Solo pheasant hunting without a dog advice?

[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.