| In my final article concerning cover I would like to address late season pheasant hunting tactics. First of all, and this applies to pheasant hunting at anytime during the season, when you arrive at the location where you will exit your vehicle and begin hunting, be absolutely as quiet as possible. Obviously this is not a deer hunt you are about to undertake, but it is unbelievable how much talking, cajoling, door slamming and yelling at the dog that takes place before some guys every get a foot onto the turf. What many do not realize is that pheasants have an acute sense of hearing and when this activity occurs you are telegraphing your approach and intentions. The birds learn quickly that all that noise spells trouble for them and they will immediately begin their evasive tactics, either running or flushing wild from cover. Whenever I hunt with others, we discuss our approach and directions concerning how we are going to hunt a place before we ever exit the truck. Then while walking, whenever possible, it is best to use hand signals or whistle at one another to convey a change in route through the field. On the other hand, when you get to the end of a piece of cover and you are finished hunting, you may want to stop and converse and let the dog roam around for a bit at the end of the cover. In this case you want to make any remaining tight sitting birds, that may have not been discovered by the dog, to become nervous and flush. But, for the most part a quiet approach and limited talking are the best tactic for getting the birds to hold tight. Also as the season wears on, try a completely different approach to how you hunt a property. Pheasants begin to anticipate the approach from hunters, especially when they are pushed in the same direction. Although the wind direction often dictates how you hunt a property, try walking down a fence line or along an edge and hunt the property crosswise or back to the road, instead of the old route everyone else takes, out, in, down and out. You may just be surprised at how much more affective this approach can be and don't fail to hunt the weaker parts of the cover too. Pheasants get tired of being rousted out of their favorite loafing places and they will seek peace and solitude in weaker cover, if they find they are safer in such places. Remember, as the season wears on, look for places where most hunters would not "waste their time" and I bet you will find some birds there. |
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