1st phesant

[Sask hunter]

Took me two trips but finally got the monkey off my back. Lots and lots to learn still but I can’t wait to try again

 

[BrentD]

I love those pictures! I remember my first too. (it was a nicer day, though).

 

[CPAjeff]

Congrats on the first rooster!

 

[OntarioHunter]

Oh oh! Now you're hooked! Once you've knocked down a couple there is no going back to merely hunting big game like elk and deer. Passe! Think Africa for that stuff where hunting season is our summer. Unfortunately there's not a lot of pheasant hunting in SK except near the NE corner of Montana. Too cold. Guess I'll see you in Montana next year? But you'll have to rent a dump truck to bring that Lab. He's a bruiser!

 

[mdeerjunkie]

Congratulations!

 

[SaskHunter]

Congrats, beauty of a bird!

 

[Sask hunter]

Oh oh! Now you're hooked! Once you've knocked down a couple there is no going back to merely hunting big game like elk and deer. Passe! Think Africa for that stuff where hunting season is our summer. Unfortunately there's not a lot of pheasant hunting in SK except near the NE corner of Montana. Too cold. Guess I'll see you in Montana next year? But you'll have to rent a dump truck to bring that Lab. He's a bruiser!

Yes we were a couple hours north of the Montana border and didn’t see many birds. Although I’m sure I was part of the problem since I didn’t know where to look and snow limited access.

67 pounds of pure muscle on the bird dog. He loves to plow through the cattails and thick stuff. That’s where we really shine

 

[OntarioHunter]

Yes we were a couple hours north of the Montana border and didn’t see many birds. Although I’m sure I was part of the problem since I didn’t know where to look and snow limited access.

67 pounds of pure muscle on the bird dog. He loves to plow through the cattails and thick stuff. That’s where we really shine

Sixty-seven pounds isn't huge for a Lab. Mine have all been around seventy pounds. He looks bigger than that. Ellie was sure scrawny after two months chasing roosters.

After the snow falls look for them in Russian olive thickets. They thrive on the fruit and the stuff provides excellent cover. Don't forget to look up! Often they will be perched in the trees feeding. Let the dog go in there and hope for something to fly by. Watch where they land after being flushed from the thickets. Before the snow is on the ground they will also be feeding in wild rose and snowberry draws. They hide in cattails but usually not for long as there is nothing in there for them to eat. Cattail ditches with olive or grain fields on edges is outstanding. Windy days they usually stay out of cattails, presumably because they can't hear well in it. Then look for them on lee side of coulees, especially if there is some cover. Work up the draws staying to that side or they'll see you coming through the bottom and flush out of range. If you get out at daybreak you can often hear roosters calling. And starting about an hour before dark in the evening they will call to gather others for protection. Can be a lot of activity during that end of day "witching hour."

 

[fallfreak]

Congratulations on your first pheasant of hopefully many. Pheasant hunting can be a very addictive sport.