What is it about this bird?

FLDBRED

FLDBRED

Well-known member
The season will be here before we know it, and we all all be making new memories. For some of us I think it has become a large part of who we are.But what is it about this bird that drives us to use our vacation time, train bird dogs, purchase expensive guns and ammo, even relocate to areas that have better hunting for him?
I've never been able to fully answer that question,I know it started over fifty years ago. Maybe it's the land he calls home, or the way he looks, or the way he cackles when he flushes and thinks he's outsmarted you.

So how about you...what is it the draws you to the best gamebird in the land, the Ringneck Pheasant?
 
You know, there's a photo in Pheasants Forever's latest magazine (page #1). It shows a tough rooster running within a shelter-belt. The is ground covered with fresh picked/cut corn debris. His feathers are standing up on the top of his head as he's kicking it into high gear to seek cover:).

I can't help but to stare at that bird on page 1. He's tough, cocky, raspy, elusive, fast, a symbol of Autumn, the harvest. He bestows immense beauty. Reflects the handy work of God. Maybe, in part, this is why we obsess over him so much:confused:. Seeing him in the wild gives us a nice shot of adrenaline mixed with thanks-giving. At least that's the case with me my friends.;)

Here's a beauty to stare at:)
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Maybe it's not the bird! Maybe it's not knowing where, when, or how many. Maybe it's the expectation, the anticipation. Maybe it is seated in the memories of silent murmurs of men getting ready for the hunt above your basement bedroom, the smells of eggs and bacon and coffee; the years before you were invited into the club! Maybe it's the chill in the air, the rustle of the dry vegetation, the cackle in the dark waiting for the sun to illuminate the painting you're about to become a part of. Maybe it's the whining excitement of the dogs knowing that it is about to be on! Maybe it all of it overwhelming our senses all at the same time!
 
I have a burning desire to hunt and upland hunting fits my personality the best. Pheasant themselves are special too but not sure that can be explained with words.
 
I think for me Prairie Drifter said the one word that sums up my attitude about hunting pheasants and that is anticipation. How many of us go over a little hill and take a couple of quick steps right at the crest of the hill fully expecting (or hoping) to see your dog locked on point. I do it every time. My wife thinks I'm insane, but she does understand the anticipation and the endless hope of finding a bird. This will be the first season in 35 years i haven't hunted with my dad. He passed away this spring.

One thing my dad said to me every time we were were having a rough day was "boy, you can get well in a hurry." I think that sums up bird hunting for me. How many hunts have we had where we walked all day and killed a limit within 15 or 20 minutes, or shot one within 100 yards of our truck.

I like to shoot birds more than anyone, but the older I get, it truly is more about hunting than shooting. Either way, hunting pheasants is truly one of life's great pleasures, and I feel sorry for anyone that hasn't experienced what it's like to experience hunting behind a fine bird dog. For me personally, i own a setter, but it doesn't really matter what kind of dog you have as long as you own the type or breed that makes you happy. Even though setters are unconditionally the most beautiful and special breed out there (sorry, couldn't help myself). My dad only had English pointers, and we had heated debates about bird dogs literally up until the day he died.

I only know this about my old man, his favorite dog was the one pointing a bird at any time. His loyalty waivered, as did mine.... Depending what dog was on point at any given time........
 
another take

just maybe the excitement that a rooster generates is because he is so dumb he is one of the few birds out there that most hunter's can figure out how to shoot once in awhile. for existence, he lives in the wide open spaces, wears a ridiculous colored suit, runs around strutting like he owns the place, when he flushed he screams at you here I am idiot, try and hit me, often lives in flocks so big and in such obvious places that anybody can find them. now, think about a great bird, the ruff, dare you to try and compare the two

cheers
 
I like taking in the whole adventure. Going to sleep with the sounds of the back country, waking to the sounds of the back country. The scent of frost in the air. The dry weeds, grass, brush and all the stuff that makes pheasant country. A birdy dog,and never knowing for sure if it's a rooster or a dozen. Some good shots made and some easy shots missed.

There is a need to take a motel once in a while. :eek:
Everytime I do though, I feel I'm missing something, or cheating myself.:eek:
However:confused: there have been those blizzards, motels can be so nice. :cheers:
 
No need to compare the two, both great birds, and were lucky to have both!

A lot of great responses and it's what I expected. There's something special about this bird that's hard to put into words. Is it the dogs, the places he calls home, his cocky nature, I think it's all of that and more!
Some of you guys have hit it right on the money!
 
Wow! Reading some of these responses has really got me jacked up, not that I needed any help!
This bird is beautiful to look at, that's no doubt, but like others have said it's also everything that goes with it. The friends and family you hunt with, all the preparation that takes place before the hunt and stories after the hunt.Then theres the dogs, I think they might enjoy it even more than us, and it doesn't matter what breed you choose, even the farm hound joins in. Every year I wish fall could last forever!
 
