![]() ![]() It takes a lot of guesswork out of walking in the fields. Hunting with a legitimate bird dog is incredible. There’s just nothing like watching hunting dogs work a field. In my opinion, they also make it a ton more fun. Good bird dogs make pheasant hunting much more productive. Once you have hit all likely areas, head on back to the truck and move on to a new field. Systematically work your way through a field, noting fence lines along the way. This person may get shots at birds that flush out of range of the walking hunters too. Pheasants often prefer to run instead of flying, so they will often run to the end of a field and then wait until you get close to flush.įor this reason, if you have enough hunters, consider putting one hunter at the end of the field as a blocker. While birds can flush at any time, be especially alert as you get to the end of fields and push toward natural obstacles. You hope to flush birds within shooting range, less than about 40 yards (closer is better). Spread out about 20 yards from the other hunters in your group and walk in a line across these fields. Thick cover, small stands of trees, or strips of fencerows between farm fields are a good place to start. Focus on small areas that will likely hold birds. If you don’t have dogs, having multiple hunters helps. Now that you’re in the field, if you’re a new hunter, there’s a fair chance you won’t have a dog. Just know the rules where you’re hunting. Game farms and some states allow you to harvest hens. Most states only allow you to shoot male birds, or “roosters,” which are easy to distinguish from female “hens.” Roosters are bright and colorful with a long tail, and hens are smaller and tan or brown. Be sure to verify shooting hours, bag limits, and other legalities before hitting the field. Others allow shooting as early as a half hour before sunrise. Pheasant hunting often has some quirky rules.įor example, some states, like South Dakota, do not allow hunting before 10 a.m. Check the regulations of the state you hunt before hitting the field. This is a baseline for every kind of hunting, but it’s worth a reminder. Call the fish and game office closest to your intended bird hunting point for more info. You can expect to find a similar map for every state in the great plains. Treating these opportunities with respect is key to keeping lands open, so be sure to treat it like it’s your own. And you find that land through the state’s Walk-In Atlas, which you can get in print or online. ![]() In my home state of Colorado, for example, hunters can access thousands of acres of otherwise private land through the Conservation Reserve Program. Understand Your State’s Public Land Matrix We tested out a 2020 Nissan Titan during a Colorado hunt and parked it at a state wildlife area that had just opened for the seasonĮach state has different regulations for public land, but almost all states with huntable pheasant populations have a system to allow access to hunt game birds on farmland. The first place to start locating birds is at a sporting shop or your computer because that’s where you’ll find the land. OK, now that that’s taken care of, we can get into the goods. If not, take a breath and go read “ How to Start Hunting as an Adult.” Gotta get your credentials before you go any further! I’m going to assume you already have your hunter’s safety card as well as a hunting license for your appropriate state, be it an upland-specific or small-game license. How to Pheasant Hunt Public land hunting can be fruitful, especially with an experienced dog Here are my pheasant hunting tips to get you started, regardless of your level of hunting experience. Hunting ring-necked pheasants is downright addictive. If you’ve yet to experience the excitement of the flush, read on. And for pheasant hunters, the opening day of upland bird season really is one of our favorite days of the year. “Better than Christmas morning,” I reply. I roll over and look at my phone - 4:30 a.m. Instead, two dogs burst from the corner and launch onto the bed. But there’s no tree or presents on the floor. “It’s Christmas morning!” sings one of my buddies as he sits up in the squeaky bed of a cheap motel on the Great Plains. And while chasing wily roosters takes a little know-how, it’s one of the better introductions to hunting for beginners. Pheasant hunting is one of the most fun ways to enjoy the fall fields.
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