Tag Archives: North Dakota Hunting

November 9, 2025 · 2:52 pm

North Dakota is Loaded with Pheasants!

That is what we heard from reliable sources and locals. There are pheasants for sure, but 3 weeks into the season, hunting public land, we did not see that many birds, and few limits were taken. I would say there was almost enough to keep us interested, almost. We hunted out of McClusky, ND, because it is within striking distance of an abundance of PLOTS and government land open to hunters. The habitat was excellent, and the local folks were glad we were there and were very generous with information and access to their land. These small, remote AG towns really need hunters to show up and boost their economy. There are countless ponds and small lakes for the waterfowlers. McClusky is a good 13+ hour drive from Denver, where we live, so there was that. Regardless of my negative tone, it was good to be in the field with friends and dogs, the weather was wonderful, and everyone had a good time.

Henry is in top form and hunted hard every day.

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Filed under Bird Hunts, Wild Bird Hunts

Tagged as Bird Dogs, Bird Hunting, Chambers Flintlock Fowler, Deutsch Kurzhaar, Dog Photography, English Setter, Flintlock Fowler, flintlock pheasant, German Shorthaired Pointer, Hunting Photography, North Dakota Hunting, Pheasant Hunting, Photography, Pointers, Rural Photography

November 3, 2024 · 6:41 pm

A Hot Start to 2024

Most of September and some of October were too hot to hunt if you were running dogs. Though it can be hard on the pups, global warming has made for some very comfortable hunting when we did get to go. I am not a cold weather fan, so I encourage the cows to keep farting away! Maybe we will be hunting quail in North Dakota someday. Here are some pictures from the three states we visited so far. I hope you enjoy them!

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Filed under Wild Bird Hunts

Tagged as Bird Dogs, Bird Hunting, Deutsch Kurzhaar, Dog Photography, German Shorthaired Pointer, Hungarian Partridge, Hunting Photography, North Dakota Hunting, Pheasant Hunting, Photography, Pointers, Public Land, public land hunting, Pudelpointer, Rural Photography, Texas Dove Hunting, Wyoming Bird Hunting

October 22, 2023 · 2:52 pm

This is a good year!

A good bird hunting year that is! Certainly not a good year in terms of the probable continuation of the human race, but it is a good year for birds. I believe a wet winter and spring brought grasses and bugs, precipitating more birds. There seem to be more birds than there have been in the last half-decade, IMHO. We have been to Wyoming and North Dakota; both were terrific hunts. There were opportunities to take limits on both hunts, which is especially rare in the Cowboy state.

It feels good to be stumbling on uneven, rocky ground again. The weather has been spectacular, if not a bit too warm. I hope you enjoy these pictures.

I am not a big fan of the obligatory tailgate carnage photo, but this is a good one. It was a great day.

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Filed under Bird Hunting, Wild Bird Hunts

Tagged as Bird Dogs, Bird Hunting, Deutsch Kurzhaar, Dog Photography, English Setter, German Shorthaired Pointer, Hunting Photography, North Dakota, North Dakota Hunting, Pheasant Hunting, Photography, Pointers, Wyoming Bird Hunting

November 28, 2021 · 7:25 am

Henry Hunts

This is Henry at one week on 1/5/2021. Born Xander at the great Deutsch Kurzhaar (GSP) breeder Vom Gansehimmel in North Dakota. It has been a great pleasure to watch him grow from a mischievous puppy to a legitimate bird dog (but still full of mischief!).

Undoubtedly, one of the great joys is to see your dog grow into what he was bred and born to do. I hope you enjoy these pictures of a transformed dog on his first wild bird hunts.

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Filed under Wild Bird Hunts

Tagged as Bird Dogs, Bird Hunting, Deutsch Kurzhaar, Dog Photography, German Shorthaired Pointer, Hunting Photography, Nebraska Bird Hunting, North Dakota Hunting, Pheasant Hunting, Photography, Pointers, Public Land, Wyoming Bird Hunting

December 21, 2018 · 11:04 pm

Pushing Our Luck in North Dakota

Last year, our guide called to say that the bird counts were down and the hunting might not be so good. We went anyway and had a terrific hunt! This year the guide called again and said “hey, seriously, this year is going to suck” and advised that we skip again but we still went. After all, these bird hunts are much more than hunting birds. . . right? You know . . . camaraderie, communing with nature, getting away from accountability for a while, riding in pickup trucks with shotguns, hunting-camp cuisine, etc. We were pushing our luck! This year, we were rewarded with a dastardly cold hunt and the lowest bird count in our 20 years of chasing roosters. All part of the game though. The great hunts are appreciated because of the tough times endured. This was definitely not the worst and we are glad we went. Everyone is looking forward to a future of more birds and less frostbite! Of course, bird dog Tex has no idea what I am whining about. He had a terrific time!

