Don't count Iowa out just yet!

[nstric]

There's birds to be found via persistence and an understanding of pheasant patterns.

Went out twice this week.

[alan]

you just get those Nate?? nice dog by the way

[pheasantaddict]

You can still get your limit, but with the right habitat and weather let's get back to multiple limits every week throughout the whole season. Nice pic.

[nstric]

you just get those Nate?? nice dog by the way
Got the six today, yes. Great day to be out.

[alan]

Got the six today, yes. Great day to be out.

i knew i should of went out today and gave it heck may just may have gottten one before storm comes in

[captaincoot]

I still think you're SUPERHUMAN nstric:D It was a good day to be out pushed some willows for my brother 30 plus birds flushed:) Not bad for only hunting one hour. No shots for me:( but sounded like he was having fun not for sure why he only ended up with one. Bad shot I guess. Thanks for sharing the:coolpics:

[nstric]

Had some fun on Wednesday!

[rwigg]

Nice pics Nate! Thanks for sharing! Nice looking pup you got there too!:10sign:

Rod

[VZWman]

Great pics. I'd like a chance to get out, but lately work has been very weird hours throwing my hunting time off.

[hunter94]

hard to beat a vizsla, nice looking pic........

[alan]

Nice pics Nate!

[captaincoot]

Oh that does it Nate. I'm going to have to get a camera. Thats got to be your secert in killing all these chickens. My dogs leg is good to go again so hopefully I can have some good hunts like you. There talking 10 inches of snow here. Hopefully we miss it. Thanks for sharing the:coolpics::thumbsup:

[alan]

id like to hook up with one of you guys before season ends esp with snow comming makes me want to hunt very hard for them...

[FCSpringer]

I hear now some areas may get as much as 20"

[blackcloud27]

10 inches with wind gust of 40 to 50 mph is really going to suck. glad i'm not on call this weekend.

[nstric]

First measurable snow hunt for Gunner, a friend, and me.

[captaincoot]

I'm going to need tharapy:D Nice:coolpics::10sign:

[alan]

Nice:10sign:

[nstric]

Today was a great day. Saw over 100 birds, had multiple rises of 30+ birds, enjoyed exceptional dog work, and bagged our longest tail feather ever. 26.75 inches, and a great story to boot.

Pics --> our two man limit, Gunner on point after we're done hunting, and the tail feather.

[alan]

nice shooting is it safe to be out there know?? i myself havent been out for a couple of weeks know and its killing me..i took a break cause of deer season going on at the same time

[nstric]

I slow down during shotgun deer season, and carefully pick my spots when out.

[alan]

i made it out today walked around in a crp field hope to get a pheasant out of there before storm came in got 0..so then i went into the woods looking for maybe a rabbit same resuilts... but i did see some deer... im always seeing deer when im out pheasant hunting i saw one good sized buck about a 1/2 mile from me out on a road heading north from where i was at half hr after i see this buck i saw a heard of about 7 or 8 deer looked like all does as i didnt see any racks on them

[nstric]

Yes, there's no doubt that Iowa's deer population is booming. Very rarely am I out and don't see any.

[alan]

heading out in just a few short minutes..hope to atleast see/get a bunnie or a pheasant..gonna walk the middle part of this public hunting area.i walked the top yesterday which is crp field next to timber middle part has just about everything groves,woods plowed corn fields

[VZWman]

Alan, Did you get anything out there yesterday?

[alan]

no not a thing did end up seeing a nice buck and a few does...went to the bottom of this land and saw there was 2 corn fields so i worked them over pretty good they was pretty good sized fields too walked a crp that was kind of close to a creek got them deer from there they was bedding has i didnt see any of them grazing... didnt even see any rabbits either not 1 pheasant

[jchristen]

Went out with my son and walked a couple fields this afternoon. Saw aobut 8-9 rooosters. Only had one shot and go this one.

[VZWman]

He looks thrilled. Awesome. What region are you in jchristen?

Alan, that's how it's been for me down here too. The worst part is I've seen them running away from me and all sorts of tracks, they just don't want to get up down here when they have about 500 acres or more I believe of solid cover, even in the snow.

[jchristen]

About 10 miles east of Marshalltown. Just walking draws and waterways of corn fields.

[nstric]

Went out with my son and walked a couple fields this afternoon. Saw aobut 8-9 rooosters. Only had one shot and go this one.

Nice work on the rooster!

I too took my 6 year old son out last week, on Thursday, and we hunted two short draws. The first erupted with what was a good mix of roosters-to-hens, probably about 20 to 25 birds in all. Two within range, two shots, two retrieves by Gunner.

Figured two was enough so we headed home. My son noticed some nice grass in a road ditch and suggested Gunner and I walk it. I complied, appreciating his participation in the hunt.

Gunner and I get out and work the ditch south into the wind. 20 seconds in he locks up solid. Picture perfect as he was on point in very little cover, fully exposed. Somewhat surprised I step in, flush a lone rooster that swings to my two-o-clock, catching the wind. One shot, one bird down. Gunner jumps through the barbed wire fence and retrieves the still alive bird to hand.

A limit of birds in very short order (< 5 minutes of field time), with my son guiding me on the last. Couldn't have been better. :)

[nstric]

Took a buddy and his setter out yesterday. Hunted and limited out in one draw.

[alan]

way to go!!!

[jchristen]

Nice job. Where abouts in central Iowa do you live/hunt?

john

[UGUIDE]

Great pics Nate! Thanks for the reports and that success can be had. Reminds me of my solo years hunting Iowa public from north to south.

