Last Weekend of Minnesota Season

[Guest]

Well how did everyone do?

Saturday three of us went out and did a hole lot of missing. We ran about 4 sloughs and jumped 15 roosters through out the day.
We saw a good number of hens also, Our first run in the morning we kicked about six birds out hideing in thick groups of small trees. Our best spot was a long fence line divideing a corn and a bean feild jumping a bird about every twenty yards.

My dad pulled up on a bird that was about ten ft from him and his trigger asembly fell out the little pin was worn and fell out sometime during the morning.

Sunday we had better luck though, we went out about 1 o'clock and had four birds by 3.
And we went into one cattail slough and kicked up 7 hens and one rootie. They were some huge hens I hope the freezing rain we are supposed to get tomorrow does kill any!

http://www.geocities.com/wish_i_was_fishing2002

How did everyone else do???

[metrojoe]

I hit about nine or ten different WMA's in Rice and Le Sueur counties.
I could tell right away it was going to be a tough day when the first WMA I drove through had a truck or two parked and waiting for shooting time at every little pull of or parking area.
There were hunters everywhere I went, it was a zoo.

The dog flushed two at the first place we stopped and that was it for the rest of the day.

At least I wasn't lonely.

[mthunter]

We saw lots of birds on saturday, about 3 dozen, saw all the roosters in the first part of the day and all flushed about 80 yards out front (See my post about this). Lots of hens and they were huge, looked like young turkeys taking off. Hopefully thats a good sign for next year.
Now to plan thehunt club trips.

[This message has been edited by mthunter (edited 12-16-2002).]

[BLACKJACK]

Went out in Meeker county on Sat with my brother. He got one in the morning and one at sunset. The only two roosters that I saw were quite a ways ahead. Got into a couple of spots where I had 6-8 hens get up around me, but no roosters in the bunch Nice to see all the hens. It was nice weather for a hike but it was actually too nice for good late season pheasant hunting. Still had a fun year, 15 birds in MN and 30 in SoDak in two trips. Hopefully the weather will stay mild so the population can keep growing.

[wishiniwerefishin]

Jumped one hen out by Litchfield, but that was all we saw. Dogs got "birdy" a few times, but the birds were just running and quite hard to flush. Finally got one rooster up, but he was 100 yards out and movin fast.

[Shorelunch]

Went south of Hutchinson/Litchfield for the first time and saw one get up 100 yards away. Basically just walked the dog. Fairly disheartening.

Did anyone have luck hunting WMAs this year or was most of your success on private land?

[Guest]

I hunted around belle plain on sunday. Got up three birds, two hens, one rooster which I missed. Dog got birdy a few other times, but the birds were running on the frozen slough will she was having to bust through some thick cattails. The one rooster we did get up held so tight I think the dog was stepping on his tail or something. She had her head in the weeds and the tail was wagging like crazy, this went on for like 30 seconds. I thought she was hunting field mice or something cause she wasn't moving. But wouldn't you know a nice big rooster got up.

[Guest]

Hunted in the Appleton area and did real well not much for hunters.The birds were holding tight had to work slow and quiet.Tried to stay in workable sloughs to get good shots.(I posted the other day for high percentage spots in where are they. I think)Every slough with cattails and food soarce around had birds in it all WMAs.I will agree that some snow cover would have helped the dog. Also seen plenty of huge fat hens and with the mild winter so far I am looking foward to some good hunting next year ,but I have learned never to count your pheasents before there hatched.

[Guest]

Sorry, it was called (in the cattails)

[bigdog]

Went out Saturday to WMA's W of Sauk Center and had two roosters by noon. Older dog (lab) pointed the first. Lot of hunters in the area and allot of shooting. Stayed in Sunday. Old dog is on chemo and this will be his last season. He got both the birds Sat. and figured it best to end on a high note.

[BLACKJACK]

Shorelunch, had luck early on the WMA's, watching the corn harvest and then hitting them. Later on I stuck to private land.

[WaveWacker]

Had an excellent weekend. Myself and a friend hunted up in the Belgrade, Brooten, Paynesville area on Sat. Saw probably close to 40 birds on sat. (some double flushes). and got our limit (all on WMA's). Usually stay at home and hunt the family's land on the last day around Hutchinson. Saw around 15 birds and was home with my limit in time to catch kick off of the Vike's game. What a way to end the season...or maybe it isn't the end. ND is still open and I have a license yet hmmmmmmm..... Take care and have a wonderful holiday season!