IowaPheasantHunter
New member
I was wondering if anyone has ever shot pheasants without a dog.
No dog
- Thread starter IowaPheasantHunter
- Start date
BritChaser
Well-known member
Yep, many.
small munsterlander owner
Banned
killed Lots with out dog... Lost way way more birds.... I learned hunting pheasant with out a dog now that I have a pheasant produceing dog I kill way way more & loose way way less & will never hunt pheasant with out a pointing dog...
Its another world once you get a good pheasant hunting dog that .means staunch retriever pheasants are too tuff too smart & fast u will loose more then u kill most scenarios with no dog unless u a dead eye
small munsterlander owner
Banned
Same here used my old English bulldogge years killed more birds then solo... Even grouse & prairie chickens
Lee192233
Active member
Hunted for 20 years without a dog. Probably shot 2 or 3 birds a year. Hunted only when there was snow on the ground so I could track them. Keeps you going when there's tracks on the ground. Got a dog 6 years ago and now have shot 47 birds over her. I also have only lost 2 birds since I got her. Flushes are closer and a little more predictable once you learn the dogs body language. Flushed many hens and missed a bunch more roosters
I get out for at least a couple hours a weekend and try to go more. Definitely won't be hunting without a dog anymore!
I get out for at least a couple hours a weekend and try to go more. Definitely won't be hunting without a dog anymore!
Recon
New member
Can it be done YES do I like to hunt without a dog NO!! I hunted my entire childhood with no dogs and hunted in larger groups. Many years later moved away and found myself hunting alone, my first year I saw and shot 3 birds all year convinced my wife I needed a dog and in the spring got my first GSP that following year I shot 20 birds and never lost one. After my dog passed I took a year off from hunting, went back out this year for the first time without a dog after 5 years with one, Ive lost the only two birds I shot and have flushed many more out to far so can it be done YES do I recommend it NO. I have a deposit down on my next hunting partner who will be here in the spring.
Logical
Member
I have never owned a hunting dog. In 2006 I started hunting an area that I was working in. I got to know many landowners, and have about 14 sections of private land available. Not all is good every year, with crop rotation and whatnot.
But, I have gotten to know my area, and have a good read on the birds.
I had a buddy with dogs, but they were not "close hunters". They would get so far out, and he was yelling at them, that I had more success without them around. Same story with another buddy and his dogs. And, about a month ago, I hunted with the same two guys with new dogs. One hunts 3 or 4 days a week. At the end of the day, he said he can see why dogs are a detriment where I hunt. It certainly is not South Dakota cover.
I hunt most of the time without a dog in the field. I have from 0 to 3 other hunters with me. With no dog, the birds flush much closer, than when there are dogs. (I insist on no talking in the field.) We bag more birds with no dog in the field.
When hunting sans dog, I normally limit, as do most of those I hunt with (if they can hit what they shoot at). Would I like a dog that can find cripples? Absolutely!!! I have not hunted with a dog that is good at that, though, unless the dog can see the bird on the ground. Forget about finding a bird in heavy grass.
So, until I hunted a couple weeks ago with a new hunting buddy and his dog, dogs were a detriment. They rarely found wounded birds, and flushed too many too far out. However, this new partner has a young dog, and she stays close. As she gains experience, I believe this could be a dog I will enjoy hunting over.
I know there are good dogs out there, but I have not been fortunate enough to hunt over them. I am in no way saying dogs are not to be hunted with! I am only saying I have very good success, season-long, without at dog.
Don't let the lack of a dog deter you. It makes you a better hunter when you have to figure out the birds, so you can find them on various days. That, to me, is much of the fun of hunting - seeing if I can figure out where the birds are on any given day. I can't rely on a dog to find them for me.
But, I have gotten to know my area, and have a good read on the birds.
