Question about BILBY

H

hunterw/newhobby

New member
OK, my poor neglected bird dog has still not been given the opportunity to hunt yet this year (getting crops in, busy at work, stupid deer season that was easier to get a tan than a deer, life, etc.). I can no longer take her death stairs and sadness because I'm sure she can read a calender and knows we should be hunting. My idea was to deer hunt saturday morning to try and fill my freezer and then head up to Bilby mid-morning to hunt. Has anyone been up there before to hunt during deer season? Does it get hunted hard for deer? I'm guessing most hunters will be chasing deer and kinda hope that me and the pooch could have a pretty solid hunt. Not real worried about shooting birds as much as getting her some points. Thanks for the info.
Ross
 
When I've hunted there during deer season I have run into deer hunters. I really don't hunt during deer season anymore, but last time I did I think I ran into 3 deer hunters. It's not too bad due to the amount of land, but again I did see them and just went to other way. Good luck if you go!
 
I hunt other states like Nebraska or Kansas during Missouri's firearm deer season. Although I have had uncomfortable experience with camo'd bowhunters in a tree on a hedgerow, when a covey of quail got up! Didn't say a thing, till after we shot, and we never saw him at all, by the way he was at least 1/2 mile back in, at 7:30 am. I wish they had blaze orange regulations, better yet eliminate certain conservation areas to deer hunting period! The way the seasons are, like all year long, it's a dangerous situation.
 
Agree with ya oldandnew. Most the time in my limited experience they aren't too pleased when I walked into them. I had one guy on the ground that I walked up on and he was pretty nice, but I was 15 yards before I saw him which is kinda dangerous (for both parties).The idea of requiring them to wear a little orange on public ground is a good one. I hunted a couple public places during rifle deer season a few years back and after that I quit. Not worth the risk, so instead I just took up deer hunting....
 
Thanks for the advice,
I was just looking through the area regulations and it says that Bilby is only open to deer hunting using bows or muzzle loaders. I have a close working dog and am planning on adding some orange to her so I think I can put the brakes on her before she would interupt to much of someones hunt if I run into someone. I think I'll call up to the MDC people up there and make sure that I shouldn't run into any deer hunters unless they are bowhunting or muzzle loader hunting. Either way dont they still have to wear orange since rifle season is open, at least to and from their stands/sits?
 
You're correct they do have to wear orange, but that place is pretty hilly and the guys I've ran into were hunting on the ground with muzzle loader wearing orange. The tall grass makes it difficult to see over the slightest hill. Again, I've done it and gotten birds, but the last couple years I've avoided it. I'm sure you'll be fine and maybe get a bird or two. Good luck to ya. I haven't been out there yet this year, but might head that way next Tuesday night for a hunt on Wednesday and Thursday morning. My dogs are ready to run too! Good luck have fun and be safe. Let me know if you're going to be out there and we can meet up.
 
I was up there last weekend on opening morning for deer, and walked for about 6 hours, and saw one deer hunter. He was spotting and stalking with a muzzleloader. I didn't have any problems at all.
 
I wouldn't worry too much about the deer hunters. I think this is one of the safest areas to hunt during deer season due to the limited amount of timber and the regulations. Most guys I know that hunt deer there are bow hunters. I wish they would get the corn out!!!
 
The update:
Went up to bilby saturday afternoon. Dog, who is really out of shape I might add and that is my fault, did not appreciate the snow and ice covering the grass. The corn is still in, which is probably holding a crap ton of birds, so it was slower than normal but my dog did get a nice point on a hen in some cattails. I love Bilby and wish MDC would do more to make the "Quail Emphasis Areas" look more like it. Even with no roosters bagged it was still a good hunt. Hopefully will get out again the week after thanksgiving. Also, didn't see another human while I was up there. I was stressing for nothing.
Ross
 
Bilby is tough to hunt even without the corn still in. You know the birds are there if you have hunted with snow on the ground from all the tracks. I went to school up at NWMSU and spent a lot of time chasing them with occasional success. After the season I would walk along the dirt service road and it would sound like a herd of pheasants running through the grass. I've seen groups of hunters and the birds getting up a quarter mile ahead of them over the hill...I'm sure they didn't even know it.

Maybe some of you remember, I think it was 2000, when the Kansas City Star had a big write up on Bilby being a premiere pheasant hunting spot. My dad and I pulled in that opening morning and could hardly find a spot to park the truck! We were a little mad that it was advertised but actually made for a pretty good day. I think all the hunters kept the birds moving and we put a few on the ground. Today, you may be the only hunters on the whole 5,000 acres. Don't get me wrong, it is kind nice to have the whole place to yourselves, but makes me worry that we won't have the pheasant and quail advocates in the next generation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top