NC newbie to pheasant

J

JimB

New member
I'm a quail hunter from Charlotte, NC. Actually there aren't many quail left here so I mostly kill clay targets. I do have a wonderful German Shorthair who does well with quail. He's never smelled a pheasant.

It's been a life long ambition of mine to hunt pheasant. My brother and I are considering traveling to Kansas next November to give it a try. Employing one of the guide/lodge services is out because of the cost....I've found the 2009 Hunting Atas on the KDWP site. When will they publish the 2010 Atlas? Am I correct in assuming that once I buy a hunting license that I am free to hunt any of the designated land? Is this a practical way for an "outsider" to hunt? Any areas that I should favor or avoid? We'll be staying with relatives in Kansas City, then in motels closer to the hunting. Is there any etiquette associated with using public access land about which I should be aware?

Any guidance will be appreciated. Rest assured that my borther and I will respect Kansas and its' wildlife.
 
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:thumbsup::DFirst, welcome to the site! We're glad to have you.

They usually release the new atlas in August, so it's out there before dove season.

Yes, you're free to hunt any of the posted public or WIHA land and there is a lot of it. The beauty of KS hunting is the vast expanse of public access available.

Yes, this is a practical way for an "outsider" to hunt. However, I must warn you that most Kansans I know don't consider anybody an outsider. You're one of us while you're here fellow American.

Favor the areas with birds and avoid my honeyholes :rolleyes:;):cool:

Seriously, any place past Salina is great, N or S doesn't matter much. The upland forecast will come out in October or late September. It will help you decide where to go, but consider yourself warned, it isn't always completely accurate and there are birds in places they indicate may not be very good. Given that you're planning to hunt public land, I would focus more on the WIHA maps and available acreage than I would on the upland bird forecast. The spring is shaping up nicely so far. Hopefully the hot weather we're currently experiencing doesn't harm the chicks (if there are any) on the ground.

Etiquette.....it's refreshing just to hear you ask such a thing! Take a common sense/common courtesy approach and you'll be fine. Don't expect all of the hunters that you share a field with to be so curtious. Sad but true, not all sportmen show one another respect when it comes to public land. I'd assume that holds true in just about any state.

Come on out to KS. We'd be happy to have you. Others will chime in with additional advice. Sending pms to certain individuals will yeild better...more specific answers in terms of areas to hunt. Glad you asked now b/c I've decided I shouldn't give information to the guys that get on here 3 days before the opener and ask where they should go for best results. Again, your post is a refreshing one and I hope you make the journey to our wonderful state!!
 
I'm not from Kansas, But I want to welcome Jim, to UPH, we have a good group here and they will happily answer questions. I would suggest you copy your write up and put a second one in "Introductions". The group will get to know you then. I will help you on the second one if you need it. I like your write up it was very informative.........Bob
 
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Geez kansas why dont you just invite everyone in the world to our honey holes LOL JUST KIDDING ......welcome to the site jimb and hopefully you will find our state worth the trip
 
ks is where its at!

you will love ks you can hunt quail ditch parrots and prairie chickens there is so much walkin hunting i like the north central part of ks lots of birds! I personally like the late season birds are more predictable and bunched up and not as much pressure, but they are educated look for the food and you will find birds.Good luck rock chalk jayhawk!
 
Jim, you won't find a nicer group of people!!! Kansans are very good people!!! I do not use that term lightly!!!!! You might be a little far east at K.C. to do well on Pheasants. I am sure you will do the homework before the opener to see where you might need to travel. Would be happy to help. P.M. me when time is near! Glad to have you aboard!!!!!!!
 
Gove County Britts said:
Geez kansas why dont you just invite everyone in the world to our honey holes LOL JUST KIDDING ......welcome to the site jimb and hopefully you will find our state worth the trip
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Whoa GCB, notice I said find areas with birds and AVOID my honeyholes:D

We want folks visiting our state for hunting as all of you know very well. The more income our state recieves from hunting, the more revenue will be thrown our way (well, logically it should). I sure hope that once we get everyone addicted to KS WIHA, KDWP will initiate a habitat stamp program to access the WIHA. That is ofcourse only if the money is going to go toward leasing more WIHA.
 
JimB said:
When will they publish the 2010 Atlas?

Am I correct in assuming that once I buy a hunting license that I am free to hunt any of the designated land?

Is this a practical way for an "outsider" to hunt? Any areas that I should favor or avoid?

Is there any etiquette associated with using public access land about which I should be aware?
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Pretty well answered above, but I'll add some--

August'ish is time for the 2010 Atlas, but for the most part, the 2009 map will be very similar. Seems like once some ground goes into WIHA, it stays in. Not true of all places, but mostly.

Hunting license gets you access to all WIHA's as well as state owned places around the reservoirs.

Areas to go? Like was said, anywhere west of Salina. When hunting WIHA's we typically look for ones that have cropground nearby, the birds will roost in the grass patches and feed in the crops. If it is nothing but grass for miles and miles, there will be birds, but my experience says not near as many as those near cropground.

Etiquette? We typically try to not hunt a patch that has other hunters already in it. Sometimes this doesn't work out if the patch is big and hills block sight of the opposite side where they might be parked. This isn't any law, just us trying to give others rooms, keeps dogs from fighting, etc.

Good luck. November 1st I get to start in Northern Misssouri, then out to western Kansas for its opener.
 
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