OK, we all know that pheasants can be tough on pointing dogs, those roosters like to run, but after hunting SD for 3 years now, twice in the early weeks, once the week before Thanksgiving, what time of year do you pointer guys like? This year the crops were not in yet, and all the birds we found were in the milo strips, where I could not even see my britt, the main reason for me going to SD is getting good work for the dog, but the way it's going, I'll have a flusher instead of a pointer. Really like the state and the people are super friendly, just need to know when to run a pointer. Thanks
best time for pointing dogs
- Thread starter jdk529
- Start date
Seems like it's always a challenge to run any dog in Milo or corn crop - difficult to see the dog, often hard to get the gun to the shoulder and if the dog ranges...you may not get a shot at all.
I find crp a bit easier, but that can be a challenge, as my dog blends with the grass. I often use a bell which helps and keeping him close, allows me to get a shot.
Not sure this answers your question re pointers vs flushers and the right time of the year - maybe one of each is the answer!
I find crp a bit easier, but that can be a challenge, as my dog blends with the grass. I often use a bell which helps and keeping him close, allows me to get a shot.
Not sure this answers your question re pointers vs flushers and the right time of the year - maybe one of each is the answer!
After 10 years hunting in SD (skipped this year) my SM Munsterlander has a hell of a time pinning down those wild running birds. A few hens here and there, a rooster here and there. If I only hunted SD I would get a lab. big strong dog to go through cat tails and retrieve in the toughest thickest cover.
I love watching my dog point but not too many chances in SD.
I love watching my dog point but not too many chances in SD.
SetterNut
New member
The strength of a pointing dog is to cover larger amounts of ground, especially when the birds are spread out.
If you are hunting places where the birds are concentrated in dense cover, that is more the realm of flushing dogs IMO.
I have never hunted in SD so I do not know the cover there. But what I like to hunt pheasants with pointing dog here in KS is open spaces. Large CRP is my favorite type of hunting. But wheat and milo stubble can also be fun.
So I would prefer to hunt after the crops are out of the field.
If you are hunting places where the birds are concentrated in dense cover, that is more the realm of flushing dogs IMO.
I have never hunted in SD so I do not know the cover there. But what I like to hunt pheasants with pointing dog here in KS is open spaces. Large CRP is my favorite type of hunting. But wheat and milo stubble can also be fun.
So I would prefer to hunt after the crops are out of the field.
carptom1
Well-known member
I can see where both times would have it's advantages and disadvantages. I think I shoot more birds closer in december when it's cold and snowy. Really you are not going to get close to the large groups without an army, but there are usually plenty of close birds that don't want too leave. Last december, for instance, there were many points of birds. If I were to pick one trip a year that's when I would go. Early season is too iffy.
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pheasantaddict
New member
The first snow.
I would agree with Carptomi, of course I always agree with him on everything! Last December we had several "close-iin" opportunities; dog points and we wait for the flush. For some reason, these shots are the worst for me - I miss the easy ones!
Switching guns or chokes probably is the answer, at least for me - use an open choke for the pointed birds!
Switching guns or chokes probably is the answer, at least for me - use an open choke for the pointed birds!
reddog
Well-known member
If the birds are in the food plots, then I will go where the birds are, but if theres a large crp field to push the birds out into, thats what Ill do, and hunt them more effectively there with my pointers.. Row crops are very effective for groups of people, who have blockers.. Solo hunters, whether they have pointers or flushers, will struggle most times in a row crop situation.
As much as I dont like hunting dense cattails with my pointers late season, you cannot dispute how many birds are holed up in them. There is no way to push them to the grasslands, when they are in the tails.. so you just put your head down, and keep walking.. and hope that you can hunt the whole slough. It stinks when there is a property line through the slough that doesnt allow you to herd the pheasants into more amicable cover.
I had no troubles getting pointed birds with my GSP, other than opening weekend, when I shot 1 prairie chicken, and never fired a shot at a pheasant.
BRITTMAN
Well-known member
One of my prior Britts was simply a pheasant machine. I was convinced she knew how to get ahead of running birds and stop them by pinning the birds between her and us.
Know your dogs, know your quarry, know what types of cover offer the best chance for you to kill birds.
Know your dogs, know your quarry, know what types of cover offer the best chance for you to kill birds.
