Late season upland bird hunting

Depending on the bird and whether it is wild or not dictates the approach. For example, my friend Rusty and I hunt late season pheasant in Kansas. Just two men and 1 or 2 dogs depending on how we feel about the area we are hunting.

We have been quite successful on public hunting lands alone. You would think that you need a long line of drivers and blockers in the late season but you would be wrong. In fact, I don’t think a large group is any more productive on a birds shot per man ratio.

Hunting alone, he and I take about 1 to 3 birds per man per day. Recently we hunted with a large group and when you figure out the birds/man ratio, it was about the same (late season, wily wild pheasant!).

Tactics play a major role. Quietly parking, no slamming of doors, minimal dog handling, etc. Walking likely areas at the right time of day plays an integral part in success.

Our 2 man tactics include zig-zag hunting with frequent pausing for at least 30 seconds to a minute. Many times we have paused and just about when we are about to take a step, a nervous pheasant pops from the cover, unsure where we were.

Rusty and I hunted pheasant together in Montana this past year early season. We applied the same tactics and had awesome success.

Of course success is not measured in shot birds. To me it’s measured in dog work and good times afield. I honestly don’t care if I shoot a bird as long as my dogs get an opportunity to point birds. That’s what it is about after all, isn’t it? You certainly don’t want to EVER calculate the “price per pound” on wild bird hunting! lol

You can buy pheasant meat at the grocery store… lol