Bob Peters
Well-known member
I'm just wondering what the best time as far as season or time of day, and also strategy is to hunt shelter belts?
shelter belts
- Thread starter Bob Peters
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A5 Sweet 16
Well-known member
Which state in particular?
Goosemaster
Well-known member
It's hard with just one guy.Pick a side.Usually the side with escape cover.2 guys, one on each side, or one on the end.4 guys is ideal, if you have that luxury.
Bob Peters
Well-known member
SW MN, The shelterbelt is rectangular shaped and a touch over a mile in total length. It is three rows of trees, mostly pines and cedars (I think) as well as some reddish looking trees with no leaves. There are nice lanes to walk between the trees, although at points it gets too thick. There's nice prairie grass between the trees. The guy who let me hunt walks the path a few times a week but doesn't ever hunt. He has flushed pheasants before and I seen some tracks in the snow. Inside the rectangle is a house, and cut corn field. Everything outside of the rectangle is also cut corn for a long ways. I hope to try it again this year. Dog got birdy once but no flush.
BRITTMAN
Well-known member
Need snow. They will definitely run, but then just one or two roosters that decide to hang tight and you are in business. I have seen plenty of pheasant cross roads when being pursued, but not blocked ... but most probably do not. I have also watched pheasants run out and through harvested fields rather than fly or follow the tree line ... snow stops most of this type of behavior.
If you can ... park your car on one end and have your friend drop you off at the other end. Walking towards your vehicle may get them to hold. Save you a few steps when you are done too.
If you can ... park your car on one end and have your friend drop you off at the other end. Walking towards your vehicle may get them to hold. Save you a few steps when you are done too.
When hunting alone, bring a old mountain bike if you have one to ride around and work back into wind (hopefully that also places you outside between trees and escape/food plot). Works well with hunting shelter belts and using your truck as a blocker
As for time of day.... mid morning the birds go back to roost aftrr feeding. Mid afternoon they go back into feed until last hr before dark then return to roost. Weather, temp changes this quite a bit.
This works everytime, except those times it doesnt
A5 Sweet 16
Well-known member
Sometimes, in some places, they'll go back to roosting cover after feeding in the morning (more likely w/ hens). If they have other options during the day (between feeding times), they'll take those options, particularly roosters that have experienced some hunting pressure. But in general, they'll stay surprisingly close to a food source. Depending on weather, they may choose cattails, light/medium grass, trees, etc. during the day. And as long as they feel safe, they may just walk around in between different areas. Trees/shelterbelts are much preferred when it's real windy, rainy, snowing, or there are predators around.When hunting alone, bring a old mountain bike if you have one to ride around and work back into wind (hopefully that also places you outside between trees and escape/food plot). Works well with hunting shelter belts and using your truck as a blocker
As for time of day.... mid morning the birds go back to roost aftrr feeding. Mid afternoon they go back into feed until last hr before dark then return to roost. Weather, temp changes this quite a bit.
This works everytime, except those times it doesnt
Golden Hour
Well-known member
I've found shelterbelts to be good especially in hot, early season weather, as well as light early season snows. It is nice to have a few guys to get on each side and possibly an end as we all know the pheasants are likely going to fly where you aren't. When I'm alone, I typically try to push the pheasants out into grass/cattails that I can hunt and pursue them there.