Snowshoeing for pheasants?
- Thread starter PTM
- Start date
Golden Hour
Well-known member
I've worn snow shoes to get back into places to hunt, but took them off to hunt as walking through cattails in snow shoes isn't feasible.
gimruis
Well-known member
I've thought about this more than once in the past. Most recently, in December 2022 when we had FEET of snow on the ground the last few weeks of the season. Trudging through knee deep snow saps my energy quick.
Luckily that doesn't appear to be the case until our season ends in MN on Jan 1. I wouldn't mind a couple inches of fresh snow but when we get like a foot at a time its just a bear to walk through.
Luckily that doesn't appear to be the case until our season ends in MN on Jan 1. I wouldn't mind a couple inches of fresh snow but when we get like a foot at a time its just a bear to walk through.
I started using them a few years ago, when warranted.
As mentioned, they can be a bit of a pain in thick cattails. I originally planned to get into sloughs with them and then strap them to my back. However, I ended up using them inside the sloughs too, and trying to stay out of super thick stuff.
No problem shooting with them, but you can't pivot quickly if one flushes to the side or behind you. Also sometimes a challenge to get out of snow holes when you do fall through. But they reduce how many holes you fall into. I have also had it where one foot falls through and the other stays on top. Very hard on knees to have instant, full weight hit the max bend of a knee like that.
Overall, I'd say it is better for most people to stay home than to battle deep snow.
On a serious note, I've talked to two farmers now who have said that guys had to be rescued from deep snow in sloughs. They got in and couldn't get back out. Definitely want to bring your cell phone and make sure it has signal. Alternatively, people can use one of those emergency beacons.
remy3424
Well-known member
If there is enough snow to warrant snowshoes, maybe it is a good time not to stir the birds up. Life for them would be a real bitch when there is over a foot of powder to try to find a meal and a warm place to ride out the cold in. The older I get, the more compassion I have for them. I create habitat for them to thrive and when conditions are such, I quit pushing them and hope they can ride out thd tough times. I have over a 100 gallons of corn stored out in a hedgerow that I am repaired to feed in those conditions. Hoping I don't need to open those barrels.
Tomahawker
Active member
I throw some corn out after ice storms
PTM
Well-known member
I don’t think it would impact them either way, I as a single hunter can’t take enough roosters out to ease the pressure on hens, hunting them isn’t going to cause them undue stress to the point it would jeopardize the population, many other natural predators are doing that 24/7 365 days a year. They are a natural resource and should be utilized.
Golden Hour
Well-known member
Having compassion is good, but I sometimes think it's easy to have an anthropomorphic view of pheasants. They've survived a heck of a lot worse throughout the history of their species than a random brutal winter or bipedal hunters.
Pheasants will ride out the tough times whether they are hunted by humans or not. Other predators certainly won't stop hunting them. The biggest concern would be for the hens. Roosters are more likely to outcompete them for food in a harsh winter, so I would contend that hunting, even in tough winter conditions, is better for the species as a whole than the notion of "taking it easy on the birds".
EDIT: I see PTM already posted similar sentiments.
PTM
Well-known member
My plan is to use them to get way back into a spot that will be drifted up, once I get in, theres a narrow creek that’s surrounded by cattails I’m going to travel along that creek staying out of the cattails unless I have to get out. Dogs will be in there.I started using them a few years ago, when warranted.
As mentioned, they can be a bit of a pain in thick cattails. I originally planned to get into sloughs with them and then strap them to my back. However, I ended up using them inside the sloughs too, and trying to stay out of super thick stuff.
No problem shooting with them, but you can't pivot quickly if one flushes to the side or behind you. Also sometimes a challenge to get out of snow holes when you do fall through. But they reduce how many holes you fall into. I have also had it where one foot falls through and the other stays on top. Very hard on knees to have instant, full weight hit the max bend of a knee like that.
Overall, I'd say it is better for most people to stay home than to battle deep snow.
On a serious note, I've talked to two farmers now who have said that guys had to be rescued from deep snow in sloughs. They got in and couldn't get back out. Definitely want to bring your cell phone and make sure it has signal. Alternatively, people can use one of those emergency beacons.
gimruis
Well-known member
Although I do agree that roosters are generally hardier than hens, and hens are what keep the population going, there is no data out there showing roosters are in direct competition with hens for the survival of the species. We as hunters try to make that the case because we want to justify hunting roosters, perhaps at the expense of flushing hens. I have never seen any sort of scientific or data-driven study showing that roosters outcompete hens for resources. If there's one out there, I'm open to it.
