Snowshoeing for pheasants?

[Springer22]

If season is open and in shooting hours absolutely have at it and hunt hard. We are hunting them.

 

[PTM]

Patrick time to quit screwing around…

We’ve taken a turn from snowshoeing to the ethics of hunting birds in deep snow, I might need that machine just to get my spots.

 

[Limitless]

Patrick time to quit screwing around…

Let those drifted sloughs try their darnedest! That thing is getting through!

 

[NDPheasant]

Let those drifted sloughs try their darnedest! That thing is getting through!

Thumbs down on that rig. Nothing gets through Montana cattails. Don’t believe that just ask Mr. goosemaster. Much to tall and way to thick.

PTM, it sounds like you want to get to your honey hole. I have snowshoes and could check it out for you!

 

[carptom1]

Thumbs down on that rig. Nothing gets through Montana cattails. Don’t believe that just ask Mr. goosemaster. Much to tall and way to thick.

PTM, it sounds like you want to get to your honey hole. I have snowshoes and could check it out for you!

It’s missing the fondue maker

 

[PTM]

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

Let those drifted sloughs try their darnedest! That thing is getting through!

Thumbs down on that rig. Nothing gets through Montana cattails. Don’t believe that just ask Mr. goosemaster. Much to tall and way to thick.

PTM, it sounds like you want to get to your honey hole. I have snowshoes and could check it out for you!

You probably already did

 

[Goosemaster]

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.

Great idea

 

[GetTothePoint]

Snowshoes? Maybe 20 years ago hahaha. I'm not that mad at them anymore, if it's that bad I'm hunting my limit of coors light and watching football.

 

[John Singer]

I hunted on snowshoes many times when I was a kid in NE Michigan for hares. I much preferred not using snowshoes.

I have a question:

If the snow is deep enough to warrant using snowshoes, how is a dog able to move?

 

[Limitless]

If the snow is deep enough to warrant using snowshoes, how is a dog able to move?

The snow often gets windswept, with a hard crust on top. The dogs can walk on top. However, when it is is still soft, dogs just have to bound. There is a limit to how deep it can be then.

 

[Pheasants & a Lab]

I'll stick to the snowshoe question. I have a pair with my upland gear.. It can save a lot of sweat and soaked clothes getting to "off road" sloughs when the snow is deep. I would suggest "BOA" lacing snowshoes. Super easy to get on and off once you get to the slough. I have been stuck in the drifted side of a slough...took a while to work out of it. I was a little spooked actually. Snowshoes not the issue, my choice of "off ramps" getting out of slough was the head scratcher. Get some snowshoes, use them if you need them, and keep hunting.

 

[PTM]

I'll stick to the snowshoe question. I have a pair with my upland gear.. It can save a lot of sweat and soaked clothes getting to "off road" sloughs when the snow is deep. I would suggest "BOA" lacing snowshoes. Super easy to get on and off once you get to the slough. I have been stuck in the drifted side of a slough...took a while to work out of it. I was a little spooked actually. Snowshoes not the issue, my choice of "off ramps" getting out of slough was the head scratcher. Get some snowshoes, use them if you need them, and keep hunting.

The Scheels brand was 1/2 off got the BOA.

 

[BRITTMAN]

A few comments:

Agree with S16: Each area is different when it comes to hunting roosters in winter and the impact it has on that local population of birds.

Interesting pheasants are the only upland (not including turkey) where only males are killed by hunters. If the hunting mortality is truly compensatory (not additive), then in theory only so many birds survive to nest no matter what are killed by hunters. Compensatory mortality is the basis for most all wildlife management (setting hunting season limits and length).

Snowshoes come in many different sizes and configurations ... the more loft (keeping you up on top of the snow) typically comes with less mobility.

Powdery snow vs. crusted snow ... and the strength of the crusted snow is a governing factor. Humans often break through when dogs and for sure pheasants scuttle over the top.

Growing up in ND, usually you could walk the wind swept areas near heavy cover. It was busting through the drifts getting to the wind swept areas that were the issue. The dogs would get in the heavy cover and likely move around on deer trails or areas less snow drift covered. I remember one time the pheasants were sitting under the snow covered (bent) cattails. Dog on point and a rooster would flush 5 feet away from about waist high. Sounds so easy until you cycle three shells through so fast ...

Cattails vary from place to place, some are sparce others insanely dense. Pick your spots wisely and if you pick an insane patch ... I usually call it and move on or hunt it once and do not return. Easier to find birds and especially find dead birds when the cattail cover is "variable".

 

[BRITTMAN]

Who the heck got stuck in a cattail slough and how were they rescued ... snowmobile ?

 

[BRITTMAN]

Snowshoes? Maybe 20 years ago hahaha. I'm not that mad at them anymore, if it's that bad I'm hunting my limit of coors light and watching football.

Yep. I switch to ice fishing for my outdoor recreation once the snow gets too deep. Then again two years ago ... deep snow hit before the ice was ready to hold it well. Water pushed through holes and cracks in the ice resulting in a formation of ice-water-snow. Wore rubber boots ice fishing pretty much all winter long.

 

[Limitless]

Who the heck got stuck in a cattail slough and how were they rescued ... snowmobile ?

No idea. I got the impression the first one I heard about was not from a northern climate and got in over his head (figuratively). This was the 2022/2023 season, with mega drifts around the sloughs. The farmer saw me heading for the same slough and stopped by the vehicle later to check to make sure I made it back okay.

The other one was something a farmer this November told me happened sometime in the past few years, I believe.

I am guessing, in both cases, they called 911 and the rescue team had to get to them. No idea if they used snowmobile, but that is a great question. If I talk to either farmer again, I will ask them.