remy3424
Well-known member
My season has ended, it was maybe not the best, but it was a good one. Here are a few take-aways from my experiences in Iowa from this season:
*The mild weather...great for getting kids out and causal hunters seemed to be out all season, more than just the normal opening weekend or 2. The opener was actually one of the cooler weekends of the season.
*Birds holding or the lack of it. Only a few outings did the birds hold well for the dog, they seemed pretty wild this season, I think the mild temps were possibly a factor.
*Bird numbers seemed to be big. I will stick with "hot & dry" is much preferred to "cold & wet". It was very hot during the hatch and we seemed to have some young of the year birds in the bag. This was our 3 in a row hot & dry summer. Saying this, more is not always better...that sounds like crazy talk, but with packs of birds in the cover, it really is a challenge for the dog, maybe not so much locking down on a single, but finding a downed bird where 30 just flushed from. It seems like when they do get into bigger groups, when one flushes, they all will in short order...popcorn flushes, frustrating in heavy cover, but part of hunting that cover.
*Not "party hunting" hasn't had much of an affect on my harvest numbers and my hunting partners get to shoot more birds themselves and they enjoy it more.
*I can shoot well at times, but not immune to a late season slump....I figured this out yesterday, but I ended the season with 2 birds on my last 2 shots of the season.
*It isn't sacrilegious to "grind" pheasant breast. I stepped out of my comfort zone on some new ways to prep and cook pheasants. It also allowed my to save more birds for the off-season eating and takes them out of the possession limit. Thanks KEO
*Loss of habitat is happening near me. I have mentioned this in other threads, but a couple waterways have been cleared and tiled, one was an excellent piece of habitat that is now bare dirt, it wasn't unusual to see 40 birds there, if there was snow on the ground. CRP is soon going to be needed for pheasant hunting to continue to thrive in Iowa.
*I might need to start a little pre-season conditioning next season, not quite ready to try a new shotgun, I am just getting good/comfortable with my 11-87 after 30 some years.
* Slings have little use in pheasant hunting. I had one on and it was always in the way. In the wind it was always over top the receiver, I did use it a time or 2 after I had my birds and was finished, but helping my buddy to get birds....not worth the problems they cause in my opinion. When you are in the cover you need to be ready, if the gun is slung over your shoulder, you are not ready.
*Lastly, I wish everyone would get to the store now and buy a case of shells, whichever they might be that they have confidence in, so we don't have all the bawling as season descends upon us and they can't kind a certain shell. Well, those threads do create some forum traffic in the off-season. Related to this, everyone that hasn't, should try patterning their shotgun with the shells of choice.
The replies made me think of a big one i messed....Use the little disposable chemical handwarmers! Just side one into the palm inside a tight fitting windproof glove. The tight fitting gloves were great for grip and feeling the safety. They were a game changer for me this season...I think only once or twice I worn a heavy/warmer glove/liner with the heaters combo. Again, it was a mild season. Several outings were gloveless.
Another good season in the books. Interested to hear what others have to say about their seasons.
*The mild weather...great for getting kids out and causal hunters seemed to be out all season, more than just the normal opening weekend or 2. The opener was actually one of the cooler weekends of the season.
*Birds holding or the lack of it. Only a few outings did the birds hold well for the dog, they seemed pretty wild this season, I think the mild temps were possibly a factor.
*Bird numbers seemed to be big. I will stick with "hot & dry" is much preferred to "cold & wet". It was very hot during the hatch and we seemed to have some young of the year birds in the bag. This was our 3 in a row hot & dry summer. Saying this, more is not always better...that sounds like crazy talk, but with packs of birds in the cover, it really is a challenge for the dog, maybe not so much locking down on a single, but finding a downed bird where 30 just flushed from. It seems like when they do get into bigger groups, when one flushes, they all will in short order...popcorn flushes, frustrating in heavy cover, but part of hunting that cover.
*Not "party hunting" hasn't had much of an affect on my harvest numbers and my hunting partners get to shoot more birds themselves and they enjoy it more.
*I can shoot well at times, but not immune to a late season slump....I figured this out yesterday, but I ended the season with 2 birds on my last 2 shots of the season.
*It isn't sacrilegious to "grind" pheasant breast. I stepped out of my comfort zone on some new ways to prep and cook pheasants. It also allowed my to save more birds for the off-season eating and takes them out of the possession limit. Thanks KEO
*Loss of habitat is happening near me. I have mentioned this in other threads, but a couple waterways have been cleared and tiled, one was an excellent piece of habitat that is now bare dirt, it wasn't unusual to see 40 birds there, if there was snow on the ground. CRP is soon going to be needed for pheasant hunting to continue to thrive in Iowa.
*I might need to start a little pre-season conditioning next season, not quite ready to try a new shotgun, I am just getting good/comfortable with my 11-87 after 30 some years.
* Slings have little use in pheasant hunting. I had one on and it was always in the way. In the wind it was always over top the receiver, I did use it a time or 2 after I had my birds and was finished, but helping my buddy to get birds....not worth the problems they cause in my opinion. When you are in the cover you need to be ready, if the gun is slung over your shoulder, you are not ready.
*Lastly, I wish everyone would get to the store now and buy a case of shells, whichever they might be that they have confidence in, so we don't have all the bawling as season descends upon us and they can't kind a certain shell. Well, those threads do create some forum traffic in the off-season. Related to this, everyone that hasn't, should try patterning their shotgun with the shells of choice.
The replies made me think of a big one i messed....Use the little disposable chemical handwarmers! Just side one into the palm inside a tight fitting windproof glove. The tight fitting gloves were great for grip and feeling the safety. They were a game changer for me this season...I think only once or twice I worn a heavy/warmer glove/liner with the heaters combo. Again, it was a mild season. Several outings were gloveless.
Another good season in the books. Interested to hear what others have to say about their seasons.
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