Kansas, worth the trip?

BrownDogsCan2

Well-known member
Anyone contemplating the trip this year this is how I see it.

If you pull out your walk in map. Draw a line between Stafford and Beloit. Look east and bird numbers are up a bit from last year but there is very little public hunting.
Look west and ther'e down.
If you are looking to harvest birds my advise would be to stay home.
Come anyway. Catch up with old friends. Hunt your old spots. Help keep business open for another year.

Bring a duck call, predator call. A camera. Bring your shotgun if you like. You might? have a chance to use it.:)
 
staying home

if you stay home cause of the current conditions it is very likely cause you are a killer and not a hunter, try enjoying the trip, the outdoors, surely there will be many meadow larks you can enjoy. take your gun for a walk

cheers
 
if you stay home cause of the current conditions it is very likely cause you are a killer and not a hunter, try enjoying the trip, the outdoors, surely there will be many meadow larks you can enjoy. take your gun for a walk

cheers

I don't agree...
Just because a guy doesn't want to flop down the money for an out of state hunt just to get the "outdoor experience" and maybe even get to see a meadowlark...(whoo hooo!) Which, they can probably do where they live.
That doesn't make him anything other than smart. Especially people that are crossing the country. There are a lot better choices for an out of state hunt this year than Kansas...and that's a fact.
Case in point...
The guy who's all butt sore from Michigan on the "SW Hunting Report" thread...
Why would you drive through better hunting to get to Kansas where it's the worst it's ever been?

P.S....leave your predator calls at home too. ;)
 
One of my favorite farmer friends in SWK thinks I am nuts. I drive hundreds and hundreds of miles to get "good exercise" just so I can spend more bucks staying at the local motels. Here is his thinking: "Can't you just get good exercise at home by walking around the block a few times?" He makes a good point I guess. He admires me because at least I have a passion for something. :)
 
Kansas will always be worth it for me. I moved out of the state 3 months ago and have been counting down to opening weekend. Found out recently I am traveling for work opening weekend so now having to adjust plans for second or third week. I got skunked last year but it was probably one of the more memorable weekends of hunting I've had. Quality time in the fields and at the house at night with my dad, brothers, and close family friends make the trip for us. We all love having birds in our vest/belt at the end of the day but the relationships built are what it's all about.
 
It will be worth it for my son and I this year. I have a 15 month old yellow pointing lab male that just got his CPR. :10sign: I am so stoked to get him out on real pheasants. Plus, after last years debacle in SD and wasting all that gas, money, time, etc...I figure I would rather head back to the place I have been hunting since 1996, meet up with my local guy and see how his family is doing, spend my $$ in a state that still welcomes folks from out of state, spend less time driving, and also being able to hunt with good family and friends.

My local guy tells me that the good amount of rain received in August really helped the milo crop and things are looking better compared to the last two years, however most of us that have been hunting in the areas of KS that hold birds know that compared to the last two years, this year will be barely average if that, however it isn't about killing it is about hunting and the memories that I will build with my son, the time spent with dogs, and of course friends and family.

Greg
 
Kansas will always be worth it for me. I moved out of the state 3 months ago and have been counting down to opening weekend. Found out recently I am traveling for work opening weekend so now having to adjust plans for second or third week. I got skunked last year but it was probably one of the more memorable weekends of hunting I've had. Quality time in the fields and at the house at night with my dad, brothers, and close family friends make the trip for us. We all love having birds in our vest/belt at the end of the day but the relationships built are what it's all about.

I can understand this from Indiana because it is not like you are driving to a place that is X hours a way and if you just drove X + 2 in a different direction you'd be into decent bird numbers in a different state. Plus, it is nice to be home, right?
 
i have always been a value guy....if I think there is a reasonable chance for me and my buddie to kill 2 or 3 birds each day, I will go....if I get only 2 or 3 shots all day long with my partner, then I have wasted my time and money...better to stay home and put the dogs on a canned hunt...not my preference, but just makes economic sense.
 
if you stay home cause of the current conditions it is very likely cause you are a killer and not a hunter, try enjoying the trip, the outdoors, surely there will be many meadow larks you can enjoy. take your gun for a walk

cheers

I don't know about this Musti... I guess I just have not figured out a way to cook those meadowlarks that makes them tasty :D
 
I'm still going..... could give a rats butt whether I kill something or not. Old dogs, young dogs, I'm bringing them all. We will have a blast.
 
I can understand this from Indiana because it is not like you are driving to a place that is X hours a way and if you just drove X + 2 in a different direction you'd be into decent bird numbers in a different state. Plus, it is nice to be home, right?

Heading back home is definitely a perk. If that were the only reason though, I'd just wait a few weeks for Thanksgiving. Just got plans confirmed last night. Heading west for second weekend, making stop around St. Louis to pick up family friend and his two GSPs, meeting dad and brother in KC then keep going west.
 
No matter what state or what part of the state hunting is a crapshoot and luck at best the only peaple in my opinion that even consider the down bird populations to be a factor in the trip are those well to do im the great white hunter types who are only out to kill not enjoy the hunt and gentleman if thats the way you are then by all means cancell your trip hell keep canceling them even after the bird numbers come up becouse we as sportsman and as kansas hunters do not need you in our groups (again only my opinion sorry to offend but if it did then maybe you should change your way of thinking and how you act) hunting is about the heritage the friendships and the traditions set in place with friends and family everyone likes to get birds but its not the end of the world if you only get a camera full of nice scenic pictures
 
GCB,
why ain't ya working boy, look forward to coming to your neck of the woods to try and scare a bird or two up and to enjoy your friendship and all ya red neck SOB, and where the hell is my red neck hunting club membership card you promised me Mr. President once you got your printer working :) I ain't gonna pay this years dues until I get it either, put that in your pipe and smoke it:)
 
ive been busier than a midget in an ass kicken contest sorry boys just dont have a whole lot of time to get on here
 
Joe, keep the dates we talked about and I forgot to tell you about the new hobby. Maybe we can trade recipes. You have never seen something like this one.:cheers: I will bring some with me!
 
I will have to admit that I have never heard that one before

He should of said one legged midget!!! But we have to give the big redneck a pass. He asked me to help him with his job application and when I looked it over it said High school and Joe wrote down 5 years. I said it looks good!:D
 
I will drive from Pompano Beach, Fl. to Downs, Ks. and I hope to at least get a shot at some birds. Some of our friends out there told us to leave our shotguns at home to save weight. It will still be good to see good folks, have a "steak fry" on opening night (a local tradition) and enjoy people and the area and see open spaces with no people all over the place. I have traveled farther distances to hunt (bears) with no luck but I still keep going back. Someone said that's why we call it hunting and not shooting.
 
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