Upland birds North Dakota

[Happy Gilmore]

Been out working in Eastern Montana and North Dakota a bit the last three weeks. A lot of off the beaten path jobsites from Sidney, Mt to Fargo, ND. Spent evenings driving looking for public areas to hunt for future adventures.

Last three days in and around the North Dakota Grasslands. Saw the most birds in East Montana hands down. Grasslands of NoDak I found very disappointing even around what looked like amazing areas on some private ranches where we have work.

I saw bird counts in Montana that had big, mature ring necks like no other place. Hunted South Dakota a few years back and the birds I saw in Montana this year had it covered hands down. Was pretty surprised. Tonight I went into the Teddy Roosevelt grasslands area. Saw a couple clusters of young looking birds. Saw signs for bighorn sheep but didn't see anything with four legs except dead in the ditch.

There's my scouting report- skip west NoDak and hunt East Montana.

[ribka]

Excellent report
Thanks for taking time to post

[Forks]

Thanks for the report Happy. I'm leaving soon for a 3 week trip to NE MT to chase roosters, huns and chickens.

[skinzner]

Like to hear that, leaving friday morning for a 9 day trip  to Froid MT.

[boneaddict]

Thanks for the post Happy.   I am glad you are getting some fresh air over there.

[Shannon]

I'm heading over on the 23rd. Have fun for those of you that beat me there!

[shootem]

Great to hear a report from someone who was there.

[eastsidemallard74]

Heading to central nd in 2 1/2 weeks for our yearly trip. 8 of us limit in 4 day's. Insane the difference in hunting!

[Bluemoon]

Happy was just fooling with all of you,  There are no birds over here!!
Paul you should be ashamed of yourself for getting everyone excited over nothing .
If you come back across the "Highline" give me a shout and lets go chase some of those nonexistent birds you are talking about...
There is always room for you my friend...

[Happy Gilmore]

I very well could be a result of the thousands of people flooded the area to work. I'm sure roughnecks and truck drivers are the types who also like to hunt  a bit? I expected it to be crazy busy up there but, getting there and seeing the amount of construction, trucks and earthmoving iron was crazy. The man camps ranged from single wide new trailer parks to apartment complex barrack style to POS camper trailers parked 6' apart covering 20 acre plots. These man camps were scattered from Williston all the way down to Dickinson. Crazy truck traffic on country roads all the way and everywhere in between. Not to discount the high way system upgrades have everything torn apart from point to point.

[jetjockey]

Bird numbers look good all over the Midwest this year .  We saw a ton of birds outside Winner SD at my trainers summer camp, and he said the bob white numbers are trough the roof where he lives in Eastern NE.  We skipped SD pheasant hunting the last two years because the numbers had dropped so much, but it was killing me not to hunt the Midwest this year with the bird reports.  So we are going to try and put together a NE quail hunt sometime in Dec or Jan.  Now I just have to get the OK from the wife.  With a tentative trip to South Africa to bird hunt planned in June, my hall passes my be limited.

[Happy Gilmore]

Wouldn't be called hunting if you didn't have to hunt. My trip to SoDak was said to be the worst numbers in history. Took about a couple hours a day to limit if that. Pretty much like shooting fish in a barrel.

[The Real Sisu]

Good report on Montana. Glad to see numbers going up again. I sent you a PM

[Quackwhacker]

Bird numbers seem to be a little lower than years past. A buddy and I got our limits in ND and MT today but we had to work for them. Great weather though.

[NWTFhunter]

Happy, there are lots of birds here in Nd. You were not in the right areas I think. If you are around willy on a sat give me a shout.

[JODakota]

Happy, there are lots of birds here in Nd. You were not in the right areas I think. If you are around willy on a sat give me a shout.

He's just not looking in the right areas. Sharpies are up, pheasants as well, huns not so much. NWTFhunter, where are you at in NoDak?

[Happy Gilmore]

Happy, there are lots of birds here in Nd. You were not in the right areas I think. If you are around willy on a sat give me a shout.

I didn't say there weren't as many, just out around the jobsites I was at I didn't see many. Maybe they're all getting poached? Just saying, I took a few walks out around the grasslands and didn't see much. When I was over in North Eastern MT i saw crap loads of big mature pheasants. Saw some sharpies near the Theordore Rooselvelt on the way back from Dickinson one night. No ring necks.

[huntingfool7]

Just got home from pheasant hunting in NoDak.  We were hunting further west than Happy G's stomping grounds. 

While we didn't shoot limits every day, we saw and shot a fair share.  I limited out before 9am twice, once shooting the 28 gauge over Sage and the other shooting my SxS over Rory.  Rory put up two roosters at once.  The one going left caught the left barrel, the one going right caught the other.  A straggler jumped up during the second retrieve and caught the left barrel.  Does that count as a triple with a SxS?
 
The weather was too nice with highs near 70, two days of very light rain and uncharacteristically little to no wind over the two weeks I was there.  Hunter #'s look to be down this year.  There were a few locals running around and a couple vehicles from MN and WS.  Crops were just coming off the fields when I was leaving.  This week would be the time to be out there pounding the cattails and the canadian thistle.

The spaniels worked hard and did a good job producing close flushes.  They required a lot of doctoring this year.  One serious encounter with a large porcupine, one serious encounter with rolled up barbed wire and some worn and infected toes.  They hunted through it all and are still recovering, licking wounds and resting in front of the fire.

