This is day one of the Wisconsin pheasant hunt, and here's my observations at what might be the states busiest public land.
The WDNR releases two birds per acre every year here, and this year they were supposed to release a record number of birds. They release birds twice a week for something like the first month of the season, then once a week for a few weeks, then not at all.
I talked to the ranger today and she said they released 180 birds on Thursday for opening day on Saturday. Plus, being new to the hunting spot, I stopped to talk to a few other hunters that were there early. This is the park where I train my dog, so I've had all summer to scout. And on the west end of the land, there's a highway and across the highway there is a large farm field. I found two large fields with tall grass and surrounded by woods all the way around. I thought it would be a great spot to see something on opening day. The pheasants could go feed in the morning and then go lay back down somewhere in the tall grasses.
Well, after the hunt, it was another story. I left the park at two PM, and the hunt started at noon. I left mostly because I misunderstood the rules. Bong closes hunting at two PM. I thought that applied to opening day as well, but I was wrong. It goes until six on opening day. Nine AM to two PM every other day.
I got the chance to talk to a few other hunters on my way out, and the state said they released a ton of birds, plus I hunted an area that was 2000 feet by 1000 feet by myself, and all the shooting was coming from across the road on private land.
I realize it's possible some birds went to the private land, but how realistic is it that most of them went there?
Talking to the ranger earlier in the year, she said it gets pretty busy for opening day, so I expected quite a few people there, but there really wasn't. Bong is an abandoned Air Force Base so everyone tends to hunt right where the airstrip is, but I went the exact opposite way because I thought my chances would increase.
Also, talking to the other hunters I saw, they said the same thing, that a lot of shooting was coming from west of them, and I was west of everyone I talked to, so it must have been from across the highway.
Is anyone on here familiar with Bong? The east side of the park seemed to be busier with the parking lot full when I got there an hour before it opened. But I went to the furthest west lot and I was there with four or five other hunters.
Is there a better place than that far west to hunt at Bong?
Thanks for any help.
The WDNR releases two birds per acre every year here, and this year they were supposed to release a record number of birds. They release birds twice a week for something like the first month of the season, then once a week for a few weeks, then not at all.
I talked to the ranger today and she said they released 180 birds on Thursday for opening day on Saturday. Plus, being new to the hunting spot, I stopped to talk to a few other hunters that were there early. This is the park where I train my dog, so I've had all summer to scout. And on the west end of the land, there's a highway and across the highway there is a large farm field. I found two large fields with tall grass and surrounded by woods all the way around. I thought it would be a great spot to see something on opening day. The pheasants could go feed in the morning and then go lay back down somewhere in the tall grasses.
Well, after the hunt, it was another story. I left the park at two PM, and the hunt started at noon. I left mostly because I misunderstood the rules. Bong closes hunting at two PM. I thought that applied to opening day as well, but I was wrong. It goes until six on opening day. Nine AM to two PM every other day.
I got the chance to talk to a few other hunters on my way out, and the state said they released a ton of birds, plus I hunted an area that was 2000 feet by 1000 feet by myself, and all the shooting was coming from across the road on private land.
I realize it's possible some birds went to the private land, but how realistic is it that most of them went there?
Talking to the ranger earlier in the year, she said it gets pretty busy for opening day, so I expected quite a few people there, but there really wasn't. Bong is an abandoned Air Force Base so everyone tends to hunt right where the airstrip is, but I went the exact opposite way because I thought my chances would increase.
Also, talking to the other hunters I saw, they said the same thing, that a lot of shooting was coming from west of them, and I was west of everyone I talked to, so it must have been from across the highway.
Is anyone on here familiar with Bong? The east side of the park seemed to be busier with the parking lot full when I got there an hour before it opened. But I went to the furthest west lot and I was there with four or five other hunters.
Is there a better place than that far west to hunt at Bong?
Thanks for any help.
