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The Home 70
- Thread starter Brian662
- Start date
Brian662
5 year old buck +
Update on the buck - never got a weight, but he taped at 147 7/8.
Been after the roosters a few times. First trip we were flushing them like crazy but they almost always got up into the sun and I couldn't ID them. Had one bunch of about 10 flush and I doubled but we couldn't find one.
Went out today again and the sun wasn't a problem because of overcast and fog, but the birds were jumpy. Took two long crossing shots (missed) at one which was a mistake because then about 20 got up about 100 yards in front of me. They flew to a different part of my property but we never managed to get back on them. Did stumble across a dumb one that flushed near my feet and and offered a clean kill. My hound is nearing the end of his hunting days, I've done him a disservice by focusing on deer too much, he's a great bird dog, family dog, and well mannered.
I hope this isn't his last season, but ya never know, he turned 11 in November.
Been after the roosters a few times. First trip we were flushing them like crazy but they almost always got up into the sun and I couldn't ID them. Had one bunch of about 10 flush and I doubled but we couldn't find one.
Went out today again and the sun wasn't a problem because of overcast and fog, but the birds were jumpy. Took two long crossing shots (missed) at one which was a mistake because then about 20 got up about 100 yards in front of me. They flew to a different part of my property but we never managed to get back on them. Did stumble across a dumb one that flushed near my feet and and offered a clean kill. My hound is nearing the end of his hunting days, I've done him a disservice by focusing on deer too much, he's a great bird dog, family dog, and well mannered.
I hope this isn't his last season, but ya never know, he turned 11 in November.
Howboutthemdawgs
5 year old buck +
147 is a stud
I’m sure you covered this but how was the pheasant population before you took over? Seems like you have a lot of birds. I’m truly ignorant on pheasants, are they something you go after only sporadically on land of your size or can you stay after them pretty hard when the conditions are right?
I’m sure you covered this but how was the pheasant population before you took over? Seems like you have a lot of birds. I’m truly ignorant on pheasants, are they something you go after only sporadically on land of your size or can you stay after them pretty hard when the conditions are right?
Brian662
5 year old buck +
There weren't any here when we bought. There were box elder/buckthorn fence rows, hay/row crops, and pasture.
You can stay after them a little but pressure makes them tougher to hunt. My cover is good but not great, and way too big for one guy and a dog to be very successful. Just have to hope to sneak into a group from down wind to get good shooting or find a young/dumb one that holds tight, and those are most often hens. Generally speaking I will hunt them after I tag out on a buck or the last day of the pheasant season is New Year's Day when deer season closes 12/31. Reasonably, 99.9% of deer in my area are safe when muzzle loader ends but I am sometimes still filling a late archery tag.
I'd guess this year there is anywhere between 30 and 50 pheasants on my place. Probably double what there was last year and more hens. Even a modest winter and the numbers should continue to grow. My best conifer stands are 8' tall and growing, I have some ERC that are bigger, but they are dotted on the landscape.
I'll try for some more raccoons later this winter in hopes of keeping the nest predation low.
You can stay after them a little but pressure makes them tougher to hunt. My cover is good but not great, and way too big for one guy and a dog to be very successful. Just have to hope to sneak into a group from down wind to get good shooting or find a young/dumb one that holds tight, and those are most often hens. Generally speaking I will hunt them after I tag out on a buck or the last day of the pheasant season is New Year's Day when deer season closes 12/31. Reasonably, 99.9% of deer in my area are safe when muzzle loader ends but I am sometimes still filling a late archery tag.
I'd guess this year there is anywhere between 30 and 50 pheasants on my place. Probably double what there was last year and more hens. Even a modest winter and the numbers should continue to grow. My best conifer stands are 8' tall and growing, I have some ERC that are bigger, but they are dotted on the landscape.
I'll try for some more raccoons later this winter in hopes of keeping the nest predation low.
Howboutthemdawgs
5 year old buck +
That’s awesome. Seems like a ton of birds especially because I’m sure they are only in certain habitat areas of your place.
omicron1792
5 year old buck +
So cool Brian. Pheasants are beautiful birds. I’ve only hunted them a few times.
Quail on the other hand. Thousands.
