Solo pheasant hunting without a dog advice?

[mr user]

First off, I'll start by saying that I know that it will be extremely hard to do this and I know the odds of getting a bird are probably against me.  I found out a couple days ago that I will be going to Walla Walla this weekend.  I decided i may as well try to hunt pheasants to kill some time while my brothers off looking at Whitman College.  I have found a feel free to hunt field very close to Walla Walla (thank you Gohunt) and I have developed a game plan.  From google maps it looks like a wheat field, and being November I assume its been harvested and now only stubble remains.  The entire north end of the field borders a small patch of trees.  My plan is to slowly walk along the fringe that seperates the wheat stubble from the trees, stop often, and try to flush birds or spot them.  If I find a pheasant in the stubble, I plan on circling around it and forcing it to run into the patch of trees/brush, so it will hide and I can get close enough to flush it and get a shot off at a reasonable distance.  What do you think of this plan and is there any other advice you could provide?  thanks in advance!

[Stilly bay]

IMO  if you don't have a dog your odds of getting wild pheasant on private land or semi private land are dramatically better than at a pheasant release site.

your idea of walking in large circles is great, it really confuses the heck out of them. go with the terrain, sometimes walking in a tightening spiral works well. take a few steps and stop and the tight holding birds will lose their cool and flush.

I wouldn't waste my time in the stubble or wheat unless there was thick cover close by, and even then I wouldn't waste my time in the wheat.
as a dogless hunter you have to pick your battles and only hunt areas that you CAN hunt effectively, like hedge rows and thicks stuff or creek bottoms. leave the wide open spaces to the guys with dogs.

another good trick is to get a portable radio. set it on a good talk station and leave it on one end of the field; hop in your car and drive to the opposite end, get out of your vehicle quickly and quietly and hunt towards the radio.  the birds will be high tailing it towards you. this tactic works best if your hunting a thin strip and the birds can only escape one way.

[Johnb317]

Walking in circles, backtracking and stopping and starting a lot works.
Can't tell you how many times a bird has jumped after I stopped for a moment or two.
Hunt near water and good cover and make sure you whack that bird cause once you drop one finding him especially if you just broke a wing can be near impossible without a good dog.    Good luck and enjoy.

[Stilly bay]

make sure you whack that bird cause once you drop one finding him especially if you just broke a wing can be near impossible without a good dog.   

 

and if it hits the ground with its head up, or hits the ground running thump it again!

[Shannon]

I personally would hunt something else. Pheasant would be the hardest bird there is to hunt without a dog. Even if you do flush one, getting a cripple without a dog is like finding a needle in a hay stack. Even if you do find it, you won't be able to track it down on foot 99% of the time. Go find some Huns or chukar. You'll have better odds and won't be wasting game.

[mr user]

IMO  if you don't have a dog your odds of getting wild pheasant on private land or semi private land are dramatically better than at a pheasant release site.

your idea of walking in large circles is great, it really confuses the heck out of them. go with the terrain, sometimes walking in a tightening spiral works well. take a few steps and stop and the tight holding birds will lose their cool and flush.

I wouldn't waste my time in the stubble or wheat unless there was thick cover close by, and even then I wouldn't waste my time in the wheat.
as a dogless hunter you have to pick your battles and only hunt areas that you CAN hunt effectively, like hedge rows and thicks stuff or creek bottoms. leave the wide open spaces to the guys with dogs.

another good trick is to get a portable radio. set it on a good talk station and leave it on one end of the field; hop in your car and drive to the opposite end, get out of your vehicle quickly and quietly and hunt towards the radio.  the birds will be high tailing it towards you. this tactic works best if your hunting a thin strip and the birds can only escape one way.

Thank you guys for the info!  I would prefer to get out into some other terrain other than stubble, but I don't really know any other hunting areas in the Walla Walla area at all so I guess I'm kinda stuck in the wheat stubble   Is it even worth it to hunt the stubble?

[Cougar125]

My advice, borrow a dog.  A dog gives you a 1000% chance to get a bird over the chance you really have of getting a bird to flush without a dog.  I've shot a lot of pheasant, and without a dog, that bird is just going to run from you.

[Stilly bay]

I personally would hunt something else. Pheasant would be the hardest bird there is to hunt without a dog. Even if you do flush one, getting a cripple without a dog is like finding a needle in a hay stack. Even if you do find it, you won't be able to track it down on foot 99% of the time. Go find some Huns or chukar. You'll have better odds and won't be wasting game.

dogs make it more efficient and a lot more fun, but millions of ditch parrots have been killed without dogs.

[lokidog]

As mentioned, it is pretty tough.  Post up a date and someone on here might invite you along.  Or offer to share their dog.   

