This is the week 4 recap of the 2024 pheasant hunting season. Weather was again a factor limiting when we were able to get out between rain and warm temperatures.
November 8th - Trip 1
Between other appointments and the weather, we were not able to get out until Friday. We had a one day weather window with no rain and moderate temperatures so we decided to do a day trip to Iowa. Typically trips to Iowa are overnight just because of the drive time. In this case, the weather Friday was just barely cool enough and rain was forecast for Saturday.
In order to maximize the cooler early morning temperatures I left my house at 5 AM. I picked up Kevin and then we drove to our planned hunting field, arriving about 8:35. It was mostly sunny with a slight breeze and temperatures in the low 40s. The prairie was in very good condition with heavy cover was well distributed.
Field 1, Loop 1
We started out along the road and then worked up a field edge. It took a while but Stella eventually got birdy. She tracked a bird towards the middle of the field, with us following closely. A rooster flushed well out of range and she soon lost the track.
We continued back along the field edge and she tracked a hen towards the middle of the field. A hen flushed wild and we were preparing to head back to the field edge when a rooster flushed near me. I missed two shots.
We continued working the field with Stella getting birdy, tracking and either having a wild flush or a lost track. After a while, we had another long track and saw a rooster flush out in front of us. Watching where it landed we walked in that direction. Stella pointed a hen, but no rooster. At this point we were relatively close to the truck so a break was in order. Less than 100 yards from the truck Stella went on point. We moved up and she re-positioned. Within less than 20 yards, she tracked a rooster that flushed. I missed and Kevin connected.
Field 1, Loop 2
After a quick break back at the truck we did another loop. The only significant event was that my handheld for the GPS collar died. I thought that I had checked the battery but apparently not. This was a bit of a problem because the grass was taller than Stella so it was hard to keep track of her, especially if she went on point. We figured it out and made it back to the truck.
Field 2
Before we could hunt again, I needed to recharge the handheld. So I plugged it into the truck and we drove around checking out potential hunting areas. We met up with my daughter and son-in-law to compare notes. They were finishing up for the day. From there, we drove to another IHAP on the way home. When we arrived, the handheld had enough of a charge to do a quick loop. We went out and back through another prairie with good cover that was full of hens last year. Stella did not get seriously birdy the whole loop. As we neared the road, Kevin spotted a bird flying back into the prairie from a cornfield. We decided to walk over to where it landed.
Just about where we guessed it had landed a rooster flushed and we both missed. Then birds started flushing. Kevin was reloading and could not fire. I was not able to pick out a rooster. About a minute later, Stella went on point. We walked up and a rooster flushed. I missed and then Kevin connected.
November 10th - Trip 2
On Sunday, I did a solo trip to the private ground we hunt on weekends. It was about 50 degrees, with mostly sunny skies and a light to moderate breeze. I mainly wanted to get the dogs out and walk myself. I started with Stella along a field edge. She really did not get birdy until we went through a thicket that separates two fields. Then she went on point. I worked over to her and she started tracking. Shortly after that, a rooster flushed about 75 yards away and flew east while cackling. At the same time, another rooster cackled off to the SE.
We continued along the field edge all the way to the south, then east, then north. I followed Stella through a prairie as we turned back north. At the end of the edge of the prairie, there was a thicket about 150 yards long by about 3 yards wide. Stella got birdy in the middle then relocated forward. As she moved up she was getting more birdy before she moved into the edge of the thicket. A rooster flushed and flew through the tree tops. I took a snap shot and the bird disappeared. I did not know if I hit it or if it had just flown behind the trees. Stella dove into the thicket and after a few seconds stopped. This is usually a sign that she has found a downed bird. Sure enough, she came out of the thicket with the bird.
Then it was Willow’s turn. She ran her butt off and did find a couple birds, although nothing that was in range.
Video
The video this week contains dog work, as usual plus a couple of harvested birds.
Lessons Learned
After every trip I do a trip log that includes where I went, how far, weather, what clothes I wore, how many birds there were and any lessons learned. Making a conscious effort to think about what we learned has paid off. This week, we learned a couple of things.
Having the handheld die is a problem because I have become so dependent on it. Willow would be impossible to hunt without it. So, I need to make sure that I charge the handheld before a trip plus I purchased a second battery that I can carry to swap in the field, if necessary. Normally, a fully charged handheld will last all day but I have had instances when it is really cold and the battery will lose power.
The second lesson this week is that birds will spend their days in corn and return at night. If hunting late in the day we need to check out where the birds will return to.
Summary
This has been the week 4 recap of the 2024 pheasant hunting season. The weather continued to impact our ability to get out with rain and warm temperatures limiting opportunities.
