How's the Season progressing?

pheasantaddict

pheasantaddict

New member
Still alot of corn out there, but should have some great late season hunting. Getting birds though you have to get them early and be a little lucky. I thought I was in SD this morning when 10 rooties came up within 12 ft from me. Another 1st, my DK had a point on a double where I could see one rooster staring back at me.
 
Just Got Back....

Was south west of Cedar Rapids all last week...yes that's right. She let me and the dogs out of the house for an entire week!!! That right there is a success!!!! Tough going, majority of corn still in. Common comment was crops about 3 weeks behind schedule. At dusk, I would park and watch the birds come out of the corn and go into whatever set aside land you could find. So there are some birds, but not many. Our group got about 15 birds for the week. Many areas were real wet as well, hunted a mix of private and public land. We had 7 dogs going, birds pretty scarce. Made for tough going, but when you did get one up it was special as always. Best day was about 30 flushes, that was nice. Dogs now back in the den, in front of the fireplace, recovering. Funny to watch them dreaming, twiching and wimpering...wondering what they are chasing?
 
9 birds in Sioux County. About 1.5 birds per hunt. 3 day hunt South Dakota with limits, but that's cheating.
 
Opener was tough going, and we earned every bird we got. Same corn scenario as elsewhere, but they've had a couple good weeks now and the area I hunt the corn is peeling back fast. Had a great weekend last weekend. I hunt western Kossuth county and the farmer I hunt with had just finished his last field (farms 2700 ac). I personally saw 40-50 birds get pushed into the hunting area on the last two passes of his picker. Best hunting still lies ahead.
 
The birds are out there, but you have to find them. Its rough, I've hunted Central Western Iowa, South Western Iowa, and Central Iowa and have only seen a combined 3 roosters. Hens are holding tight, like this morning when I about stepped on one, but the roosters are spooky. Havent shot a bird yet, but I wont quit, my dog loves it too much.
 
Today must have been the day to go hunting. There was a bunch of guys out today. Of course i saw them all on my drive to SD to go hunting.
 
Also seeing more hunters, Thanksgiving is a busy time. Still alot of corn, but getting birds. There are still birds that have not been shot at yet.
 
Need some cold weather! Birds have been hard to come by around here. Atleast fairly skiish, busting wild.


It's not the Iowa pheasant hunting I love.

Thats for sure!

GerenVE
 
This season has start a little slow. Went this morning and had my limit of 3 in a couple of hours. Since the corn has started coming out I have seen alot more pheasants.
 
Bearded Beast said:
This season has start a little slow. Went this morning and had my limit of 3 in a couple of hours. Since the corn has started coming out I have seen alot more pheasants.
Click to expand...

Are you hunting private or public land around Fort Dodge? I saw your location so I figure you're hunting around there. I have hunted several public spots this year so far in Central Western Iowa and have only seen a few roosters...nothing even to shoot at.
 
Spent last week hunting. The total number of birds might be down but you still will find birds once the corn is out. The three hunters in my hunting party had success but some days were harder than others. A good number of young birds.
 
My season has gotten better and better, my young Brit Maggie has gotten better with each outing as well. I'm actually a little a head of last year. Didn't realize it until I checked back in my hunting diary. Can't wait for a 3" snowfall and 30 degree days. Only where I hunt mind you... not on my drive way.:)
 
Just my luck guys, I had my first oppurtunity at a rooster today and I whiffed. Low and too far in front on the first shot at 10 yards and high and behind on the second shot at about 30 yards. Talk about frustrating, but at least it renewed my confidence in seeing birds.
 
Dcup said:
Just my luck guys, I had my first oppurtunity at a rooster today and I whiffed. Low and too far in front on the first shot at 10 yards and high and behind on the second shot at about 30 yards. Talk about frustrating, but at least it renewed my confidence in seeing birds.
Click to expand...
Just curious, how do you know "where" you missed the pheasant? I have seen a lot of people miss a lot of pheasants and most have no idea where there pattern was located. Almost all the misses I watch are behind and/or underneath. I can't tell you the number of times I have watched the pattern rip thru the tail feathers and the bird keeps flying. The other common miss that I see frequently is when the bird flushes close to my hunting partner, and from the side I can see the bird is climbing nearly straight up, my partner shoots twice and does not pull a feather, he missed underneath of course, but they look at me like somebody forgot to put BB's in their shell.
 
niceshot said:
Just curious, how do you know "where" you missed the pheasant? I have seen a lot of people miss a lot of pheasants and most have no idea where there pattern was located. Almost all the misses I watch are behind and/or underneath. I can't tell you the number of times I have watched the pattern rip thru the tail feathers and the bird keeps flying. The other common miss that I see frequently is when the bird flushes close to my hunting partner, and from the side I can see the bird is climbing nearly straight up, my partner shoots twice and does not pull a feather, he missed underneath of course, but they look at me like somebody forgot to put BB's in their shell.
Click to expand...

Well, I guess I base it off where I am aiming on the first shot, and where I am anticipating the bird going on the second shot. Sometimes you can make a reaction shot on your second shot because its not like a pheasant flies in a straight line after you shoot at it the first time. I have missed countless birds in my younger days and I have learned what my tendencies are and how I miss.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top