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!!
Tag Archives: Pheasant Hunting
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.
Filed under Bird Hunts
A Hot Time in South Dakota
The bird counts were way up over last year but so was the temperature. We had terrific weather with blue skies and temps pushing into the low 80’s. The unseasonably warm weather was great for the hunters, but pretty hard on the dogs. We had to keep a close watch on them to be sure they did not overheat.
Filed under Bird Hunts
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.
Filed under Bird Hunts
South Dakota Pheasant
Tex and I took advantage of an invite to the opening weekend in South Dakota. We had the pleasure of joining a terrific group of guys from Michigan on their annual pheasant hunt. Some of these fellows have been hunting together for 30 plus years and a number of these guys have grown up making the annual pilgrimage to Pierre for the big hunt. We enjoyed a classic wild bird hunt of the best sort.
A great old truck with great old hunters!
Filed under Bird Hunts
More Shots from Pheasant Country
Filed under Bird Hunts
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.
Filed under Bird Hunts
Shotgun Still
Shotguns against an old truck during a break in North Dakota.
Filed under Firearms, Seen in the field
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.
Filed under Seen in the field
Wild Cocks
Now, THAT title should get some hits! “Cock” is such a funny word. Nothing wrong with it in the right context but it sits precariously on the edge between OK and absolutely not OK. Use it in the wrong company, with the wrong inflection or add a sucker to it and my friend you have crossed the line. That said, here are a bunch of cocks we have seen in the field.
Filed under Seen in the field
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.
Filed under Bird Hunts
NoDak Pheasants and Boxlock
Filed under Seen in the field, Sporting Art
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.
Filed under Hunters, Seen in the field
Nice Shot
Smooth, clean kill. Maybe letting that bird get out another 10 yards would not have been a bad thing.
The Hunting Party
The group shot – smiling hunters, bristling with arms and standing behind a pile of dead animals often results in a common, uninspired picture. But occasionally things work out as with this pic from the 2007 pheasant season. This was taken by the farmer, not much posing or photographic technique other than point and shoot. Pure luck.
click to launch for a better view
Filed under Hunters