I had a buddy with dogs, but they were not "close hunters". They would get so far out, and he was yelling at them, that I had more success without them around. Same story with another buddy and his dogs. And, about a month ago, I hunted with the same two guys with new dogs. One hunts 3 or 4 days a week. At the end of the day, he said he can see why dogs are a detriment where I hunt. It certainly is not South Dakota cover.
I hunt most of the time without a dog in the field. I have from 0 to 3 other hunters with me. With no dog, the birds flush much closer, than when there are dogs. (I insist on no talking in the field.) We bag more birds with no dog in the field.
When hunting sans dog, I normally limit, as do most of those I hunt with (if they can hit what they shoot at). Would I like a dog that can find cripples? Absolutely!!! I have not hunted with a dog that is good at that, though, unless the dog can see the bird on the ground. Forget about finding a bird in heavy grass.
So, until I hunted a couple weeks ago with a new hunting buddy and his dog, dogs were a detriment. They rarely found wounded birds, and flushed too many too far out. However, this new partner has a young dog, and she stays close. As she gains experience, I believe this could be a dog I will enjoy hunting over.
I know there are good dogs out there, but I have not been fortunate enough to hunt over them. I am in no way saying dogs are not to be hunted with! I am only saying I have very good success, season-long, without at dog.
Don't let the lack of a dog deter you. It makes you a better hunter when you have to figure out the birds, so you can find them on various days. That, to me, is much of the fun of hunting - seeing if I can figure out where the birds are on any given day. I can't rely on a dog to find them for me.
small munsterlander owner
Banned
I have never owned a hunting dog. In 2006 I started hunting an area that I was working in. I got to know many landowners, and have about 14 sections of private land available. Not all is good every year, with crop rotation and whatnot.
But, I have gotten to know my area, and have a good read on the birds.
I had a buddy with dogs, but they were not "close hunters". They would get so far out, and he was yelling at them, that I had more success without them around. Same story with another buddy and his dogs. And, about a month ago, I hunted with the same two guys with new dogs. One hunts 3 or 4 days a week. At the end of the day, he said he can see why dogs are a detriment where I hunt. It certainly is not South Dakota cover.
I hunt most of the time without a dog in the field. I have from 0 to 3 other hunters with me. With no dog, the birds flush much closer, than when there are dogs. (I insist on no talking in the field.) We bag more birds with no dog in the field.
When hunting sans dog, I normally limit, as do most of those I hunt with (if they can hit what they shoot at). Would I like a dog that can find cripples? Absolutely!!! I have not hunted with a dog that is good at that, though, unless the dog can see the bird on the ground. Forget about finding a bird in heavy grass.
So, until I hunted a couple weeks ago with a new hunting buddy and his dog, dogs were a detriment. They rarely found wounded birds, and flushed too many too far out. However, this new partner has a young dog, and she stays close. As she gains experience, I believe this could be a dog I will enjoy hunting over.
I know there are good dogs out there, but I have not been fortunate enough to hunt over them. I am in no way saying dogs are not to be hunted with! I am only saying I have very good success, season-long, without at dog.
Don't let the lack of a dog deter you. It makes you a better hunter when you have to figure out the birds, so you can find them on various days. That, to me, is much of the fun of hunting - seeing if I can figure out where the birds are on any given day. I can't rely on a dog to find them for me.
Sorry to say man the dogs you describe are not pheasant hunting dogs maybe they hunt but they sound really poor especially retrieveing what use is the dog if he only retrieves birds dead that u can see on open earth? My bulldog can do that seriously...
Pheasant hunting dogs should be strong retrievers on wounded or running birds that's why most of us dog owners got hunting breeds...
Can I ask how u hunt? Like do u guys line up march the field to blockers etc??? This is 1 technique wear dogs may cause trouble guys slow down dogs keep going etc. Birds flush guys blame dog etc. If this is your way of hunting I'd keep the wild running dogs at heel...
Had guys say they don't want pointers cuz they run wild in the fields & they had to follow them all over the field instead of just hunting strait lines from 1 end of field to the other... These were older guys that style of hunt a ranging pointer mite not be ur choice..