[nstric]

Nice job. Where abouts in central Iowa do you live/hunt?

Live in Grimes. Hunt all over the state, with little exception staying west of I-35.

[captaincoot]

Must be getting harder Nate you needed two dogs this time:D:coolpics:
Uguide got scared of all the chickens in Ia and had to move to SD ha ha ha:D

[nstric]

Must be getting harder Nate you needed two dogs this time:D:coolpics:

Ha! The setter hasn't yet figured things out, but we're working with him. His owner, my buddy, said he pointed 3 hens yesterday. Things may be on the up-and-up for him.

[jsdriggs]

Took a buddy and his setter out yesterday. Hunted and limited out in one draw.
God, those are some fine birds. Congrats!

Great picture.

[nstric]

Tough conditions and poor results this morning. I posted details at the link below, and would welcome your expertise.

http://www.ultimatepheasanthunting.com/forum/showthread.php?p=59582#post59582

[wispringer]

They are some awesome birds! What a great picture. I will have to wait until next year for another chance. Nice job.

[nstric]

Figured them out today, via persistence.

Saw 0 birds at the first field. Saw 0 birds at the second field. Saw 0 birds at the third field (a mile long draw, up and back).

Fourth field; Gunner goes on point and around 20 birds flush. Two shots, two down. Knew at least 6-8 more roosters were in the bunch so I felt comfortable taking one more.

Less than 30 seconds after we started working them, Gunner goes on point and .... BANG! ... BANG! ... missed! Couldn't believe it. Worked edges back to the truck and got 2 more hens and the final rooster up. Didn't miss this one, which happened to be a longer and more difficult shot. Figures.

Anyhow, just Gunner and me hunting today, so we were done with our 3. Nice day.

[nstric]

A pic from Monday, the last day of the season. A miserable day weather-wise, but I saw 39 birds. Got two shots and bagged both.

[jchristen]

Nice birds....Nice dog too!!
john

[blackcloud27]

:coolpics::10sign:

[spanny]

Congrats, nice job finding the birds, hard work pays off. My dad and I saw a bunch of hens this year, significantly more than in the past 3 or 4. Iowa sure looks to be on the rebound. A nice winter will help. But this is the first year in a while that I am optimistic about seeing more birds next year.

[birdshooter]

Nice Job. Always fitting to end the season on a very positive note. :)

[cockerfan]

A pic from Monday, the last day of the season. A miserable day weather-wise, but I saw 39 birds. Got two shots and bagged both.

You sure it wasn't 40 birds that you saw? :) Looks like good huntin' weather to me!

[oldandnew]

I am encouraged and thrilled by your experience, I hope you are knocking on wood! My experience has been when I think I have figured out pheasants, I am due for a humbling experience soon. I am crossing my fingers for you as I type! Also hoping for a rousing Iowa comeback.

[kscountryboy11]

thats awsome..glad to hear sucessful stories from iowa.. also, how much room does your dog have in that style of box? ive been lookin into getting one like that but with two big labs i worry about their comfort

[GustavDaGSP]

nstric- Good job on your season and great looking dog im sure he hunts even better than he looks with all of your success this year congrats! :thumbsup:

[nstric]

You sure it wasn't 40 birds that you saw? :)
Fairly sure. :) I journal all of my hunts, keeping track of numbers, harvest rates, weather, bird location and habits, hunting partners, dog work, land owner interests, etc. It no doubt makes me a better hunter and land steward ... and I figure I could turn it into a book some day. At minimum it serves as opportunity for reflection during the off season.

[nstric]

I am encouraged and thrilled by your experience, I hope you are knocking on wood! My experience has been when I think I have figured out pheasants, I am due for a humbling experience soon. I am crossing my fingers for you as I type! Also hoping for a rousing Iowa comeback.
Well said. I give thanks for the blessings bestowed upon me everyday, which includes my bird hunting experiences.

[nstric]

thats awsome..glad to hear sucessful stories from iowa.. also, how much room does your dog have in that style of box? ive been lookin into getting one like that but with two big labs i worry about their comfort
Sorry for the delay in responding. I've been traveling on business -- something I allow to happen once the season closes. :)

You'd have plenty of room for your labs in this style of dog box. I've actually put two dogs in each side in years passed, when in a pinch for space. Not something I'd recommend, but I share as it serves as example for the amount of room to be had. Keep in mind I desire tight quarters, as it helps keep the dogs warm during those really cold days.

And truth be told, when it's just Gunner and me hunting, he's often in the cab alongside me. :) He's a great listener ... doesn't talk back too often.

[nstric]

nstric- Good job on your season and great looking dog im sure he hunts even better than he looks with all of your success this year congrats! :thumbsup:
Thank you.

Gunner and I had a nice year, particularly when considering all of the dire reports of Iowa's declining population. There's a lot of truth to what's been written, and as volunteer for PF I support the good land stewardship work we all champion, but birds were still available to be had for those willing to put in the time and work.

We saw well over 500 (all wild) birds this year, approximately half of which were roosters. My friend and I combined to shoot and bag 89 roosters over Gunner, all the while being very conscious of ethical shots and always very purposefully leaving roosters in each field we left. We've a system of sustainability in place that I believe has played a significant role in providing opportunity year after year.

Here's to wishing each of you enjoyed the Iowa upland season as much as Gunner and I did. :thumbsup: