Hutchinson area
- Thread starter rmkod
- Start date
jackrabbit
Active member
I hunted hear Hutch opening weekend and got 1 and saw a few hens. But I told myself it's an area to definitely check out late season. Had tons of good cover, just all the corn was up that opening weekend still. Definitely an area with potential for a couple birds with a good dog and hunting hard.
BRITTMAN
Well-known member
I returned to this area on Saturday for the first time in about 7 years. We decided to hunt here because it was 3-4 hours closer (total tavel time both ways) to our home and my oldest son (home for college) had evening plans.
At one time I had access to 120 acres of private land, but was once wildlife nirvana is black dirt.
I killed my limit there often, but it was never easy ...
We hunted three patches of public land we took one rooster before sunset. My younger dog is so dialed in - if birds were in those units we would have seen them.
We did see plenty of tracks on one public unit. Saw no birds until we got in the car and drove around the unit. About 15 pheasants (plenty of roosters) sitting along an adjacent farm shelter belt.
With the weather so nice Saturday (and Saturday being the third day of a four day weekend) ... I believe the birds had been pushed off the public land and had no need to return until weather drove them back.
At one time I had access to 120 acres of private land, but was once wildlife nirvana is black dirt.
I killed my limit there often, but it was never easy ... We hunted three patches of public land we took one rooster before sunset. My younger dog is so dialed in - if birds were in those units we would have seen them.
We did see plenty of tracks on one public unit. Saw no birds until we got in the car and drove around the unit. About 15 pheasants (plenty of roosters) sitting along an adjacent farm shelter belt.
With the weather so nice Saturday (and Saturday being the third day of a four day weekend) ... I believe the birds had been pushed off the public land and had no need to return until weather drove them back.
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I was thinking about heading out to Hutchinson area this weekend from St. Paul.
This past weekend I drove SW toward Jackson and was able to see quite a few birds and would of produced a couple had my shooting been even average!
But since this weekend I don't have the extra ~3 hours of driving time available, I was thinking of driving the roughly 70 min west to Hutchinson. I have never been out to that area before, can anyone give some recommendations of good WMA or WPA land that might be good spots to check out for late season birds?
Thanks in advance.
This past weekend I drove SW toward Jackson and was able to see quite a few birds and would of produced a couple had my shooting been even average!
But since this weekend I don't have the extra ~3 hours of driving time available, I was thinking of driving the roughly 70 min west to Hutchinson. I have never been out to that area before, can anyone give some recommendations of good WMA or WPA land that might be good spots to check out for late season birds?
Thanks in advance.
Tbear
UPH Master
I was thinking about heading out to Hutchinson area this weekend from St. Paul.
This past weekend I drove SW toward Jackson and was able to see quite a few birds and would of produced a couple had my shooting been even average!
But since this weekend I don't have the extra ~3 hours of driving time available, I was thinking of driving the roughly 70 min west to Hutchinson. I have never been out to that area before, can anyone give some recommendations of good WMA or WPA land that might be good spots to check out for late season birds?
Thanks in advance.
I would just look up an area with a few close to each other and head that way. Look for some standing corn and good winter cover. I dont think very many people are going to give your there honey hole. Good luck let us know how you do. Take some pictures:cheers:
Tbear,
I wasn't expecting anyone to give me their honey hole...was just hoping to see if anyone who had been in the area could recommend a particular spot that they might of had some success in the past or might know of from past hunts to have good cover.
I'm guessing that since the area is so close to the Cities, it gets hunted pretty hard and that it might not produce a whole lot at this point in the season. I just figured given limited time it would be better to work the pup a little bit rather than not at all.
Besides, given my shooting abilities lately someone could tell me where their honey hole is and it wouldn't matter one bit!
I wasn't expecting anyone to give me their honey hole...was just hoping to see if anyone who had been in the area could recommend a particular spot that they might of had some success in the past or might know of from past hunts to have good cover.
I'm guessing that since the area is so close to the Cities, it gets hunted pretty hard and that it might not produce a whole lot at this point in the season. I just figured given limited time it would be better to work the pup a little bit rather than not at all.
Besides, given my shooting abilities lately someone could tell me where their honey hole is and it wouldn't matter one bit!
Tbear
UPH Master
Tbear,
I wasn't expecting anyone to give me their honey hole...was just hoping to see if anyone who had been in the area could recommend a particular spot that they might of had some success in the past or might know of from past hunts to have good cover.
I'm guessing that since the area is so close to the Cities, it gets hunted pretty hard and that it might not produce a whole lot at this point in the season. I just figured given limited time it would be better to work the pup a little bit rather than not at all.
Besides, given my shooting abilities lately someone could tell me where their honey hole is and it wouldn't matter one bit!
Sorry that came off a little snobby did not mean it that way. Most of the time when people name stuff or give spots its over PM. There are a lot of non-members that read this forum.
Went out to the Hutchinson area this past Saturday. It's an easy drive, due west on 212, from the Twin Cities. The weather was really nice in the morning, 40* and cloudy. Perhaps it was the nice weather, or the area's proximity to the cities, but I saw a ton of hunters out on public land.
On my drive out, I was on a side road (MN-3?) and saw 2 roosters and 4 or 5 hens hanging out on the side of the road next to some private land. The only bird I managed to see was a hen that we kicked up at a WMA in the first 45 min of hunting. Other than that I didn't see a thing. So I think there are some birds in the area, but with so much hunting pressure on public land, the roosters must be primarily on private grounds.
On my drive out, I was on a side road (MN-3?) and saw 2 roosters and 4 or 5 hens hanging out on the side of the road next to some private land. The only bird I managed to see was a hen that we kicked up at a WMA in the first 45 min of hunting. Other than that I didn't see a thing. So I think there are some birds in the area, but with so much hunting pressure on public land, the roosters must be primarily on private grounds.
I agree. I think with the nice weather the pressure has been heavier and more consistent since thanksgiving. For a couple weeks I was finding more birds in the grass than the cats. Late last week they were back in the cats with no real weather change. I think if a guy can get on some good private ground near public there is the potential for a pretty good hunt.