Thanksgiving Pheasants

Is anyone pheasant hunting over the long weekend? Where are you going and what will you do different than on opening weekend? How does snow play into things?

I will be out hunting during the long weekend. I will be either hunting private land in western MN, otherwise some management lands in central MN. This time of year, I always head for the thickest cover. I hear roosters cackling in thick cattails and tall grass all the time while I am in the deer stand. Usually with a good dog and some hard work I always manage to get some birds. I have never hunted wild birds in the snow before, so I’ll see how that goes.

I love to hunt roosters after a fresh snow.I look for cattails,marsh areas, and plum thickets once we get cold and snow.A early morning pheasant hunt is a great way to start Thanksgiving day.
Ryan Hale

I love to hunt roosters after a fresh snow.I look for cattails,marsh areas, and plum thickets once we get cold and snow.A early morning pheasant hunt is a great way to start Thanksgiving day.
Ryan Hale

You guys are right about both the snow and the Thanksgiving hunt. I’m hoping to get my deer tag filled early so I can do just that.

You guys are right about both the snow and the Thanksgiving hunt. I’m hoping to get my deer tag filled early so I can do just that.

This is the time of year that public land can get real good. Less pressure now and thicker cover. Look for those cattails like you talked about and check them out. With the snow, bird traffic evidence is easy. No tracks?…Head to the next spot.

Good Luck!

This is the time of year that public land can get real good. Less pressure now and thicker cover. Look for those cattails like you talked about and check them out. With the snow, bird traffic evidence is easy. No tracks?…Head to the next spot.

Good Luck!

Bigfife….how was the hunting? Where did you hunt? I hunted around my home just west of Willmar and saw plenty of birds and LOTS of tracks in the snow. I hunted thick cattails and found them there. Just curious. Thanks.

Bigfife….how was the hunting? Where did you hunt? I hunted around my home just west of Willmar and saw plenty of birds and LOTS of tracks in the snow. I hunted thick cattails and found them there. Just curious. Thanks.

I did not make it to the Willmar area this weekend. That trip is hopefully next weekend. I talked to my uncle and he said he has been hunting the management areas in Swift county. He usually hunts alone without a dog and he still is bringing home birds.

I got out on Saturday for a few hours up by Foley and Princeton. It turned out to be more scouting than hunting, but we did get some hunting in. We found some skittish roosters in some cattails that got up 100 yards in front of us. We also were suprised by a couple grouse, but were unable to get a shot off.

Does anyone ever hunt the management lands in the Princeton and Foley area? Some of it looked pretty good.

I did not make it to the Willmar area this weekend. That trip is hopefully next weekend. I talked to my uncle and he said he has been hunting the management areas in Swift county. He usually hunts alone without a dog and he still is bringing home birds.

I got out on Saturday for a few hours up by Foley and Princeton. It turned out to be more scouting than hunting, but we did get some hunting in. We found some skittish roosters in some cattails that got up 100 yards in front of us. We also were suprised by a couple grouse, but were unable to get a shot off.

Does anyone ever hunt the management lands in the Princeton and Foley area? Some of it looked pretty good.

i hunted some thanksgiving roosters last week.

wednesday we hunted north of roch for about 1.5hrs. flushed 16 birds, 4 roosters with NO DOG!! should have had all 4 rooster birds but only ended up with 2 (you know how that goes) . still pretty darn good if you ask me.

thursday morning we hunted some really thick CRP, but didn’t do very good. had a dog, but only flushed 2 birds, 1 rooster that i poofed pretty good.

i hope to get out at least one more time before the season ends. then i’m off to ND on Dec 17. for a combonation pheasant and sharptail hunt. can’t wait for that .

i hunted some thanksgiving roosters last week.

wednesday we hunted north of roch for about 1.5hrs. flushed 16 birds, 4 roosters with NO DOG!! should have had all 4 rooster birds but only ended up with 2 (you know how that goes) . still pretty darn good if you ask me.

thursday morning we hunted some really thick CRP, but didn’t do very good. had a dog, but only flushed 2 birds, 1 rooster that i poofed pretty good.

i hope to get out at least one more time before the season ends. then i’m off to ND on Dec 17. for a combonation pheasant and sharptail hunt. can’t wait for that .