Poultry

[ricky racer]

The next thing you're going to tell me is I can't use my truck for deer hunting either!! I never said that you couldn't use the most effective weapon in your arsenal!! Come on Yogie give me a break. I do my best hunting traveling down back country roads at high speed in the early mornings and evenings!! For my pre season scouting, I look for deer crossing signs!! I drive a F-350 dually because it cuts a bigger swath down the road, kind of like an open choke on a shotgun and increases the chance to connect with a deer with poor timing!

Funny thing, today I was reading in a hunting magazine today that State Farm Insurance says that for the third straight year, West Virginia has the highest per capita deer / car collisions providing a 1 in 39 chance of a collision. Michigan is second with a 1 in 78 chance of a collision. With odds like that, you might be overlooking a very productive way to add meat to your freezer.

[Yogie]

I've taken 6 or more with my truck the past few years, I give up counting...
Come on down Rick, I think their extending muzzle loading season this year.

[ricky racer]

Wow!! You guys take your muzzle loading seriously.

[CountryCub]

Thats a real nice place there, nice tractor too

[dgrapes59]

CountryClub2,

Interesting thread…. I guess I will jump in. Is there really a better game bird out there than the Colorful Ditch Parrot? I am a diehard pheasant hunter. I get back to my Grandparents (and Dad’s) old home place (mine now) in Nebraska and have permission to hunt on thousands of acres from the local farmers. I usually get back for 3 weeks of hunting; opening week in late October or early November, a week in December and then in January. There is a quail population returning to this area and we have enjoyed some large coveys to chase around, those little buzz bombs still unnerve me when take off!
I had to say good-by to my long time hunting companion this year, Rudy my 13 year old Llewellin Setter. I still hunt with my other Llewellin; Colt, he is 9 and a great dog as well.
My weapon of choice is a bit smaller than that muzzle loader hooked to the Cub, I have used side by sides for 20+ years and my old faithful is a Browning BSS 12 gauge, 30 inch, mod & full with copper coated #5’s.
Hunting has been pretty bad the last few years, the bird population is down, related to lack cover, fence rows and old homesteads gone for the pivot irrigation and CRP taken out for good corn prices. Farming now is a long way from the old days of the Cub being a welcome addition to the farm from horses. I guess it is good I have learned to relax a bit and “smell the roses”. I enjoy the time spent in the field, watching my dog work, visiting with the local farmers and hooking up with family when possible.
The picture (left to right) is of me, Colt, Rudy and my son in law, Joe, after a morning hunting in January of ’07. Joe got his first pheasant and he earned it for sure, I believe it was minus 26 degrees that morning (actual temperature), and a tad cold.
[img]http://photos.cubfest.com/albums/userpics/10705/thumb_NE_Hunting_David_joes_first_bird_07_%[/img]

CRUD, still can't get this picture thing figured out.

David and Joe 07

[CountryCub]

I have never hunted for pheasant, but boy oh boy it looks fun. I have a black lab, shadow, who usually chases all types of game, but im not too sure about her retrieving skills.

[dgrapes59]

I really enjoy it; I have made every opening week in Nebraska about 23 straight years now. I hunt there mostly because of the ties with family and friends and available hunting land. But I have been lucky enough to make it to western Kansas several times, a few years back when there were tons of birds, what a blast (literally!). In my younger years, still living at home in Memphis, TN, I was into duck hunting. My dad and I belonged to a duck club in Arkansas and I really enjoyed that. I moved out and away, started a family and hunting took back seat for a while.

I have hunted with guys with Black Labs; they are more for flushing but have been great retrieving dogs. One guy was a trainer and I think he could have had a poodle that would retrieve if he wanted, he had an unbelievable Lab. He shot a pheasant that glided a couple hundred yards before he fell. He got the dog..... out of a box in the truck and did a blind retrieve with him and hand & whistle signals... right to the bird. My dogs are good and would eventually find it... but not that good!

To the hunt,

[ricky racer]

Pheasnt hunting the hard way:

[Yogie]

Pheasnt hunting the hard way:

Rick, it's no wonder your as skinny as a rail...
Never seen a pheasnt before, only corn around here is found in jars.

[Joe Malinowski]

We used to have lots of pheasants up here, with a good stocking program. Hardly any birds around anymore. It sure was a fun time.