A friend and I will be there leaving on the 17th from Calif. We'll have a Lab and a Wire Haired Pointer so you can see what the two types are like. I don't know how to send you any personal info or you to me w/o it being put up for the world. Other forums have personal mail between members. Is that available here too?
There's lots of Block Management Land in the area so there's no shortage of places to hunt besides your friends place.
This is the first dog I've had since I was a child and I'm 66 now. I've always hunted pheasants w/o a dog and every one is a trophy. I've jumped pheasants behind guys with dogs by being sooo slow in progressing through a field, being very observant and not taking more than 5 steps without stopping for a count of 3.
Pheasants have three ways to avoid you. Hide, Run, or Fly. They prefer to hide the most and fly the least because often a raptor will be on them before they land. They only run when there is noise from your walking or your dogs running and panting to hide their movement. Hunting with a dog allows it to run at will because it's so noisy. By walking and pausing you very frequently can hear them because they take a few steps after you stop before they realize it's quiet again. You have to have the patience of a monk to do it and simple tastes to enjoy it.