Let's talk cattail strategies

[Weimdogman]

I doubt that Montana cattails are taller or thicker than South Dakota cattails.

Yeah now if we are talking about Texas....

 

[Goosemaster]

Montana has more water,so the cattails are taller and thicker.The soil is different.

 

[Weimdogman]

Drink enough PBR and you will believe anything.

 

[haymaker]

Montana has more water,so the cattails are taller and thicker.The soil is different.

For years most of my cattails have been in standing water, this year they dried out late in the year. Most of my hunters won't even hunt the big pot holes because they are too thick. I am not going to argue with you about who has the thickest cattails. The point is if you and or your dogs can't retrieve a bird don't shoot it.

 

[NDPheasant]

Montana has more water,so the cattails are taller and thicker.The soil is different.

They are certainly well fertilized!

 

[Wind River]

Sorry guys but the sampling pool is biased on the cattails. All of Montana vs SD vs Minnesota. I noticed the sky was bigger in Montana.
How about northern cattails vs southern cattails. Right on Haymaker.

 

[Goosemaster]

Yes, those. But no cattails. Neither I, pheasants, nor my dog like them.

That Springer likes them!

 

[NDPheasant]

I think a million dollar government grant to do a five year study on the health and growth of cattails in the upper Midwest from October through January is a job I would be able to adequately perform.

 

[Goosemaster]

I personally like to move them out of cattails into surrounding grass. I have couple spots where it works like a champ. Way to many shot birds are “lost” in cattails.

Yeah somebody said don't shoot.Id have to agree.Sime of these cattails are not reachable by anything.

 

[Bob Peters]

Sorry guys but the sampling pool is biased on the cattails. All of Montana vs SD vs Minnesota. I noticed the sky was bigger in Montana.
How about northern cattails vs southern cattails. Right on Haymaker.

Have you ever hunted cattails in Minnesota or Montana?

 

[Goosemaster]

West Minnesota has those big trees patches surrounded by corn.Those things must hold pheasants I would think.

 

[gimruis]

Today hunted a little creek bottom and field edge where there are patches of cattails

Quite a bit easier when there isn't any water in them. The cattails I hunt are shoulder deep in water/muck. You wouldn't dare go in there unless they were frozen.

Not sure I'd even call those cattails if there isn't any water. #fake

 

[AKSkeeter]

I've had very good luck recovering cripples in cattails in my areas.
I think the key is the dog needs to be on the cripple track quickly and then I stay quiet and trust the dog.

Lots of other bird scent does not seem to be a problem because
a good cripple tracker is following blood scent, not bird scent.
I think even a broken wing will put off blood scent to a canine's keen sense of smell.

In my area, there are trails through the cattails created by deer and elk and I think most roosters run the trails,
so the dog has a good trail to run down once he hits that initial blood scent.

 

[Wind River]

Yes Bob, cattails are not my favorite but I have encountered them in Iowa, ND, SD, MN, WI, KS, Montana (east) and Sask.
The variable is size and density. You have to go where the dog tells you. I have been blessed. Every state has required a different approach.
Before CRP, Iowa was for us all about creek banks, terraces, fence rows, ditches and and a few swales. Kansas was all CRP.
On my 60th year chasing the Roos and more.

 

[Golden Hour]

I don't hunt cattails. Ever.

I don't hunt cattails, either. They just stand there and don't give a guy much of a challenge. Second, is it possible to hunt a plant? Seems like that would fall in the foraging category.

 

[Limitless]

I don't hunt cattails, either. They just stand there and don't give a guy much of a challenge. Second, is it possible to hunt a plant? Seems like that would fall in the foraging category.

Agreed, but I will say that I do find the occasional batch that fights back, trying to impale me when walking against the direction of blow downs. They don't have a lot of ethics when it comes to tripping tactics either. And don't get me started on the fuzz choking strategy some employ.

For those who want more of a challenge, hunt dogwood/willow thickets. Those things have no code of honor at all!

 

[Powderhorn Jim]

I

I'm too old to bust heavy cattails anymore. I let the dogs do the heavy work and try to place myself strategically where the birds (might) come out. This only works on smaller patches, at least for me. I will only do this if I'm sure the ice will support the dogs. I really don't want to to try to rescue a 70lb lab out of a cattail bog!

 

[Wind River]

Since we all empathize dog work, it kind of negates cattails. Give me creek banks or waist high CRP. There are plenty of nightmares of lost dogs in large cattail sloughs. We all appreciate a dead rooster after earned dog work. Follow your dog.

 

[Bob Peters]

I agree. Sometimes cattails are the only option though.

 

[Goosemaster]

I don't hunt cattails, either. They just stand there and don't give a guy much of a challenge. Second, is it possible to hunt a plant? Seems like that would fall in the foraging category.

I've slayed many cattails,that's how tall they are.