Don't give up just yet!

I dont know whats going on in NW Iowa. The family ground is holding birds where there werent before, and none where there were. Scenting conditions were crap, super dry. Im thinking the fact that the water supply dried up moved them elsewhere?
That said- with some tough work flushed and shot my limit and the pup got some hard lessons in running roosters versus game farm wannabes. Took 4 or 5 passes through the same area before they lost their nerve and flushed. The Late Season seems to be starting early this year.
Nate we should head over to Fat Boys for an adult beverage and some note comparing sometime.
 
nstric said:
I'm resting today, then taking a friend out tomorrow morning. Plan is to head to some of my fields a bit further north, and less west, to see how that goes.

I too will provide report upon return.
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A good . . . no, GREAT morning! Seemed like years past!

Took "Kevin" out, a good friend of mine that actually introduced me to pheasant hunting about 15-20 years ago. He's got a 6 month old GSP that he hadn't yet been able to get in front of any wild birds. That changed come the end of this morning's hunt!

Two ajoining fields, around one hour of easy walking. First Gunner point, 15+ partridge. I was so shocked I didn't even pull the trigger. Good to see them this far south. Second Gunner point, 7 roosters (seriously) and a handful of hens. Three trigger pulls, 3 roosters bagged. Kevin scores a double and "Nelli" (his GSP) finds one of the downed birds (her first).

On to the next field. Two minutes in Gunner goes on point. Nelli backs, or hits the scent on her own. Two roosters flush and Kevin nails his second double, with my assist on the second of the two. We push on, and Gunner gets up 4 hens. Another rooster flushes wild, and Nelli bumps what we think is a hen.

We decide to get Nelli some practice on the hens, but only manage to get one of them to take flight. They had their track shoes on.

Last push on the south most edge, in some thicker cover. I put Kevin and Nelli right on the edge, figuring that's where they'd be, and Gunner and I work in parallel to the north, pinching down towards Kevin. The dogs get birdy, Nelli seems to be tracking, and two roosters and one hen burst up. One shot, one down, again by Kevin. Gunner on the blind retrieve, then manages to get four more roosters up out of the same patch. Guns were unloaded.

6 shots, exceptional dog work, 6 bagged. Can it get any better?

It can. On the drive home, we stop at a spot I see from the road to take a picture. I put the truck in park and right away see 4 roosters in the ditch. For fun, I step out . . . up flush well over 30 pheasants. Well over. Two waves of them. It was fantastic to see.

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berettadouble said:
I dont know whats going on in NW Iowa. The family ground is holding birds where there werent before, and none where there were. Scenting conditions were crap, super dry. Im thinking the fact that the water supply dried up moved them elsewhere?
That said- with some tough work flushed and shot my limit and the pup got some hard lessons in running roosters versus game farm wannabes. Took 4 or 5 passes through the same area before they lost their nerve and flushed. The Late Season seems to be starting early this year.
Nate we should head over to Fat Boys for an adult beverage and some note comparing sometime.
Click to expand...

I too don't live too far from Fat Boyz. I would be up for some note comparing as well.

nstric said:
A good . . . no, GREAT morning! Seemed like years past!

Took "Kevin" out, a good friend of mine that actually introduced me to pheasant hunting about 15-20 years ago. He's got a 6 month old GSP that he hadn't yet been able to get in front of any wild birds. That changed come the end of this morning's hunt!

Two ajoining fields, around one hour of easy walking. First Gunner point, 15+ partridge. I was so shocked I didn't even pull the trigger. Good to see them this far south. Second Gunner point, 7 roosters (seriously) and a handful of hens. Three trigger pulls, 3 roosters bagged. Kevin scores a double and "Nelli" (his GSP) finds one of the downed birds (her first).

On to the next field. Two minutes in Gunner goes on point. Nelli backs, or hits the scent on her own. Two roosters flush and Kevin nails his second double, with my assist on the second of the two. We push on, and Gunner gets up 4 hens. Another rooster flushes wild, and Nelli bumps what we think is a hen.

We decide to get Nelli some practice on the hens, but only manage to get one of them to take flight. They had their track shoes on.

Last push on the south most edge, in some thicker cover. I put Kevin and Nelli right on the edge, figuring that's where they'd be, and Gunner and I work in parallel to the north, pinching down towards Kevin. The dogs get birdy, Nelli seems to be tracking, and two roosters and one hen burst up. One shot, one down, again by Kevin. Gunner on the blind retrieve, then manages to get four more roosters up out of the same patch. Guns were unloaded.

6 shots, exceptional dog work, 6 bagged. Can it get any better?

It can. On the drive home, we stop at a spot I see from the road to take a picture. I put the truck in park and right away see 4 roosters in the ditch. For fun, I step out . . . up flush well over 30 pheasants. Well over. Two waves of them. It was fantastic to see.
Click to expand...

