NW Kansas Bad

[BritChaser]

Could only hunt in the morning on Sat. due to the wind storm. None of us fired a shot. On Sun. I fired two shots. Saw very few birds in the extremely dry conditions. Ate a lot of dust (but had an emerency-only bottle of bourbon on hand just for dust cuttin'). The KDWPT was right: Bird populations are way down.

 

[TakeEm]

Headed to South Central, KS

I am headed to Wichita from Wisconsin to visit the in-laws for Thanksgiving. Am planning on heading up toward Haviland/Greensburg area next Monday and Tuesday in search of longtails and quail with my GSP. By all accounts it looks like my expectaions should be to enjoy the outdoors and the excersize. Low numbers and poor reports won't keep me out of the field, just hoping I can find a few pockets that hold some birds. Good luck to all. See ya in da field.

 

[BritChaser]

Good luck to you. I don't have any info for you on the areas where you intend to hunt, but the KDWPT has said it's pretty bad everywhere.

 

[KansasGsp]

Hey, I'm telling you NW Kansas is the land of milk and honey compared to what SW Kansas is like! Hunted both this past weekend, it's going to take a while for SW to bounce back.

 

[mcclinj]

I'm headed to the NC area the week of Thanksgiving, just northeast of Hays I believe. Any reports from this area. Is the dust still hanging around?

-John

 

[djustice]

I just got back from Hays. We only saw 9 birds total. The WIHA properties looked better South towards LaCrosse.

 

[BrownDogsCan2]

Lincoln county, anyone?

 

[cheesy]

The WIHA properties looked better South towards LaCrosse.

If LaCrosse is better, I don't want to see Hays.

 

[cheesy]

\ Am planning on heading up toward Haviland/Greensburg area next Monday and Tuesday in search of longtails and quail with my GSP. .

Don't want to ruin your expectations, because I think you've got a handle on whats its going to be like. According to the farmer from Greensburg we talked to while elk hunting a few weeks ago in Colorado, its just as bad there as anywhere.

 

[KansasCowboy]

I'm headed to the NC area the week of Thanksgiving, just northeast of Hays I believe. Any reports from this area. Is the dust still hanging around?

-John

I would head Northwest of Hays if possible. You will find more birds the farther north and west you go.

 

[TC's Jazzie Mack Gunner]

Heading North of WaKeeney this weekend to hunt some public land any reports?

 

[Zeepo]

I hunted NW of Hays near Hill City and we saw 2 roosters in 3 days. I have hunted that area for 25 years all private ground and this is the worst year ever. May not go back. Went over and hunted Lucas area and it was just as bad, only saw 1 hen in 6 hours of hunting.

Zeepo

 

[kick them up]

I hunted around La Crosse and the cover is bad there too. CRP was ankle high in most places. Saw more deer than Roosters. Sad , Sad ,Sad !

 

[kansasbrittany]

I hunted around La Crosse and the cover is bad there too. CRP was ankle high in most places. Saw more deer than Roosters. Sad , Sad ,Sad !

That's the same way I've described it to several folks "Saw more deer than pheasants". And it's the bitter truth gents!

 

[carptom1]

Heading North of WaKeeney this weekend to hunt some public land any reports?

You might want to take a book. I had a couple buddies that hunted north of wakeeney/hill city. They shot 3 birds in 2 days, all private ground. Saw very few birds hens or otherwise. I would imagine public is going to be tougher, if that is possible.

 

[setterbud]

hunted mon to this morning Just got back from HILL City area, found some good spots but only seen two rosters and about 20 hens two covies of quail also very few hunters
i know why

 

[sigav8r]

I would head Northwest of Hays if possible. You will find more birds the farther north and west you go.

Not necessarily...I'm hunting around Goodland today and tomorrow. It's rough!!!! We hunted a good 20 WIHA properties. 2 guys and 3 dogs (2 drathars, 1 GSP) and we saw 2 hens today. We scared up two mule deer and found a couple skulls and racks. We actually saw birds back south towards Dodge when we hunted our way up here on Tues. So be warned if you come to NW Kansas.

 

[KU Pheasant Hunter]

Not necessarily...I'm hunting around Goodland today and tomorrow. It's rough!!!! We hunted a good 20 WIHA properties. 2 guys and 3 dogs (2 drathars, 1 GSP) and we saw 2 hens today. We scared up two mule deer and found a couple skulls and racks. We actually saw birds back south towards Dodge when we hunted our way up here on Tues. So be warned if you come to NW Kansas.

20 Properties in 1 day?

 

[CowboyBirdDogs]

Been hunting sections 1, 2, 7, 8. On the maps and have been gettin into about 35-55 birds a day. All public land except 1 old homestead that we got permission to hunt. We've shot 8 roosters between us and by my count, we should have at least 18-22. My shooting was off the first 2 days, I should have 12 by myself. We have 3 guys and 4 dogs but we don't run more than 2-3 dogs at a time.

 

[sigav8r]

20 Properties in 1 day?

A lot of scouting and hunting. Drove by a bunch of fields that looked as bad as people said and stepped out let the dogs run and turned around and hopped back in the truck. Some properties were quarter sections where only a small fraction of the land was huntable! But others have had some luck. We also seemed to hit fields after others had been there. Yesterday was better. Today somewhere in between.