Introduction to Pheasant Hunting, please?

[priv8ter]

Hi. My wife just got finished with Hunters Eucation class, in preperation for Deer Season this year. During the class though, along with safety, they talked about resources for hunters.

One of the resources they talked about was the Western Washington Pheasant Release Program. Basically, the land in Western Washington doesn't support a large pheasant population naturally. So, each year, the state releases about 40,000 pheasants at 40 different sites in Western Washington. Well, the wife and I are buying a house(closing the end of August) that's about 15-20 minutes away from one of these release sites! So, the wife's interest is piqued.

I myself have never really thought about bird hunting, always being more of a deer and elk hunter. But, having an opportunity like this just down the road...

So, a few questions:

1. All I have right now is a Ted Williams Semi-Auto 20ga. Is a 2 3/4 inch 20ga shell enough to take a pheasant(with the right lshot size ?

2. Do I need a dog? I don't have one. And, I really don't have the inclination to train one for bird hunting.

I ask these questions because, this pheasant hunting isn't cheap...you have to pay $30 for a small game license, and then another $36 for a Western Washington Pheasant Permit. This permit lets you take 8 pheasant. And, if you get your eight, and want to get another permit, just pay your $36 dollars again. But...if I am going to have no luck without a dog..then I may not feel like paying the initial $140 dollars(and having to buy another shotgun!)

So, someone please reasure me that I can have a good time hunting for released pheasant without a dog!

Thank you!

greg

 

[Sunray]

You won't need another shotgun if you can shoot it. Mind you, one shotgun between you just won't work. Think in terms of one of you getting a new or another shotgun. Then there's the skill level. Take your lady shooting before you worry about licences. You know yourself that a new shooter needs to learn to shoot. One thing at a time.

 

[priv8ter]

Oh yeah...

I've got to go to Wal-Mart to pick up one or two of their 100 round value pack boxes of 20ga. It's 7.5 shot size, but that should be okay for a trip or four to the trap range near our house.

That is really what brought this on...in her hunters education class, they let everyone take a turn at a pigeon out on the trap range, and my wife, either through luck or innate skill, hit hers.

And yeah, I would be buying a second shotgun, so that we could both have one. I would probably be sticking to 20ga, just for simplicity of ammo use.

Thanks!

greg

 

[dakotasin]

20 gauge is fine, especially for more experienced shooters... they just don't have the pellet numbers that a 12 does... but, a light 20 is the perfect pheasant gun for me. i like size 6 shot myself, but size 4 and 5 are common, too. i like a light gun for pheasants because you spend a lot of time walking, and a heavy gun will really wear you out.

you can pheasant hunt just fine without a dog - done it many times myself, and was successful doing it. however, ever since getting my first lab, my success rate has skyrocketed, and i have to work less... but you can do fine 'dog-less'.

pheasant hunting can be extremely addictive... i know because i see all these non-residents every fall come out here from all corners of the u.s., and shell out huge sums of money for a pheasant trip where their maximum take is 10 birds...

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Yes, I agree with the previous posts. I did quite a bit of pheasant hunting with a 20. Took many a bird in my youth when they stocked them near my grandparents farm in Wisconsin. #6 shot would be my choice. A dog really helps to find crippled birds too. It's been my experience that pheasants are one of the easiest birds to bring down. They come down even when seemingly just nicked. I know some will disagree, but they are much easier to shoot than the other birds I've hunted liked ruffed grouse and woodcock.

 

[client32]

Pheasant hunting can be done without a dog. We don't use a dog, but I am trying to get one trained. I don't know how many would agree, but I think the dog is more important for retrieving just so you don't lose the bird.

My dad and I worked out a good way to find downed pheasants. We normally hunt in crp grass that is good thick cover for the birds. It helps if the cap you are wearing is bright and doesn't blend into the grass. After you shoot a bird walk straight towards where it lands. Have your wife, or whoever is with you look staight down the line where she saw it land. Keep walking until she tells you to stop, which should be when you cross her line. Drop your hat right there. 9 times out of 10 that is the exact spot of the bird. If you don't find it right there, it is close by. The furthest we have been off is by about 5 feet. That is unless it wasn't a good shot and the bird runs. Couple of times we have gotten discourged, gone back to grab the cap, and there's the bird, directly under the cap. This method of collecting birds may be common to some people, but it took us a while to figure this out.


As for ammo, I personally like 5s. I don't really have a reason for that, just a preference. As already said 4 through 6 are the common ones.

 

[Sistema1927]

Introduction to Pheasant Hunting:

You get up way before dawn, and drive about 30 miles from home. You arrive on the edge of the private property that you have permission to hunt, along with your buddy, about 30 minutes before sunup, and the two of you polish off the thermos of coffee.

Right at dawn, you load up, and start trudging through what is left of a corn field, about 5 yds. apart. Two minutes later, a huge cock pheasant jumps up and starts to fly directly away from the two of you, about ten yards to the front. Both you and your partner make a quick shot, the bird folds up, and falls to the ground. Both of you know that you centered your load of number fours on this bird.

You spend the next 20 minutes looking for this bird, but never find it. You continue the hunt, and don't see another bird for the rest of the morning.

At least that is how it turned out last time. (But, I wouldn't trade that day for anything.) Yes, a dog would have probably helped in recovering this bird, but this was a really strange occurrence. I had never been unable to retrieve a solidly hit bird prior to that day.

