In your opinion, how many public land pheasants in the bag would make for a successful season?

I’d say 15 or so. About this time of year they’re pretty well shot out around here, but you can still get into a few if you walk a bit. Today I had just one rooster and 3 hens pointed. Found someone’s dead deer, little spike shot in the guts. Didn’t see anyone hunting around the area, maybe from yesterday?
 
For me, it’s not a number but how much fun I had that makes a good season. I’ve had a really fun season this year so far for example; I’ve only gotten out probably 5-10 times but I’ve tried new good areas, have seen more birds than any other year so far, and have enjoyed being out with my dog and dad.

Back when I was starting out, I used to get bummed coming home empty handed. It stressed me out. I would go online and see a group of hunters limited out. I didn’t kill my first pheasant until my second season. I remember being bummed coming home with nothing to show hunt after hunt. I got into a bad mindset over hunting. Over time, I started to change my mindset to go back to why I originally was out hunting in the first place, to get outdoors and step into some piece and quiet. Maybe get a shot or a couple at some wild pheasants but being ok with not as well. I’m kind of rambling and maybe reading into it a bit much here, but I just don’t think the mindset of “x many birds = a good season” is a healthy mindset to have, at least for me.
 
SDinWI said:
For me, it’s not a number but how much fun I had that makes a good season. I’ve had a really fun season this year so far for example; I’ve only gotten out probably 5-10 times but I’ve tried new good areas, have seen more birds than any other year so far, and have enjoyed being out with my dog and dad.

Back when I was starting out, I used to get bummed coming home empty handed. It stressed me out. I would go online and see a group of hunters limited out. I didn’t kill my first pheasant until my second season. I remember being bummed coming home with nothing to show hunt after hunt. I got into a bad mindset over hunting. Over time, I started to change my mindset to go back to why I originally was out hunting in the first place, to get outdoors and step into some piece and quiet. Maybe get a shot or a couple at some wild pheasants but being ok with not as well. I’m kind of rambling and maybe reading into it a bit much here, but I just don’t think the mindset of “x many birds = a good season” is a healthy mindset to have, at least for me.
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I get what you are saying but on the other hand, I didn't spend 2500 on a dog, personally train it all summer, spend another kings ransom on gun, electronics, ammo, vet bills, food, etc. just to get piece and quiet. I could do that with almost any dog on plenty of public land that has zero pheasants. I'm kind of looking at this from different perspectives. 1. How well is my dog doing in the field for only being 9 months old. 2. How are the opportunities for guys that can only get out on Weekends like myself. How many bird contacts have I had vs. how many have I harvested. I want some way to evaluate how things are going for me. For a first time pointer owner, I've got zero baseline data and nothing to compare it to.
 
Some people want to golf at Pebble Beach and some are fine with the local golf course. I.e. no one forced you to spend a great deal of money or time on the dog or equipment. I hunt to get away from stress and be outdoors. That’s my reason for hunting, yes. Some people have different intensities or reasons which is all good. We need all hands on deck.

Bird number wise, I’d say I get into about 4-6 birds on average over weekend hunting with usually 1 or 2 taken.
 
I've been hunting pheasants for over 40 years.
For me it is all about the dog work, not a pile of dead birds.
My goal is to solo hunt each of 2 labs at least 30 times in the season (total of >60 hunts).
I have about 2 dozen public area hunts, many not obvious that I cycle through.

I hunt most mornings from sunrise until noon or until I kill my first rooster, then we head for the pickup.
Sometimes that is a several mile hike and I will shoot a second rooster or huns on the hike back.

By limiting myself to one rooster per hunt, I feel that my spots do not get burned out.
I almost always get a shot at a rooster every morning, even late in the season.

I rarely see another hunter in my spots because they are not obvious pheasant hunting areas.
And usually I flush more roosters than hens which indicates low hunting pressure.
I enjoy exploring and try to find a few new spots every fall, so some hunts don't pan out
when exploring a new area. But that is fine...great exercise and the dog had fun.
 
Back 20 or 30 years ago when I was working full time and got a week to fly to the lower 48 and hunt it was an unusual day I did not shoot a limit every day. All public. Now retired I go out when I feel like it and am back at the trailer usually before dark. I seldom shoot a limit and seldom hunt the same place twice. Sometimes I never even pull the trigger after the dog puts the bird up. Probably averages a bird a day, but no longer is it the numbers.
 
Keep'er Movin said:
I get what you are saying but on the other hand, I didn't spend 2500 on a dog, personally train it all summer, spend another kings ransom on gun, electronics, ammo, vet bills, food, etc. just to get piece and quiet. I could do that with almost any dog on plenty of public land that has zero pheasants. I'm kind of looking at this from different perspectives. 1. How well is my dog doing in the field for only being 9 months old. 2. How are the opportunities for guys that can only get out on Weekends like myself. How many bird contacts have I had vs. how many have I harvested. I want some way to evaluate how things are going for me. For a first time pointer owner, I've got zero baseline data and nothing to compare it to.
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If you’re talking wild birds on public, a good day is to get 2 or 3 birds pointed. If you’re lucky one or two will be a rooster for you to shoot.
Was out tonight for an hour, one rooster pointed that flushed too far for a shot. One other find on a hen, that was it. Pretty typical Wisconsin pheasant hunting.
 
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