519vx
Member
Thought I'd start a new thread where we can post our experiences at hunt clubs in Wisconsin.
This past Friday I had off work so decided to try to find a place that might have still had some birds left. I don't belong to a club, but will try places from time to time that offer by-the-bird daily hunts.
I found a place Craigslist that had roosters for $ 18/each. It was Theresa Gamebirds. Thats a good price especially this late in the year given the farm had to feed them all winter. I called and made arrangements to get 6 birds for Friday morning.
I got there and met the owner and his wife. The place is basically just a working farm (no clubhouse, dog facilities, etc). I parked my truck behind the house and was a little suprised that there were chickens, ducks, and farm cats walking openly all over the place.
I paid them for the birds, then they had me sign a waiver (no problem) then went over the rules/boundaries as I would have the hunting area to myself. They also gave me a map with hunting areas marked which was helpful.
Then they guy says well how do you want to handle the birds? I said I'm not sure what you mean? He said well do you want to put them out or do you want me to? I said they aren't out yet? Nope. I said go ahead and put them all out in the thicker cover. He says...well, it is almost April so the cover isn't the best...are you sure that you want them all out or did you want to put some out? I said I was there to do a hunt, not to dog train. He said well its likely some will probably run off. I said can you dizzy them? He said yes.
Then...get this...he says I have a few things I have to get done so would you mind helping my wife to round up the birds from out of flight pen? I'm like....huh? He says basically just go in the pen and help block them while she tries to catch them in a fishing landing net. I said I guess so. I then asked where I should park my truck. He looks out the window and says right where you are is fine. I'm like...you've got chickens and ducks and cats walking around and I don't have leashes along for my dogs so it will be a free for all if I let the dogs out there. He grumbles something and says to park behind the barn which I did.
He and his wife then take an ATV and go put the birds out and we start the hunt. The hunting area is basically a small swamp/drainage area, a thicket of mixed pines and bushes, and a woodlot. Pretty quickly we put up one that was hidden in a patch of marsh grass. Dogs got birdy again and were clearly on a runner that vanished into the thicket. One other bird was planted on the edge of the woodlot and holed up under a deadfall so we were able to get him. We saw two other runners way up ahead and that was it, other than when I came across the neighbor standing with his arms crossed right on the property line. I was warned about him not to go on his property or not to let my dogs because he would be watching for sure. He was...never said a word but it was still a little uncomfortable.
To their credit, the birds were in really nice condition. Big birds, healthy looking and good flyers. If you have a pup to train and are up that way (1 1/2 miles west of Theresa) I'd probably suggest it if you have no other options, but am not going back for a "hunt" anytime soon.
This past Friday I had off work so decided to try to find a place that might have still had some birds left. I don't belong to a club, but will try places from time to time that offer by-the-bird daily hunts.
I found a place Craigslist that had roosters for $ 18/each. It was Theresa Gamebirds. Thats a good price especially this late in the year given the farm had to feed them all winter. I called and made arrangements to get 6 birds for Friday morning.
I got there and met the owner and his wife. The place is basically just a working farm (no clubhouse, dog facilities, etc). I parked my truck behind the house and was a little suprised that there were chickens, ducks, and farm cats walking openly all over the place.
I paid them for the birds, then they had me sign a waiver (no problem) then went over the rules/boundaries as I would have the hunting area to myself. They also gave me a map with hunting areas marked which was helpful.
Then they guy says well how do you want to handle the birds? I said I'm not sure what you mean? He said well do you want to put them out or do you want me to? I said they aren't out yet? Nope. I said go ahead and put them all out in the thicker cover. He says...well, it is almost April so the cover isn't the best...are you sure that you want them all out or did you want to put some out? I said I was there to do a hunt, not to dog train. He said well its likely some will probably run off. I said can you dizzy them? He said yes.
Then...get this...he says I have a few things I have to get done so would you mind helping my wife to round up the birds from out of flight pen? I'm like....huh? He says basically just go in the pen and help block them while she tries to catch them in a fishing landing net. I said I guess so. I then asked where I should park my truck. He looks out the window and says right where you are is fine. I'm like...you've got chickens and ducks and cats walking around and I don't have leashes along for my dogs so it will be a free for all if I let the dogs out there. He grumbles something and says to park behind the barn which I did.
He and his wife then take an ATV and go put the birds out and we start the hunt. The hunting area is basically a small swamp/drainage area, a thicket of mixed pines and bushes, and a woodlot. Pretty quickly we put up one that was hidden in a patch of marsh grass. Dogs got birdy again and were clearly on a runner that vanished into the thicket. One other bird was planted on the edge of the woodlot and holed up under a deadfall so we were able to get him. We saw two other runners way up ahead and that was it, other than when I came across the neighbor standing with his arms crossed right on the property line. I was warned about him not to go on his property or not to let my dogs because he would be watching for sure. He was...never said a word but it was still a little uncomfortable.
To their credit, the birds were in really nice condition. Big birds, healthy looking and good flyers. If you have a pup to train and are up that way (1 1/2 miles west of Theresa) I'd probably suggest it if you have no other options, but am not going back for a "hunt" anytime soon.
