Saturday, February 27, 2010

Pheasant hunting in March

Yes, the general pheasant season has been closed for months. But the season is still open on licensed Hunt Clubs. We have a corporate membership at a local club, and I had a customer out on Thursday to enjoy a day in the field.

Let me start by saying this is NOT intended to be a post to open up the proverbial can of worms that exists between wild bird hunters and hunt club users. Hunting wild birds on public land is completely different, if for no other reason than the state imposed bag limits. Hunt clubs are more geared toward shooting rather than hunting. When you go out hunting on public land, you may or may not even see any legal game, let alone shoot any. On a Hunt Club environment, seeing birds is not in question; nor is getting shots. But a well run and well designed club offers a great day in the field, nonetheless.

And that is the point of this post. The club we belong to is run as well as any I have ever visited. We hunt alternating strips of standing corn and dense pine trees, with woodlots and creek bottoms interspersed throughout the property. Some birds flush wildly, some sit tight, and some run. It is a very satisfying day in the field. On this particular trip, we had some huns, too (Hungarian Partridge). These little buggers fly fast and low and are more challenging than the pheasants, at least for me. Kick in the conditions - 26 degrees with a stiff NW wind - and they can be a tough target.

As always, we had a lot of fun, walked a long way in the 4" - 6" of snow, and shot a lot of birds. I shot unusually well on this hunt, although I'm sure I'll come back to earth the next time out. I thought I would show a few pictures to show the way the club is set up. It really is a great place for bird hunting.




Good looking mixed habitat




Field edges




The intended quarry


(NOTE - on all the photos I post, you should be able to click on them to see a larger picture)

9 comments:

Bill said...

Looks like some great bird habitat and it sounds like a fun time.

Mark Kautz said...

Only went Pheasant hunting once with my Dad. The area (Southern Wisconsin) looked just like your pictures. It was an experience I remember to this day. My dad only let me shoot the shotgun (12 gauge) once. Aimed at the ground, hit the tree. Hey, I was only 8.

Mark

Anonymous said...

I've never been pheasant hunting but maybe someday.

I like the last picture though.

Anonymous said...

Great habitat! Wish there was more of it these days!

Brandon Vileta and Corey Yardley said...

We at Honey Creek Outdoors like your blog and are following your updates, keep up the good work! :) Feel free to check out our blog and if you like it we'd love to have you as a follower! Thanks- HCO

murphyfish said...

Hey Wolfy,
Looks like a well organised set up there. I must confess that the last time that I went after pheasant I didn’t exactly have the land owners express permission (well we all let things slip sometimes!) but oh boy I do believe they tasted all the better for the excitement of a rather furtive hunt! Hope that your bag tastes as good for you.
Best regards,
John

Michael Agneta said...

Thanks for describing the day. That last picture is great!

Anonymous said...

Great blog, with great photos. I may just have to stop by more often.

You should check out the spots at New Jersey Campgrounds.

Michelle said...

Great reaading your blog