Just a little help

C

CanGriffon

New member
My buddy and I have been hoping to journey down from the Frozen North to chase some birds and help the economy. Unfortunately, applied for ATF permits just before the shut-down. Now it's getting late, sooo....
would appreciate some thoughts about pheasant hunting in December and perhaps some general areas which are good at this time of the year.
Have not hunted in Montana before. Unfortunately, I am a Pheasant's Forever member who spends more time dreaming about birds than shooting.
Only ideas so far are places I have read about like Billings or Lewiston.
Thanks for your time.
 
CanGriffon said:
My buddy and I have been hoping to journey down from the Frozen North to chase some birds and help the economy. Unfortunately, applied for ATF permits just before the shut-down. Now it's getting late, sooo....
would appreciate some thoughts about pheasant hunting in December and perhaps some general areas which are good at this time of the year.
Have not hunted in Montana before. Unfortunately, I am a Pheasant's Forever member who spends more time dreaming about birds than shooting.
Only ideas so far are places I have read about like Billings or Lewiston.
Thanks for your time.
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Well in my time in Montana, you could find quite a few on either side of the high-line. I had decent success from Great Falls to as far east as the dam of Ft. Peck. This was many years ago. I have a friend who has great luck near Judith as well, recently.
 
CanGriffon- First off, welcome. Now CanGriffon, don't take this personally. As some of you know my hair stands on end when I read posts looking for help on where to hunt. I have been hunting MT for a few years now. When our group started going out there years ago, we would run into maybe 1 or 2 other groups hunting or at the hotel. Times are a changing. This year there was 12 other groups staying at the same hotel as us. Talking to quite a few of them, most stated a buddy told me about MT, read it in PF mag or read it on a forum. One post on a hunting location on this site reaches 100s of rea
ders. Check out the MT DNR website. You will find all the information you need. Research is part of the hunt. That is how our group started. For some of us who have been out there for years, we would like to keep it a secret. If you want to do your research, "Welcome to Paradise"
 
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Pheasant Intel

I've heard that hunting is pretty good around Sydney in December. A room at the Holiday Inn express is only 144 a night so the extra four cents your dollar has on a greenback will probably give you free coffee for your trip. I think the best hunting is usually near the fence posts with orange paint. Maybe Rob Ford can come down, I heard he may have some free time on his hands,fyi, crack is not legal down here yet.:10sign: Stay east of I-15 and you'll do alright.
 
BritLabRunner:

Not sure that was much of a welcome. I was basically asking if a reasonable person hunts in December considering the weather, the weeks of pressure and all, not for a GPS on your favorite hunting spot. I have a wonderful moose hunting spot which has fed my family for over 30 years. I would never reveal it, but I have helped many I thought would make good hunters with general advice on timing, methods and ideas about reasonable spots to try (other than my spot). Or, sometimes it is best to say nothing at all.
I have spent decades working with rod & gun clubs and teaching hunter education trying to counteract our aging and declining numbers. While it can be annoying sometimes to find too many hunters in an area, your hair will really "stand on end" if our numbers get so low that we begin to lose even more of our access rights, public support and habit for the animals we love to pursue.
 
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CanGriffon said:
BritLabRunner:

Not sure that was much of a welcome. I was basically asking if a reasonable person hunts in December considering the weather, the weeks of pressure and all, not for a GPS on your favorite hunting spot. I have a wonderful moose hunting spot which has fed my family for over 30 years. I would never reveal it, but I have helped many I thought would make good hunters with general advice on timing, methods and ideas about reasonable spots to try (other than my spot). Or, sometimes it is best to say nothing at all.
I have spent decades working with rod & gun clubs and teaching hunter education trying to counteract our aging and declining numbers. While it can be annoying sometimes to find too many hunters in an area, your hair will really "stand on end" if our numbers get so low that we begin to lose even more of our access rights, public support and habit for the animals we love to pursue.
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Cangriffon, A better welcome would have been in order if. You would have introduced yourself with post # 1, not asking favors.
Get involved in conversations, talk some bird hunting, get to know people a little, there's help on UPH, often a LOT of it.
 
CanGriffon- This line in you original post "and perhaps some general areas" is what everyone is giving you grief about. It's like asking an identity thief for your first 5 bank account #'s and he'll figure out the rest. MT is a big state , but there are few general areas for pheasants.
Now, some answers to your other question. Pressure in yrs past has been little. Can't say for sure this year. As more and more hunters are heading out there. I would make sure you have a place to stay . Most areas are easy walking. When you head out be prepaired for a long long walk. Extra gloves, hat, snack and water for you and dog. Don't be afraid to walk huge fields. Just follow your dogs. In Dec you are going to want to find the thickest cover you can find. Which is going to make walking a little tougher. Find cover next to a food source. Weather can vary. 0-50 degrees. It is almost always windy. Dress for it. You can always take clothes off. It sucks when you are a 1/2 mile from the truck and you don't have your face mask. Birds will be bunched. When find em, get ready. When they start getting up 50yrds a head move forward quickly. Then go back and work the cover for the birds that held tight. Good Luck. Hope this helps. Anything else other than locations just ask.
 
I personally prefer December hunting myself. Get some snow on the ground, they run less. Temps drop and the fairweather hunters stay home. Some of my best hunts have been late season. If you can stand the cold and long walks, you'll do fine. As to your question on where to go, I would advise against coming down to Billings. I live in the Bilings area and the birds are few and far between, at least I can save you some time and money.
 
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