On our way back now. In IA. Didn't get to report on the third day of hunting. Too late when we got back from dinner.
We started out well enough with my uncle getting two birds on our first push. Should've had a few more but I'm constantly amazed by their ability to find gaps. We did a lot of walking the rest of e day and found some birds. I hate to say I winged one that landed in thick stuff and took off running and neither the dig nor I could find it. I'm unimpressed by steel 4s from my 20 gauge. Seems like even some of the birds I got needed an anchor shot. What do u find works best from a 20 (was shooting a mid choke) in terms if impact energy/penetration. We shot steel the entire trip. EnDed the day with just the two birds from the beginning of e day.
That evening we ate at Boones again and then packed up.
This morning we did hunt for two hours and found some birds. The day ended well for me. I nailed a nice mature bird that I'm planning on putting on the wall. Only bird from the short morning. My uncle and I missed a cake shot on another but who's counting. Unfortunately he and my dad only lasted the first 1/2 hour this am. My dad was kicking some cattails and fell thru ice up to his knee and was out given the temp and windchill. My uncles hand was swollen and red from something he did a day or two before. So it was just me out for the last hour when I got the bird.
I have to say I'm very happy with our trip. And we did well for three guys who'd never pheasant hunted SD before. Lots of learning. Lots of poor shooting. And a few in the bag. But overall a good time. And this hunt even felt lime a vacation since you can't start to 10a.
The best part was being out there with my dad and uncle. Regardless of age or how many times I hunt with family they're always to far and few in between. Unfortunately my dad and uncle are getting older and I'm getting busier with work and being spread out doesn't help. Pheasant hunting is so great because it's a social hunt. Breakfast in the morning and catching up and then dinner and asking each other how'd you miss that shot at dinner.
Super happy with my dog. She went from sort of knowing what she was looking for from the limited bird work I've been able to do (mostly bumpers and simple marks for field work in her first year) and following me thru thick stuff the first day to doing the labrador bounce thru the cattails this morning with tail wagging to get the last few flushes before she left. In the last day and a half I got to watch her flush the few birds that held well (hens) and then look at me like "Where's the shot?". Quartering training this summer is a must. Overall very satisfying to see progress in a few days Ike that.
I really want to go back next year and will be planning early. Although I was unimpressed at the motel. Think we may be staying elsewhere in the future. A lot of learning was had on this trip beyond that as well.
I'm cautiously optimistic about the bird #s for next year. Corn is up, the economy is down, and pheasants are caught in the middle. However I believe there will never be a better time than now to just go. It's impossible to regret a trip like this. Take your father, son, brother or family or best friends because birds in the bag don't make the trip, the company and the memories made do and will. It was fun to hear my dad and uncle talk about the glory days of PA and take them on their first pheasant hunt since the 1970s.
