Whacked a hen

[UGUIDE]

Made the fatal mistake of mowing patches from outside in. This hen was in the very last strip I was mowing in the patch (6' wide) and just would not flush and it was too late before I noticed her. That was first patch of many I mowed and I did not make same mistake twice and there were birds in all the patches I mowed (food plots).

When forced to mow cover that may hold birds mow from the inside out which forces the birds to the outside and then they will run out instead of sitting tight and getting clipped.

 

[moellermd]

Wish that technique would work when I cut hay. I usually get a couple every year.

 

[Labman]

Made the fatal mistake of mowing patches from outside in. This hen was in the very last strip I was mowing in the patch (6' wide) and just would not flush and it was too late before I noticed her. That was first patch of many I mowed and I did not make same mistake twice and there were birds in all the patches I mowed (food plots).

When forced to mow cover that may hold birds mow from the inside out which forces the birds to the outside and then they will run out instead of sitting tight and getting clipped.

That's great to see your aware and are taking a great approach to keeping healthy bird numbers. By the sounds of different sources, alot of birds survived a tough winter. I hunt in Gregory county and Charles Mix County. My cousin is seeing alot of birds out on the old farm by Gregory/Burke area.

 

[Dakotazeb]

Smoked a hen yesterday with my Expedition. Fortunately it came up and hit high off the windshield so there was no damage to my vehicle. Darn things were all over the highway around sundown yesterday. Hate when I take one out like that. Have figure there will be about a dozen less birds in the field this fall for each hen that doesn't make it.

 

[niceshot]

Have figure there will be about a dozen less birds in the field this fall for each hen that doesn't make it.

Dakotazeb, the SD GF&P website has some fascinating statistics on pheasant population, and the brood size in the August survey is incredibly consistent at about 6.5 chicks per hen. I don't know if it will make you feel any better, but you probably only whacked about a half dozen.

 

[BleuBijou]

You guys are all damn good conservationists!!!!! Sometimes bad luck happens. Think of all the ones that get hammered during Spring and Summer!! Then give kudos to those amazing birds that are so darn resilient!!!!!! That is why we love them so!!!!