Dove results and pheasant scout

kansasbrittany

kansasbrittany

Banned
Started yesterday out in a sunflower field watching a good lightning show. Harvested 15 doves quickly with my GWP and 6yo helping move things along. Went to a cabin in NC KS. That thing is very nice and well worth the $! We enjoyed a great view of the stars from the fishing dock.

However, I do have some bad news to report. I put 40 or so miles on the truck, driving the backroads. This was during the "magical hour." While I did see some good cover, even in fields that were mowed earlier this summer, I did NOT see a single pheasant:( Nor did I see pheasant tracks in the spots I got out and walked (between CRP and milo fields...no tracks on the road:confused:). While I don't expect to see stellar #'s in this part of the state, I do expect to hear a cackle or 2, see some tracks, and maybe even a clutch of chicks on a decent year.

There weren't many dove in the area, but I was out before the sun was up anyway. Shot a couple of fast flying dove in the wind, then got back in the truck to see if I could find a rooster before we left. We spent a just shy of 2hrs driving this morning and never saw a pheasant. In the 4 stops we made, we didn't see any tracks.

I saw one covey of quail for which I'm thankful. They were on the refuge.
 
not good my friend,not good.....
Hope my report will be better. Going to take my wife's laptop along,if I can will give field reports.
 
not hearing but one or 2 roosters crowing this past two evenings- no sign of them in the last 2 mornings- we aren't seeing them on the road early in the morning- nor in the evening- way worse than last year-

we haven't seen a pheasant or quail chick

where last year I had hens and roosters arround- none this year

have yet to get a picture of a quail or a pheasant

might just be a good year to let the Britts run big

wonder what the KDWP has to say "not a banner year but you'll find birds"
 
Last edited:
yeah, let's see them put a spin on this season's outlook...they have done it before.......i can hear it now...the inevitable "pockets of excellence"....;)
 
Ouch! I may be collateral damage to those open choked shots:) Glad I don't write that! Lesson of the day: always call "field" staff for local reports. It's kinda like weathermen, except you can always get more rain, more heat, or more snow before the next nesting season.
 
hunter94 said:
yeah, let's see them put a spin on this season's outlook...they have done it before.......i can hear it now...the inevitable "pockets of excellence"....;)
Click to expand...

I guarantee that now that KDWP and tourism are one, the outlook will be suspiciously better than ever.

"folks are having to beat pheasants off with a stick"... I hope Brownback gets skunked.
 
"While some hunters will have limited success, many in the state will see increased numbers over previous years." That would be a typical response. Even tho it means it was dry and hottttt and many areas will be poor to very poor. Hopefully we'll be ok and have a decent year.
 
Spent the last two days in prime phez country,places where we saw hundreds of birds last year.Sorry to report,that after driving around for over two hours from 5:30 till sunset,I saw nothing.Zero.Stopped and walked the roads along a mile section of grass,where we shot alot of birds last year,nothing,no tracks.
Talked to a couple of farmers,and they said that there are some birds,but no young ones survived the heat.
In my opinion,this will be one of the worst years that we have seen for awhile.
The sad thing,that IF we would of had a favorable spring and summer,this would of been one of the best years in a long time.
The only hope that I have is that where I was,there was alot of crops still in the field,and maybe the birds where in the fields,but not sure.
 
gsh lover said:
Spent the last two days in prime phez country,places where we saw hundreds of birds last year.Sorry to report,that after driving around for over two hours from 5:30 till sunset,I saw nothing.Zero.Stopped and walked the roads along a mile section of grass,where we shot alot of birds last year,nothing,no tracks.
Talked to a couple of farmers,and they said that there are some birds,but no young ones survived the heat.
In my opinion,this will be one of the worst years that we have seen for awhile.
The sad thing,that IF we would of had a favorable spring and summer,this would of been one of the best years in a long time.
The only hope that I have is that where I was,there was alot of crops still in the field,and maybe the birds where in the fields,but not sure.
Click to expand...

OH NO! If you're referring to the road where we started on the opener, that is TERRIBLE news! It doesn't matter if all of the crops were in and 75% of the population was momentarily invisible, you should see plenty of signs in that area and a few pheasants. You're right about the carryover/poor breeding season. We had great #'s at the end of the season.

2 questions;

Dove, see any shoot any?

Is the grass thick enough to sustain the few birds we have through the winter (best guess)?
 
Lots of doves,all over.No,was so concerned about lack of phez,that I did not take the time to stop for awhile.
Chad,looks like there was more weed around your place,then around my place,but the crp was thin,it liiked like it does in the dead of winter.There was some green weeds in the ditches,and some of the milo was very weedy,so if we can find them they will have some cover.
One more thing SAND BURRS thick like very thick.
Send me how to make those dog boots out of tubes,I am going to make some and put them on Max,so he can get use to them.
I made the huge mistake,out at Marks,walked into a milo field that was bording his grass,looking for sign,and only had sandels on,one misstep later,and I was crying for my wife to come help me.I just barly dragged my foot,and had over 50 balls of pain in my foot.Have never seen them so bad. Makes since though,dry land makes for more thorns.
Will PM you later.
 
gsh lover said:
Lots of doves,all over.No,was so concerned about lack of phez,that I did not take the time to stop for awhile.
Chad,looks like there was more weed around your place,then around my place,but the crp was thin,it liiked like it does in the dead of winter.There was some green weeds in the ditches,and some of the milo was very weedy,so if we can find them they will have some cover.
One more thing SAND BURRS thick like very thick.
Send me how to make those dog boots out of tubes,I am going to make some and put them on Max,so he can get use to them.
I made the huge mistake,out at Marks,walked into a milo field that was bording his grass,looking for sign,and only had sandels on,one misstep later,and I was crying for my wife to come help me.I just barly dragged my foot,and had over 50 balls of pain in my foot.Have never seen them so bad. Makes since though,dry land makes for more thorns.
Will PM you later.
Click to expand...

