Hello, all! This year is going to be my first year my dad and I are going to be pheasant hunting. I heard it should be a banner of a year. I was just looking for some helpful tips and tricks and possibly public hunting spaces that you all recommend! We are going to be a two man group hunting without a dog (weren't able to get one for this years hunt) so any tips for without a dog would help. Thank you all!
New NW Iowa Pheasant Hunter
- Thread starter TheDanMan
- Start date
GladHunter
Member
Pause regularly while you are walking, this makes the birds nervous and more likely to flush instead of letting you walk past them. Work small pieces towards an edge or a corner so they have to flush instead of running.
Headin west
Member
I would focus on ditches close to picked corn fields. Preferably ones with good cover or that you have seen birds around.
gim
Well-known member
I agree with Gladhunter above; the stop and go method works pretty well without a dog. I hunted without a dog for years before I was able to own one. Take 10 steps, pause, 10 more steps, pause. Birds will flush when you are standing still.
Try to hunt thinner cover. Forget about cattail swamps. You'll never find one if you drop it.
Try to hunt thinner cover. Forget about cattail swamps. You'll never find one if you drop it.
remy3424
Well-known member
Welcome to the forum. I was just in Storm Lake for work friday. When Headin West says "ditches" he is not referring to "road ditches", think "waterways". If things are not working up in Buena Vista County, I am a short hour drive and from you. We can get you on birds, so you will know what they look like before we are done. My dog isn't the best, but he will do. Curious, what is your age?
Wow Danman, that is a very generous offer you shouldn’t pass up. Lots of public in Clay, Dickinson and the surrounding area also.
roadscholar
Active member
I hunted without a dog for many years. Here's my tips-
Don't take long shots. If you keep your shots around 35 yards and closer, you'll have a much better chance of birds hitting the ground dead.
When my wife and I were hunting without a dog, what worked for us was when a bird was shot, the shooter would stay in place and keep their eye on the exact spot the bird fell. The non-shooter would hustle to where the bird fell, and the shooter would give directions to the exact spot. The quicker someone is at the spot where the bird fell, the better chance you have of recovery.
Good luck and have fun!
Don't take long shots. If you keep your shots around 35 yards and closer, you'll have a much better chance of birds hitting the ground dead.
When my wife and I were hunting without a dog, what worked for us was when a bird was shot, the shooter would stay in place and keep their eye on the exact spot the bird fell. The non-shooter would hustle to where the bird fell, and the shooter would give directions to the exact spot. The quicker someone is at the spot where the bird fell, the better chance you have of recovery.
Good luck and have fun!
I am 20!
waterdog09
Active member
Get yourself OnX on your phone and just explore. Look for smaller spots as others have said and try to use natural cover breaks to pinch the birds to where you want them to go. Now this rarely works as they have been there and done that by the end of the first weekend but it's a good strategy that is used by all of us even with dogs.