What would your favorite “bonus bird” be while pheasant hunting?

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benelli-banger

Well-known member
Based on where I hunt across several states, it would be prairie chickens/sharptails….I have run across huns fairly commonly in ND, they’d be my second choice. I’ve never contacted quail, I’d have to relocate fairly drastically for them. It would be very doable to run into ruffed grouse in many parts of MN while pheasant hunting, but I don’t hunt those areas…I occasionally hunt ruffs near where I live. I hunt prairie grouse in a dedicated fashion in Sept/early Oct prior to pheasant season, so I’m not able to harvest that mixed bag then. I contact lots of Huns at that time as well. Yeah, if I was pheasant hunting in my normal haunts, I’d choose prairie grouse as my bonus bird…I did kill a prairie chicken in SD in early January about 2-3 seasons ago…I was pretty thrilled. When hunting pheasants in ND, not uncommon to contact sharpies…I enjoy that opportunity. Fun to have the chance to hunt multiple species…I suppose ducks or geese would be an option, too, but I’m thinking upland birds…
 
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Growing up in southeast Kansas, we had quail everywhere. We’d have to drive 3+ hours to get into pheasants. Back then we’d turn up our noses at quail while pheasant hunting. A few prairie chickens were the bonus birds. Now, if out west quail are looked at as the primo bird because we don’t have them at home anymore.

Got into sharp tails the last few years while hunting South Dakota. So they’re the bonus.

Only time I’ve ever seen Huns was while antelope hunting in Wyoming and fishing in Idaho. Would love a chance at them as well.
 
I shot so many Hungarian partridge growing up in SW Minnesota back in the early 70s. They were everywhere. I’d get off the bus and grab a gun and drive around. I see them occasionally now. But would not shoot one if the opportunity arose
 
My favorite bonus bird isn't another species. It occurs sometimes on the rare ocassion I hunt with Golden Hour. It's a 4th rooster. I've let him have the bonus bird too. I don't think either of us have ever gotten a 5th on those days, but we'd both take it, or even a 6th, if we could. The bragging would be nearly intolerable, but we've discussed this possibility. We both claim to be fine with it, understanding that what goes around, comes around. Interestingly, I don't believe South Dakota party hunting rules have gone into effect either of the last 3 times we've hunted together. I don't tell him this, but it's mostly because I've become more compassionate in my advanced age.
 
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