Hopefully a few of those milo fields will have the weeds left in them. I know dad was spraying for weeds last time I talked to him:mad: Well, I'm not really mad, more like disappointed. It's not my land so it's not my business.

I'd be happy to share with you what I've learned about the boots to this point. It was a bit easier w/ the shorthair than the britts, but I simply had too much tape contacting the fur so they were hard to remove. They aren't all that easy to get on and it took me awhile. I have yet to perfect the technique:rolleyes: However, they did their intended job so it was worth the effort. Knowing what I know b/c of doing it, I'm gonna learn to like it and get better at it;)

Looking forward to the pm when you get the chance:thumbsup:
 
not sure what all the trouble is with the cycle tube boots

first- you get a motorcyle tube- 4/00-4/50 X18
you cut 4 11" pieces- slip it over the dogs foot and double it back over enough so you can lay a layer of "quality" duct tape arround the top- you don't tape the boot to the dogs leg

never had a bit of trouble- and it's my go to boots- but my dogs feet sweat- meaning- when I remove the cycle tubes their feet are wet

I prefer the nylon dog boots for LCS
 
Shadow said:
not sure what all the trouble is with the cycle tube boots
Click to expand...

I tried it for the first time last season and only got to try it twice. I'll be going back through some old threads to find the pics someone was kind enough to share and reread the instructions.
 
I use that size cycle tube because it slips over the feet easily-
just long enough so doubled back it is above the large part of the foot-
I tear the duct tape in strips 3/4th's inch wide long enough to go arround twice- not at the edge of the rubber

really work well- HD cycle tube is tough-
darn- new cycle tube is almost as expensive as the set of 4 HD nylon dog boots from LCS- those boots are nice- velcro strap and I still use duct tape

1st year here I was shocked at the field behind the house- 5 min mine were all limping- it was bad- not so bad this year

I'd say it's always a good idea in this country to have a tube and duct tape in case you find a nice looking field with sand burrs- think of it this way- if there are so many burrs your dog can't go 10 min- neither can the coyotes or cats:)
 
Shadow said:
I use that size cycle tube because it slips over the feet easily-
just long enough so doubled back it is above the large part of the foot-
I tear the duct tape in strips 3/4th's inch wide long enough to go arround twice- not at the edge of the rubber

really work well- HD cycle tube is tough-
darn- new cycle tube is almost as expensive as the set of 4 HD nylon dog boots from LCS- those boots are nice- velcro strap and I still use duct tape

1st year here I was shocked at the field behind the house- 5 min mine were all limping- it was bad- not so bad this year

I'd say it's always a good idea in this country to have a tube and duct tape in case you find a nice looking field with sand burrs- think of it this way- if there are so many burrs your dog can't go 10 min- neither can the coyotes or cats:)
Click to expand...


Yep, that was the first thing I noticed. The size I bought were too small. I may be investing in some boots and using the tubes as back up.

I'm surprised (and delighted) to hear you say you're not seeing as many burrs. I expected it to be a terrible year for burrs.

Excellent point Sir! Not to mention the feint-hearted hunters that will turn around and find another field;)

Thanks for the tips Shadow.
 
Our dove spot was a little slow this year despite seeing lots of them. Saw some pheasants here and there.
 
Last edited:
DSCN0226.jpg


take a look- those are millions of millions of those burrs- field is 1/2 mile by 1/2 mile-

they disced it all and planted wheat- wheat didn't do very well- they sprayed-
not very many burrs actually, not much for cover-
 
While hunting around Pratt for dove saw a few pheasants and heard a few while hunting, did see 2 pairs with chicks (almost full grown), and heard and saw a few roosters. When going into Pratt last Saturday evening I stopped by a convience store, and the lady asked me how the dove hunting was and that she worked for KDWP and said they just got make the crowing counts and the were real bad, the worst in years. Heard and saw a few quail, but most were singles. The crp is thin. Looks like a poor year, but at least it is better than working (hopefully).

Rod
 
hotrod13 said:
While hunting around Pratt for dove saw a few pheasants and heard a few while hunting, did see 2 pairs with chicks (almost full grown), and heard and saw a few roosters. When going into Pratt last Saturday evening I stopped by a convience store, and the lady asked me how the dove hunting was and that she worked for KDWP and said they just got make the crowing counts and the were real bad, the worst in years. Heard and saw a few quail, but most were singles. The crp is thin. Looks like a poor year, but at least it is better than working (hopefully).

Rod
Click to expand...

I misread your post, you said you saw a few and heard a few. You meant to say theres not a bird to be had around Pratt. New forum policy we implemented. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top