Can pheasants see blaze orange?

B

BKelly

Member
So late in the pheasant hunting season last year, I was in Kooch's shop in Winner talking about how we were having a tough time ambushing the wise old late season birds, when another guy in the shop heard us talking and told us the problem was our blaze orange hats. The guy seemed pretty serious about it, and Kooch agreed with him.

Any one else here the same thing? I've been hunting with the same guys for a long time, and I'm not worried about them shooting me. Since it sounds like we will be hunting mainly wise old birds this year, I figured I'd give it a try and get rid of the blaze orange. I'll have to double check, but I don't think any blaze orange is required in SD.
 
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Here is a real life experience , my dad , cousin where hunting a small creek with shrubs and grass that ran through a crop field . My dad and cousin glowed in orange . I had a tan color bird vest and whatever ball cap I normally wore . I was getting all the shooting and had to ask them to toss me shells over cause I had ran out . This was a Kansas combo hunt quail ans pheasant . I remember shooting 5 or 6 quail and 2 roosters in that walk .
 
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I've been wearing a blaze orange hat and a vest with blaze orange on it for the last 23 years. I've also been hunting South Dakota for the last 23 years, and up until the last few years, there has been so many damn pheasants it hasn't mattered.

I know the place we hunt will be loaded with pheasants again this year, but I think most of them will be wise old pheasants. At the same place last year we tried several unsuccessful ambush attacks on a few small draws. Before we could even get within 10 yards of the draws, the birds were already busting out of the far back corner and I know they didn't hear us. All the draws are lower and I'm sure they see us as soon as we start walking down into the draws.

I'm having a hell of a time finding a camo vest. Most of the camo vests are for dove hunting and are extremely light weight.
 
I would have to say YES with my extensive experience in Kansas. I normally wear a blaze orange hat and shell vest. There are a couple corners I hit every year and the same thing happens EVERY time. Just as I take the very first step into the CRP the birds take off out of the other end. Not a single bird stays in the CRP. So, I tried coming in from one of the other corners and they bale out a different end into the adjacent corn. I can predict what is going to happen with 100% accuracy. Maybe I will try these three or four spots without the blaze hat.
 
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Bilbo - I knew something was up last year because the wind was blowing right in our face at 50 MPH, and there is no way they could have heard us coming as quickly as they bailed. Do you hunt a lot in CO? I live in Golden and have lived in CO for 12 years. I haven't hunted much out here, but I've heard good things.
 
This isn't good. I usually wear a long sleeve day glow orange shirt and an orange hat. I plaster the orange on my son. My dog sometimes even wears orange.
 
BKelly said:
I've been wearing a blaze orange hat and a vest with blaze orange on it for the last 23 years. I've also been hunting South Dakota for the last 23 years, and up until the last few years, there has been so many damn pheasants it hasn't mattered.

I know the place we hunt will be loaded with pheasants again this year, but I think most of them will be wise old pheasants. At the same place last year we tried several unsuccessful ambush attacks on a few small draws. Before we could even get within 10 yards of the draws, the birds were already busting out of the far back corner and I know they didn't hear us. All the draws are lower and I'm sure they see us as soon as we start walking down into the draws.

I'm having a hell of a time finding a camo vest. Most of the camo vests are for dove hunting and are extremely light weight.
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Can somebody define or help me picture the term "draw". Ive heard it used multiple times on this site and through years of pheasant hunting but I guess I never really asked what that is, until now where guys are using the term and I'm having a hard time picturing what that means in pheasant/landscape language. Not trying to steer away from the original topic of this thread, a short answer works. Help me out.
 
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I hear ya, everyone who I hunt with wears a blaze orange hat/vest, at a minimum. I need to check the blaze orange requirements in SD.
 
TBIRD19 said:
Can somebody define or help me picture the term "draw". Ive heard it used multiple times on this site and through years of pheasant hunting but I guess I never really asked what that is, until now where guys are using the term and I'm having a hard time picturing what that means in pheasant/landscape language. Not trying to steer away from the original topic of this thread, a short answer works. Help me out.
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Usually describes a linear lower land feature in the landscape. Waterway, small valley, low spot in field that runs a ways...Least that's what it means to me.
 
BKelly said:
I've been wearing a blaze orange hat and a vest with blaze orange on it for the last 23 years. I've also been hunting South Dakota for the last 23 years, and up until the last few years, there has been so many damn pheasants it hasn't mattered.

I know the place we hunt will be loaded with pheasants again this year, but I think most of them will be wise old pheasants. At the same place last year we tried several unsuccessful ambush attacks on a few small draws. Before we could even get within 10 yards of the draws, the birds were already busting out of the far back corner and I know they didn't hear us. All the draws are lower and I'm sure they see us as soon as we start walking down into the draws.

I'm having a hell of a time finding a camo vest. Most of the camo vests are for dove hunting and are extremely light weight.
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IMO, sometimes they just know when someone is in their backyard. Call it one of the mysteries of nature.?? Maybe they see ya, maybe they hear ya, both of which is underestimated by many hunters. The more birds in the field the spookier they become. All it takes is one old rooster who's been around the block a few times to recognize when somethings up to bring the rest of them with him.

I kind of liken it to the days when I used to chase Snow Geese. Everyone used to say they are incredibly smart and weary. We'll ... yes but the other part of the equation is they are grouped up in large numbers with lots eyes looking at ya and some of those older adult birds that have been up and down the flyway so many times that when they spot something that doesn't look right the whole flock listens.
 
I shoot a couple of benefit tower or european shoots a year. Fresh out of the pen flying pheasants will avoid your peg if you wear bright colors or move before they are in range. They are just that smart. Its why they are so fun to hunt.
 
BKelly, I have not taken the opportunity to hunt in CO., I mostly stick to Nebraska and Kansas. I looked at the Kansas regs and could not find anything where blaze orange is mandatory. Since I hunt solo a bunch I might try one of those spots where the birds dump out the opposite end as I enter the far end. I am always quiet and try to walk in the wind. Maybe someone else will chime in on the subject.
 
Late season I have had guys hang their blaze orange on fence post and hide in between where they hung them and did quite well.
 
I like the blaze orange hat trick for posting. I'm always doing the damn back and forth shuffle when posting because the birds are always busting opposite corner.

I couldn't find anything in the SD hunting regulations regarding blaze orange. I've hunted with the same guys for a few decades, so I'm not worried about them not seeing me, and shooting me.

If anyone knows of a good non blaze orange vest, I'd love a recommendation. All I have found so far is dove hunting vests.
 
I also believe they can see blaze orange.

Furthermore, one the recent outdoor rags claimed that their feet are particularly sensitive to vibration. So now we have to worry about being seen, heard (because we know they hear pretty well too), and FELT. It's amazing we're able to kill a few.
 
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