[bobcat]

I personally would hunt something else. Pheasant would be the hardest bird there is to hunt without a dog. Even if you do flush one, getting a cripple without a dog is like finding a needle in a hay stack. Even if you do find it, you won't be able to track it down on foot 99% of the time. Go find some Huns or chukar. You'll have better odds and won't be wasting game.

 

If I were going to hunt birds without a dog, I would try to go for chukar. You actually have a decent chance with them. Pheasants are really tough, even with a dog.

[mr user]

I personally would hunt something else. Pheasant would be the hardest bird there is to hunt without a dog. Even if you do flush one, getting a cripple without a dog is like finding a needle in a hay stack. Even if you do find it, you won't be able to track it down on foot 99% of the time. Go find some Huns or chukar. You'll have better odds and won't be wasting game.

 

If I were going to hunt birds without a dog, I would try to go for chukar. You actually have a decent chance with them. Pheasants are really tough, even with a dog.

If chukar taste good I'd hunt them.  Problem is, I'm leaving tommorow and don't have any time to learn about them!  Do they utilize the same type of habitat as pheasants?

[bobcat]

If chukar taste good I'd hunt them.  Problem is, I'm leaving tommorow and don't have any time to learn about them!  Do they utilize the same type of habitat as pheasants?

They taste great! But no, they usually be in rockier, steeper ground. Sometimes they're not too far away though. Chukar do like wheat stubble.

[bobcat]

Take a look at this:

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/upland_birds/chukar.html

[mr user]

If chukar taste good I'd hunt them.  Problem is, I'm leaving tommorow and don't have any time to learn about them!  Do they utilize the same type of habitat as pheasants?

They taste great! But no, they usually be in rockier, steeper ground. Sometimes they're not too far away though. Chukar do like wheat stubble.
[/quote]
Thanks for the link!  I figure I'll just get out there and give it a shot.  Even if the chances of getting something are low, I'm not gonna get anything sitting on the couch! 

[wildweeds]

I was forced to hunt dogless for a two days in montana some years ago,the whole canine crew ended up sicker than dogs from drinking alkalai laced water,it tore their guts up and they were on the disabled list.The method I employed came from a farmer at the local tavern.Walk ten feet stop,wait a few seconds walk ten feet stop,and so on and so on.Dammed if the guy wasn't right,I shot 2 birds that way at the first field we hunted in.Would I make it a habit of it no.But when your halfway across montana and still have 4 days of vacation left before you head back, you do what you need to.The dogs were healed up good enough to get some hunting out of the next day.

Look for fences and where they come together in the corner,the corners always have inviting cover,when near the stubble,tromp around about 10 feet down in the cover and sidehill it using the go no go method.

[Marcoramius]

If you have your mind set on solo pheasant hunting, then do it. It will be much more difficult without a dog, but it is not impossible. I myself am a solo dog less pheasant hunter as well but I do just fine. A few tips...

Prepare for longer shots. I flush a lot of roosters, but generally they flush just out of range.

I actually have pretty good luck in wheat or grass fields but the key is to move FAST (almost jogging speed) and don't travel in a straight line, but zig zag back and forth. Occasionally stop for 15-20 seconds but be very quiet when you do. If they can't locate or hear you anymore they will sometimes flush. Don't stop too much though, it just gives the birds more time to run further away from you.

Look for an area where you can work through that has a natural break or terrain change at the end that you can drive the birds towards and where they will be forced to make a decision to either run through a very exposed area or fly. The edge of a wheat field that abuts a stubble field, a creek or river, a fence line, some sort of terrain change. Drive the birds towards that break and get ready.

I also have pretty good luck hunting areas where I can sneak up on birds. A dirt road or path that runs through a field is a good example. You can slowly and VERY quietly walk that and can actually from time to time surprise them, especially if the road or path is above or overlooks a field.

Solo dog less pheasant hunting is probably the toughest hunting there is. I put in a lot of miles when I go, but am usually rewarded for that hard work. Hopefully you are in an area that holds other birds as well as I usually just pheasant hunt in the mornings and evenings, but go after quail and chukar during the day.

Good luck!!

[Shoffy]

Everyone here is not kidding. Wild pheasants are tough and smart birds. Before I had a dog I had a little luck solo dogless hunting pheasants by walking fence lines with built up cover. Try and find fields that neighbor food, like corn. They seem to like cat tails too. Like Stilly said, if you knock one down and he jumps up shoot him again on the ground. Last weekend in Yakima I clipped a rooster and he fell, I should have blasted him again but I wanted my young dog to grab him. The dog didn't get to him in time and he dissapeared in this thick tangle brush. Me and the dog spend almost an hr looking for him but he got away. Total bummer. The other thing is make sure you get a good lead on them. Take your time and try and get your bead on his beak.

