New to Pheasant

A

avidkshunt

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To anyone who has been hunting these birds for a while, any advise would be appriciated. I have been hunting in KS since 01, mostly deer, turkey and goose. My son wanted to try our luck at pheasant hunting, so 3 years ago we got a GSP and traveled out to near Milford and tried our luck in the WIHA fields around there. We hunted 2 years in that area with no luck. This year we moved further west to Stockton area, we did jump a few covey of Quail and one pheasant, but went home empty. The dog works the fields great and just seeing him in his element makes my hunting trips, but to bring home a few birds would make my son's trip memorable.

What time is best early or all day?
Is the tall grass fields or the milo/corn fields best?
Is the huntig still good into Dec/Jan?

I dont mind driving the 5 hours to get out there, and will continue to search, so any help to make this a great expereice with my son would be greatly appriciated.

Quote" Time spent afield hunting with good friends is not deducted from a man's life - so hunt often and enjoy"
 
I'd be glad to put my two cents in and hope it'll help. I assume you'll be hunting walk-in/public fields and that's ok as there's still plenty of birds to be had off public ground. Look for fields that have decent cover and it's best if they've got some feed around them. Let the dog work slow and keep your eyes on him. You'll be able to pick up signs in your dog that he's picking up bird scent and when he does be ready. I always get a little extra hop in my step once the dog gets birdy and I try not to be too far away. A lot of times those wild birds don't hold point long so make sure you're not too far behind your dog. We usually do best the first half of the day, then again the last hour of the day. Hunting is good all 3 months, but I enjoy January the best. Less hunters around to compete with and trying to outsmart the late season rooster is sure a lot of fun! Hope this helps. KansasGsp
 
I agree

I agree with Kansas gsp, also you may want to work any waterway that travel thur cut mile/ cormn fields..roooster like to loaf in those areas during the day. If it is only you and your son work the heaviest cover on the walk later in the year and during bad weather. Oh Yeah make sure you walk into the wind for 2 reasons..#1 will help you dog and 2 the wind will cover some of your noise and help you get up on them closer. ALWAYS TRUST YOUR DOG!

good luck to you and the boy!!!! :thumbsup:
 
As the season gets later keep these things in mind; they work for me, but may not work for all:

Work really nasty stuff that is hard to get into and out of. I'm in the military and used to getting my pt in on a regular basis. Birds will seek refuge in the narliest, sharpest, hardest, wet places to go.

If you can not do that, work cover adjacent to food. Always look for food/water, and cover, before you walk an area.

Think your approach before walking into the area. Birds will be moving early am either to or from food. If it is cold and windy, they will be in sheltered areas. Work cover into the wind, not the other way around. Late season birds will smell you and hear you long before you have a shot, wich leads me to my last point-

Be very, very quiet. Don't slam doors, don't yell at your partner or your dog. Use quiet chirps on your whistle or hand signals. I never utter a word to my hunting partner that is not at his ear and a whisper. I like cold and wet conditions, because it will make you less noisey. As the year progresses, the surviving birds are survivors for a reason. They will not let you get into range, EVER! You will end up stepping on birds if you do it right. Be prepared for the birds to explode at your feet, even after your dog has gone right by it. Be calm, do not hurry the shot, take time to aim. I know there are those who think that this does not matter, that's OK, but this is what works for me. I only wear orange (never more than a ball cap's worth) when I see other hunters in my vacinity. I blend in, and catch a ton of far flushers pushed up by other hunters that will cruise right into my field of fire.

It works for me, but may not work for everybody.
 
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Try and hunt cover in the early morning, tall thick CRP is great especially if there is food near by. After a few hours in the morning we normally move to food plots of Milo as the birds will go into feed. Normally the hunting slows down in the middle of the day in my experience so we use that time to scout areas that will be good to hunt the last couple hours of daylight which are heavily covered areas near food where the birds will roost at night.

Good luck and have a great season.
 
I BIG Thanks

Guys, I really appriciate your quick and informative replies. I can tell I have not been doing all the right things to put myself in a better position to find these birds. I will use your suggestions to make my time in the field more productive. Thank you all and may we all have a great Thanksgiving week and good hunting seson. Hunt Well and pass this tradition on

Joe
 
Hey avid,
You might consider Eckman game preserve. I live in olathe also and its less than a 30 min drive. You do have to pay to hunt but there are guaranteed to have birds in the field. You actually come out ahead dollars wise if you consider how far you have to drive to get on wild birds. It will be great for your son and dog. There will be a lot of shooting. Great place to get a young dog some good experience.
 
I agree, I use Eckman a lot before the season to get the dog and myself on birds before we head and west and try and shoot wild birds. It is a lot cheaper than food, fuel, and lodging to go out west.
 
I run my two shorthairs with e-collars, but that's it. I hunt with a buddy who runs his dog with a beeper collar after having lost him twice last season. It has a locator button to hit in order to find your dog and I really like it. I'm not a bell guy and honestly can't stand listening to the sound of a bell around a dogs neck.
 
KansasGsp said:
I run my two shorthairs with e-collars, but that's it. I hunt with a buddy who runs his dog with a beeper collar after having lost him twice last season. It has a locator button to hit in order to find your dog and I really like it. I'm not a bell guy and honestly can't stand listening to the sound of a bell around a dogs neck.
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agreed ks gsp might as well sound the alarm HERE WE ARE BIRDS TAKE OFF RUNNING NOW!
 
I hunt with a brush bustin yellow lab. She stays about 25 ft in front and quarters back and forth. She responds to a short "chirp" on the whistle. When she gets birdy and starts to trail a runner, there is no stopping her. She loves to hunt so much, that she seems depressed anytime at home, and when in the field has the time of her life.
 
I only use the e-collar. I agree that listening to bells and beeps all day gets really annoying really fast. The e-collar is a great training device and if used properly you shouldn't need to use the beepers, bells, GPS tracking devices and the like just to find your dog. On the other hand it'll make you madder than a hornet to lose your dog so use what works for you.
 
I agree, E-collar only if you can see your dog. Helps to sneak up on birds.

I have a friend that has a beeper that is quieter than most and not irritating, and , it is set to go off only when dog points. Worked quite well in thick cover.

Walt MI/USA
 
Quiet is the key

I have put duct tape over the tag on my dog's collar to keep it from making any jingling noises.

When hunting, I find taking a few steps at a time then stopping is much better than steady marching through the field in a straight line.

Good luck.
 
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