Tips for hunting with small parties?

J

Jonjhawk

Member
Found out our hunting group is going to be just me, my dad and our dog this year. We're pretty rookie hunters and any advice would help, but we are looking for advice especially with just us two (three with the dog). We hunt in ks for quail and pheasant
 
Jonjhawk said:
Found out our hunting group is going to be just me, my dad and our dog this year. We're pretty rookie hunters and any advice would help, but we are looking for advice especially with just us two (three with the dog). We hunt in ks for quail and pheasant
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This is the way I always hunt. With just two hunters and one dog you have the advantage of less noise so make as much of being quiet as possible - no talking or yelling or loud whistling at the dog, no slamming vehicle doors, etc. Hunt specific covers like weed and cattail patches, draws, fence rows, and CRP along stubble and stalks. Always hunt the best cover first and preferably into the wind. With just two hunters, getting out in stubble and stalks is not productive unless it is along CRP or other roosting/loafing cover; or if you hear or see birds head directly for them.
 
BritChaser said:
This is the way I always hunt. With just two hunters and one dog you have the advantage of less noise so make as much of being quiet as possible - no talking or yelling or loud whistling at the dog, no slamming vehicle doors, etc. Hunt specific covers like weed and cattail patches, draws, fence rows, and CRP along stubble and stalks. Always hunt the best cover first and preferably into the wind. With just two hunters, getting out in stubble and stalks is not productive unless it is along CRP or other roosting/loafing cover; or if you hear or see birds head directly for them.
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Thanks for the advice. We will definitely be following this!
 
Even with two hunters, blocking can still be effective. If you are working up a waterway or draw or even a fence line, quietly slipping in a blocker will often get you a bird. If you hunt the same area a few times, you will notice that birds often use the same escape route. Prepositioning a blocker at these places before the other hunter even gets near the starting point has worked for us quite a few times. Silence on the part of the blocker is key.

Good luck!
 
Ditches are great for this. Drop the dog and you at a cross roads and send truck and Dad down 1/2 mile to stand at a natural block like field access approach or the end of a grass line. Dirty/weedy ditches are best- small plum tree thickets in wet weather are very productive as the birds roost and dry out there often. But this year look for any that have water at the bottom. Cattails are a good sign but don't pass up grass/weeds. In front of crops is preferred over harvested fields. Although later in opening week or just after a field has been harvested, the next section over ditches are often full of birds that ran and flew out to a quiet spot.

Ideally pick a ditch with a gap between ditch and cover like a spot where the first test rows of corn has been harvested so the birds hold tight in the ditch and don't run ahead and into the close-by cover. They won't like to cross that gap. If you have a choice go in the ditch in the leeward of a wind. Birds will try and get out of the wind and will be more likely to flush across the road with the wind.

Great for working dogs new to the field as you pretty much just have to control distance with them and they can go on a lead effectively. If they do run out of the ditch into a field you don't have permission for, the ethical thing to do is pass on any birds to avoid trespassing charges while you retrieve your dog.

Make sure the truck gets parked on the opposite side of the road so you don't pepper it as you are coming up the ditch.
 
When it comes to hunting in ditches you better make sure your dog listens and listens well. If you are at all unsure if they will chase a bird or not I would avoid ditches. Many have barb wire fences and can cut a dog open and effectively ruin your hunting for the day, plus year. Not to mention the harm it can cause your four legged hunting partner.
 
You can leave your dog in the truck and hunt ditches effectively this way, go get him/her if a bird goes down in that field and you need that supernose for finding it. (Without your gun of course)
 
The most important thing is to be patient, reliable and wait until the time come for hunting. I always follow this rules. And I think this is the best method.
 
We used to use an old radio for a blocker. Hang a radio on a fence post and put it on a talk show or a football game. Go to the other end and push to the radio. The birds will hear the talking and not flush until pushed. We got quite a few that way with just one or two of us.
 
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