Pheasant hunting

[Hunter07]

Never hunted pheasant with a dog, although I'd like to try it some day.

The following is true;

A friend and I went out one morning after work (we both worked the 7pm to 7am shift at the time). Since pheasant hunting hours are from 9 am to sunset, we had a little time to get down to the area we wanted to hunt (near Oslo MN, I lived in Rochester at the time).

While tromping through a huge slough, I somehow managed to pull a muscle in my groin. Since we were close to the 'far end' (next road over), I told Jeff that I'd wait for him out by the road and he could pick me up when he got back to his van.

We had kicked up a few birds shortly after we started into the slough, but they were too far ahead of us to get a shot off. So Jeff said he was gonna work his way back to the van by covering the slough on the other side of the stream that ran through it.

I made it out to the road and found a pile of dirt next to the field drive and sat down to wait for him. For the next hour or so, I heard a few shots from the area Jeff was in, so I figured he maybe got 1 or 2.

About an hour or so after Jeff and I had parted, I heard something behind me. I slowly turned my head and here were 2 rooster pheasants standing there trying to figure out wtf I was doing sitting there.

I slowly clicked the safety off my Coast to Coast 12 ga. (copy of a Mossberg 500), and quickly jumped to my feet as they took off.

Blam, blam, blam, blam..........

Not a bird fell from the sky........

I'm like wtf? They were close enough that I coulda knocked 'em out with the barrel of the shotgun!

Thinking back on this over the years, I realize that I was in 'panic mode' and was aiming directly at them, instead of leading them a bit.

As I'm standing there feeling stupid for missing them that close to me, I hear Jeff pull up. I reached down to pick up my empty shells and all I hear is Jeff laughing.

He had seen my screw up and was laughing his ass of at me.

Oh well......... He didn't get any birds either that day.

[Desert Rat]

Pheasants got a bad reputation for making the best shots look foolish.

[10 Bears]

Originally Posted by Desert Rat

Pheasants got a bad reputation for making the best shots look foolish.

Ain't THAT the truth! Very challenging bird, kinda like quail, when THEY bust into the air.

[baboon]

As a kid they were so thick we hunted them in the outlaying areas with bow & arrow or wrist rockets sling shots. Areas along interstate 80 & the frontage road a block away was were I taught my brittany spaniel to hunt.

Makes me think about smoked pheasant quesadillas.

[Boris]

I've always been interested in trying bird hunting in general,,not really many pheasant around here but there is some,,the back area of my property is loaded with grouse and I think there are some quail also,,not too mention the ponds always have a duck or goose paddling around them,,I have a Remington 870 wingmaster in 20 gauge,,definately a bird gun but just haven't ever hunted birds,,I think I should start

[Hunter07]

Originally Posted by Boris

I have a Remington 870 wingmaster in 20 gauge,,definately a bird gun but just haven't ever hunted birds,,I think I should start

Pheasant hunting is kinda like Pringles potato chips, once you pop, you can't stop.

Seriously, it's a chance for some good exercise and brush up on your marksmanship skills. A bird or two at the end of the day, is just the 'icing on the cake' so to speak.

A 20 ga. is a good bird gun.

Last rooster I blasted with my Mossberg 500 12 ga. (modified choke at the time), was pretty close. Dang near gutted & defeathered it all at once. There was so much lead in its ass that it couldn't fly.

Needless to say, we deboned that one before cooking it.

[Desert Rat]

My Dad adored the 20 ga. and that's all he ever used or wanted. Ultimately he bought me a Browning A-5 in 20 ga. LOVED the gun and have now passed it on to my son who was brought up with it.

20 ga takes backseat to nothing. It just doesn't throw an much lead and makes you a better shot.

You for sure ought to give bird hunting a whirl, Boris. It's a fast and brutal course in shooting moving targets and will improve your shooting across the board with anything.

When a guy hunts several different TYPES of birds, dove, quail, etc each year back to back, it can really be challenging as each bird flies different speed, altitude and so on. One method of shooting does NOT fit all. The only thing they have in common is the fun.

[Hunter07]

Originally Posted by Desert Rat

You for sure ought to give bird hunting a whirl, Boris. It's a fast and brutal course in shooting moving targets and will improve your shooting across the board with anything.

When a guy hunts several different TYPES of birds, dove, quail, etc each year back to back, it can really be challenging as each bird flies different speed, altitude and so on. One method of shooting does NOT fit all. The only thing they have in common is the fun.

No kidding! Great fun all around!

I'd love to get an older 'square receiver' Browning A5 or Remington Model 11 in 16 Ga. I got my local gun shop keeping an eye open for one for me.

Those older A5's and Model 11's are the best when it comes to 'pulling it up and getting a good sight picture' with a long gun.

Those are the ONLY long guns that work 'naturally' for me.

My Mossberg 500 12 ga. comes in at a close 2nd........

[ErikD]

I too love to use a 20 gauge. There isn't much that flies where I live that needs anything more than that as long as you know how to shoot.

As for pheasant, they don't occure naturally here, but I was invited on a driven pheasant hunt in England once. The shooting (it couldn't really be called hunting) was amazing. It didn't take many misses before I understood how important the saying regarding following thru before shooting was: "Butt - Belly - Beak - Bang!". Once I had that in order, the birds started really raining down from the sky.