Top Ten Tips for Wild Pheasant Success

[@hungrymon7887]

I would add: 1: When pheasant hunting always hunt the best part of the field first; don't save it for dessert. The minute you near the field, the birds are getting spooky and get more so as you remain afield. (This does not apply to quail.) 2. If the wind direction is not initially favorable, hunt across the wind if you can and watch the dog for when it turns into the wind on scent. At the end of the field, move upwind and then go back across; repeat to cover the entire field. Excellent technique while hunting alone. 3. Chasing hunter or dog-flushed pheasants is usually a waste of time. 4. Teach your dog hand signals (I use arm straight up for move toward me and arm extended for direction). You can vibrate the ecollar to get the dog's attention and then signal. A short one-note birdlike lip whistle is also OK for getting the dog's attention when close. Yelling commands, whistling loudly, and blowing whistles will spook wild pheasants and degrade the hunt, even if it's opening day. 5. Go slow and keep your eyes on the dog. 6. Use a bell to keep track of your dog in tall cover and you will always know where it is. Yes it's noise but pheasants do not seem at all bothered by the tinkling of a bell. The problem with a high tech ecollar/GPS tracker is that you have to hold it in your hand when both hands should be on the gun, and your vision is directed down toward the device in your hand instead of in the direction of your dog and the middle distance. Your eyes should always be up and scanning. 7. If your dog points, close quickly to the dog.

[@auto_5]

Good tips

[@davidelder888]

Great tip.

[@tommymartinez9746]

First time hunting pheasants today in Kansas, walked 12.5 miles and no pheasants. Had a blast doing it. Good time for everyone involved. Tomorrow looking forward to getting something tomorrow again

[@zigmogcreator]

Great video. Keep the video's coming.

[@luisvisalden7264]

You said it all! Great info!

[@danielt.3152]

My top recommendations for increasing your statistical chances of harvesting birds 1) super windy, birds busting long - consider using full choke in one of the O/U barrels 2) if dog is on point outside your best comfortable range use the barrel selector to flip to your tighter choke, as you walk to get close flip selector to your cylinder choke or improved cylinder 3) I like the Fiocchi Golden Pheasant No 4 expensive yes but well worth the increase odds and take down 4) don’t let your pointer work outside of your comfort zone if that is 65 yards keep him inside that 5) only the dog handler talks to the dog, everyone else needs to hold tight on the chatter 6) don’t let anyone shoot at rabbits, coons etc it just can mess up your dog , let those go 7) have a strategy for each patch of ground you are working , you need people in the right places anticipate which direction the birds will flush left,right , straight and a blocker is not a bad idea way way far ahead at the end of a draw, waterway etc 8) it helps to have everyone tuned up before a hunt, if you want to be better I recommend being in skeet,trap,sporting clays events and leagues. You need to be shooting 50-150 rounds per week. Year around, morning doves season shoot that it will help you master bird flight patterns. Every bird species flies a little different ducks,geese, doves, quail, pheasant learn their patterns. 9) call out hen or rooster on the flush , this helps eliminate hitting a hen. 10) if you are the guide or dog handler you can put guys on birds, hold back let a designated person take the shot. You can always have someone act as backup

[@williamcrawford7857]

I use my Scarpa Ribelle's for Elk and Pheasant, I definitely agree on the stiff boots.

[@dougB4454]

Great tips. Never tried gaiters. My tip. Mark your downed bird and get it quickly. Very seldom are they dead. And always give more lead that expected. Those pheasants are moving quicker than you think. Most of my missed shots are behind the bird.

[@johngoetaski2281]

love the video great tips. I am driving to Kansas from N.J. in April to do some scouting and camping. My plan is to start north central do you agree.

[@connertinkler]

What area of Kansas are you in? I live in Kansas and never find jack squat. Moved here from OK, so I am learning. I am training a GWP for upland and would love to know where in this state I can get him on a few wild birds. Or at least the chance of it. I go to SD every year for a week for upland, so it would be amazing to not drive 10 hours if I didn't have to.

[@fousekcreative7475]

Keep an eye out on the KDWP website for the upland forecast -- that should help quite a bit. This year might be a much better one than the last two, which were really rough...

[@Finis08]

Question from someone that is planning to hunt Kansas next season. When hunting WIHA, if a downed bird is over the property line are you able to send your dog for a retrieve or is it considered trespassing? We can't send a dog across property line where I live.

[@robschill84]

Headed to KS this fall, generally hunt IA and SD, I hear Osborne I a good area. I am usually a solo hunter with GSPs, any specific advice, is Osborne a good call?

[@siegehammer63]

Definitely a dream trip for me. Sage grouse, prarie chicken, quail, and at least one time where I don't fight a whole day to see one pheasant hahahaha

[@victoryang2094]

is it safe to assume any public field with grass/cover surrounded by agriculture will hold pheasants?

[@frankpetrowsky]

Having fun. Most important in my mind. Someone with a bad attitude acting like its a competition will ruin a hunt really fast.

[@davidelder888]

Excellent.

[@g.alistar7798]

Here’s a tip. Go to South Dakota. Find some cover (grass, shelter belt) and food (corn or soybeans). Park your car, no dog and just walk ditches a mile north, west, south then east back to your car. Limit out with three birds….ususally in their first mile!

[@rosskeeling4459]

Do you have a recommendation for stiff soled boots?

[@mldelgad306]

Cripsi boots

[@Dr.Squints]

State issued land maps and scouting to see how many discarded shells there are in the fields. More shells more hunters, single out the fields that are stocked the most with the less amount of hunting exposure

[@daudbendaud8608]

I love you becos you have beard & barrel SxS

[@juancarlosbelletti6335]

No puedo hacer ningun comentario porque NO EMTIENDO NADA DE LO QUE DICE