We definitely need to compare notes...and how to keep my 2 year old GSP from hunting on her own. I think that is some of my problem. She hasn't been professionally trained and typically minds well...until she gets bored.
 
My buddy and I worked hard today. Four shots, four bagged. One double on a flush of 5 roosters.

Also our first quail of the year! We don't shoot until we see at least 8 in a covey. There were 11, we shot once, and downed one.

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Hello Nate,

Nice photo. I am heading up to the Bancroft area later this week. Enjoy that quail! As you are well aware, they are few and far between in the areas we hunt. Have yet to have a partridge at the table that I have enjoyed eating. I don't even pull the trigger on them anymore. Reports to come!
 
KBell said:
I am heading up to the Bancroft area later this week. Enjoy that quail! As you are well aware, they are few and far between in the areas we hunt. Have yet to have a partridge at the table that I have enjoyed eating. I don't even pull the trigger on them anymore. Reports to come!
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Good luck. I've great memories of my one hunt in Bancroft back in '01, when my first dog was a pup. We shot 15 roosters over him -- in one field -- in less than an hour. It was absolutely amazing. That field helped shape the bird dog he become.

Here's to wishing you the same level of success!
 
No birds in bancroft area stay away. You will never hunt again if you see how crappy it is around here. Dog will need therapy if you let him hunt there. Waters piosoned,airs messed up yep you better stay away:eek: Good luck don't shot them all save some for me Kbell:)
 
Hello CaptainCoot,

I will be solo again on Saturday. The most damage I can inflict on the Bancroft area will be three birds:) If I'm lucky. I will work the dog, Sophie longer if the birds are there. I have absolutely no problem or regrets flushing birds and watching them sail!:D I will post a report upon my return.
 
Heading to Rippey (Snake Creek Marsh) tomorrow morning and then up by Sac City next Wednesday. Will report what I saw tomorrow.
 
Took an out-of-state friend (and visitor of this site) hunting for a few hours this morning. Gunner put us over 3 roosters, and we got 2 of them.

My friend had a nice shot on the last. He folded the two year old bird despite the 40 mph wind and Gunner had a nice find in the seven foot tall switchgrass.
 
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After following this site for awhile, I finally registered today. I am the "out of state friend" Nate referenced above. We had a great couple hour hunt Friday morning. Gunner was very impressive and put up a limit of roosters for me to shoot in a short hunt. One I missed clean, one I thought was a hen and the other I folded in one heck of a wind. All in all a great day with some exceptional dog work.

I live in KS but hunt alot in Iowa. Look forward to meeting a few new friends here. Attached is a pic of the hunt from Friday with proud Gunner, myself and our birds.
 
Welcome Ia at heart!:) You will find friendship and the love of Iowa bird hunting and our dogs at this site. It is an honor to meet, get to know, and communicate with the many great hunters on our site. Again, I welcome you!:)
 
Kbell - Thanks for the warm welcome, appreciate it much. I sure do enjoy reading all the posts, especially all the good dog work and stories. It really is a pleasure to see a great dog work the birds like I saw Friday. Getting a few shots or a few birds is a bonus for me. I will be back up after those Iowa birds in December and look forward to the Iowa hospitality. As my screen name says, I may live in KS but I am ...IA at heart
 
Welcome IA at Heart:) I went out sunday more looking for spot to trap furry beast then to shoot pheasant would of had a limit easy. Must be getting soft in my old age:D Forgot collar for browndog and he even stayed close all day:thumbsup: Never use it on him but had me worried he was going to turn into this uncontrolable beast without it:eek: It's amazing hunters never go to the back of these hunting areas.
 
A planned hunt with another buddy fell through today -- work got in the way -- so Gunner and I got a short one in. Heavy fog and rain made for an interesting early morning, but we managed two. Saw good numbers in one of two fields I hunted.

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Nate - That is an outstanding picture! Just a great all around shot of the birds and Gunner, nice work.
Oh yea, did you by chance spot those choke tubes anywhere? I was thinking about it and they may very well be near the field drive of the last field we hunted. I remember wrestling a bit with my gun case in the wind (they were in my case) at that spot and if they are not in your truck I bet they fell out there. Oh well, what are you gonna do. Have a good Turkey Day!
 
Great photo Nate! I am heading back north and west on Friday. If you read my earlier posts you noted that I saw a 50-50 ratio of roosters to hens up there. When hunting closer to home, my ratio is poor with a 5-1 ratio. Are you noticing this in your areas too? I believe this will play a part in the south's and central's slower recovery-God willing!:)

Enjoy your holiday and give Gunner a piece of turkey for me! He has earned it!:)
 
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