Pheasant Hunting Without a Dog??????

[joe_stack20]

I love pheasant hunting, great bird to eat, and a great way to get lots of excercise, my question, is it really worth going out in the field without a dog, and only one person going?? Just curious as to what you guys think, let me know

[Kodiak]

not a field or crp, but a little slough would work as long as it is not too wide. i grew up in iowa and used to hunt pheasants all the time byself and without a dog.

[Kodiak]

just keep the wind in your face and start on the widest part of the slough and work your way down and pin them in the end.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I've been phesant hunting for quite a while now. Sure, hunting over a dog is pretty stinkin cool, and will yield more birds. However, this will be my first year ever with my own dog. I've done it for years without one. All you REALLY NEED is a gun, shells, and something orange on.

[joe_stack20]

Thanks for the info guys, if anyone has room for a guy i would be interested, nice to meet some new FM'ers!! Let me know, i am in the Fergus Falls Area!

[lawdog]

It can be done, I used to do it, but the last time I shot a rooster without having a dog I lost him, he was huge, and I was almost sure he was dead. That was over a decade ago and I can still see him going down and could still walk to the spot I shot him. It irritated me so I swore I'd never go another hunting season without my own dog. You will definitely lose some birds you shouldn't without a dog and that's a shame. You still lose an occasional bird even with a dog, but they definitely cut that down a lot.

You will also get more birds up with a dog. They have a lot better idea where to go than I do. I just follow his nose most of the time and it leads to the birds. You can definitely find some without a dog, but you won't find near as many.

So, I guess I say its sure doable, but definitely nowhere near as good.

Regardless, good luck!

[Fish_Off]

I agree if you do go without a dog you need to make a real good effort to even have a chance at a downed bird. I hunted for 2 years without a dog and lost too many birds doing it. I got better as the year went on. Here's my tip. First run or at least walk fast to the spot you downed the bird. Mark that spot by placing maybe a balze orange hat on the ground or on a catail. Then simply circle that area picking up every piece of cover within 30 yards. I usually would look for at least 20 minutes. If you stil don't find the bird you give a better effort than most would.

[CodyDawg]

A tip I would give is that you must kill it stone cold dead in the air. Thus, forget about 6 shot and above and use 5s, 4s, and 2s. You stand a much better shot at the bird being dead upon impact to the ground.

[Kodiak]

yeah just use 3.5" BB

[joe_stack20]

Thanks for the sarcasm Kodiak!!! to everyone else thank you for all the info

[wrshog]

Joe,

I would think that finding someone to hunt with that has a dog would be easy if you have land available to hunt. There are a lot of people out there pushing the same overcrowded public lands that would jump at the chance to get out in new areas. (hint hint)

[joe_stack20]

wrshog, that is the truth but if i had land, i would have a dog

[fishlakeman]

I phesant hunt a lot without a dog, I find the most effective load without making it too much of an overkill is to use 3 inch 2 shot steel. Really knocks them down, and then you can pop those ducks sitting tight in those sloughs. Late season walking frozen waterfoul production areas is a really effective way to get into some dogless roosters. I filled out nearly evertime I went out last year doing this, but that was in N.Dakota. Hehe, I love being a resident college student of N.Dakota.