Areas to hunt

[Guest]

Hi all,

I have a friend coming in from Vermont who has NEVER been hunting in her life. She is an open minded environmentalist who said this is probably her only chance to go hunting. I want to take her pheasant hunting on Tues or Wed of next week (12th 13th) but haven't hunted pheasants in Minnesota. ( Moved to the metro from up north a couple years ago) I have a PRIM map of the Rochester area, but wanted to see if any of you could help me out further. E-mail me at [email protected] if you have any ideas.

Thanks!

[N Hardy]

There are alot of areas to hunt in and around Rochester, don't be afraid to ask private landowners to hunt. most of them are pretty friendly

[Guest]

I really appreciate it. I know what cover I like to hunt, I have a feeling I will just try to drive from public to public, but knock if I see anything that looks good. I don't know the are well, Which direction from rochester should I head to look for crops? S, SW, SE Etc.

thanks again

[Guest]

Well if you are not set on the rochester area, I would try the new londen/wilmer area, bit of a drive but lots of public land. I don't know with it being deer season and how the corn is coming down. But I hunted that area from paynsville to wilmer and put up a fair number of birds during the first week of the season. Mostly hens but a few roosters mixed in as well. Otherwise there is always waterfowl hunting. Pretty slow as of late but you never know. Just throwing some ideas out for you.

[Guest]

Are you set on rochester and pheasants, or are you open to other areas and species?

[J.A.Say.Tree]

I would definately stay North of Hwy 30...

However, If I were you I'd stay closer to the Cities... Try the Belle Plaine to New Prague to Le Suer area. I haven't personally hunted this area this year, but the DNR count looked favorable. I've found pretty receptive farmers in the past.

Good luck!

JA!!!

[Guest]

I am definately not set on the Rochester area. I just was picking something out the blue as a starting point. The Belle Plaine area is cool too. As far as being set on pheasant, I would like to walk, and I figured with the grouse numbers down, pheasants would be my best chance for upland within a few hours of the metro.