Majestic Tex

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Filed under Wild Bird Hunts

Tagged as Americana, Bird Dogs, Bird Hunting, Dog Photography, German Shorthaired Pointer, Hunting Photography, North Dakota Hunting, Pheasant Hunting, Photography, Pointers, Rural Photography

November 19, 2017 · 12:03 pm

A Not So Down Year in North Dakota

The forecast was that this hunt would suck. Because of a drought and tough winter and summer, the bird counts were down by 60%. We discovered this when the outfitter, Cannonball Company, called to ask if we wanted to skip the year and try again in 2018! I must say the folks at Cannonball are first rate. They made sure we knew what kind of hunt to expect and were ready to accommodate if we chose to do something else. Half of our usual hunting party did just that and spent the weekend on the couch at home. Before the hunt, the weather outlook predicted highs in the mid-30s with high winds. There was ample reason to skip this hunt!

Despite the dismal predictions, the 5 hunters who chose to make the hunt were treated to one of our best hunts yet. The hunting was certainly more challenging but, out of a possible 45 bird limit, the group harvested 41 birds. We could have nailed the other four had we wanted to. 🙂 The weather on day one was cold and windy. The other two days the wind died down and we had near perfect sunny days in the 40s and 50s. Having to work for our birds kept us in the field longer than usual and we all enjoyed that, especially the dogs. You never know what is going to happen on a hunt and this year persistence and a bit of blind faith paid us handsome dividends.

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Filed under Wild Bird Hunts

Tagged as Bird Dogs, Bird Hunting, Dog Photography, German Shorthaired Pointer, Hunting Photography, North Dakota Hunting, Pheasant Hunting, Photography

November 22, 2016 · 9:43 pm

Another Great ND Hunt!

Another year of great weather! This makes two in a row. We have been hunting ND pheasants for 15 years and this annual event is like a dear old friend. We can’t wait to get back every year and are always a bit sad when the hunt is over. This is one of those things that you know, at some point, will come to an end so we savor every minute, every bird, every point, every step in the field and every moment of comradery with our friends and fellow hunters. As we grow older, the hunt is cherished simply because we are here, in the vast openness of North Dakota – away from the grind, away from the responsibility, away from the noise. This time afield, immersed in God’s creation, is our connection with what is real and what matters. I hope you enjoy these pictures from a perfect hunt.

A picture perfect lay-up.

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Filed under Wild Bird Hunts

Tagged as Bird Dogs, Bird Hunting, Dog Photography, Hunting Photography, North Dakota Hunting, Photography, Rural Photography

December 5, 2015 · 4:46 pm

Fair Weather Pheasant Hunt

What a difference a year makes . . . .

Our annual North Dakota pheasant hunt last year, sub-zero temps and blowing snow. Not so fun!

This year was sipping beer in short sleeved shirts! Much more fun!!

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Filed under Wild Bird Hunts

Tagged as Bird Dogs, Bird Hunting, Dog Photography, German Shorthaired Pointer, North Dakota Hunting, Pheasant Hunting, Rural Photography

November 22, 2014 · 3:40 pm

North Dakota Deep Freeze

Historically, we have pretty decent weather on our hunts but sometimes it doesn’t work out that way. Our North Dakota hunt was at the apex of an epic winter blast from Canada. Only one of the four days had high temps that flirted with double digits. On that day we traded a few degrees for 30 – 40 mph wind and blowing snow. Despite the brutal cold we still had a great hunt. We took our limit of birds each day, no worry of the dogs overheating (only worrying about them freezing to death) and because we were ready and well dressed, we were over all pretty comfortable.

There was some trepidation at getting out of the warm truck and braving the elements.

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Filed under Wild Bird Hunts

Tagged as Bird Dogs, Bird Hunting, Hunting Photography, North Dakota Hunting, Pheasant Hunting

December 8, 2013 · 9:12 pm

Random Shots From the Dakotas

Here are some random pictures from this year’s hunts in the Dakotas.

