put out?
2) Do they allow free scratch hunting of birds above the number you have put out?

Private message a pin, or I am calling B.S. 😆
 
Limitless said:
That is a lot of birds for a Minnesota property. Couple questions...

1) How much do they charge per bird put out?
2) Do they allow free scratch hunting of birds above the number you have put out?

Private message a pin, or I am calling B.S. 😆
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Lol I have a small handful of spots that I know what time to be there and where in the piece to be. That is one of them. It is a big piece too! Plenty of room for two groups, but those guys were walking right toward me. Unfortunately, my absolute best spot was hayed this year. That was an unfortunate find on Sunday of opening weekend.
 
1000008792.jpg1000008788.jpg1000008786.jpg1000008778.jpgwell the last 4 days has gone from 1 extreme to the next .... weather wise. typical minnesota for ya.... couple days in the snow with the black dogs then called a buddy from shortly across the border in SD to join for the last couple... very few bird hunters out. Lotta guys driving around "deer hunting" snow is gone where I was at .... gonna be nice again for foreseeable future. Time to stick around home and save the pto until the next weather system...
 
I have been deer hunting for 6 days now and seen quite a few pheasants. Every morning when the day starts, the countryside is an orchestra of rooster cackles.

A bunch of corn has been combined in the area this week too. I am hoping to bird hunt a day next week, if my dog is up for it.

The canary grass is taller than I've ever seen it. The abundance of rain and optimum growing season is likely why. I can barely see deer walking through it.
 
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Two days ago, shot another that dropped in a huge black berry patch, Ryder said NO DAD Im not going in there
 
I tried hunting on Tuesday and my nearly 14 year old lab cannot do it anymore.

I hit 2 spots and raised 20 birds, but the legs and endurance have vanished. She mostly just walked along beside me or lagged behind. It was a sad day. I kinda teared up a little out there.

I've gotten 14 tremendous seasons out of this dog. She has about 250-300 roosters under her belt during that span, primarily just me and her. Even well-oiled machines wear out I guess.

The conditions didn't help though either. It was warm, sunny, and very dry. And there's still quite a bit of corn standing. I might try again once it gets colder but I will not be bagging very many roosters this season, if any. I've got sole permission at all this private land, the landscape is crawling with pheasants, and there's nothing I can do about it. I can't really leave her at home either, she would be devastated if I did that to her.
 
Gim, I'm hoping you get a nice cold day and can bring the dog out for one last retrieve. But even if that doesn't work out sounds like you've had a ton of great times hunting with your lab. If you do try again this year I wish all the best for you and your dog.
 
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gim said:
I tried hunting on Tuesday and my nearly 14 year old lab cannot do it anymore.

I hit 2 spots and raised 20 birds, but the legs and endurance have vanished. She mostly just walked along beside me or lagged behind. It was a sad day. I kinda teared up a little out there.

I've gotten 14 tremendous seasons out of this dog. She has about 250-300 roosters under her belt during that span, primarily just me and her. Even well-oiled machines wear out I guess.

The conditions didn't help though either. It was warm, sunny, and very dry. And there's still quite a bit of corn standing. I might try again once it gets colder but I will not be bagging very many roosters this season, if any. I've got sole permission at all this private land, the landscape is crawling with pheasants, and there's nothing I can do about it. I can't really leave her at home either, she would be devastated if I did that to her.
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I agree with Bob. Seems like cooler temps and a little moisture always bring out some pup in them. Even if its a half hr hunt. Do what she can and call it a successful trip
 
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