Today was our season opener for pheasants. My buddy Dave and I headed out at first light. Wasn't long and we were into birds. Weather was cool with some drizzle. Was just perfect for my little girl lab. She hunted hard, but soon it was all over. She found us lots of shootable birds and we did some very good shooting. We both limited out with three birds each. Was a great opener. Life is really good now.

Moose, I don't like labs that much but I see you made her a nice steady hunting dog, not limited to retreiving only. But even such a nice picture cannot convince me of leaving my cesky fousec, I think she is even more allrounder. It's a pity we live so far apart otherwise you could join me on our opening 15h October. I don't expect that many phaisans this year because we're too much limited in fighting foxes. They became the green mascotte here in Northern-Belgium.
How is your hunting over there? Does the law limit you to three birds each or do you limit yourself? In our hunting area: when you shoot them all in the first week you destroy your hunting season. And when you're not very carefull with the hens, you'll handicap next seasons too.
But it's a nice picture of a nice season-start and it shows how much fun you both had.

Nice birds. Our season doesnt start for another month. Its wierd how varied hunting seasons are between states.

Pheasants used to be my favorite hunt but they are pretty much non-existant anymore. Any property that does have birds is impossible to get permission to hunt. Its too bad my boy wont get to hunt them.

Aloysius: In my state there is a specific season, with a daily limit on the birds (my state is 2 roosters). Hens are protected. Some states have much more liberal harvest rules, I've heard of a 25 bird limit in some areas of the dakota's.


-DallanC

Oustanding and jealous again!

One more week for me for quail and I hope to get lucky and find some. Ditto Dallan too....lands getting grabbed up by devolpers and habitat is disapearing. Staying optomistic though.

Hope to share some pics with ya moose-man. Congrats again to you and the pup on a great outing and enjoy your meals to come, great job! *tummy growling been a year since it's had some quail*

Nice hunting there Moose.

Nice birds . I can't remember the last time I saw a pheasant around here

loads of nymph tying in those feathers!!!!
great to hear you are getting amoungst them.

Aloysius wrote:

Moose, I don't like labs that much but I see you made her a nice steady hunting dog, not limited to retreiving only. But even such a nice picture cannot convince me of leaving my cesky fousec, I think she is even more allrounder. It's a pity we live so far apart otherwise you could join me on our opening 15h October. I don't expect that many phaisans this year because we're too much limited in fighting foxes. They became the green mascotte here in Northern-Belgium. How is your hunting over there? Does the law limit you to three birds each or do you limit yourself? In our hunting area: when you shoot them all in the first week you destroy your hunting season. And when you're not very carefull with the hens, you'll handicap next seasons too. But it's a nice picture of a nice season-start and it shows how much fun you both had.

First, thanks all for your nice comments. Am indeed fortunate to hunt these birds anytime I want to and have a fine dog to accompany me.
Oh! Good Luck Stovey on your opener. Shoot straight buddy.

Aloysius- to answer your questions. We do have a limit on these birds. We are allowed three male birds per day. The season runs till early January. Also the birds we hunt are all wildbirds. No pen raised birds here. As far as dogs go, labs are a nice match for our type of pheasant hunting. Mine is a very versatile dog as are most that hunt out this way. We call them 3F dogs, find em, flush em, fetch em. I am not familiar with your breed of dog. It would be nice if you could post a pic of it and tell alittle about it. Also it would be fun if you could describe how one of your typical bird hunts goes down. As far as I am concerned, its the dogs that really make the hunt. Much luck with up coming opening for birds.

Thanks man!

Wish I had a bird dog. Black Lab's are my fave. Neat part of the hunt watching a gun dog work the brush. They can smell better than I can see and the good one's get the chicken's to hold 'till ya get there...awesome stuff.

Great hunting Moose...I'm certainly very envious mate...never seen a pheasant in the wild.

Your "little girl" has that look of "that was fun Dad...lets do it again".

Stovey wrote:

...lands getting grabbed up by devolpers and habitat is disapearing.

AMEN to that Stovey...bloody developers...I hate them with a passion. They are in cahoots with the banks and corrupt politicians. Come the revolution...

Cheers, Vince

there is a certain majic when your dog "hits scent" the tail either goes out straight or wags flatstick, my ol GSP/huntaway bitch used to start bouncing to get air scent, the wee cocker has crappy eyesight but man is his snoz great. all dogs are different and learning to "read" your pooch is the secret to alot of fun in the field.
the Dairy industry is chewing up land flat out over here, there are herds of freisians everywhere you turn, plurry great irrigators spraying out water to make the grass grow and less and less water in the small rivers some of the places we used to walk for a bird or two are all pasture now