Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Out Of State Hunting => Topic started by: JODakota on September 16, 2014, 08:14:49 PM

Title: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: JODakota on September 16, 2014, 08:14:49 PM: Alright gents, I'm starting a North Dakota journal for all you folks who are thinking about heading over this way to hunt our fine upland birds. As some of you who know me, I am from this great state and recently moved back here from Washington. This journal is to inform those who have a passion for upland birds and a passion for dogs. I will be updating this thread 10 days out of the month, with the exception of October, as I will be back in Washington chasing muley's. Unfortunately I only had two days to hunt the Sharptail opener but here some photos. I am originally from the east side of the state so learning the area and putting a 1000 miles on my truck was time consuming, but worthwhile.
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: JODakota on September 16, 2014, 08:30:09 PM: So Friday night came, sleep wasn't easy as I haven't hunted at all this year due to work. Woke up bright and early and made the drive over to Watford City to hunt with a buddy I hadn't seen in a while. Now I have an American Brittany who is young and can be to put it politely an ***hole at times, but he's a great dog other than his few neurotic issues. I had a talk with my friend and that was don't shoot anything he doesn't point. I seriously didn't think it would be an issue but you never know.
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: JODakota on September 16, 2014, 08:34:45 PM: As we hunted it started out somewhat of a *censored* show. Birds literally everywhere. My dog had free rein and was apparently blowing off steam of not being on birds for over two months literally blowing covey after covey of sharptail like it was the greatest thing in his little life, then looking at me all pissed wondering why I wasn't putting birds in his mouth, as if it were my fault? Then finally he pointed one of the 50 sharpies he blew up and finally got his reward. My one bird of the day.
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: JODakota on September 16, 2014, 08:36:57 PM: After Saturday (opening day) Waylon (my dog) realized his ass was whipped being dog tired, pun intended
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: JODakota on September 16, 2014, 08:53:03 PM: I have him a solid two days off until his paws healed up (a little red) and went back out today, my last day before returning to my rig for work. I found a nice area, basically an Alfalfa field with CRP bordering the field ( a sharptail hunters dream habitat) and went off walking with the wife and pup. A beautiful day, 72 degrees out ( this weekend was 36 degrees) but a concern about the wind.... As there was none, a rarity in this treeless state. Hope were high as they should've been because five minutes into our hike my little dude has just blown his first covey of about 12 sharptail :bash:. Whatever it happens, not a lot
Of wind, not his fault i like to think. Probably just payback for sending him to his kennel when I kept having to remind him at midnight as he came to me with his favorite ball and dropping it off at my head that it was not play fetch time. But I do know that just because some of the covey blew out doesn't me a they all did and so we worked the area and I was right, one held tight, Waylon hit point, I walked up and flushed it and first sharptail of the day in the bag. Walked the field, he bumped the next covey and like I said, no wind not his fault. Finally we were working our way back to the truck and I saw one sharptail flush wild, I figured one more would hold over and it did. Waylon hit point, flushed it and shot. I winged it and it hit the ground running but Waylon was on it. He flat out trampled that poor bird, wrangled it up and brought it back. As you can see, the bird is almost bigger than him but he is happiest with a mouthful of feathers!
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: JODakota on September 16, 2014, 08:56:24 PM: Well we finished the day with two in the bag, just one shy of the limit. I have a feeling on the next hunt it will all come together for the pup on his journey of being a full fleshed grown up bird dog in the Midwest. All in all I'm proud of the little guy and his little ADHD mind. For the month of October he will be at one of the kennel here in the state getting whoa broke and on his way for some bigger hunts to include pheasant, Huns and some more sharptail.
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: JODakota on September 16, 2014, 09:01:12 PM: I will update this thread with every hunt I do in NoDak this year to include mostly upland with a side of fowl and possibly an archery whitetail hunt, time depending. Stay tuned.
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: mkcj on September 16, 2014, 09:34:29 PM: Great picture's! what part of the eastern side are you from? I was just back in Walhalla for my uncles funeral, look forward to your updates.
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: blacktail378 on September 16, 2014, 09:40:32 PM: Great state. Was back in Rock Lake a month ago visiting relatives.
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: dmv9 on September 17, 2014, 09:46:14 AM: Thanks for the updates.
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: elkoholic1 on September 17, 2014, 09:59:53 AM: :tup:
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: JODakota on September 17, 2014, 10:01:53 AM: Quote from: mkcj on September 16, 2014, 09:34:29 PM
Great picture's! what part of the eastern side are you from? I was just back in Walhalla for my uncles funeral, look forward to your updates.

