Scratch Birds

Every bird hunter dreams about following his dog through seemingly endless grasslands in the central prairies, anticipating flush after flush and the heft of another full game pouch.

But most pheasant hunters don’t live in those rooster-rich areas. Many can’t even visit those places every year. And to pursue their passion and get their pups on birds, they must take what they can find near home, which often means sparse populations of wild birds, leftovers from state stocking programs or even game-farm escapees.

That can be tough, but it’s not impossible. In fact, with the right attitude and focused tactics, you can often scare up a rooster or two in areas with modest or poor pheasant numbers.

Starting Out

First, recognize that most of the “easy” birds will be gone after opening weekend, and survivors will have vacated spots that are relatively simple to access. A quick walk through grassy cover near parking areas at wildlife areas or waterfowl production properties will reveal many trails from hunters. Pheasants won’t tolerate that pressure, so those areas won’t hold many birds.

To escape that trap, seek the best pheasant habitat in areas that receive the least pressure. Basically, search for spots with good cover and food—especially corn—that are difficult to locate or access. Classic habitat such as Conservation Reserve Program grass near cut cornfields is great, provided something—distance, difficulty or other factors—prevents the orange-vest army from pounding it. Thicker cover, such as cattails or willows, presents another good option, especially later in the season. Often, many folks simply don’t want to navigate nasty spots with poor footing, especially if they’re a mile from the road. Also, don’t be afraid to explore atypical areas, such as alder edges or thick marshy spots with standing water. Many folks overlook these.

Stealth Mode

After you identify viable areas, make sure to bring your A-game when hunting. Slamming the truck door or letting Rover run wild while you blow the whistle are sure ways to spook any pheasants in that area. They will not stick around to see what happens next.

Be as quiet and stealthy as possible when approaching good cover. Walk slowly and stop frequently. This lets your dog work thoroughly and can also make birds nervous, prompting flushes. Also, don’t walk in a straight line. Rather, meander or zigzag through cover. That can reduce the chances of a rooster hunkering down until you and your dog pass by.

In addition, be prepared when a bird flushes. Pressured roosters won’t often present a classic cackling flush within easy range. They might flush wildly without making any noise. Pay close attention to your dog and the situation to anticipate a flush.

Pheasant Chokes & Loads

Further, make sure your gun and loads are up to the task. Pheasants—especially late-season birds—are tough critters. If you’re hunting with a double-barrel, run an improved-cylinder tube in one barrel and modified in the other. With single-barreled guns, you might go with modified to be ready for longer flushes.

Shotshell selection is extremely important. No 7 1/2s here. You’ll want stout loads of No. 4, 5 or 6 lead. The latter might actually be a bit light in many situations. Federal offers many solid pheasant choices in Prairie Storm, Upland Magnum, Game Loads and Hi-Brass loads. If you’re hunting a property where nontoxic shot is required, consider Prairie Storm FS Steel https://www.federalpremium.com/shotshell/prairie-storm/prairie-storm-fs-steel/, Upland Steel or Hevi-Bismuth, or opt for handloaded TSS shells from Federal’s Custom Shop.

The Right Expectations

Above all, hunting pheasants in poor to moderate areas requires a fresh mindset. You cannot expect it to rival the opportunities available in the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas and other top destinations. Consider every hunt to be a challenge, and try to learn something each time afield. Even a birdless trip might reveal clues that put you one step closer to finding pheasants. And ultimately, remember why you’re out there. Pheasant hunting provides a chance to enjoy unique upland habitats while watching a bird dog do its thing. Even during relatively tough days, that’s still pretty great.