Turkeygirl Posted December 28, 2008 Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 Last day of pheasant season is the 31st of December. I went out to some state land fields, saw no sign. So I went back to a chunk of woods by some fields, on the farm land I hunt by home. What do ya know, there is a pheasant out feeding in the field a few hundred yards out. He crouches down then walks off as I get closer. I'm watching him then next thing I know another male flies up out in front of me, I missed. I jumped the 2 males again in a brushy swamp, they flew back down towards the farm and the road. I was using the snow to track them but after the last jump they ended up landing in some weeds near the road. I flushed them again, had a good shot at one but couldn't shoot because it was right towards the road. Thought they landed on my side of the road but I think they actually landed on the other side, the farm side of the road, a little bit up from a silage bunker. There's some cattails and weeds in there where they landed, but not much, then it is all cow pasture mainly. I'm figuring they'll cross back over because where I flushed them, their tracks were all over in the snow! So what do I do guys? I haven't pheasant hunted much at all, no bird dog either. How long do you think till they cross back on the side they are hanging out on? Tomorrow is going to be windy, and there may be snow left but it may melt, maybe now snow till Tuesday, and I'd like some snow as it makes it easier to track and see them. What advice do you have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointing_dogs_rule Posted December 28, 2008 Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 Sounds like you DO NOT need a dog. You appear to be doing pretty good by yourself! If the weather is cold the birds will migrate to two areas. 1. cover - the birds need this to stay protected. Hopefully this cover is on the side of the road you can hunt. 2. food - hopefully this is also on the side of the road that you can hunt. Note: after being chased this birds are getting smarter, so don't expect them to hang around next time they hear you coming. good luck to all the dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdhunter39 Posted December 28, 2008 Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 when i hunt pen birds or wild birds i will walk 10 steps stop wait about 30 seconds then i will walk 20 seconds and wait 30 seconds . i did a pen raised bird hunt back in Nov. we basically sped walk the field , the we were like where did they go , so i started doing the walk stop thing , and we were kicking up the birds , that we walked by . when birds start getting shot at wild or pen raised they will run rather then fly . good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted December 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 Yeah, majority of the cover and food is on the side of the road I hunt. I'll wait maybe till like Tuesday and hopefully have some fresh snow...I think alot is going to melt between tonight and tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted December 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 Think it would be ok to go back tomorrow morning....like 9ish maybe, and see if they are back on the other side of the road and back in where they are hanging out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted December 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 Well I wasn't sure so I stayed home and it's raining and really, really windy, so I'll let the birds calm down and go back tomorrow after work. Do pheasants hang anywhere different in the late afternoon compared to morning? I'm wondering because I probably won't get out until 3:30/4:00. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointing_dogs_rule Posted December 28, 2008 Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 Later in the afternoon they will be heading back to cover for the evening. Hunt the edges of the fields and places where they will be exiting food plots. By the way, I've had some of my greatest hunting of birds in the rain. Birds usuallly stay put longer in that they are trying to stay still (warm and conserve energy). Winds can make the birds a little spooky. Let us know how it turns out. good luck to all the dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluelund79 Posted December 29, 2008 Report Share Posted December 29, 2008 Pretty much the same here without the dog. I like to hunt the edges if I am not following tracks. You would be surprised where you find birds!!! Good luck, Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted December 29, 2008 Report Share Posted December 29, 2008 If you can get another hunter or two to go with you, you'll probably do better. Set 1 up as a blocker at one end of a field or cover area and work toward him. Have the blocker walk back and forth along the edge rather than just stand there. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoyt19 Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 I noticed this is a little late, being as your season is closed already but it might help. If you aren't hunting with a dog, do your best to mark the spot the rooster falls after your shot- hit or miss. If you connect with the rooster, they arent always dead when they hit the ground, and will hole up if possible. Thats when you really need a dog. Also a dead bird can still be hard to spot on the ground in thick cover. If you happen to miss, you can always get a good idea of where he landed and go after him again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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