Grand Forks, live on the west side now. Sorry to hear about your uncle.
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: Woodchuck on September 17, 2014, 10:03:11 AM: :tup: Very cool man, glad to see you are doing well.
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: JODakota on September 17, 2014, 10:04:41 AM: Quote from: blacktail378 on September 16, 2014, 09:40:32 PM
Great state. Was back in Rock Lake a month ago visiting relatives.

Way up north!
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: boneaddict on September 17, 2014, 10:18:57 AM: Tagging along.
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: C-Money on September 17, 2014, 10:55:38 AM: Looks like so much fun!! Tag!!
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: JODakota on September 17, 2014, 06:39:31 PM: :twocents:
Quote from: Woodchuck on September 17, 2014, 10:03:11 AM
:tup: Very cool man, glad to see you are doing well.

Thanks Jim! I'll be in town next month, maybe we will get a chance to catch up!
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: Forks on September 17, 2014, 08:32:51 PM: Great thread. Getting me excited about a 3 week trip in NE Montana that can't come soon enough. Nice job in the patience dept. with your young a hole.
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: Emptyhanded on September 18, 2014, 11:14:14 AM: I spent 2.5 months in Williston this summer doing an internship with vector control. Im not sure what the pheasant population usually looks like over there, but compared to E. Washington there were a ton of birds around. I wish I could have been there during hunting season! Thanks for the pictures!
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: Woodchuck on September 18, 2014, 11:21:46 AM: Quote from: JODakota on September 17, 2014, 06:39:31 PM
:twocents:
Quote from: Woodchuck on September 17, 2014, 10:03:11 AM
:tup: Very cool man, glad to see you are doing well.

Thanks Jim! I'll be in town next month, maybe we will get a chance to catch up!
Sounds good, you know where to find me. :chuckle:
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: JODakota on September 18, 2014, 11:45:49 AM: Quote from: Emptyhanded on September 18, 2014, 11:14:14 AM
I spent 2.5 months in Williston this summer doing an internship with vector control. Im not sure what the pheasant population usually looks like over there, but compared to E. Washington there were a ton of birds around. I wish I could have been there during hunting season! Thanks for the pictures!

Awesome man, Williston's a crazy place. As far as the pheasant population, I'll just let people speculate :chuckle:.
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: JODakota on September 18, 2014, 11:46:18 AM: Quote from: Woodchuck on September 18, 2014, 11:21:46 AM
Quote from: JODakota on September 17, 2014, 06:39:31 PM
:twocents:
Quote from: Woodchuck on September 17, 2014, 10:03:11 AM
:tup: Very cool man, glad to see you are doing well.

Thanks Jim! I'll be in town next month, maybe we will get a chance to catch up!
Sounds good, you know where to find me. :chuckle:

Yes sir!
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: rover758 on September 18, 2014, 01:11:45 PM: Wow ... talk about bringing back memories. Lived in Minot from 87 to 94ish. Best pheasant hunting I ever down around Lake Sakakawea. I cried when they killed Lake Darling off and there went my honey hole for walley. Sharpies in the morning with huns and doves in the afternoon. Monstor bucks up near Mohall if ya know where to go. Wow! Thanks and keep the updates coming.
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: Odell on September 24, 2014, 06:18:26 PM: Awesome pictures and country. Can't wait to hunt there someday.
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: REHJWA on September 26, 2014, 12:48:27 PM: Awesome, One day I'll get a dream hunt there.
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: jgoetz on November 14, 2014, 05:27:42 AM: Awesome thread. I hunted a lot of ducks in ND in college. Go SIOUX!
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: huntingfool7 on November 14, 2014, 03:36:25 PM: Tagging, should be due for an update....?
Title: Re: A North Dakota Journal
Post by: JODakota on November 14, 2014, 06:36:57 PM: It's coming lol