New to the sport!!

[D-tangler]

Hello all. I am looking for any tips tht you guys could offer me. I am new to pheasant hunting this year and am excited to give it a shot. I have my first shotgun at age 32, mossberg 500 field/ deer combo. I am wanting to get out but have little knowledge. I don;t have a dog and live in Monticello. Are the WMA's around here worth a shot? Any tips would be greatly appreciated! I would also be more than open to letting someone show me the ropes some time!

[ribsey_77]

WMA's close to the cities are always gonna be tough. But if there is a slough on it wait till you can walk on the ice and start there. I dont mind offering any help or the ropes but i usually pheasant hunt in Iowa.

[hanso612]

Join a conservation group, like DU or PF and go to the local meetings. Work a banquet or two and you will soom make many connections that lead to invites on to private land.

Info sharing is great too. Also a good place to buy equipment. It may not be any cheaper than Retail, but any profit goes to a good cause.

Go where the birds are. Hans

[fishnowworknever]

WMA's are OK, but tough to find birds since they are hit so hard.

My advice to you, go find some land and nicely ask the land owners if you can walk a drainage ditch, or a small patch of swamp land. You'll be surprised how many farmers/land owners will let you get out and walk those areas.

Good luck, have fun.

[CJH]

As somebody that started a few years ago at about the same age (in laws got me into it) here are a few tips.

1) The first thing I would do is get comfortable with your guns operation and safety. Really get it down so that when you are out in the field with other people, the dogs are running around, and the birds are flushing you are comfortable with everything and not putting you, the dogs, or anybody else at risk.

2) Hunt with people that know what they are doing. I learned a ton of information hunting with my inlaws. They emphasized gun safety, learned how they work a field, what times are the best to go, what shells to buy, etc.....

3) Hunt as much as you can and shoot your gun. I would even suggest mixing in some game farms, as they are good practice and you typically will get more shots/opportunities than you would on a WMA. Learning to see the bird, determining if its a rooster/hen, taking your safety off, mounting the gun and shooting all is done relatively quickly, so the more practice the better.

4) Be patient. You'll probably miss a lot at first. But you'll get better every year. Practice shooting some skeet or take a shooting lesson if you need it.

Good Luck! Its a great sport and there is nothing I look forward to more than being out on a nice fall day with the guys and dogs chasin' some roosters!!!!

[gurkster]

Hit a game farm - you will see birds and can practice on them. You would also be able to hire a dog and guide if you wanted, who would be able to give you tips first hand. Otherwise for what you would spend in gas to SW MN you could get a few birds released and get some experience.

[fishroger]

Wma's are a good place to start. Might flush a few. If you somebody with a dog you will be light years ahead. If you wound a bird its much easier to find it with a dog.