Two birds in the bush is worth none in the hand...

[bjgough]

Several times now I've entered my pheasant  field and spotted several roosters/hens on the run from me and my 10-month old Lab-in-training.
I stop and get my dog to stop (only if he hasn't seen them yet). I don't shoot, but watch where they exit the field—entering a deep stand of trees and briars backed up against a wide slough.
Then I approach their last known location and set the dog into the cover. He's found and flushed them in the trees a few times but it's too much to shoot through. Usually, they're just never seen again.
The trees are only about 30-40 feet deep but run the distance of the field. The underbrush is minimal; easy enough for my dog to move through it.

Any suggestions on how to handle this scenario? This is only my second year hunting—and my first bird dog—so I'm not sure if there are some general patterns of behavior to expect/exploit from flushed birds.

[JODakota]

Pheasant run, that's just what they do.

[RadSav]

Hard to do with a single shooter.  Even harder with a noisy lab.  Only suggestion I might have is to approach the trees making a good bit of noise.  Then circle around and put the dog in 40 or 50 yards prior to the birds location and on the other side.  Birds will likely bust the opposite direction of where they last saw you.  But never any guarantees when dealing with birds in trees!

If it is thick in the trees we often have them bust straight through and start running down the opposite edge.  So sometimes it's best to just ignore the entry side and circle around. Inevitably, without dogs that will hunt opposite of you you'll always be in the wrong spot at the right time or viseversa.  Just the fun part of bird hunting.

When my pups are young we work on teaching them to hunt opposite by working small canals or ditches filled with water.  Takes some time with most dogs as they want to be with you.  But with patience you can work on commands and get the dog comfortable working opposite.  Challenging but it pays big dividends in the long run!

[AspenBud]

Sounds like grouse hunting.

You can either chop some wood and hope for a hit or you can hunt the edges. If the dog can push the birds out you'll stand a chance. They'll fly if they get into the open and don't see a place to hide.

[bjgough]

Thanks all.
We went again today and walked (intentionally) the same in/out route 2 times. That's four passes of the area I frequently see them.
1. Way in. Nothing.
2. Way out. Spotted two hens (too far out to shoot) running then flying downfield.
3. Way in. Nothing.
4. Way out. I send dog to other side of briars. Dog gets birdy, real birdy, flushes a rooster RIGHT in to me. Perfect day!

Moral: you might miss them, they might come back, they might have missed you... just stay alert and bushwhack 1 step above your comfort zone.

[nwwanderer]

We used to do it with a beagle/walker cross.  The baying and accurate trailing seemed to keep them on the run instead of flying.  Draw back was the long distance sprints and winded shots, killed quite a few long spurred tough old roosters that way.