 

[priv8ter]

Cool

dakotasin said:

pheasant hunting can be extremely addictive

Then, maybe I need to rethink this. I already HAVE to many expenisive addictions. Deer and Elk, reloading I want to get into, there is CAS that looks interesting, and let's not forget the base expenses just having a wife includes...

Oh, bother...

I'm glad to hear I don't NEED a dog.

Sistema, your tale of Woe, having to get up early and such, is one of the reason duck hunting has never interested in. Getting up early to cold sit on some cold, damp shore line is not my idea of excitement. But, given the situation I might find myself in for this pheasant hunting:

It's a 20 minute drive, the gates to the parking area don't open until 8AM, so, I'll be able to wake up at my normal 'go-to-work' time, and have time for a second bowl of cereal while I watch Sports Center. And, even better, my wife is the more excited one! It's always good to get to do stuff with the wife.

So...are pheasant hard to clean?(there I go, getting ahead of myself again).

greg

 

[ksnecktieman]

By all means try it. A twenty guage is fine. A dog is not required. If you ask around you may find someone that will take you with them and show you how it is done. A pheasant is brilliantly collored, and the size of a chicken, and they can hide in a plowed field. Just walk slow and keep alert, they will try to wait for you to pass, so give them time to get nervous, and kick every weed as you go.

If you ever get a chance to hunt behind a good pointing dog, you should refuse. The first time you see a dog go from a dead run to being a statue you will be permanently addicted. And if a dog points at your feet, and tells you there is a bird there, you had better reload your gun,,,, He is probably right.

" My name is "Gary", and I am an addict,,,, and I am not going to change, because I like it"

 

[Sistema1927]

Oh, I didn't intend it to be a "tale of woe".

There is nothing more beautiful than dawn in the fields on a crisp Autumn morning. Even better when you can load up a shotgun and go bird hunting!

 

[SteelyDan]

I'd recommend a good pair of boots, and also NOT bringing a dog unless it's well trained (nothing more frustrating than having Fido run free and kick up birds just outside of gun range). With a little practice, it takes about 4 or 5 minutes to clean a bird, if you're in no particular hurry. Give it a try with your existing gun and see if you enjoy it. If not, you're out $70 or so but you got to try a new experience. If you do enjoy it, then it becomes fun to start upgrading. Good luck!

 

[client32]

A pheasant is brilliantly collored, and the size of a chicken, and they can hide in a plowed field

That is the truth!

Just walk slow and keep alert, they will try to wait for you to pass, so give them time to get nervous, and kick every weed as you go.

One thing we have luck with is to actually stop every now and again (part of the getting them nervous) Wait for about a minute before picking up again. It is amazing how something with such a small brain can outsmart you.

One more tip that I'm sure you already know is that when you find the one you have shot make sure you kill it. Ring its neck. There are many tails of pheasants staying alive after you shot, retrive, and stick them in the vehicle. (I'm guilty as well)

Cleaning is easy. You could probably find something on google.

 

[dakotasin]

in s.d., it is not legal to shoot a pheasant before noon for the first 2 weeks, then it is not legal to shoot one before 10:00 am... in either event, you don't need to be out early. the better shooting is in the late afternoon anyway, but whatever...

as for cleaning a pheasant... i have yet to come across a game animal that is easier to clean...step-by-step:

1: shoot the bird.
2: lay him down on the ground, on his back.
3: spread his wings out.
4: put one boot on either side, on his wings close to the body.
5: while stepping on the wings, reach down and grab his legs.
6: slowly and firmly pull up on the legs, keeping a steady increasing pressure.
7: cut the legs off.
8: throw your cleaned bird on ice, and grab another...

in all seriousness, it takes about 4-5 seconds per bird to field dress. easy job.

 

[priv8ter]

Wow!

You know, I saw a buddy clean a grouse one that way...I thought he was crazy. Of course, when you are 16, anything someone over the age of 30 does is crazy.

This deffinetaly sounds like something I would like to do with my wife, assuming I get a good Karma feeling off her(AND ME) following our first trip to the practice range. Which, of course, rasises another question:

I'm kind of limited as to skeet/trap facilites around here, shotgunning not being all that popular in this vicinity. The few times I have gone to a shotgun range, I found skeet more enjoyable, but trap is what we have more of around here....so, is trap a fair practice environment for pheasant?

greg

 

[dakotasin]

yeah, its fine. pheasants are actually pretty easy to hit. they are a big bird and they fly slow - especially when compared to something like the acrobatic dove. most people miss because they get mislead about the bird's size because of the tailfeathers. makes 'em look much bigger than they actually are, and they swing for a lead on the middle of the body and so shoot behind the bird. just lead for a head shot, and you'll be fine. skeet, trap, hand-thrown clays - it doesn't matter much. just establish your lead and get comfortable w/ your shotgun and you'll be in fine shape.

my wife decided to give pheasant hunting a try... so i set her up w/ a mossberg pump in 20 gauge. on her first outing, we set her up as the blocker, and then pushed towards her. a bird got up about 20 yards in front of her, and flew quartering towards her. she got nervous and excited and couldn't pull the trigger until the bird was 25 yards past her. she finally pulled the trigger on it, and lo and behold, her first pheasant.

my wife is by no means an excellent shot. she practices w/ her shotgun once or twice a year, and hunts (pheasants only, nothing else) 4 or 5 times a year... so, if an unpracticed newbie can knock a bird down on her first day, i would expect you and your wife will do very well.