Hunting out of Lac Qui Parle State Park

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PeasantHunter

New member
Hello folks. I'm a new guy, posted my intro in the newb forum---from SC, headed to LQP for a week in mid-OCT, looking forward.

Been reading the reports from MN and SD; will be hunting wild pheasant w/ a guy who makes the trip every two years, he is very familiar w/ the general area(but not LQP) and has long-time contacts for nearby private permissions.

We will be hunting walk-in public and private lands, no preserve hunting. We are driving up, bringing two GSP's. Done a lot of upland for grouse, woodcock, dove and duck. Pretty comfortable w/ guns n' shells, gear, footwear and game regs needed. Also read abt the danger to dogs from the snap-traps and reviewed how to release--hope we don't have to deal with that!

If the nimrod lords are kind w/ the phezz, we hope to throw shot at some pothole ducks as we walk the fields.

Do y'all recommend #3 steel for both phezz and duck when non-toxic is required, and welcome any further suggestions to hunting out of Lac Qui Parle SP!
Just trying to pull my weight and contribute, Thanks in advance!
 
Regarding steel shot with pheasants: what choke do you use and how heavy a load with the #3? I believe I would move up in size with the steel - perhaps to a #5 The nuimber of pellets almost doubles from #3 to #6 in steel...

Lots of corn will be standing in Mn in October.

Can't comment regards the ducks. Unless we have some very cold weather the northern flight won't be passing through.

Good hunting!
 
Thanks for the input, jonnyB. We are focused on pheasant, w/ ducks secondary if at all--actually hope some dove are flying, as well.

Using an o/u, so my thinking is imp cyl or modified, and light modified; from my searches, thinking #5's for phez in lead but aware of non-toxic issues and #3 steel was suggested where preferred, or in case ducks jumped up. Thinking 1 1/8 to 1 1/4 oz loads? So are you recommending #5 steel in heavy load with the above chokes for both phez and incidental puddle ducks?

Sounds like we'll be hunting the edges if corn is standing?

I use #3 and #4 steel for river ducks here w/ IC/Mod chokes within 25-40 yds.

But I am very open to suggestions since you folks have the experience!
Thank you.
 
What does your local person recommend?

I guess I would stay with what your are familiar with - for ducks. If you are jump-shooting ducks, the shots can be long, vs over decoy's.

If you are on the end of a corn field posting and only have steel shot - I would use #5's. I need all the pellets I can muster, hence I tend to use a larger shot size. Some of my phez shots are over a pointing Golden; typically use 6's or 7.5, 1.24 oz., imp. cyl. 12 or 20 ga. Shoulder can't tolerate the heavy shells - usually don't asttempt the long shots.
 
3 shot steel should be just fine for ducks and pheasants. Ya you could go smaller shot for pheasants but 3 should be just fine for an in between to kill both. Good luck in MN:thumbsup:
 
Thanks for the suggestions, gentlemen. LCQ State Park looks interesting on the web, we have a cabin to base out of.
I've ridden the 'SilverDawg' through MN in the Spring, beautiful country!---must've seen 10,000 lakes;)

Thanks for all the well-wishes, hope to post pics of a memorable trip!
 
peasanthunter said:
thanks for the input, jonnyb. We are focused on pheasant, w/ ducks secondary if at all--actually hope some dove are flying, as well.

Using an o/u, so my thinking is imp cyl or modified, and light modified; from my searches, thinking #5's for phez in lead but aware of non-toxic issues and #3 steel was suggested where preferred, or in case ducks jumped up. Thinking 1 1/8 to 1 1/4 oz loads? So are you recommending #5 steel in heavy load with the above chokes for both phez and incidental puddle ducks?

Sounds like we'll be hunting the edges if corn is standing?

I use #3 and #4 steel for river ducks here w/ ic/mod chokes within 25-40 yds.

But i am very open to suggestions since you folks have the experience!
Thank you.
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i agree #3 and4s
 
Honestly, I'd say it all depends on your dogs. If your dogs stick their birds and you're able to walk in on them, use #4s or #5s. If your dogs aren't sticking the birds and you're not able to walk in on them, then I'd stick with #3s. Adjust according to what you find your situation to be. Personally, I've only used steel the last 7 years. I start the year with #3s and then drop down to #2s late season, though I hunt with flushers.

