Now I Know

kansasbrittany

kansasbrittany

Banned
Staring into oblivian, guessing what the season might have in store for me, is no longer necessary. Strategies for how to "corral" one bird in a wheat strip is what will echo in my mind.

I read a comment in another thread stating, "It can't be any worse than last year." I'll have to respectfully disagree after my trip this w/e.

I made it out to my dad's this weekend to witness the devistation for myself and visit my usual "KB's pheasant outlook" locations. Some of what I saw was good; it's what I didn't see that concerns me.

I spent about 4hrs on the back roads, during the evening (same time I've always used in my "study"), visiting all the same spots on my route, taking the same route in the same order. I DID NOT SEE A SINGLE PHEASANT. It was a cold, wet day yesterday. There weren't even any blackbirds out.

With less than an hour till dark, my wife and I walked the edge of a milo field where it butts up to wheat stubble. We were very quiet, stopping to listen for cackles. We didn't hear a single cackle. We did however see a spot where a pheasant had been eating milo, so they do still exist;)

This morning it was much nicer; little or no wind, with the warm sun in the morning sky. We drove about 3 miles of my route this morning (round feedin' time) and didn't see a single bird.

Gents, the conditions for my drive weren't great yesterday. Problem is, I've never been on those roads, both morning and evening, without seeing a single bird. That is the FIRST time I've not seen a single bird on one of those trips. 20 birds might be the fewest I'd seen in any given year until this year's trip.

My dad says he's seen an average of maybe a "half dozen in a 1/4 section of beans" while harvesting. There is still a LOT of milo out there. I expect most or all of it to be out by the opener.

While we were leaving my wife asked, "Are you really going to hunt out here this year?" "Yes", I replied. Her, "Well, what'ya gonna do for birds?" Me, "Walk.......a LOT!"
 
Wow that is sad, like i said on my way to dodge city i liked the cover and didnt think it was all that bad but that was on strictly blacktop.Hopefully there will some birds in my area although im with you kb i am still going and i will still have fun.
 
I forgot to add that what I saw that was good was much of the wheat stubble was left higher than it has been the past few years, at least on the land I hunt. There were some patches that had some nice weeds in them:thumbsup:
 
Chad,
That sucks,sounds like my scouting ntrip last year.The way things are stacking up,we will not be making the trip west again this year.Thinking real hard on doing a local paid hunt.NEVER.in my life have I ever written those words.
On the bright side,my youngest wants to bow hunt deer,so we have something new to learn together,funny thing,I'm scared of heights.
Let me know if you make a late season trip this year,I miss hunting in the snow.
Talk to you guys latter
Joe
 
Last week I went to a land auction in Finney county. I drove back roads from Garden City to Great Bend over two evenings and two mornings. I saw some birds, with one bunch on my farm south of Dighton being about the size of quail. My guess is it will be about like last year, with the difference being there will be some young birds this year instead of all carryover like last. I also noticed a lot more weedier wheat stubble fields than usual. The reason for this, is it was so hot and dry the farmers didn't think the herbicides would work. When the weeds are stressed they are hard to kill so the farmers didn't spray as much as usual. The crp also has better growth than last year, although a lot of it has half of it hayed or grazed. Its not going to be a good year, but there will be some birds to shoot for those that want to work at it. I did see 4 huge mulies on some ground I hunt, so maybe during gun season I will get lucky and get one of them.
 
Not good news. But I don't think it comes as a surprise to any of us either. It just confirms some of our suspicions I suppose.

I just got home with a nice little started EP and am going to have him out every weekend I'm not duck hunting with my BLF. I've got some decent quail hunting spots that may keep him busy at least some of the time.

At this point lets all start our rain dances early and pray for a good summer without all the heat next year!
 
I saw two roosters today, both in Barton County. Really it was a day without any wildlife sightings. I had lunch in Tonganoxie, then traveled to Atchison, Highland, Hiawatha, Seneca, Frankfort, Fostoria, Manhattan, Salina, Ellsworth, Gt. Bend, Larned and Dodge. One rooster in the ditch in Barton County at sundown, one a little after dark. In my travel through the NE part of the state, I found the corn picked and most beans standing, but lots of combines running in the fields. Thought all the harvest activity might be moving some deer around, but not a single deer, turkey or other wildlife species except those two roosters.

Better days are coming.
 
matto said:
That is a lot of windshield time!
Click to expand...

Used to that when you live in SW Kansas. We were at soccer games Saturday in Missouri and parents will say, "How long does it take you to get here?" and when we say, "Oh, about six hours.", they don't know quite what to say.

Actually, I have had no reason to ever be in that far NE Kansas area, but needed to do some research of other areas of Kansas worthy of investment, so decided to check it out. That is the only area of the state that I had never been in. Nice country.
 
I've seen plenty of other parents go through that. I don't understand it, but then they don't understand how/why I spend so much time chasing birds.

Those are beautiful parts of the state. I used to do the Manhattan-Salina-Ellsworth-Great Bend-Larned-Dodge drive every opening weekend when I was at KSU. My job takes me up through the NE part fo the state pretty regularly.
 
Traveled for the kids sports, now it is the grandkids sports and activities. Need another base closer to KC.
 
A Hill City old timer with lots of pheasant seasons under his belt told me that when bird numbers are down -- and they are down -- pheasants are spookier. They are more apt to far flush, run, and stay out of sight. Makes sense as that would better ensure the survival of the species. Maybe that's what's going on. If so, better tighten the chokes.
 
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