Where have all the pheasant hunters gone?

[cabin10]

I've been pheasant hunting in North Dakota as a non-resident this
December and haven't seen any hunters in the area? I've been hunting public land and it's just been phenomenal. It takes be longer to drive to the hunting spot then to shoot my limit of roosters. Only once did I run into tracks showing someone was there the day before.

I have to admit, it takes some work slogging through the snow, but it's not that bad and the outcome worth it. Only fell through a slough once, one leg up to the crotch - but it's so warm out it didn't bother me. One day I was done in 10 minutes - I really didn't like it, but that's a problem I'll deal with.

The big complaint in ND was all the out-of-state hunters, so they made a 5 day, then 7 day season. The trouble with December and the 7 day seasons is the weather can limit your 7 days - might be able to get out only once. Especially this year with the rain, ice and snow. I'd wish they would open up the whole month of December for one license - maybe that would move some hunters from Oct. to Dec. I know it wouldn't, but sure would be nice not to have to buy a second license for those last two weeks of the season.

So what keeps the hunters away? Can't be the ice fishing because the ice conditions around here are just awful. You can't drive on the lakes - well you can if you've had your lobotamy. Houses are flooding left and right. 6 inches of slush to get somewhere. ugh!

Well anyways, it'll be awhile before my dog forgets about this year hunt. She's 8 years old and in the twilight of her career. I think the reason I go now is for her. Not to many better things in life than to see a good dog work a cattail slough for late season roosters.

Signed: A lonely pheasant hunter.

[Gary Korsgaden]

Great have you been east of the Missouri or west of it

[bountyhunters]

here in north east ohio ,I have not seen a bird in three yrs ,live on twenty acres with farms around me .birds are a rare thing in my neck of the woods.

[reddog111]

No birds in central Iowa. so why would their be any hunters?

[RANGER]

Southwest and Northwest Pa. - same thing! We used to love hunting for them and the cottontails but it takes all day to get one, if you're lucky!! Used to be 1 to 1 1/2 hours to bag-out on BOTH!! Those days are GONE!!

[jet man]

I for one have been out there this December as I am every December and sometimes January. The new license arrangement the last couple of years has been one reason you do not see as many hunters. Some people just do not want to keep making that investment. They buy the one license, make two trips out of it and that is it. I know the hotels and resturants, etc in the area I hunt have lost revenue since the new license program was implemented.

[Hump]

I live in North central Iowa and have seen alot of birds. Hunters I have spoken to say they have seen alot.

[Gilligan]

Maybe on the hunting forum?

[cabin10 - unlogged]

I'm just an hour west of the eastern border.

[Kevin B]

Cabin 10 - Glad to hear of your success. Memories are what hunting is made of.

It sounds like you are hunting alone. Why? If you don't take a newbie, there will be no hunting in the future. For every two hunters who join the sport of hunting, three quit hunting. That's national statistics over the last decade. Fishing statistics aren't much better. You mentioned that you and your aging dog had a season to remember. Next year, make it a season to remember because you took along a partner. Teaching is rewarding. I make it a point to take a newbie deer hunting, elk hunting, fishing, upland hunting - - anything. A newbie goose hunting partner once asked me: "Next year, can I bring my 14 year old daughter along?" "Of course" I replied. "And I think she's about the same size and build as Kathy (my wife) so we'll let her try out Kathy's over/under at the trap club as soon as the weather warms up". I don't remember any greater compliment in my life. A rewarding moment. You and I, we gotta preserve our hunting -- and we can do it best by teaching others what it is that we love so much about it.

For me, I didn't hunt pheasants in December at all. That's because I was goose hunting. And the goose hunting was very good. Hunting pressure is typically highest the opening week or two, and again the last week or two. The dates in the middle of the season have the lightest hunting pressure.

There exists lots of data from surveys regarding "why" or "why not" hunters and fisherman go afield. Midwest Outdoors magazine publishes the national results annually. I've seen data in Dakota Outdoors specific to the Dakotas. Heading the list of reasons why outdoorsman do not go afield or afloat is "Not enough time" due to a host of reasons. For me, now that I've got my ducks & geese in the freezer, it'll be back to pheasant flushing. You better send me a P.M. about where you've been hunting so that area doesn't become overrun with pheasants ;-).

[cabin10 - unlogged]

I would like to take someone along, but people don't want to spend $100 for 2 - seven day periods that late in the year. You really have to have a passion to hunt them this time of year, and most of the people I know get lazy in December. Probably why I enjoy it so much - no people, plenty of birds, and a challenge. If you are out of shape or overweight, it'll get to you this time of year. I went out Monday and had to walk close to a mile through snow up to your knees, the kind you fall through on every step because of the crust formed by the freeze thaw of the last month. But the three sloughs I had in mind were full of them. The dog was flushing so many birds, I don't think I saw her for 10 minutes!

I've begged, pleaded, bribed my daughters to join me, but to no avail.

[Todd_NE]

Pheasants are pretty good in NE Neb this year, been a good season

I hunted a preserve in SD a few times last year, great deal. $80 for 3 birds, season license $30 or so. This year it was like $95 AND two 5 day blocks. Guess what, I'll NEVER hunt SD again and neither will anyone I know. I know the license isn't much towards the overall cost, the principal of the thing is the killer when you are in a contiguous state.

and... I was just in SW kansas hunting this past weekend. my lord the pheasants were thick in the pivot corners and tailwater pits. AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!!!

Good to get out, love those pheasants!

[wheels]

Todd,

Where did you go in SW Kansas. I've had a few phenomenal trips down there myself.

"Friends don't let friends fish for trout!"

[Todd_NE]

My brother lives in Garden City, we were within sight of town all day long. (Restricts it to 20 miles haha). If you are ever down there, he owns Jax sports grille (love those extra e's).

I saw 350 birds easy in 4 hours of hunting. We'd jump re-use pits, abandoned oil storage and feedlot areas (safer than it sounds) and walk out the pivot corners.

Kansas is going to open the season earlier in 06 I hear also. Hope the vets are ready, can you say doggy heat stroke?

Todd
I guess that was your accomplice in the wood chipper?

[duran]

Cabin 10, I don't know if it is just the licence change or a combination of that with the higher gas prices. I know a few guys that decided to skip out of state hunts this year mainly because of the fuel prices.
If you are looking for someone to hunt with next year, send me a e-mail at walleyeduran@charter.net It has been two years since I was last out in ND hunting and my dog is really mad at me.

[Lacy from Ohio]

I hunted Kansas for the first time this past Dec. I saw quite a few pheasants and hunters. I think that the 4 bird a day limit and 16 bird possession limit attracts hunters to that state.