how important is early?

G

guyndog

Banned
looking for some tips here...still kind of new to this.
How important is it (except for being there first) to be out hunting early, especially as the season progresses and the crops are down? thanks
 
guyndog said:
looking for some tips here...still kind of new to this.
How important is it (except for being there first) to be out hunting early, especially as the season progresses and the crops are down? thanks
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I always make it a point to be at the field 20 minutes or so before legal shooting hours. I like to sit and listen as the field comes to life (quail whistling and pheasants cackling). However, I must admit that I have my best luck a little later in the day for some reason. There are days when I'll get a bird or 2 right off the bat, but typically I shoot more birds around lunch while they're loafing between feedings.
 
I'm all about afternoons...

kansasbrittany said:
I always make it a point to be at the field 20 minutes or so before legal shooting hours. I like to sit and listen as the field comes to life (quail whistling and pheasants cackling). However, I must admit that I have my best luck a little later in the day for some reason. There are days when I'll get a bird or 2 right off the bat, but typically I shoot more birds around lunch while they're loafing between feedings.
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I agree with KB on the afternoon productivity. At least in MN and SD where shooting hours are typically after the birds have left the roost to feed, I usually have better luck while they're loafing in the afternoon or coming back to roost before sunset.

That being said, I also agree with KB that it's great to get there early and listen to/watch the field for activity. It's just great being out there and a part of it all.
 
Of course, in SD, you don't have that option but elsewhere, I think it's more important early in the season when you can jump them before they move into the crops to feed. Later in the season after the crops are out, if you go out later in the morning and you don't see them in the open fields feeding on stubble, sunning, dusting, gathering grit, etc., well... you know where they are... hunkered down in the cover, especially heavy cover like cattails and shelterbelts.
 
We find that hitting CRP(grass) fields and large, DRY cattail sloughs immediately AT sun-up for 30-45 minutes can be very productive.. Again, this has to be EARLY! Take your coffee and granola bar and watch the sun come up over the horizon. Then go out and GIVE EM' A WAKE UP CALL! - they hate that!!! We start with the lowest areas in the grass and work to the higher. Don't loose faith - sometimes they are all in one spot, especially on colder, windy mornings.

The same thing can be said for the 30-45 minutes before sun-set. Although, generally, they will be more spread out across the area.

Oh, MAKE SURE that a RECENT crop(harvested or not) is adjacent or immediately nearby. The birds like their cafe right outside their bedroom door.
 
I leave home around 8 in the morning. I start hunting around 9:30, if I start earlier than that. I don't do as well.........Bob
 
most of the time we start about 8 or so in case there is frost it will have time to burn off a little bit and make scentin conditions better and plus get to sleep in a little bit.
 
Theres a very short window of opportunity early when the birds leave the roost and head to feed. I dont bother, Ill wait till the birds head to loafing cover later in the morning. Just go get some breakfast and relax, they'll still be there when you get there.
 
I like the early stuff, pheasants are feeding, moving, leaving a lot of scent.
But not a bad plan to let birds go to roost after feeding, they hold better.
 
I like to hit a good roost early in the morning - some of my best luck!!!

But I am DEAD SET AGAINST IT in the evening, especially in severe winter weather - which is totally self-defeating to the cause of ensuring that there are plenty of roosters to go around forever!!!
 
Depends

Depends on which state your hunting in. Iowa shooting hours are 8 AM to 4:30 PM. Early in the season and on "blue bird days" a lot of experienced hunters will start at 8 AM sharp and hunt till 10:30 AM and then quit for the day. South Dakota starts at 10 AM so being on time rarely matters. Of course pheasants can't tell time, but sunrise and sunset are very important to them.
 
hen said:
I like to hit a good roost early in the morning - some of my best luck!!!

But I am DEAD SET AGAINST IT in the evening, especially in severe winter weather - which is totally self-defeating to the cause of ensuring that there are plenty of roosters to go around forever!!!
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h, h, R! - I'm curious how hitting a roost in the morning differs from catching them on their way to roost in the evening?
 
@Freebyrd:

In the morning, they're gonna get off the roost sooner or later anyway even on the worst of days - birds have to feed to keep up that metabolism - and they have all day to make their way back to roost after you leave!

Late in the evenings, especially in brutal weather - it's gonna be a long, hard, DEADLY night for many of those birds if you scatter 'em & then keep 'em from getting back to adequate cover last thing be4 dark...Sometimes we gotta think of the birds, not just ourselves!
 
hen said:
@Freebyrd:

In the morning, they're gonna get off the roost sooner or later anyway even on the worst of days - birds have to feed to keep up that metabolism - and they have all day to make their way back to roost after you leave!

Late in the evenings, especially in brutal weather - it's gonna be a long, hard, DEADLY night for many of those birds if you scatter 'em & then keep 'em from getting back to adequate cover last thing be4 dark...Sometimes we gotta think of the birds, not just ourselves!
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hen, hen, ROOSTER! - Interesting, I'd never thought of that. I do hunt evenings because of MN's late morning start but I'll keep your wisdom in mind going forward. Thanks for that nugget.
 
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