doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Montana/ND birds?

Well it has been a few years since I loaded up the Springers and headed up to the High Plains for early season birds. I got distracted by Whitetail hunting with a muzzleloader in South Dakota. While the deer hunting was a ton of fun, my girl Maggie is getting on in age and I have a new shotgun. We need to put a few roosters in the bag and enjoy it while the old gal still can. So my question is, what kind of bird numbers have you been seeing? Any areas to avoid? Thanks gents.
Steve

Steveo, over on the 16 guage forum there are some recent comments on ND, by Charles Hammack....good luck & hope to see you here in NW Kansas this fall

Steve,

When I went for sharptails just N of Chester on HWY 2, we did not see many birds. Coming down towards Conrad we saw very few pheasants. Reports from Fish, Wildlife and Parks seem to be below average. I heard somebody saying that Plentywood area was hit with a cold wet spring and the first hatch was lost, the young birds are small, from a later hatch.
I hope for better, though.

Steve, am going sharptail & hun hunting over east next week but real no clue???
A couple more weeks until pheasant season here.

Livingston is a long way from the really good hunting but I'd invite you to stop by for a visit if you are anywhere near the neighborhood!
406-222-9377

Best,
Steve

ND reports their pheasants down from last year, pretty significantly.

Hi all, well here's how I've been doing so far this season. The Sharpies have been very good, about as good as last year. I somehow keep managing to get a limit almost evertime I go out. If not, then at least two birds.
Hell, I even managed to get a limit with two shots (a single and a scotch double, but that's another story). The birds are out there, I've been hunting in the Wing area and also Center, ND. Most are small family groups with a couple singles or doubles here and there. I've only ran into one group of Huns, they are down form last year. We are starting to see more pheasants now, very young birds, just starting to turn.

Overall, the hunting here will be very spotty, good populations in some areas and none in others. This year you'll be using a lot of shoe leather. The PLOTS are looking better as are the WPA's (always overlooked here). The loss of CRP is starting to show in some areas, but there are enough creek bottoms and tree rows to offset some of this loss on private land.

One thing to remember, if you do come here from out of state you'll always be welcomed. Most farmers will let you hunt, just don't bring 10 or 12 guys and most of all be up front and honest. I know for a fact that some folks tend to treat these great farmers like hicks and hayseeds. Be polite and respectful and the gates will open.

Good luck to all of you!! Hope you enjoy our state and stay a while.

All the best!

Greg

They have been spoty from what I have seen as well here in ND and in MT. I have been hunting in both states while working. Around my farm (south central) the sharptails are way down. I have gotten into them, but not anywhere like the last few years. One other problem is there are still a lot of crops standing as well and it makes it hard to get into birds. Might be better to come a little later. At least as far as pheasants go. The sharptails get pretty spooky later in the season.

Is the outlook and hunting conditions the same for South Dakota?
Planning on being there the week after Thanksgiving.

Steve,

Too damn hot so far for prairie birds, and looks like it's going to stay that way for a few more days. I was out twice for sharptails and huns - had to quit by 9 am. I'll stick with mountain grouse until the temperature drops.

Clay

Hope to be around Fairfield, MT this fall. Will probably try for a white tail and pheasants. However, the guy I hunt with does not like S/S or dogs.

jas