Post by: Happy Gilmore on October 07, 2014, 09:58:37 PM
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. :)
Post by: ribka on October 07, 2014, 10:01:41 PM
Thanks for taking time to post
Post by: Forks on October 08, 2014, 05:45:13 AM
Post by: skinzner on October 08, 2014, 07:24:37 AM
Post by: boneaddict on October 08, 2014, 07:47:36 AM
Post by: Shannon on October 08, 2014, 09:09:47 PM
Post by: shootem on October 09, 2014, 12:26:27 AM
Post by: eastsidemallard74 on October 09, 2014, 01:19:58 AM
Post by: Bluemoon on October 09, 2014, 02:00:12 PM
Paul you should be ashamed of yourself for getting everyone excited over nothing :bdid: :bdid:.
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...
Post by: Happy Gilmore on October 10, 2014, 09:55:03 AM
Post by: jetjockey on October 10, 2014, 01:48:44 PM
Post by: Happy Gilmore on October 10, 2014, 03:05:14 PM
Post by: The Real Sisu on October 11, 2014, 05:26:18 PM
Post by: Quackwhacker on October 11, 2014, 07:56:11 PM
Post by: NWTFhunter on October 20, 2014, 08:40:31 PM
Post by: JODakota on October 20, 2014, 10:03:20 PM
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?
Post by: Happy Gilmore on October 21, 2014, 08:45:50 AM
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.
Post by: huntingfool7 on October 26, 2014, 09:34:18 PM
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.
Post by: JODakota on October 26, 2014, 09:48:05 PM
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?
Post by: huntingfool7 on October 26, 2014, 10:15:17 PM
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.
Post by: eastsidemallard74 on November 01, 2014, 03:45:50 PM
Post by: bearpaw on November 01, 2014, 04:34:16 PM
Post by: Torrent50 on November 11, 2014, 07:49:52 PM
Post by: follow maggie on November 11, 2014, 09:07:46 PM
Post by: Happy Gilmore on November 12, 2014, 08:53:37 AM
Post by: 3dvapor on November 12, 2014, 11:10:08 AM
Post by: Happy Gilmore on November 12, 2014, 11:49:11 AM
Post by: Bluemoon on November 12, 2014, 12:23:41 PM
Post by: jetjockey on November 12, 2014, 12:47:37 PM
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.
Post by: 3dvapor on November 12, 2014, 02:13:22 PM
Post by: Bluemoon on November 12, 2014, 07:19:08 PM
Post by: NWTFhunter on December 06, 2014, 10:11:11 PM
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 !