How far?

pheasantaddict

pheasantaddict

New member
How far will you travel for a one day return trip pheasant hunt? I have made 4 trips so far this year where the drive is 6 hrs (3up/3back). This is to hunt public ground where a good day is just seeing birds. A great day is getting one bird and getting two birds is outstanding. A 3 bird day, late season without snow...is once in a blue moon. I had a blue moon day today. ;)
 
Well about twenty five years ago I made several trips to SE GA leaving home @ 2:00 AM to get there by 6:30 hunt quail all day and drive home that night, another 4 and a half hours and sometimes not find any birds at all. After getting out of the truck and stepping over a rattler I decided my dog meant more than that risk was worth to me. Does that qualify? I figured out today that I spent $0.32/ mile this year to get a few wild birds in front of my dog in Nebraska. 3800 miles RT= 1200+$. I'll do it again if I can afford it. I am really sick I guess. Here's a picture I took of a herd of angus in a cornfield under a full moon, and another of my dog and a successful hunt.
 
When I used to hunt in PA I would drive one and a half to two hrs. one way to hunt pheasants. Three hrs. one way would definately be the most I would drive for a 1 day hunt.
 
3 1/2hrs one way for the same type of day you described addict.
 
For us old guys, the 2+ hour drive, then flog yourself throughchest high CRP for 5 or 6 hours, drive home makes for an exhausting day. I now understand why the older hunters of my youth wanted to get motels. If it's over 1 and a half hours now one way I get a motel and try to make it a 2 day or more trip.
 
Used to hunt pheasants and quail down around Corydon, IA. Went down there the last time I think about 8-9 years ago. Last time we went we planned on staying for the weekend but the hunting was so poor we turned around and returned home the same day. I think that was over 11 hours in the car. I'm thinking it was the last year we hunted in Iowa after going for about 13 - 14 years.

Pheasant addict we used to hunt around Atlantic also. How close is that to you? Any birds left in that area at all?
 
Pretty close to Atlantic. The area I hunt has always been better than Atlantic and there are very few birds here, so I imagine Atlantic is similiar. Though I hear they have a good pheasants forever leader there.
 
I only did this once and it was when I was alot younger. From where we lived in Ill. it was a 5 hr ride to the place we hunted in Iowa. Lets put it this way, When you leave at 3:00 to get there at 8:00 then hunt til 4:30 and then drive home and get home about 10:00 you're fried!!!
 
When we were a whole lot younger a friend and I drove to Madison area for a day of pheasant hunting. About 5 hours each way. Can't remember the reason for not taking a Motel. :confused:
Now the Pop-up pickup topper is the real deal, pull in spend the night.:)
 
Two weeks ago I drove 3 hours each way. It was a long drive home after spending all day walking. I should have gotten a hotel and made it a two day trip, but the next day was Thanksgiving. I will do it again, but I think that 3 hours one way is about my max.
 
I do a lot of 2.5hr dirves to were I hunt. 2 weeks ago I did it 3 times because no one could hunt 2 days in a row that I went with.
 
In IL i hunt where I grew up which is a 3 hour 1 way trip. I usually do this at least 5 times each season. I get up at 3:30 leave at 4 to get there at 7 and hunt until I shoot a limit, or until about 3 pm so I can be home by 6:30 ish.
 
2.5hrs is my limit because I also drive at least an hour during the day between hunting spots when I pheasant hunt IN/IL.

It's getting tougher and tougher to make it home. Last time I stayed over and hunted the next day but Momma gets a little testy being gone for a couple days at a time.
 
Damn, Any sympathy for me? It's ten minutes each way. Glad the Busted Nut is in between to break-up the monotony.
 
Have done the 3 1/2 hour trip one way many times, and that is starting from my dads house which is an 1 1/2 hour closer to the hunting spot than my house.
 
Love me some Waymore's Blues.


-Well I woke up this mornin' it was drizzlin' rain
Around the curve come a passanger train
Heard somebody yodel and a hobo moan Jimmy he's dead he's been a long time gone_
 
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