For you guys that like your birds to behave, sitting tight and waiting for you  the sharp tailed grouse numbers are up.  I saw more sharpies this year than in the last 10.  Also, coyote numbers have to be at a record high out there.  We saw coyotes nearly every day.  Really regret leaving the rifles at home. 

[JODakota]

Just got home from pheasant hunting in NoDak.  We were hunting further west than Happy G's stomping grounds. 

While we didn't shoot limits every day, we saw and shot a fair share.  I limited out before 9am twice, once shooting the 28 gauge over Sage and the other shooting my SxS over Rory.  Rory put up two roosters at once.  The one going left caught the left barrel, the one going right caught the other.  A straggler jumped up during the second retrieve and caught the left barrel.  Does that count as a triple with a SxS?
 
The weather was too nice with highs near 70, two days of very light rain and uncharacteristically little to no wind over the two weeks I was there.  Hunter #'s look to be down this year.  There were a few locals running around and a couple vehicles from MN and WS.  Crops were just coming off the fields when I was leaving.  This week would be the time to be out there pounding the cattails and the canadian thistle.

The spaniels worked hard and did a good job producing close flushes.  They required a lot of doctoring this year.  One serious encounter with a large porcupine, one serious encounter with rolled up barbed wire and some worn and infected toes.  They hunted through it all and are still recovering, licking wounds and resting in front of the fire.

For you guys that like your birds to behave, sitting tight and waiting for you  the sharp tailed grouse numbers are up.  I saw more sharpies this year than in the last 10.  Also, coyote numbers have to be at a record high out there.  We saw coyotes nearly every day.  Really regret leaving the rifles at home.

Glad you had fun, did you check out those areas?

[huntingfool7]

We stuck close to the old homestead.  Besides trips to the airport to pickup/drop off guests, we didn't make any long runs to look for birds or new country.  We had a full house this year and I spent a lot of time playing host and guide.
I am tempted to look at airfare later in the year.  Tacking a few coyotes up on the old house would be a good deed.  One of the neighbors knows a guy that runs them down with hounds and I have a pack to thin on the farm.  Sounds like something a guy aught to experience for himself.

[eastsidemallard74]

One day in ND

[bearpaw]

I just spent 4 days near Lewistown, the pheasant numbers seem low compared to past years. I did notice more sharptails than I've seen in a few years.

[Torrent50]

   skinzner, how was the hunting around Froid?  I grew up in Dagmar and am planning on heading up there next year with my pup.  Have been told that they are losing a lot of CRP and it might affect the numbers.  Just curious how it was.

[follow maggie]

Thanks for the write up. I'm planning on hunting there next year. Planned on going this year but had to buy to many trucks and too many tires for work is summer.

[Happy Gilmore]

A friend of mine should be landing in NoDak today. Will look forward to an update.

[3dvapor]

Just arrived back from vale oregon after 4 solid days of pheasant hunting not much to show for all the effort and expense.  My question is  with limited time has anyone ever just flown into ND and rented a vehicle and drove to lets say Mott and hunted.  I would really like to expand my bird hunting but dont always have the time to drive.  Plus taking my dog is a must.  Just looking for suggestions from what others have done plus didnt want to take a mortgage to do it.

[Happy Gilmore]

It's in the single digits out in the dakotas right now. Buddy shot a few today already. Pretty birds after a good freeze. Driving to Pierre from Seattle is about 22-24 hours. Two guys can make it easy a day and half. I left Fall City at 6pm friday night, slept in Missoula for a few hours because my eyes weren't cooperating. Rolled into Pierre, SD about 2am Sunday.

[Bluemoon]

Pheasant and Sharpie hunting right now in N.C. Montana is great with this cold weather.  Only a 12 hour drive.  This mornings limits took about 50 minutes..currently around 10 above...

[jetjockey]

Just arrived back from vale oregon after 4 solid days of pheasant hunting not much to show for all the effort and expense.  My question is  with limited time has anyone ever just flown into ND and rented a vehicle and drove to lets say Mott and hunted.  I would really like to expand my bird hunting but dont always have the time to drive.  Plus taking my dog is a must.  Just looking for suggestions from what others have done plus didnt want to take a mortgage to do it.

I fly into SD nearly every year, but my dog is always already there.  Plan on the cost of the ticket, plus $200-$350 each way for your dog.  By the time you factor in hotels, gas, food, etc.  It can be cheaper for 1 guy to fly in if he's going by himself.  I have flown into Denver And Omaha and driven up to SD, and I've flown directly into Pierre as well.  You just have to factor in all the costs, but it's doable. 

[3dvapor]

 Very much appreciate the advice.  I was going to plan something earlier this year and decided against it hoping to make up for the lack of pheasants with chukar, but numbers in the owyhee desert are as bad as anyone can remember.  Maybe sharptails will be added to my addiction.

[Bluemoon]

Just a warning 3Dvapor.... If you start hunting Sharpies there is no 10 step program for help...Welcome to my addiction!!!

[NWTFhunter]

Happy, there are lots of birds here in Nd. You were not in the right areas I think. If you are around willy on a sat give me a shout.

He's just not looking in the right areas. Sharpies are up, pheasants as well, huns not so much. NWTFhunter, where are you at in NoDak?

I am in Williston, if you are around on a sat/sun give me a shout via email 11turkeyhunter@gmail.com and I will get back to you !