Pheasant hunting101 is being able to locate pheasant habitat & wear pheasants are most likely to be figure the wind & your aproach to wear u think birds are & put dog on ground the. Get ready... What because I have a hunting dog I don't need to understand habitat& wear pheasants live that's all part of pheasant hunting as is the dog... A good dog...
I've never had as many in my face flushes & 1 shot kills as I do now that I have a hunting dog loose way less birds & have way way more fun watching my dog hunt vs march lined up pheasant drives...
Has any of your buddy's or yourself hunted prairie grouse of any species ??? Prairie chicken sharptail grouse??? The pheasant terrain does not get much shorter more short grass then native prairie wear the prairie grouse live... Many guys on here hunt prairie grouse so I'm sure there dogs would do fine in your lands you hunt...
If I ever make it to Colorado I'd be very happy to introduce u to my hunting dog... Night & day from what u describe as a hunting dog u hunted with...
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Logical
Member
"Can I ask how u hunt? Like do u guys line up march the field to blockers etc???"
With between 1 and 4 hunters (that's all I hunt with in my group), we don't block. With no dog, if we are hunting row stubble, we walk a line, so we can stay in the wheel tracks and not make noise. We get plenty of birds up, close, this way. Sometimes birds run ahead of us and flush long, but if we have been quiet, we don't flush them out the end very often.
If hunting grass, we start in a line, but will zig-zag, and also go to what looks like better cover (longer, clumpier grass). Or, go over to a thicket, if there is one. On treelines, we hug the branches, and walk both sides.
Now, when there is a pointer with us, we still walk the rows in stubble. In grass, though, we let the dog lead us, once they appear to have a scent. With no scent, they just keep going in front of us.
"What because I have a hunting dog I don't need to understand habitat..."
No, that's not what I said. However, some of the dog owners don't even want to go into some of the places I regularly harvest birds, as it doesn't look "birdy" to them.
I am all for hunting over a good dog. I just have not had that opportunity, yet. As I said, the 1-yr old that I hunted with a couple weeks ago (and will hunt with tomorrow), sure looks like she will be good. She and I, and her owner and I, will get used to hunting with each other, and it will get better. As she gains experience, I imagine she will get lots better. I've read stories of dogs doing good things, I just have not had the good fortune to have hunted with a really-good dog. I sure hope to, though!
With between 1 and 4 hunters (that's all I hunt with in my group), we don't block. With no dog, if we are hunting row stubble, we walk a line, so we can stay in the wheel tracks and not make noise. We get plenty of birds up, close, this way. Sometimes birds run ahead of us and flush long, but if we have been quiet, we don't flush them out the end very often.
If hunting grass, we start in a line, but will zig-zag, and also go to what looks like better cover (longer, clumpier grass). Or, go over to a thicket, if there is one. On treelines, we hug the branches, and walk both sides.
Now, when there is a pointer with us, we still walk the rows in stubble. In grass, though, we let the dog lead us, once they appear to have a scent. With no scent, they just keep going in front of us.
"What because I have a hunting dog I don't need to understand habitat..."
No, that's not what I said. However, some of the dog owners don't even want to go into some of the places I regularly harvest birds, as it doesn't look "birdy" to them.
I am all for hunting over a good dog. I just have not had that opportunity, yet. As I said, the 1-yr old that I hunted with a couple weeks ago (and will hunt with tomorrow), sure looks like she will be good. She and I, and her owner and I, will get used to hunting with each other, and it will get better. As she gains experience, I imagine she will get lots better. I've read stories of dogs doing good things, I just have not had the good fortune to have hunted with a really-good dog. I sure hope to, though!
