Pheasant Late in the season

[Capt.Kyle97]

Hi all, I am brand new to upland hunting, (hunted ducks for many years) but I think I found a couple good valleys along a river while deer hunting this year(Eastern WA), in the span of 3 days I probably jumped 100 to 150 just beaching the boat and walking the bottoms of these valleys. I was thinking of going back over there to hunt pheasant, but due to prior commitments of other hunting I wont be able to make it back until December. My question is, is it worth it? do you think the birds will still be there? I know they don't migrate like ducks or anything but with the weather getting super cold would they have moved to more corn fields and such. Also I don't want to really give away the spot, but how many of you guys hunt with boats, do you think it will all be shot up by then?  Only asking all this because I live 6 hours away from this place so it would be nice to get some input before heading over there.
Thanks for reading.

[bornhunter]

100 to 150 what? Pheasant,quail,chucker or???

[Capt.Kyle97]

100 to 150 what? Pheasant,quail,chucker or???

mostly Pheasant and chucker

[Mfowl]

They can be pretty skittish late season and often flush well out of range. Did you see others there while you were hunting? It is less common for people to access by boat but there are certainly those that do. Chances are, if its public it will have been hunted to some degree. Try to take andvantage of the weather. Sometimes fresh snow can make the birds hold tight during the late season. Also a deep freeze can open deep marsh that you may not have been able to access previously.

[Samloffler]

I've always had birds hold better for me the colder it gets. Those boat access only places get hunted for big game, but not many people put in the effort for birds. If the draws you saw birds in are the only decent cover in the area, the birds will be there in December too.

[Birdguy]

I would expect to see plenty of birds in the same areas, maybe not quite as many but certainly enough to make it fun and worth the trip. Just be safe, as mentioned it will be COLD (always hazards along a river) most likely and boating in = remote which has perks but drawbacks as well.

[tlbradford]

By late season the fields are picked clean and they will be congregated in heavier cover.  When it is cold those marshy areas with moving water and cattails can really hold a good number of birds.  The heavier the cover the better come late season. 

[buglebuster]

Should still be good. I have dogs will travel if you need help 😉

[Capt.Kyle97]

They can be pretty skittish late season and often flush well out of range. Did you see others there while you were hunting? It is less common for people to access by boat but there are certainly those that do. Chances are, if its public it will have been hunted to some degree. Try to take andvantage of the weather. Sometimes fresh snow can make the birds hold tight during the late season. Also a deep freeze can open deep marsh that you may not have been able to access previously.

Thanks for the tips, I talked to a few guys who have deer hunted that area for years and they said they only ever saw one guy, and he didn't have a boat, but rifle season ends 2 or 3 days after upland starts so Im not really sure about the hunting pressure.

[Capt.Kyle97]

I've always had birds hold better for me the colder it gets. Those boat access only places get hunted for big game, but not many people put in the effort for birds. If the draws you saw birds in are the only decent cover in the area, the birds will be there in December too.

Thanks for the tips, most of the draws have a few patches of trees and brush at the bottoms as well as streams.

[Capt.Kyle97]

Thanks for the tips everyone, Ill post my success here if it pans out.

[jagermiester]

It’s for sure worth a try

[gasman]

I'd be happy to go give it a shot for you and send you a report, just pass the info on where it is



 

[shootem]

Definitely worth trying. You may have a honey hole.