2011 Pheasant Hunting Season

[grey ghost]

Saw 6 hens and 3 roosters today. All the hens held tight. Had 2 of the 3 roosters flush wild at the edge of my shooting range and the other held tight in some heavy cover for a nice point. Bagged that one on my only shot of the 2 hour hunt.

[MNpurple]

Got out for an hour yesterday morning to a small WMA after the three inches of fresh snow. I walked the edge of a standiong cornfield with not a track to be found so I headed into the cattails. The birds were still tucked in tightly from the night before. It doesn't get much better than seeing your lab dissapear under the snow covered cattails only seeing her head pop up on occasion and waiting for that rooster to explode through the snow. Saw 6 hens and 1 rooster. The rooster came home with us.

[Fatty07]

Hunted Sunday and got 5. Hunted today alone and got 3. All private land but the snow was really holding the birds tight. For the first time all year I jumped a covey of birds today. Must of been 10 or 12 birds came out of thicket. Was nice to see a group of birds for a change. Been hunting woody areas with lots of thickets. Dog comes home happy but with a bloody smile. Good luck.

[pureinsanity]

Hunted Sunday and got 5. Hunted today alone and got 3. All private land but the snow was really holding the birds tight. For the first time all year I jumped a covey of birds today. Must of been 10 or 12 birds came out of thicket. Was nice to see a group of birds for a change. Been hunting woody areas with lots of thickets. Dog comes home happy but with a bloody smile. Good luck.

This is why I love hunting in late december when the birds change their patterns. Easier to find where they are, but still harder to get to them! Congrats!

[tori's dad]

:)Hunting southern mn today and got four with a good buddy and our two labs- saw four and shot four- great to have the snow to bunch them up a bit but Wow- the last four yrs we would have had six no problem in the same areas with even a few misses out there- saw a decent number of birds picking out in the fields too along with many Turkey's and more deer than I saw all deer season- good day to be alive!

[djlong]

Went out north of Benson on Sunday and was dissapointed that all the snow melted. With the warm temperatures and wind I knew that I was in for a tough day. Hit a spot that I had seen a couple of roosters before and the dog was immediatly birdy. Tracked him for about 200 yards and he busted out for a long shot but I didn't lead him enough. Dog got birdy again a little after and tracked the bird for atleast 400 yards before he busted out about 100 yards out. Marked where he landed for later. Never put up another bird for the rest of the day. The dog was birdy a couple of times after but led me right to where private butts up to public so they were safe. I saw serval on the way out and on the way home had two roosters mock me by almost fly into my windshield while going past a public spot right after sunset. Atleast the year has been mild for them this year and there is hope for next. I will make it out one more time and hope for snow.

[pureinsanity]

In late season bird hunting it seems you always need a poster. They run and flush out the back as soon as they see or here you coming.

[djlong]

I hear you there pureinsanity. I could not wrangle up anyone to go with me so it was only the dog and I. I know that people get frustrated late but I love trying to outsmart the pressured birds. I had one yesterday that I tracked through the cattails and my dog circled back around me. I wanted to pull him off but I trust him so I followed. About 30 yards I came back upon my old tracks and noticed that there were pheasant tracks righ over my tracks in the little snow that was left that were not there before. I followed until I was in the open field and gave up due to the fact that I had no chance. Atleast I was able to get out when it snowed a while back and got to see an actuall point with a bird this late season.

[grey ghost]

I got out on sunday...saw two hens. Went out today and saw 20+ birds. 15 or so were grouped together and they got up as I was out of position...Bad planning on my part. Did get 3 hens pointed and 1 rooster which I bagged. All the points came after the dog had tracked the bird a while.

[CodyDawg]

A buddy and I went out today and got 5 in a couple of hours. one old bird with big spurs and a 22.5" tail and one from an early nesting this year that had a 23.5" tail. Plus a really, really young one. The calm day was fun to hunt in and they really, REALLY held tight. Lotsa points on hens and the rooster flushes were close. My brittany had one hen that she was pointing from about 8 inches!

[Brocster]

I went out Tuesday between Hutch and Litchfield for 4 hours with my little lab buddy and never kicked up a pheasant. Looked like great potential in the two areas we hunted. I am not sure if they were running or not, but the dog only got birdy once in a while, and not the tail wagging 5000 miles an hour birdy either. Dissaponted but awesome to get out anyways.

Going to give it one more shot this week, maybe in the Madison area.

Any luck happening in other parts of the state? I do have a Wisconsin license and am even considering heading that way.

[grey ghost]

Hunted this morning and saw plenty of birds. 90% of them were busting out of a large cattail slough. Had 5 hens and 1 rooster pointed in grass next to the slough. Bagged the rooster. The odd thing about the rooster was it had no spurs at all, not even a nub of a bump, but a 22 1/2" tail.

[Scott M]

It's selfish of me perhaps, but I could use some snow and cold because my late season spots are worthless right now. Was planning to do some hunting Christmas weekend in the mornings but it might be worthless. Hope there is enough ice to fish instead!

[Arago]

Your right. Lack of snow hurts for concentrating birds. Upside is, it's easier to get into fields....

[BLACKJACK]

I agree, 5-6 inches of snow would help!!! Upside is that the lack of snow will help the few birds that are left survive the winter. Still fun to get out and follow the dog around, was out Sunday morning, saw three birds, never fired my gun, but was still fun. Will be getting out at least a couple more times.

[Arago]

I'll be heading out after Christmas. It will be a long time till hunting season again!!

[ducksnbucks]

Went out yesterday to a few spots in central MN, saw roughly 40 birds. I think the wind was holding them a bit tighter than a few weeks ago with no wind. We shot at 5 roosters and 3 of them came home with us. Likely will head out one more time on Friday and then call it a season!

[grey ghost]

Went out for the last time this morning and had a great ending to the season. 3 bird limit in an hour. Saw quite a few birds and the dog worked well. 1st bird taken got up out of some thin cattails, 2nd was pointed, I shot and I saw a leg drop but it kept gliding away so I marked where it went down and we worked our way there. When we got to that area my weim got birdy again and then went on point. The bird flushed and I got downed it this time! 3rd bird held tight for a nice looking point. When it flushed it looked funny because it didn't have any tail feathers.

[Arago]

Nice end to the season! We just got back from SW MN. 2 roosters & could not locate one that was down, even with 2 good dogs. Hate that! Flew 300 yards and then droped from the sky. Put a fork in it till 2012. Clean the guns and hope for a better Winter, Spring for the birds. I know the ones around now are in easy street. Feasting on corn and beans! Almost January and no snow....

[BLACKJACK]

Good job Grey Ghost!!!

Hope to make it out Sat one last time....

[Ray1]

I made it out for a little walk today for the last time of the year. Dog worked good. Flushed 3 roosters and shot 2. Now im off to Lake of the Woods in the am.

[Arago]

Doesn't get much better than that!

[Scott M]

Word was around 200K for total harvest in MN, lowest since 1986.