river and creek bottoms

kansasbrittany

kansasbrittany

Banned
Every time I go pheasant hunting I'm compelled to start in a CRP field. I've done it that way for so long I have a hard time trying something new. I've done well in weedy wheat stubble first thing in the morning, but haven't tried anything else. I have access to a spot on the Arkansas River. It is pretty well dry, so there is pretty thick cover and trees running along the river. Do any of you hunt river bottoms for pheasants in KS? Do they use this cover to roost like they use CRP? Maybe I should ask that in a different way; are they as likely to use river bottoms as they are CRP for roosting?

TIA
 
kansasbrittany said:
Every time I go pheasant hunting I'm compelled to start in a CRP field. I've done it that way for so long I have a hard time trying something new. I've done well in weedy wheat stubble first thing in the morning, but haven't tried anything else. I have access to a spot on the Arkansas River. It is pretty well dry, so there is pretty thick cover and trees running along the river. Do any of you hunt river bottoms for pheasants in KS? Do they use this cover to roost like they use CRP? Maybe I should ask that in a different way; are they as likely to use river bottoms as they are CRP for roosting?

TIA
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KB, I'm sure that it will hold roosters but it may hold a better quail population. If the covers as good as you say and the surrounding fields get pressured it will push the birds into that cover. I'm sure that Kody and I could help you find out if it's feasable hunting ground or not...:D
 
kiotehntr said:
KB, I'm sure that it will hold roosters but it may hold a better quail population. If the covers as good as you say and the surrounding fields get pressured it will push the birds into that cover. I'm sure that Kody and I could help you find out if it's feasable hunting ground or not...:D
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kiote beat me to it but if he bails out Megan & I would be happy to push all the pheasants out into the CRP for you & just take the quail:thumbsup:.
 
I have shot both pheasant and quail in the Arkansas riverbed. The negatives for me is that sometimes it is close to a highway or has sandburs. Some areas may have a lot of debris, half buried barbed wire fences, etc.
 
Lowlands or Uplands?

I have always found more birds in the uplands than the lowlands. I think there are more predators along the waterways. But I am no expert -- just sharing my experience.
 
I have axcess to a mile of mostly dry creek bed in northern meade county. My experience there first thing in the am has been mostly quail with the occasional rooster. The cover can be a bit gnarly in there and the walking can be slow going but birds can be found especially if its next to a food source.
 
Don't know about first thing in the morning. I used to hunt a WIHA that I nicked named the "bone yard". It was a creek bottom that had some real nasty tall weeds that held the birds really well, phez and quail. I would hunt this mid day when they tend to loaf or want to get out of the wind.
 
The birds will be more likely to use an area like that mid-day, after being shot up, or in nasty weather. Not that you won't find birds there at any time, but you could find it to be a honey hole by Sunday or Monday. I love places like that, because most guys think the birds shouldn't be in there, and it's harder for the big groups to hunt.
 
I love this site. I've hunted upland birds in KS for 20 years and I can still learn new things from the members on this site. It truly is great. Thanks to all of you for your comments! I think I'll wait until Sunday, after lunch to go to the river. The 1/4 section that the river runs through was summer fallow this year and was not sprayed for weeds. I'm sure it will be good.

Thanks again UPH brethren!!
 
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