Keep'er Movin
New member
How many pheasants make a successful season on public land in Wisconsin (not counting game farms) for you personally?
In your opinion, how many public land pheasants in the bag would make for a successful season?
- Thread starter Keep'er Movin
- Start date
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?
SDinWI
Active member
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.
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.
Keep'er Movin
New member
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.
SDinWI
Active member
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.
Bird number wise, I’d say I get into about 4-6 birds on average over weekend hunting with usually 1 or 2 taken.
AKSkeeter
Well-known member
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.
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.
Alaskan swamp collies
Well-known member
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.
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.
Wind River
Well-known member
In NW WI, a wild rooster on public land involves an out of state trip. Now grouse or woodcock elevates the game and always public.
You get out of a hunt what you put into it. No blood no grouse.
You get out of a hunt what you put into it. No blood no grouse.
Haretrigger
Active member
Thats a fantastic outlook to have...kudos
Golden Hour
Well-known member
The better question would be how many pheasants do you need to put in the vest for the season to be considered a success?
I shoot enough birds to keep me and my dogs happy. Trying to put a metric on hunting is the antithesis of what it means to be a hunter. The way I see it is this: I shoot more pheasants than some folks and some folks shoot more birds than me. My dog is better at hunting pheasants than some dogs and some dogs are better at hunting pheasants than my dog. I live to hunt pheasants. It consumes my mind and is my happy place. I keep a log of how many pheasants I harvest each season. Each year is different and I honestly cannot recall thinking "boy, 2021 was great, but 2019 was a bummer." They are all great seasons as I'm a healthy American man who gets to walk around in God's creation with my best friend and experience this thing we call life in a way that very few human beings ever will. In the words of Borat, "Great success!!!"
I shoot enough birds to keep me and my dogs happy. Trying to put a metric on hunting is the antithesis of what it means to be a hunter. The way I see it is this: I shoot more pheasants than some folks and some folks shoot more birds than me. My dog is better at hunting pheasants than some dogs and some dogs are better at hunting pheasants than my dog. I live to hunt pheasants. It consumes my mind and is my happy place. I keep a log of how many pheasants I harvest each season. Each year is different and I honestly cannot recall thinking "boy, 2021 was great, but 2019 was a bummer." They are all great seasons as I'm a healthy American man who gets to walk around in God's creation with my best friend and experience this thing we call life in a way that very few human beings ever will. In the words of Borat, "Great success!!!"
That is a great way to look at this hobby/sport/lifestyle, and how I view it as well. However, if I lived in western WI and my best chance at birds was the DNR-stocked lands, I would probably not look at it the way I do. Even living 2.5 hours from good pheasant habitat I get frustrated on off days. Whether it is off dog work, off shooting, can't find the birds that day, or especially off decision making putting me out of the game. If they were right out my door, I think it would be a lot easier to be less focused on "success," however you define that metric for yourself. But if you're hunting all weekend to get 5 or 6 flushes, you need to capitalize on those opportunities which for me, would create a lot more personal pressure.
UplandHntr
Well-known member
Didnt know that. My WI office is a 1/2 mile N of 94 and borders the Waukesha Gun Club. You might be shocked what that area looks like if you havent been back
Out for an hour last night, no pheasants but did see a huge flock of robins down in the trees and brush along the stream.
Out this morning for another hour or so, different area, again no birds pointed. I did see some otters, one was going up along a cut corn field, pretty neat. Then when I got back into the field I saw three more out on the pond. One would go up on the edge of the ice, one of the others would climb up by it and the ice would break and they’d wrestle around a bit and do it again. I watched for 10 minutes or so, very interesting, looked like they were having fun!
Out this morning for another hour or so, different area, again no birds pointed. I did see some otters, one was going up along a cut corn field, pretty neat. Then when I got back into the field I saw three more out on the pond. One would go up on the edge of the ice, one of the others would climb up by it and the ice would break and they’d wrestle around a bit and do it again. I watched for 10 minutes or so, very interesting, looked like they were having fun!
Fun.
One of the benefits of pheasant hunting, covering so much ground and hunting different locations, is all the other wildlife we get to see.
AtTheMurph
Well-known member
I grew up on the very NW corner of Waukesha County in the 60's & 70s. I used to walk out the back door and hunt pheasants, rabbits and ducks, sometimes in MKE county which was a simple walk away. Around that time my Dad started buying land in Washington and Fond Du lac county so when I was able to drive, I hunted there.
I have fond memories of hearing a cock cackle in the back, grabbing the mutt (who didn't hunt, the 20ga Wingmaster and running out to see if I could bag it! Probably didn't!
In Wash county we had lots more pheasants, huns and deer. in Fond Du lac we had pheasants, deer, ducks, geese, and grouse. First grouse I ever shot was on land W. of Kewauskum. I thought it was a pheasant until we found it.
Now loaded with turkey, deer, some pheasants and waterfowl. Haven't seen grouse there in 40 years. The woods have changed.
As for public pheasant hunting. I don't care if I bag any all year, as long as I run into some for the dog to get work. I usually pass on shooting at all.
It’s been chilly out there! Friday had 2 birds pointed, first one a hen after about an hour. Changed dogs, new spot, one rooster pointed and shot.
Saturday morning was out for two hours, no birds pointed, 2 wild flushes on hens. Evening had the pup down, got three pointed, all hens. Pup did a great job, really wanted to shoot something for her!
This morning was cold again, ran one dog, a four year old, did a nice job, one rooster pointed. The bird was found about 50 yards from where I marked it down - both wings and one leg broken, dog pointed it and I just picked it up dead.
Saturday morning was out for two hours, no birds pointed, 2 wild flushes on hens. Evening had the pup down, got three pointed, all hens. Pup did a great job, really wanted to shoot something for her!
This morning was cold again, ran one dog, a four year old, did a nice job, one rooster pointed. The bird was found about 50 yards from where I marked it down - both wings and one leg broken, dog pointed it and I just picked it up dead.