This a genuine North Dakota farm truck.

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Filed under Wild Bird Hunts

Tagged as Bird Hunting, Hunting Photography, North Dakota Hunting, Rural Photography, South Dakota Hunting

November 23, 2013 · 7:25 pm

2013 North Dakota Pheasant Hunt

This year we enjoyed 2 great hunts in the Dakotas. This 2nd hunt is our standing hunt with Cannonball Company out of Regent, North Dakota. We always have a terrific time with these fine folks.

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Filed under Wild Bird Hunts

Tagged as Bird Dogs, Bird Hunting, German Shorthaired Pointer, North Dakota Hunting, Pheasant Hunting, Rural Photography

January 26, 2013 · 12:46 pm

More Shots from Pheasant Country

Here are some more pictures from our hunt in North Dakota.

CB120006

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Filed under Wild Bird Hunts

Tagged as Bird Dogs, Bird Hunting, Dog Photography, German Shorthaired Pointer, Hunting Photography, North Dakota Hunting, Pheasant Hunting, Pointers

December 29, 2012 · 3:07 pm

Why Bird Hunters Carry Pliers.

If on a nice walk in the woods . . .

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Filed under Equipment

Tagged as Bird Dogs, Bird Hunting, German Shorthaired Pointer, Hunting Photography, North Dakota Hunting, Porcupines

November 24, 2012 · 1:45 pm

North Dakota Roosters

Hunting North Dakota in the middle of November can be a weather crap shoot. The week before we arrived the highs were in the teens with half a foot of snow on the ground but we lucked out with absolutely perfect weather. We had the blue skies behind this handsome rooster, highs in the upper 40’s and calm wind with an occasional light breeze for our four day hunt. There were plenty of birds but, as you would expect, the hunting is more challenging on these later hunts than what you find in October. This hunt was a perfect introduction for Tex to wild birds. Each day he improved exponentially and by the last day he was working the wind and reliably sticking birds with solid points. At nine months old we are delighted with his performance.

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Filed under Wild Bird Hunts

Tagged as Bird Dogs, Bird Hunting, Dog Photography, German Shorthaired Pointer, Hunting Photography, North Dakota Hunting, Pheasant Hunting, Pheasants, Rural Photography

April 22, 2012 · 9:35 pm

Shotgun Still

Shotguns against an old truck during a break in North Dakota.

Filed under Firearms

Tagged as Beretta Shotgun, Browning Auto-5, Gun Photography, North Dakota Hunting, Pheasant Hunting

January 29, 2012 · 2:26 pm

Old North Dakota Farm Truck

Sitting with the other detritus of long gone lives on a North Dakota farm is this lonely pick up truck.

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Filed under Bird Hunts

Tagged as Americana, Bird Hunting, North Dakota Hunting, Pheasant Hunting, Rural Photography

November 24, 2011 · 8:45 am

Pheasant Hunting in Regent, ND

Regent, North Dakota is a favorite pheasant hunting destination. We hunt with Cannonball Company who always does a terrific job. Pheasant numbers were down this year, as they are everywhere, but there were plenty of birds to go around.

Here is an amazing pheasant sculpture just outside of town. These are huge, the cock’s legs are probably 12 feet tall.

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Filed under Wild Bird Hunts

Tagged as Americana, Bird Hunting, Hunting Photography, North Dakota Hunting, Pheasant Hunting, Rural Photography

July 17, 2011 · 6:25 pm

NoDak Pheasants and Boxlock

A limit of pheasants taken with the Beretta 470.

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Filed under Wild Bird Hunts

Tagged as Beretta Shotgun, Bird Hunting, Hunting Photography, North Dakota Hunting, Pheasant Hunting

January 24, 2011 · 10:02 pm

North Dakota Schoolin’

North Dakota is our state of choice for pheasant hunting. The wonderfully desolate landscape is dotted with remnants of past lives – abandoned homesteads, equipment and my favorite . . . old school houses.

: Click for a better view.

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Filed under Wild Bird Hunts

Tagged as Americana, North Dakota Hunting, Pheasant Hunting, Rural Photography, School House

December 10, 2010 · 7:32 am

Nice Shot

Smooth, clean kill. Maybe letting that bird get out another 10 yards would not have been a bad thing.

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Filed under Wild Bird Hunts

Tagged as Bird Hunting, Hunting Photography, North Dakota Hunting, Pheasant Hunting