My first time hunting Pheasant in SD was last year. I loved every second of it, including the 30 hour road trip from Florida. There were 6 guys in our hunting party and we had 2 dogs. As a first time pheasant hunter this combination seemed to work well. Unfortunately this year, only 2 of us are returning and I have picked up 2 additional first time hunters, 4 of us in all. We have (1) 3 1/2 y/o experienced pointer and (1) 10 month old pointer. I have already arranged private land to hunt on and may hit some public land also. Any advice or suggestions on the best strategy to hunt with a 4 man/2 dog set up?
Best strategy to hunt with 4 guys
- Thread starter dogbo2013
- Start date
Dakotazeb
Well-known member
I somewhat would depend on the type of ground you are hunting. If you are hunting CRP I would concentrate on the edges, especially the edges adjacent to a harvested crop field. I'd fan out the four of you and let the dogs work out front. Try pushing the field to a road and hope the birds hold until you get there. Trying to have a blocker with only 4 guys is tough. If you have one guy blocking chances he will be in the wrong place. 
Now if you have a tree strip to hunt I'd post 2 guys on one end and have two walk on the outside of the trees while the dog(s) work in between. Nice to have a dog with the blockers in case they have a wounded bird that tries to run off. If you are doing small drainages or ditches you can do the same thing. With two walking and two posting. Or if hunting a ditch you could have two guys and a dog start at one end and the other two guys and dog at the other end and walk towards each other. Good dogs will make a world of difference when hunting alone or only a few guys. Good luck.
Now if you have a tree strip to hunt I'd post 2 guys on one end and have two walk on the outside of the trees while the dog(s) work in between. Nice to have a dog with the blockers in case they have a wounded bird that tries to run off. If you are doing small drainages or ditches you can do the same thing. With two walking and two posting. Or if hunting a ditch you could have two guys and a dog start at one end and the other two guys and dog at the other end and walk towards each other. Good dogs will make a world of difference when hunting alone or only a few guys. Good luck.mustistuff
Banned
how to hunt
you just got some good advice. if you find a field too big to hunt, in your mind, then hunt the edges, most birds, most of the time will be at or near the field's edge
cheers
you just got some good advice. if you find a field too big to hunt, in your mind, then hunt the edges, most birds, most of the time will be at or near the field's edge
cheers
Seasoned advice from Zeb a.k.a. George - he's an accomplished hunter.
Avoid large crp and corn fields - very difficult to contain the birds; the edges work best - outside edge acts as a block. If you are working a field to a corner, slow down and let a very fleet-footed runner swing wide to the corner to block. The birds can become confused and turn back towards the pushers...
Good Luck and safe shooting.
Avoid large crp and corn fields - very difficult to contain the birds; the edges work best - outside edge acts as a block. If you are working a field to a corner, slow down and let a very fleet-footed runner swing wide to the corner to block. The birds can become confused and turn back towards the pushers...
Good Luck and safe shooting.
I do a lot of small group hunting that you are planning and also by myself. Like most above have stated hunt the edges. I've personally found that cutting crossways through an area where you can try and Chase then into a choke point, corner of a field or area where cover thins out, can work very well also.
carptom1
Well-known member
Something that has worked well for me over the years is using water to your advantage. There is a lot of it in parts of sd. If I am hunting next to a large body of water I use it as a blocker. Pheasants prefer to not fly over open water if it is larger than a couple hundred yards. They know they can't run over it when it is open, and I have found they get used to that and rarely go that way even when frozen. I have hunted the refuge up north many times by myself and had good success doing that.
david0311
Your receiving some good tips here--a couple of things I would add that work for me alone or a with a couple of guys especially in a large area are:
1--enter area from a area not used by everyone else--birds get wise to that--
2--no set pattern in mind--FOLLOW THE DOGS--let them work as they see fit--
this may not work as well without bird wise dogs but give it a try if you can
just a couple more ideas to try--The main thing is have fun and enjoy the country and people :thumbsup:
dc
Your receiving some good tips here--a couple of things I would add that work for me alone or a with a couple of guys especially in a large area are:
1--enter area from a area not used by everyone else--birds get wise to that--
2--no set pattern in mind--FOLLOW THE DOGS--let them work as they see fit--
this may not work as well without bird wise dogs but give it a try if you can
just a couple more ideas to try--The main thing is have fun and enjoy the country and people :thumbsup:
dc
Downtown Bang!
Member
I'm going to go against the grain here and say there is nothing wrong with hunting Roosters one at a time. The dogs get to shine and the hard earned victory when they pin a seasoned runner is very much worth the wait.
Hell, If it were me I'd split up into pairs and each pair take a dog. Unlike a lot of game birds wild Pheasants provide a unique opportunity to test the hunter/dog partnership.
Ruffed Grouse for instance are fun to chase but success is usually about how well one shoots in tight quarters that day. Success hunting pheasants in small groups is often more about how well one hunted that day. The shooting is secondary.
By all means if you get near the end of the day and the game bag is a little light then team up and push a good roosting area in during the golden hour. Choose well and the action should be fast and furious enough.
Hell, If it were me I'd split up into pairs and each pair take a dog. Unlike a lot of game birds wild Pheasants provide a unique opportunity to test the hunter/dog partnership.
Ruffed Grouse for instance are fun to chase but success is usually about how well one shoots in tight quarters that day. Success hunting pheasants in small groups is often more about how well one hunted that day. The shooting is secondary.
By all means if you get near the end of the day and the game bag is a little light then team up and push a good roosting area in during the golden hour. Choose well and the action should be fast and furious enough.
mustistuff
Banned
when all else fails
about half my hunting is the dogs and me, lately I have been dragging along pastor john, it is rare that there are three in the group, if you are counting on dog work, the more people the worse it will be, besides there just aren't enough roosters to go around for a big group these days. anyway, if you have a small field, 1/4 section or less, go to one end with your truck, play the radio real loud, slam doors, honk the horn and then drive to the other end and start hunting, you will be surprised just how nicely this works and how little walking you will have to do
cheers
about half my hunting is the dogs and me, lately I have been dragging along pastor john, it is rare that there are three in the group, if you are counting on dog work, the more people the worse it will be, besides there just aren't enough roosters to go around for a big group these days. anyway, if you have a small field, 1/4 section or less, go to one end with your truck, play the radio real loud, slam doors, honk the horn and then drive to the other end and start hunting, you will be surprised just how nicely this works and how little walking you will have to do
cheers
mustistuff
Banned
some things are kinda funny. I discovered what you are saying quite some time ago. it was a public area that gets pounded but I could always hunt the area and do really well, other hunters would stop short of the lake and that was all the space the rooster's needed to feel safe. so, as I thought that I had my very own little secrete, I guess that I didn't. the advice here is don't ever cut a field short
cheers
cheers
reddog
Well-known member
This would be my MO also.
Work independently, but together.
Each go their separate ways, and end up together at a pinch/block point.
One work the low ground, and one work the high ground. It seems like I always do better alone, if Im sharing some property with other hunters if I give them the prime stuff and I take the less attractive areas. The birds know that most folks wont go to the less attractive areas. Everybody wants to stay in the rough and tough stuff.. Dont be afraid to work the lightest piece of cover in the field..
It dont take much to hide a bird..
or a deer, for all that matters.
UplandHntr
Well-known member
I did that once - four guys with 2 dogs. My advice- recruit 2 more guys with dogs. You were there last year. Dogs get beat up in a hurry, depending on what type of cover youre hunting etc.
Have fun!
Have fun!