With regard to choke, even imp cyl (especially with steel) over a pointed stuck bird can turn it into hamburger. Sounds like you have some sort of choke system, so I'd adjust according to what you're finding your shooting ranges to be.

Regarding ducks, if it were me, I'd setup for ducks (shot size/choke) find a pothole that looks good and hunt it until 8:45am and go back to the vehicle and resetup again for pheasants. The right tool for the right job and all that. Pass shooting ducks can become a wasteful endeavor when they're not your main objective and I've seen too many pheasant hunters take a poke at a high flying duck only to watch it set its wings and glide out of sight.

Anyway, good luck. It's nice to hear of someone coming to MN for phez. I've never understood why someone would want to hunt chickens in SD when one can hunt pheasant in MN. :D
 
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You may want to check with the LQP headquarters, they used to close pheasant hunting around LQP during goose season. I am not sure if they still do.
 
Thanks for all the tips guys! Starting the drive up this Saturday, wishing we could leave Now! Will double-check on that goose season regulation.

We are using Lac Qui Parle SP as our base, but will be driving to surrounding public and private lands outside the park for our hunting. I've found it interesting reading about the crop harvest progress and effects on hunting techniques and planning, and watching the weather forecasts.

I'll shoot a few more rounds at skeet/ trap this week to work on angles, but I know it isn't the same when that bird launches out of the thick stuff. After reading lots of blogs/reports from Opening Day, I'm a bit worried about my shooting--- sounds like wild phezz are easy to miss and hard to kill :eek:

Any further suggestions are appreciated!
 
PeasantHunter said:
I'm a bit worried about my shooting--- sounds like wild phezz are easy to miss and hard to kill :eek:

Any further suggestions are appreciated!
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Not really, but they can startle you when they flush. Most people try to shoot waaay to quickly on their first shot instead of making a good initial move not only with the gun, but with your feet. Turn your body and step in to the shot with your leading foot will insure that your body is positioned to turn if the bird turns. No need to get in a hurry as a load of shot flies much faster than a Pheasant.

If your going to practice on the skeet or trap field, try practicing with your gun out of your shoulder. I don't recall ever seeing anyone walking thru the grass fields with their gun mounted to their shoulder. Practice your gun mount in your home with your gun lowered just as you would be carrying it in the field. Turn and mount to a spot on the wall or something. This will go a long ways to toward making your gun mount consistent so that once you are hunting you won't have to think about it, but rather it will just happen.

Let us know how the trip went.
 
birdshooter said:
Not really, but they can startle you when they flush. Most people try to shoot waaay to quickly on their first shot instead of making a good initial move not only with the gun, but with your feet. Turn your body and step in to the shot with your leading foot will insure that your body is positioned to turn if the bird turns. No need to get in a hurry as a load of shot flies much faster than a Pheasant.

If your going to practice on the skeet or trap field, try practicing with your gun out of your shoulder. I don't recall ever seeing anyone walking thru the grass fields with their gun mounted to their shoulder. Practice your gun mount in your home with your gun lowered just as you would be carrying it in the field. Turn and mount to a spot on the wall or something. This will go a long ways to toward making your gun mount consistent so that once you are hunting you won't have to think about it, but rather it will just happen.

Let us know how the trip went.
Click to expand...

Thats a great tip! You are not shooting to get the best score. You are shooting to practice real life hunting situations. Sure you might not hit as many at the range but you will do much better in the field and that's what you are going for in the long run. Good luck in MN looking forward to the pics.:cheers:
 
good advice--- I've been shooting some clays from select skeet and trap stations, and using a low-gun (field) mount and swing.

And y'all are right abt letting 'em get a bit out before slapping the trigger-- I've been waiting longer on trap targets and my scores are improved!

Sure will post up reports and pics next week IF we have cell service.

And good luck to y'all too! :cheers:
 
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