Try that Millcreek area in Walla Walla the Army Corp of Engineers have. I've been by there, havent hunted it but I know they release birds there. Probably have quail and maybe Huns too.

[Evil_EdwardO]

I too hunt pheasant dogless. I zig zag and walk and stop like everyone else has been saying. I also hunt the feel free to hunt lands and look for places with water or irrigation ditches and hunt along those. Seems like I get at least one bird flush everytime I go out. Now if I can only hit one

[mr user]

Everyone here is not kidding. Wild pheasants are tough and smart birds. Before I had a dog I had a little luck solo dogless hunting pheasants by walking fence lines with built up cover. Try and find fields that neighbor food, like corn. They seem to like cat tails too. Like Stilly said, if you knock one down and he jumps up shoot him again on the ground. Last weekend in Yakima I clipped a rooster and he fell, I should have blasted him again but I wanted my young dog to grab him. The dog didn't get to him in time and he dissapeared in this thick tangle brush. Me and the dog spend almost an hr looking for him but he got away. Total bummer. The other thing is make sure you get a good lead on them. Take your time and try and get your bead on his beak.

Try that Millcreek area in Walla Walla the Army Corp of Engineers have. I've been by there, havent hunted it but I know they release birds there. Probably have quail and maybe Huns too.

Our Hotel is close to the Mill Creek release site so I was figuring I might give that a look too.  However, the wdfw info on the specific site is kind of confusing and mentions safety zones?  With the add in of safety zones the huntable area on the map seems to be incredibly small. 

[mr user]

Okay, so I went out today for 4 hours at the bennington lake/mill creek site.  I didn't get any birds.  However, I was happy that I was able to flush 1 pheasant but it was a hen     it was also pretty and I still had fun! 

[JLS]

Good for you.  I did a lot of solo bird hunting in college.  I managed to kill a decent number of chukars, and the occasional pheasant.  It sure is a lot more fun with a dog, but sometimes you do what you gotta do.

[mr user]

Good for you.  I did a lot of solo bird hunting in college.  I managed to kill a decent number of chukars, and the occasional pheasant.  It sure is a lot more fun with a dog, but sometimes you do what you gotta do.

Definitely gonna hit the westside release sites a couple times this month.  I figure I can probably get a couple chances at birds.

[Stilly bay]

Good for you.  I did a lot of solo bird hunting in college.  I managed to kill a decent number of chukars, and the occasional pheasant.  It sure is a lot more fun with a dog, but sometimes you do what you gotta do.

Definitely gonna hit the westside release sites a couple times this month.  I figure I can probably get a couple chances at birds.

not to be a debby downer but if hunting wild birds without a dog is tough - hunting release site birds without a dog is ten times harder. if only for the fact that wild birds will hear you coming and  either run until they hit an obstacle and or flush when you get too close. pen raised pheasants are so stupid they will just sit tight and let you almost step on them before moving.

your best bet is to hook up with someone who has a dog. 

[mr user]

Good for you.  I did a lot of solo bird hunting in college.  I managed to kill a decent number of chukars, and the occasional pheasant.  It sure is a lot more fun with a dog, but sometimes you do what you gotta do.

Definitely gonna hit the westside release sites a couple times this month.  I figure I can probably get a couple chances at birds.

not to be a debby downer but if hunting wild birds without a dog is tough - hunting release site birds without a dog is ten times harder. if only for the fact that wild birds will hear you coming and  either run until they hit an obstacle and or flush when you get too close. pen raised pheasants are so stupid they will just sit tight and let you almost step on them before moving.

your best bet is to hook up with someone who has a dog. 

Damn.  Ok, I got a new idea.  Now I just need about 10 grand thermal camera....

[bracer40]

Hey mr user,

I've been going down to one of the West side release sites for the past few weeks and would be open to having you along. Last week I saw a Father and a couple of young boys out (only one boy with shotgun) but no dog. I called em over and  they followed a little while until I guess they decided they'd rather follow the crowd (and yes, one can get lucky and shoot a bird the crowd misses. I think I let 2-3 fly unscathed over my head).   They could easily have shot any of the other birds pointed that morning as well..................don't get me wrong, I still enjoying shooting birds, but love to watch my dog work even more.
So if your interested shoot me a pm.

[Cascade_fisher]

I hunt Stillwater mostly (5 minutes from the house) and would not be opposed to having you come with me.  I don't hunt the weekends so much but hit almost every weekday just to run the dogs and I have yet to get no birds.  PM me if your interested.  Just FYI - I don't talk much or hack at my dogs so it can be a quiet morning.