2025 WI Pheasant Thread

[grossklw]

19.5” wide. I also killed a really nice bull in Wyoming during archery season so I was only shooting something that was going on the wall as I didn’t need meat. It was the only deer I had on camera that I was going to shoot, I’d rather be lucky than good.

Back to pheasants though, we flushed 4 hens and a rooster tonight. Didn’t know the dog was birdy and he flushed a rooster off his nose but I wasn’t following as close as I should’ve been, good dog. Bad hunter.

 

[Marshstalker]

Finally got our two today. Dutch was on em, only took 40 minutes. Also our first ones this year, our third hunt. She almost caught the last one herself. First one had no tail feathers, last one had atleast 12".
Oh yeah first kills with my new to me vintage Citori 3.5", only had 3" in it though.
Hopefully one tomorrow, or we finally see some ducks. Been horrible for them.

 

[AtTheMurph]

Finally got our two today. Dutch was on em, only took 40 minutes. Also our first ones this year, our third hunt. She almost caught the last one herself. First one had no tail feathers, last one had atleast 12".
Oh yeah first kills with my new to me vintage Citori 3.5", only had 3" in it though.
Hopefully one tomorrow, or we finally see some ducks. Been horrible for them.

Too warm for ducks still. A few around but those are residents I think.

 

[Jleclair]

Man it’s been tough this past week or so. Lots of people, not a lot of birds. Ran 2 dogs yesterday for an hour apiece, each had a couple finds but birds are spooky! Today I ran 3 dogs for a bit over an hour apiece, first dog had a rooster and then a hen. Next dog had a bang up find on a rooster, it flushed before I got to her. She followed that up with a nice looking point on a skunk. Luckily I came in with the wind blowing to me and smelled it before I went in for the flush. Last dog had one find right before quitting time.
It is our deer season, so I’m picking and choosing where I turn a dog loose - no trees, shrubs, or cars in the area. I have seen a couple nice bucks out in the grass.

 

[SDinWI]

Nice report - smart on being choosey with your spots right now. Probably limits some opportunity with birds though.

It was a balmy weekend, probably the last of the year. I was with the orange army. It was funny - I was driving to my deer stand opening morning and had a doe cross in front of my car. I continue on and not 100 yards away 2 hunters were starting their walk into the woods. It made me think about how often wildlife is probably within seeing distance or just over the hill etc. but we never lay eyes on them.

Well, I didn’t see anything in the stand. I was walking back in at closing time and 2 roosters flew in from the corn, teasing me as loud as they can. 15 minutes later I got a trail cam pic of deer at my stand. Made me think of how my walk back was a similar situation to those hunters in the morning, almost crossed paths but not quite.

 

[AtTheMurph]

I used to plan my deer hunts around the schedule of the neighboring hunters. I hunted enough to know when they would show up and when they would leave. I'd always be in my stand before they go there and would always wait until they left. You'd be surprised how many deer I killed over the years because they pushed deer to me by getting in and out of stands or walking the lane along the property line.

One my brother got yesterday. 10pt Swamp Buck as we call them.


He said opening day had a bunch of deer that were milling in the woods but would give him an opportunity. Yesterday was watching 5 bucks and a doe in the same woods bedding down and milling around. This one came up from his rear and into the open for a shot. He used my dad's Remington WoodsMaster 30.06. I don't believe that rifle had ever been fired (except to zero in when my bro put a scope on it) or taken game.

 

[SDinWI]

Nice unique buck to "break" that rifle in!

 

[Keep'er Movin]

Opening gun deer season success...just not the antlered kind.