CharBroiled
Active member
I've been thinking about this topic for a while and wanted to get some discussion going about how you guys approach your hunts. For the longest time, I was told/taught to hunt the cover first thing in the morning, move to food in the afternoon, then back to cover.
Every piece of literature I've read about pheasants seems to agree the birds are already moving at first light or even a little before. They're moving from the roosting cover to get gravel, then to food where they spend a couple of hours feeding, before heading back to loaf. Later in the afternoon, they're back into the food, before once again, heading to the cover to hunker down for the evening.
Fortunately, in Kansas, we can start hunting at a half-hour before sunrise right up to sunset. We've had good luck both ways, but I can remember certain instances when we busted more birds in milo stubble to begin. I was just curious as to what the rest of you guys do? I think it could be interesting to compare notes about the tactics used.
Every piece of literature I've read about pheasants seems to agree the birds are already moving at first light or even a little before. They're moving from the roosting cover to get gravel, then to food where they spend a couple of hours feeding, before heading back to loaf. Later in the afternoon, they're back into the food, before once again, heading to the cover to hunker down for the evening.
Fortunately, in Kansas, we can start hunting at a half-hour before sunrise right up to sunset. We've had good luck both ways, but I can remember certain instances when we busted more birds in milo stubble to begin. I was just curious as to what the rest of you guys do? I think it could be interesting to compare notes about the tactics used.