Pheasant hunting with 2 hours metro

[rmkod]

Any recommendations on the best general area to hit that is within 2 hours or so from the cities for Pheasants? I have hit the Hutchinson area once this year and a few times in years past but never really had much luck.

[Riverratpete]

game farm

[gspman]

Look at the pheasant population density maps. Go west young man. As far west as you can. Then start hunting.

[Jaspernuts]

I live around Mankato and you really need to go 1 hr west of here to get into birds. Take 60 to the Windom area. I went there last weekend and took a dump in a cornfield.

[CRAZYEYES]

I've done quite a bit of rooster chasing this fall and we've run into a few pockets within a couple hours but if you're willing to drive 3 and get west of the river the bird numbers are a lot better. Ask around and find a couple chunks of private land. We walked a big state chunk tonight and put up 2 birds but had permission to hunt a tiny little wood lot a couple hundered yards away from it and 30 plus came running out.

[Maxxed Out]

Lac qui parle is just a little outside 2 hours from the metro and it's my home area. Probably some of the best pheasant hunting in the state out side of the SW corner. TONS of public land, plenty of food and birds.

[brittman]

The further you travel away from the cities the more birds you will see. That said many birds flush wild later in the season ... so seeing them is not shooting them.

I have found consistent hunting very close to the Twin Cities metro. That is averaging one rooster for about 3 hours hunting with one guy and one dog. You may not see many, but the one rooster you get up will be at your feet or your dogs nose.

If you have a group or the time to drive - drive west. If time is short go hunting. Knock off the WMAs one by one ... you will find the ones that hold birds and fit with your hunting style.

[canman]

Ask some of the local farmers around Hutch. There are birds, but they get pushed from public land quickly. If you can get on private land, good hunting can be had. It takes a little work to ask the farmers though. I have had some success this way, just later in the year typically (after deer hunting season).

[Ely Lake Expert]

Lac qui parle is just a little outside 2 hours from the metro and it's my home area. Probably some of the best pheasant hunting in the state out side of the SW corner. TONS of public land, plenty of food and birds.

I also have done very well in that area