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No reason not to take a nap if that's what feels good. After all, this is about enjoying yourself. Gus and I have been known to do that on a sunny day in thick stuff.



It gets thick where we hunt. Sometimes REALLY thick


Which is why Gus always wears colors

Here is what you are looking for. This afternoon, we got just one opportunity. Made the most of it.


Good luck with that rooster. But don't wait long before going after him.

Jimmy, if the corn was combined there should be sufficient grain left for the birds. No combines can get it all. If a farmer can hold his harvest losses to 2% he is doing extremely well. What that means, however, is that 180 bushel per acre corn will have at least 3 or 4 bushels of grain per acre left on the ground. What I don't know about pheasants would fill volumes, but I know combines and, if a pheasant is as good at getting into thick stuff as I have read, they should have no problem finding that harvest loss.

I know. Where I was first hunting there was absolutely nothing for them to eat. Even though they had released birds there. Just weeds. There are about 4 hunting areas at that location, and when I drove past the second area, there were corn fields that had been harvested all around. That is where I should have hunted. I'll know better next time.

If you are going to hunt near crop fields, I would recommend hunting that afternoons, especially the last two hours before sunset.

I'll try that. Thanks.

Just got back to reality! 5 weeks in MN hunting Ruffs and Pheasant. What a great year for Grouse, outstanding at least where I was. To the OP's question, shot all grouse with a Cyl. choked 1100 and a SKB 100 choked SK/Mod, both in 20Ga. Shot wild pheasants with the same guns. Number 6 shot for all. High end copper plated 1 Oz. for the Pheasants though. My usually pointing sometimes flushing dog at least stayed close enough, mostly! Was excellent on retrieves, the best part!
Ted, no need to wait for a freeze, slews are dry, leather boot dry. Now the Vikings? Well, you know.

Chief

Glad to hear you had a good trip. I had a most enjoyable 1 week trip for grouse up near the Canadian border. Been years since I’ve seen bird numbers like this year.

I’ve hunted a spot in Steele and Waseca counties for most of my life. The slew on that property runs 6-8 feet deep, with islands of cover that are unreachable unless it is frozen. After the corn is out, you know exactly where the birds will be, and few bird hunters have the gumption to walk the ice and cat tails to get out there and do it. It is spooky if it isn’t well frozen, but, nirvana if the conditions are right.

I thought I’d get across it in hip waders one time, when I was younger, and got a cold surprise.

Deer season is in full swing at the moment, I’ll get the property cleaned up and take care of the paperwork to keep my son in his last year of private, catholic school this weekend. Pheasant season doesn’t really begin in my world until deer season is over, and it cools down.

Best,
Ted

There’s no solitude quite like late season pheasant hunting under the gunmetal skies of December.

That used to be true. Not so much solitude these days. Actually gets kinda crowded, no matter what the skies. Today, the skies will be partly gunmetal. I expect a few birds and a few hunters, plus lots of bowhunters hanging in the trees around the wooded edges, so we will avoid those today.