Logical,
Sometimes the cover dictates what works best. I hunt springers which stay nice and close. Areas i hunt are often thick, swampy, etc.... and often small pieces of cover. When hunting alone I seldom whistle or even speak, although i might occasionally wave in one direction or another. If I lived out west in larger terrain, maybe a pointer would be needed to cover more ground. I enjoy the interaction with the dog, and the tremendous ability to recover lost birds. We very, very seldom loose a wounded bird. None I can think of this year. Over the years I have experienced hunts with dogs that were not under control. Not enjoyable outings, and situations I have learned to avoid. Those outings do not resemble my hunts whatsoever. That being said, if you hunt alot of row crops, with little cover, a dog may not fit your style.
Sometimes the cover dictates what works best. I hunt springers which stay nice and close. Areas i hunt are often thick, swampy, etc.... and often small pieces of cover. When hunting alone I seldom whistle or even speak, although i might occasionally wave in one direction or another. If I lived out west in larger terrain, maybe a pointer would be needed to cover more ground. I enjoy the interaction with the dog, and the tremendous ability to recover lost birds. We very, very seldom loose a wounded bird. None I can think of this year. Over the years I have experienced hunts with dogs that were not under control. Not enjoyable outings, and situations I have learned to avoid. Those outings do not resemble my hunts whatsoever. That being said, if you hunt alot of row crops, with little cover, a dog may not fit your style.
Logical
Member
Unfortunately, it appears that more of my hunting area is going to become row crops. CRP has not been renewed on more fields this year, so grasses will become crops.
Apparently, there are new regulations with CRP that the landowner must plant more pollinators, then burn or disc every-couple years, or so. The compensation is not sufficient (in the farmers' eyes) to offset the increased cost of the pollinator seeds, and the increased fuel and time for subsequent "tending".
So, I will just have to hunt what develops. Some will stay grass, but more seems to be destined to become crops. Bummer!
Apparently, there are new regulations with CRP that the landowner must plant more pollinators, then burn or disc every-couple years, or so. The compensation is not sufficient (in the farmers' eyes) to offset the increased cost of the pollinator seeds, and the increased fuel and time for subsequent "tending".
So, I will just have to hunt what develops. Some will stay grass, but more seems to be destined to become crops. Bummer!
1pheas4
Moderator
As a kid I couldn't find a way to put my Labrador on my Mountain Bike (in order to get her to the fields) so she often stayed behind. Some how I usually managed to bring some birds and bunnies home. Especially when there was some snow on the ground. I never lost a bird either
I hunted without a dog for a few days in SD in 2005. Did okay. Ditch hunting helped a lot. The golden hour (last hour of the day) helped too.
Hunting a fresh layer of snow without a dog can be very rewarding once you find a fresh set of tracks and bump the bird
(in order to get her to the fields) so she often stayed behind. Some how I usually managed to bring some birds and bunnies home. Especially when there was some snow on the ground. I never lost a bird eitherI hunted without a dog for a few days in SD in 2005. Did okay. Ditch hunting helped a lot. The golden hour (last hour of the day) helped too.
Hunting a fresh layer of snow without a dog can be very rewarding once you find a fresh set of tracks and bump the bird
Goosemaster
Well-known member
I've hunted without a dog several times, but I didn't like it.To me, all the fun, I'd watching my dog, then rewarding my dog, with a fat rooster, or goose.
jackrabbit
Active member
I got into pheasant hunting by going to college in South Dakota, and most of my hunts those 4 years were without dogs. I enjoyed pheasant hunting then, but didn't love it by any means like I do now. Then one day I got the chance to hunt behind an unbelievable lab, and my life forever changed. I was able to get my own Lab in 2012, and have now enjoyed 5 seasons hunting with my own dog. I honestly don't think I would enjoy pheasant hunting without my dog. Watching the dog work is what makes it! Having to have the 2 of us be a team and be on the same page at all times in the field, I love it!
Goosemaster
Well-known member
Yeah- good call- it's a team thing. I'm nothing without my dog.Its just that simple. Another thing- big thumbs down on these hick sob's, who hit their dogs, and mistreat them. Karma, will get them.