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BRITTMAN
Well-known member
BRITTMAN
Well-known member
I have never had a problem killing roosters with my Brittanys - opener 'til end of season. People are walking past roosters all the time. Mainly hunt MN and ND, but have hunted SD (often) and IA. In 2013 - my Brittanys had points on roosters every time out buy one and ninety percent of my hunting this year was MN public land. The blank day was essentially a ground blizzard day that I cut short.
Cattails while problematic at times with pointing dogs are no longer a problem >> Garmin has solved that problem.
A few years ago we were duck hunting a point on a pond. The land next to us was CRP. We watched as a big group of pheasants flew over the crest of a hill (suspect they were on the road) and landed out in the grass.
I was about to grab a kid or two and walk over with my Brittany (they hunt ducks too), but we were beat to the spot by 4 guys with 3 labs - coming in from the other direction. They pushed through the cover fast and walked right near where the birds landed. They put up some hens, but never fired a shot. OK - I said now lets go them ... kids seeing that the guys with 3 labs got nothing said no. Took the Britt and shot two roosters in 20 minutes. Dog pointed 10 - 15 birds. We got two more when some of the birds I put up flew over the duck decoys and the kids and my brother pass shot them.
I rarely hunt big "sections" of CRP. I do not hunt unharvested crops unless they are small crop strips located in public hunting areas.
Question (Tip): There is one word that us ruffed grouse hunters know and live by ... it is true for pheasant hunters too... what word is that ?
Cattails while problematic at times with pointing dogs are no longer a problem >> Garmin has solved that problem.
A few years ago we were duck hunting a point on a pond. The land next to us was CRP. We watched as a big group of pheasants flew over the crest of a hill (suspect they were on the road) and landed out in the grass.
I was about to grab a kid or two and walk over with my Brittany (they hunt ducks too), but we were beat to the spot by 4 guys with 3 labs - coming in from the other direction. They pushed through the cover fast and walked right near where the birds landed. They put up some hens, but never fired a shot. OK - I said now lets go them ... kids seeing that the guys with 3 labs got nothing said no. Took the Britt and shot two roosters in 20 minutes. Dog pointed 10 - 15 birds. We got two more when some of the birds I put up flew over the duck decoys and the kids and my brother pass shot them.
I rarely hunt big "sections" of CRP. I do not hunt unharvested crops unless they are small crop strips located in public hunting areas.
Question (Tip): There is one word that us ruffed grouse hunters know and live by ... it is true for pheasant hunters too... what word is that ?
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Early season in SD was best for me and my GSH....While on point the birds weren't as skiddish as they are later in the season....seems to me like they held a bit tighter.....as the season went on and we had a solid point the bird wasn't always there.....may have moved 10-20 yards by the time I made it to her......I've been learning to get to the point quicker.....Later in the season the labs did a bit better.....they were able to "run the bird up" and we were able to get reasonable length shots......I enjoy watching both work...
wesslpointer
New member
Dream
If your dog pointed 10-15 wild pheasants right after 3labs went though the word is DREAM
I've had good luck almost anytime of the year. It comes down to having a steady dog, even if some birds bust before you get there if your dog is steady there WILL be birds left over. If your dog breaks at the first flush then it's going to be tough unless you can go after singles. The more time your dog gets on wild birds the better it will become.
1pheas4
Moderator
I'm not sure if this helps or not, but I see a lot of pointers in October (in SD). A lot of them!
By November I don't see nearly as many for some reason. I really don't know why that is. By December, I'll see a few pointers here and there, but not nearly as many.
So maybe the best time in SD (with a pointer) would be October??? I'm simply basing this on the amount of pointers vs flushers/retrievers I've seen out there and when. Hope this helps
By November I don't see nearly as many for some reason. I really don't know why that is
. By December, I'll see a few pointers here and there, but not nearly as many.So maybe the best time in SD (with a pointer) would be October??? I'm simply basing this on the amount of pointers vs flushers/retrievers I've seen out there and when. Hope this helps
carptom1
Well-known member
I'm not sure if this helps or not, but I see a lot of pointers in October (in SD). A lot of them!
By November I don't see nearly as many for some reason. I really don't know why that is
So maybe the best time in SD (with a pointer) would be October??? I'm simply basing this on the amount of pointers vs flushers/retrievers I've seen out there and when. Hope this helps
That's because the flusher guy's are tougher