Pheasant Hunting 12-4-16

The gang and I were able to get out for some chilly pheasant hunting the weekend after last and what a day it was! We got a total of three birds, but what I enjoyed the most… watching Remi really start coming into his own as far as hunting goes. He did a wonderful job of ranging between hunters and not just following close by Billy or behind Fritz. The more we get out there the more he improves and gets the idea of what we’re doing.

There was one bird that my Dad, Billy, and I shot that I’ll never forget. Both Remi and Fritz were on point. Billy could see the rooster hunkered down, holding tight, but my Dad and I didn’t see him. The boys were pointing hard and they looked like statues! As we got closer the bird twitched his head and that’s when the fun started! It all happened so fast, but if I recall correctly Remi pounced and the bird finally jumped, and all three of us shot! That bird had no chance. We disagree on who shot first but that’s okay. Remi and Fritz didn’t get to retrieve this bird, as we were hunting with a friend who’s lab Bailey is a bit of a competitive retriever. And she only brings the bird back to her master.

Last time someone stuck a pheasant in my vest pouch… it wasn’t completely dead yet and started flapping around while we were still hunting! I don’t mind if someone else carries the birds in their pouch.

~ Sharon

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Looks like fun. Did dad get his broken springs fixed? I see he’s toting a smoke pole.

Tom Sawvell wrote:

Looks like fun. Did dad get his broken springs fixed? I see he’s toting a smoke pole.

Tom I found an off-hand reference to a source of replacement parts in a post made 9 years ago. I seemed like a long shot but I sent an e-mail off and the same day I got a positive response! A little expensive, but it should solve my problem.

SR

That looks like a lot of fun Sharon. I really miss those late season hunts since I moved to California over a year ago. I’m hunting in shin high alfalfa fields that are surrounded by cactus and Palm trees. It’s just not right……

Good luck with the rest of your season!

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Love the tail on that point pose, @tosetter! I know nothing of hunting in CA. Do you still hunt pheasants, or do they have other game birds over there?

Sharon- I’ve only been hunting pheasant so far, but there are quail, ruffies, blue grouse and chukar here too. The grouse hunting in the mountains would interest me the most, but seasons are short and early in the year when the temps are often in the 70’s or 80’s. Quail and Chukar would be fun too, but I just haven’t had the time yet to research where to hunt them. I hope to do some scouting next summer so I have more spots to hit next fall. The pheasant hunting been pretty good though. I’ve got my 2 bird limit each time out so far.

One thing that makes me apprehensive about hunting early are rattlers. My dog’s have always been overly curious about snakes we’ve come across in WI, MN, and SD. The ones out here wouldn’t tolerate that very well…..

It’s been a HUGE change moving to CA and I’ve mainly capitalized on the fishing opportunities with being able to fish out of a boat year round. This fall though, the pheasant hunting has got me excited to explore more upland bird hunting opportunities. I’m really excited to give wild Chukar hunting a try, but I need to get in better shape first:)…..from what I understand, they are very challenging and in some very steep terrain.

Nice hunt! Thanks for sharing!! Nothing like the dead calm of a point and then all hell breaks loose!

to_setter wrote:

The pheasant hunting been pretty good though. I’ve got my 2 bird limit each time out so far.

to_setter wrote:

I’m hunting in shin high alfalfa fields that are surrounded by cactus and Palm trees. It’s just not right……

Really knowing nothing at all about California, are those wild pheasants that you are finding? Is most of the hunting in those alfalfa fields? Heck a 2 bird limit each time out is just as good if not better than what you can do back here in the midwest.

mnrabbit wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>to_setter wrote:</div>
The pheasant hunting been pretty good though. I’ve got my 2 bird limit each time out so far.

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>to_setter wrote:</div>
I’m hunting in shin high alfalfa fields that are surrounded by cactus and Palm trees. It’s just not right……

Really knowing nothing at all about California, are those wild pheasants that you are finding? Is most of the hunting in those alfalfa fields? Heck a 2 bird limit each time out is just as good if not better than what you can do back here in the midwest.

I’ve been out 10 times with 8 of those being wild bird hunts that are primarily in river bottoms, so the cover is a bit thicker, but still nothing like WI or MN. We didn’t have one drop of rain between mother’s day and Sept 8th, so you can imagine how thin and brown the cover is. 2 of the hunts were for birds that are planted every week or two, and those are the ones where I was finding the birds in the Alfalfa. Some of these fields have slough’s around them with thicker cover, but the crazy birds were almost always in the Alfalfa. It’s different; that’s for sure:).

The pheasant season is about done here, so it’s time for me to try to find some quail and maybe one trip to look for Chukar. I believe both of those seasons go until Jan 31st. I have no idea if I’ll be successful, but it will be fun to get out exploring!

Sharon- Will you guys make it out again yet this year or has the focus switched over to ice fishing? I really enjoyed late season hunts in the midwest. It can be frustrating watching really spooky birds get up 200 yards out to the front, but it’s so fun when the dog nails a nice Rooster that decided to try waiting it out by hiding!

to_setter wrote:

Sharon- Will you guys make it out again yet this year

We had hoped to get out last weekend, but looking at the temps… no thanks! I hate to say it but we’re likely done hunting for the season. It goes by too quickly. But it’s not much fun out there when it gets this cold/snowy, so we’ll just have to clean up supplies and put the vests away ’til next season.

We didn’t make it out ice fishing last year, so it would be nice to get out at least once this year! Billy usually works OT in the winter for various snow making/plowing so we don’t have as much free time as we like.

Baking has become one of my winter hobbies and I plan to bake a crap ton of cookies this weekend! Maybe a pumpkin spice cake too. And some Christmas Crack. Must be nearing lunch time…