They absolutely make getting past drifted areas easier. You can still break through. I wouldn't walk on anything that looks taller than a foot shorter than you. If you break through a 5 or 6 foot drift, getting out will be very very hard. A 20 foot drift might be life ending. But 1 to 3 foot drifting, that you break through with boots, should avoid too many breakthroughs.
gimruis
Well-known member
Depends on if there's a crusty top layer to the snow or not. If its all fluff, there's no issue.
If we get a good snow, and it partially melts, and re-freezes (or if there's a layer of freezing rain on the top), then it can cause issues with the dogs. In those cases, the birds are going to hear you coming from a mile away anyways. Crunch crunch crunch goes the hunter.
If we get a good snow, and it partially melts, and re-freezes (or if there's a layer of freezing rain on the top), then it can cause issues with the dogs. In those cases, the birds are going to hear you coming from a mile away anyways. Crunch crunch crunch goes the hunter.
A5 Sweet 16
Well-known member
I've tried snow shoeing in thick cattails. It doesn't work. And frequently when I walk out to hunt an area, my trek back to the truck follows a different path. So wearing them out, hunting without them, & wearing them back again often isn't feasible. In general, I've concluded they're more trouble than they're worth, although there are rare instances they can be helpful.
In South Dakota, most pheasants have 1,000 different nearby cover options available to them such that flushing them in extreme conditions isn't an issue. I've never been so amazed as I was last season. My best season ever, following the worst winter ever, when many people expected pheasant numbers to take a massive hit statewide. They're incredibly resilient. In country where 1 slough, 1 shelterbelt, 1 thick CRP field is their only option for quite a few miles, giving them a break during nasty conditions may be more important. There's no across the board correct answer.
In South Dakota, most pheasants have 1,000 different nearby cover options available to them such that flushing them in extreme conditions isn't an issue. I've never been so amazed as I was last season. My best season ever, following the worst winter ever, when many people expected pheasant numbers to take a massive hit statewide. They're incredibly resilient. In country where 1 slough, 1 shelterbelt, 1 thick CRP field is their only option for quite a few miles, giving them a break during nasty conditions may be more important. There's no across the board correct answer.
The dogs have a sixth sense. I guess I can't speak for all dogs, but I think I have only seen my dog in a couple holes, and I can't remember if those were pre-existing or she fell in. I do get worried when I see her on a really tall drift. She does help me get out of the holes sometimes. She'll come over and I will use her to get a boost up.
She is 50 pounds, and lanky, so she doesn't have a lot of weight and her weight is spread out well. A heavier dog will fall through more than a lighter dog, I'd guess. Same as people.
No injuries from the drifts. My dogs, current and past, do get more little pad cuts and broken nails in snow/ice conditions, but nothing major. I have been giving my dog some supplements that are supposed to be good for their coat and skin, with the hope it might be good for nails too. We'll see how that ends up by end of January. Keeping them off salted roads/sidewalks/driveways is important too.
Tomahawker
Active member
I think they’re referring to carrying capacity. Let’s say a field can support 100 birds in food and cover. You only need a handful of Roosters and lots of hens. If you had 130 birds you’ll save some hens shooting those roosters.
PTM
Well-known member
Yes
remy3424
Well-known member
Gim nailed what I am driving at, it isn't at all about the shooting the of the roosters, it is the hens you bust out of their roost's. Like A-5 says, if there are almost unlimited roosting options, not a big deal...but in places with limited heavy themal habitat (like much of Iowa), on a 5 degree day, hunting late in the day and you just kicked all the birds out of their roosts, they really need to scramble to find a place to ride out the coming subzero night temps. Hunting critical moments, sometimes could be at the expense of some hens too. If you view pheasants as a natural resource, I can see your point. Where I am at, if you don't intentionally create habitat you will not have many pheasants...more of a cultured resource here and I choose to treat them as such. It is almost like an investment (of my time and money) in them for me, something many will not experience. I think I have said it before in this forum, I love pheasants and I enjoy seeing/hearing them every bit as much as hunting them. I don't take them for granted. Here anyway, you work to have good bird numbers. I am just wired different than most.
Golden Hour
Well-known member
I couldn't find the hard data, but this article alludes to PF Biologists noting it - https://www.startribune.com/pheasants-winter-segregation-and-bar-maidens/83480632
I've personally witnessed roosters pushing hens off of feed (around cattle feed bunks in tough winters). Now, with proper habitat, it isn't much of a concern. At the end of the day, each hunter has to assess their particular situation and determine whether or not they feel that their actions will have a negative impact on the localized pheasant population.