For over 50 years, the bird has brought me out and let me learn; and then let me "be."

The smell, the crispness, the sound of the light winds moving brush and branches, the Sun high or sinking, even the texture of the soil beneath the boots can be transcendent. While one doesn't "float," it may be said that the mind, spirit, senses go to another place where the simple fact of "being" is saturated with sensation and elevation, and are free.

The last few years have taken away my human hunting partners, and so many canine companions, but for moments--terribly brief moments--they come back and we walk, or stand, or exchange glances that speak to our thanks for the
experiences.

Then they're gone; but they live there and I'll see them again.
 
Kismet said:
For over 50 years, the bird has brought me out and let me learn; and then let me "be."

The smell, the crispness, the sound of the light winds moving brush and branches, the Sun high or sinking, even the texture of the soil beneath the boots can be transcendent. While one doesn't "float," it may be said that the mind, spirit, senses go to another place where the simple fact of "being" is saturated with sensation and elevation, and are free.

The last few years have taken away my human hunting partners, and so many canine companions, but for moments--terribly brief moments--they come back and we walk, or stand, or exchange glances that speak to our thanks for the
experiences.

Then they're gone; but they live there and I'll see them again.
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:thumbsup: What he said!

If I count the years I was in the field with my father before I was able to tote a gun I have over 60 years in the field pursuing the pheasant. And while I use to hunt almost everything that was possible I am pretty much down to just pheasant hunting. It still gives me a thrill and I love being in the field with my dog on a crisp autumn day. It just doesn't get any better than that.
 
Its the release of stress from the pressures of owning a business and everything else in life. Its the only times in the year that I dont check my email every 5 minutes.
 
To me, it is all of the aspects mentioned so far, but the highlights would be hunting in the company of friends over a good dog.

(Make that a French Brittany):D
 
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mustistuff said:
just maybe the excitement that a rooster generates is because he is so dumb
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HUH !!:confused:

I think just the opposite might be said about mr. Rooster pheasant. A cagey old rooster who seemingly has more tricks up his sleeve than a riverboat gambler.

An elite escape artist that would make the great Houdini himself nod his head in approval along with a thumbs up.. :thumbsup:

NO... Mr. Rooster Pheasant is anything but dumb.
 
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The passion that we have for this bird is evident not only in this post but in this entire site! It would be hard for me to put into words what this bird means to me because of the fact that it means so much! The ringneck pheasant is who I am and what I do. I love when,where,and how we hunt them! I love everything that goes along with hunting them, the getting up early and seeing the sun rise and experiencing nature the way God intended us to! I love the tradition of pheasant hunting and how it's a family affair! I love the bond formed between a man and his dog that is created through hunting them!
 
I to have so many great memories, from thee early years tagging along with my dad. Then the years when I could hunt all day to the change of attitude from limits to just the hunt itself.

Now late in life old mister rooster has given me one more great joy----the joy of working the land to his advantage and all his wild friends. It really has been so very rewarding. Its really something to sit on your back deck at sunset and listen to the old boy out in the habitat patch cackle off his thanks. :thumbsup:
 
david0311

FLDBRED said:
The season will be here before we know it, and we all all be making new memories. For some of us I think it has become a large part of who we are.But what is it about this bird that drives us to use our vacation time, train bird dogs, purchase expensive guns and ammo, even relocate to areas that have better hunting for him?
I've never been able to fully answer that question,I know it started over fifty years ago. Maybe it's the land he calls home, or the way he looks, or the way he cackles when he flushes and thinks he's outsmarted you.

So how about you...what is it the draws you to the best gamebird in the land, the Ringneck Pheasant?
Click to expand...

Everything you said plus Feel there is more God on the prairie in the fall (or in a duck swamp for that matter)--than any church I've ever been in--love to watch and make sure to watch the sunrise and sunsets on both--:)
 
I grew up pheasant hunting in SE Wisconsin. Moved north to college where there was grouse and woodcock. Started going west for pheasants a few years ago, which brought back a lot of memories from growing up. Now I can't stop hunting any of them.

I'm a one dog at a time guy. If the current one lives to his life expectancy, he'll take me to retirement. My wife, who likes to travel, and wants to travel more in retirement, says this is our last dog. I have a picture of me at a couple months old, crawling over my dad's tri-color setter in 1958. I've had a setter in my life all these years [Cindy, Jinx, Mandy, Hogs, Molly, Major and Max]. To think about getting to that point where I had more time to hunt and didn't have one in my life is unthinkable. We've been married 30 years and I hope to have many more with her. But there's sure to be some serious talk going on sometime in the future!

An older friend of mine tells people "We've been married 50 happy years. 47 for her, 3 for me. Not all consecutively and not at the same time".
 
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