Crazy Uncle Al Gore
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I'm going to be going pheasant hunting soon. My main question is this: Can I go pheasant hunting without dog or without fifteen other peole in a driving line? Both of these would be hard for me to obtain.
Pheasant Hunting Alone
- Thread starter Crazy Uncle Al Gore
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SShooterZ
Member
Good luck. Depending on the pheasant, they will either run far ahead of you and you will never see them or they will tuck in and you'll walk right by them without them moving a feather.
eastwood44mag
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I've done it. I'm a poor shot, but I've jumped a few in my day.
Tips:
Walk slowly. Stop often. Kick brush frequently. If the birds think you know where they are, they're more apt to flush.
Best of luck.
Tips:
Walk slowly. Stop often. Kick brush frequently. If the birds think you know where they are, they're more apt to flush.
Best of luck.
It Can Work...
I agree with Eastwood - it's not easy, but I've hunted them successfully before on my own.
Walk slowly like he said, and stop often (sometimes abruptly) - that gets them spooked and they sometimes flush. Also (as long as you'd be shooting in a safe direction), work a zigzag pattern toward an obstacle (field corner, fenceline, etc) to get the effect of cornering them and making them flush. Doesn't always work, but does sometimes.
One last thing - when hunting them on your own, be ready to put your safety on and RUN to the bird when it starts to drop. As you probably know, often with pheasants when they hit the ground the fun is only beginning!
Good luck, let us know how it goes.
Michael
I agree with Eastwood - it's not easy, but I've hunted them successfully before on my own.
Walk slowly like he said, and stop often (sometimes abruptly) - that gets them spooked and they sometimes flush. Also (as long as you'd be shooting in a safe direction), work a zigzag pattern toward an obstacle (field corner, fenceline, etc) to get the effect of cornering them and making them flush. Doesn't always work, but does sometimes.
One last thing - when hunting them on your own, be ready to put your safety on and RUN to the bird when it starts to drop. As you probably know, often with pheasants when they hit the ground the fun is only beginning!
Good luck, let us know how it goes.
Michael
WolfMansDad
Member
Sure, you can hunt alone! You won't be as successful as you would with a dog, but it's certainly better than not hunting at all.
I've hunted grouse and quail by myself before. The trick is to learn what kind of cover they like and, as already mentioned, go slow and stop often. Psych them out. Make them think you see them. They will often flush when you stop, thinking you've spotted them. You'd be surprised how many you can find this way.
Good luck! If you don't find any the first time out, go again. It takes a little practice.
I've hunted grouse and quail by myself before. The trick is to learn what kind of cover they like and, as already mentioned, go slow and stop often. Psych them out. Make them think you see them. They will often flush when you stop, thinking you've spotted them. You'd be surprised how many you can find this way.
Good luck! If you don't find any the first time out, go again. It takes a little practice.
Crazy Uncle Al Gore
Member
Thanks for the advice everyone. As WolfMansDad said it's ceartainly better than not getting out at all.
scooterthegreat
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A little late on this one, but the only other recommendation that I would add is to let someone know where you will be (I know, not always the easist when bird hunting) and when you will be back. And take a cell phone in case you do need help.
Greybeard
Member
Quote: "learn what kind of cover they like"
That's a biggie, especially if hunting alone. If possible, try to work the small patches of cover (draws, fence rows, brush around stock tanks, old barns, etc.). And try to set up so they can be slowly pushed into an area where they have to fly or run out into the open - which some may very well do before you get within range!
That's a biggie, especially if hunting alone. If possible, try to work the small patches of cover (draws, fence rows, brush around stock tanks, old barns, etc.). And try to set up so they can be slowly pushed into an area where they have to fly or run out into the open - which some may very well do before you get within range!
I have hunted a lot of pheasants by myself with and without a dog. It depends on the environment you are hunting in. If it is a cut corn field with or without bull rows standing then moving slow is bad, you need to cut across the rows quickly there is not enough cover for them to feel safe. Corn fields are toughest to hunt IMO. However, in beet or alfalfa field then I would go slowly as Eastwood said. Always work the ditches pheasants love to use ditches as escape routes. Some of the best pheasant hunting I had was in an abandoned orchard, the pheasants would hold tight until you almost stepped on them.
Crazy Uncle Al Gore
Member
One more question, what is the minimum number of people you need if you're going to do a "pheasant drive"? I think I could atleast get my dad and possibly my two older brothers to come with me.
cracked junior
Member
i once caught a skunk in a live cage trap trying to catch a stray cat on the farm i live on. it was in the pasture. i walked around it several times from about 20 ft away so i wouldnt get sprayed. trying to figure out what to do and how to get rid of it without being sprayed. i decided to go back in the house to get my pistol. when i got back. i walked around it somemore. i aimed, fired, and scared the crap out of myself. 3 roosters and 7 hens flew up around me that i didnt know were there.
so even though how much you walk around the area. you still might not be able to get anthing up. although this also applies to hunting with dogs and the 15 person line up. as we have had them get up behind us. but its still fun to go walk around in the hopes of getting something so i say go for it.
so even though how much you walk around the area. you still might not be able to get anthing up. although this also applies to hunting with dogs and the 15 person line up. as we have had them get up behind us. but its still fun to go walk around in the hopes of getting something so i say go for it.
I've done it alone, with a dog, and with one additiona person. When hunting alone, I always zig-zaged through a cornfields/brush field...and the birds wouldn't usually flush until they (running ahead of me) hit the end of the field. Not much different when I had one other person (my dad) with me, we just walked about 40 yards apart. I did have a beagle/coonhound mix, and even though he wasn't a "birdog" he would range 100 feet on either side, and up to 50 feet in front of me. He had NO clue what he was supposed to do, but flushed quite a few birds for me. (So you don't really NEED a birdog, just one you can control, keeping him in the correct area you're hunting.)
langenc
Member
Just get 2 others and it will be safer than 10-15. Keep close together and walk SLOW and then a little slower-cant go to slow but definitely to FAST. Stop and be ready. Work the edges and brush spots. Have killed some pheasant but they have gotten to be runners vs fliers. They will set and let you walk by-esp rainy day.
Sistema1927
Member
Every hunt is a successful hunt if you recognize the joy that come from being in God's outdoors. Some of my best hunts have been those when I have come home empty handed.
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