Wow, I would love to do a pheasant trip to the mid-west like this! Looks like you had a great hunt. Thanks for sharing your experience with all of us.
Midwest ****fest
It was that time of the year again; the annual Midwest pheasant hunt. Time to leave a mountain state full of forest grouse and chukar for the lonely open country of the Great Plains. Mecca to the king of gamebirds: the Ringneck Pheasant. Myself, my Gordon Setter Jonesy, and my GWP Oprah were joined by TEX-O-BOB and his three dogs (2 GWP, 1 ES)
We arrived at our destination late Saturday, unpacked, had a nightcap, then slipped into that last sleepless night before a great hunt.
The beginning.
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We were staying at a local ranch of about 4000 acres, which consisted of CRP grasslands, cat-tail sloughs, grain fields, and a meandering pond.
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The farm had been hit fairly hard by the folks before us so we decided to take it easy that first day; you know…give the birds some space and time to re-connect with the land. At about noon we headed out to see if we could push a few birds out of this slough. Typical pheasant habitat.
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Shortly thereafter TEX shot the first rooster of the trip.
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Within an hour we had our birds and were back at the ranch house.
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Later that evening we took a drive a round the county and found these locals hunting in quite a peculiar way. One brother would drive the combine.
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While the other did the gunning. Whatever works.
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The next day came early. The skies were clear and the air was brisk.
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We decided that it was time to push through the CRP.
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And we were again rewarded with limits of rooster pheasants.
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Back at the ranch before noon.
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Restless and with nothing to do, we decided to go look for other areas that might hold birds. An easy task. The birds were EVERYWERE!
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Painted.
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Time to take the Ugly Dogs out.
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Getting the job done. Heidi and Oprah.
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TEX shot this "Ken" pheasant. Many of the marking of a rooster, no spurs; likely a hermaphrodite.
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All the makings for a great evening.
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Flush!
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Jonesy and I.
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A true triple. Three shots, three birds. Thanks to a great tracking job by Heidi.
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So utilitarian. Three roosters, 1 GWP, and an autoloader.
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My dating life in a nutshell. Better than being married though…
:wink:
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More than you can shake a stick at.
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Sunday morning coming down.
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The coveted group photo.
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And that's all she wrote.
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Glad to be back.
CJ
We arrived at our destination late Saturday, unpacked, had a nightcap, then slipped into that last sleepless night before a great hunt.
The beginning.
We were staying at a local ranch of about 4000 acres, which consisted of CRP grasslands, cat-tail sloughs, grain fields, and a meandering pond.
The farm had been hit fairly hard by the folks before us so we decided to take it easy that first day; you know…give the birds some space and time to re-connect with the land. At about noon we headed out to see if we could push a few birds out of this slough. Typical pheasant habitat.
Shortly thereafter TEX shot the first rooster of the trip.
Within an hour we had our birds and were back at the ranch house.
Later that evening we took a drive a round the county and found these locals hunting in quite a peculiar way. One brother would drive the combine.
While the other did the gunning. Whatever works.
The next day came early. The skies were clear and the air was brisk.
We decided that it was time to push through the CRP.
And we were again rewarded with limits of rooster pheasants.
Back at the ranch before noon.
Restless and with nothing to do, we decided to go look for other areas that might hold birds. An easy task. The birds were EVERYWERE!
Painted.
Time to take the Ugly Dogs out.
Getting the job done. Heidi and Oprah.
TEX shot this "Ken" pheasant. Many of the marking of a rooster, no spurs; likely a hermaphrodite.
All the makings for a great evening.
Flush!
Jonesy and I.
A true triple. Three shots, three birds. Thanks to a great tracking job by Heidi.
So utilitarian. Three roosters, 1 GWP, and an autoloader.
My dating life in a nutshell. Better than being married though…
:wink:
More than you can shake a stick at.
Sunday morning coming down.
The coveted group photo.
And that's all she wrote.
Glad to be back.
CJ
27
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You know... some get chocked up by a gorgeous woman or a new car, but my Lord how can they compare to the above :!:
I'm all choked up cant talk anymore
I'm all choked up cant talk anymore
Nice essay Zimmy.
Guess I'd better post up a few of my own pics.
Me with my trusty 13 year old GWP bit..I mean, female dog Dotti and the first limmit of the trip.
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Two ugly beeoches in the warm morning sun.
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Gimmy some brown sugar baby!
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Roosters and a fine double gun. It don't get no better than that!
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Zim was right, the roosters were obscene! We could have got our birds with the truck bumper if I'd have driven faster.
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Heidi sticks a rooster in the tall grass.
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After I put a load of sixes on him she made a beautiful retrieve.
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Another nice point. This bird ended up getting out the back door on me just outside my skeet/IC choke combo.
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The Gang. Oprah, Jonesey, Zimmy, Patches, Me, Heidi, and Dotti
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One slightly shocking thing happend on this trip. After many years of shame, and with some gentle coaxing, Zim FINALLY came out of the closet. Now I know what you're all thinking, and let me just assure you all of one thing. I was not the one biting the pillow! :twisted:
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Cheers,
Tex out
Guess I'd better post up a few of my own pics.
Me with my trusty 13 year old GWP bit..I mean, female dog Dotti and the first limmit of the trip.
Two ugly beeoches in the warm morning sun.
Gimmy some brown sugar baby!
Roosters and a fine double gun. It don't get no better than that!
Zim was right, the roosters were obscene! We could have got our birds with the truck bumper if I'd have driven faster.
Heidi sticks a rooster in the tall grass.
After I put a load of sixes on him she made a beautiful retrieve.
Another nice point. This bird ended up getting out the back door on me just outside my skeet/IC choke combo.
The Gang. Oprah, Jonesey, Zimmy, Patches, Me, Heidi, and Dotti
One slightly shocking thing happend on this trip. After many years of shame, and with some gentle coaxing, Zim FINALLY came out of the closet. Now I know what you're all thinking, and let me just assure you all of one thing. I was not the one biting the pillow! :twisted:
Cheers,
Tex out
10
You're next! -()/>-[/quote:2urwt18n]I just found out that my cousin's next door neighbors best friend is getting married that week ...... so I guess I am going to have to cancel our trip.TEX-O-BOB said:
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
