Pheasants in the wind, a specific situation

B

Bob Peters

Well-known member
I'm wondering about hunting crp fields with topography. When it gets really windy do the pheasants like to hide in the lowest spots, the hill tops, the windy side or the calm side? I realize in the morning/evening they are usually near a crop field regardless of wind in order to have a meal. But if you look at late morning through early afternoon when they're just hanging out, this is where I'm curious if wind has an effect on their choice. I was thinking of a MN hunt I had about 3 weeks into the season. We were on a large piece and it was mild temps so we ended up hunting mostly crp grass that isn't that thick. Me and the dogs got our limit, and I even missed a bird that held really tight! I didn't get the miss on tape as the gopro had died. All 3 roosters were flushed near the top of the hill in very windy weather. There are a lot of cattails in the lowlands at this spot.

The birds I'm thinking of are in this video at 20:30 mark and 24:45 mark.

 
Wind is stupid. Used to be no wind, then they put up wind farms and created a whole crap ton of wind that I have to deal with.

My personal belief is that pheasants move around a lot when it is windy as they rely on their sight as their hearing is rendered moot. I also believe that they avoid thick cover as, again, without the ability to hear they are left vulnerable. I do believe they get on the leeward side of any geography, to limit the impact wind has on their hearing. Mostly, the gubbinmint should turn off the windmills during hunting season to get rid of the wind.
 
A decent Wind swings the advantage to the hunter, for the reasons GH mentions. Not a fan of extreme winds, & had those twice last season
Without snow, trying to get close to roosters on a calm day can be very challenging- flushed many a rooster close by using the wind to help muffle noise
PS Those wind mills are an atrocious blemish in the landscape👎
 
I'd say CRP fields Bob asked about aren't my favorite places to hunt on really windy days, unless it's near sunset & that's where they're roosting. Will they use CRP at other times on windy days? Of course, and sometimes they'll seem to try to stay out of the wind by using changes in topography. But generally, in super windy conditions, I try to find other places to hunt with more significant wind breaks. Trees, thickets, cattails, low side of a big bank, etc. But, if they're out of the wind, they can hear better too, so you have to be ultra stealthy. With any luck, there's still SOME breeze that you can use to your advantage. If you choose a spot where they can see you coming, you won't get a shot.
 
A5 Sweet 16 said:
I'd say CRP fields Bob asked about aren't my favorite places to hunt on really windy days, unless it's near sunset & that's where they're roosting. Will they use CRP at other times on windy days? Of course, and sometimes they'll seem to try to stay out of the wind by using changes in topography. But generally, in super windy conditions, I try to find other places to hunt with more significant wind breaks. Trees, thickets, cattails, low side of a big bank, etc. But, if they're out of the wind, they can hear better too, so you have to be ultra stealthy. With any luck, there's still SOME breeze that you can use to your advantage. If you choose a spot where they can see you coming, you won't get a shot.
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Tumbleweed patches are great in these conditions
 
I haven’t made up my mind yet on super windy days with roosters. Some say they are skiddish other times they hold tight. All I know one takes off in the wind- cya. Now with deer that’s a different story
 
Springer22 said:
I haven’t made up my mind yet on super windy days with roosters. Some say they are skiddish other times they hold tight. All I know one takes off in the wind- cya. Now with deer that’s a different story
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I think they tend to be more skiddish, mostly because in plenty of windy circumstances, they hear (if you're upwind of them) or see you coming sooner, since they tend to hang out where they can see better. The exception is if they've screwed up & allowed you to get close. Then they can hold awfully tight.
 
All I know is that if I don’t get them with the first barrel the second is usually a waste. And if I do hit them with the second barrel the dog has one heck of a retrieval.
 
For me in high wind conditions, I could get talked into doing something different on those mornings. I disagree with most on the birds being at a disadvantage. Things (most of the time) happen so fast, it is much harder to get on them...except when a bird mistakenly wants to go into the wind. Tougher for the dog to gauge scent also.
 
Alaskan swamp collies said:
All I know is that if I don’t get them with the first barrel the second is usually a waste. And if I do hit them with the second barrel the dog has one heck of a retrieval.
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That's funny, because some days it seems I only hit them with the second barrel. If carrying a repeater it seems like shell number 3 has pretty low odds, although it comes in handy once a blue moon.
 
remy3424 said:
For me in high wind conditions, I could get talked into doing something different on those mornings. I disagree with most on the birds being at a disadvantage. Things (most of the time) happen so fast, it is much harder to get on them...except when a bird mistakenly wants to go into the wind. Tougher for the dog to gauge scent also.
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I agree about the advantage going to the birds during windy days. I typically get one good shot before they turn and head down wind.
 
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