Gun Dog Forum

Simple question...
IF YOU COULD GO TO ANY STATE NEXT YEAR UPLAND HUNTING WILD BIRDS WHICH ONE WOULD YOU PICK TO VISIT AND WHY?

Montana. I would love to spend a week up there hunting everything they have. Huns, Chukars, Sharpies. The country is so beautiful up there. That is where I plan on retiring.

Nevada. Chukar!

I am surprised I thought there would be a few SD Pheasant hunts on the top of a few peoples wish list..


I was curious to find out the best states to visit and what birds are found there..Hope to get the pups on a out of state hunt or 2 next year.. and I would guess a few people on here would be curious to find out also for their "want to" visit sometime in the future lists?

I've never been east of Idaho, so I wouldn't know the first thing about South Dakota Pheasant Hunting. We got pheasant here but mostly planted. I would say that it would be at the top of the list if I had any idea what I was getting into.
Chukar, Quail, and Grouse, though...well show me a place with all three in mass quantities and I'll put my sticker of approval for "best place in the world" on it.

I would go to Idaho where I could hunt from horseback, ride with Doug Favor, learn to take pictures, and see dogs having the room to do what they are bred to do. Love to talk dogs with people who understand what good dogs are all about.

Ezzy

Montana. I would love to spend a week up there hunting everything they have. Huns, Chukars, Sharpies. The country is so beautiful up there. That is where I plan on retiring.

I just watched a American Bird Hunter tv show I had recorded earlier and they hunted Montana and in 3 days was on wild pheasant, sharpies, huns, and Sage grouse
of course they had a guide and knew where to go, but it looked like an awesome hunt
definately moved Montana up on my hope to go to someday list .....

Interesting question. Since I live in the best pheasant/sharptail hunting in Montana, I really don't have any desire to go any other place to hunt them. I do enjoy getting away to The Breaks south of Malta to bow hunt elk. But anymore that is more of a chance to get off the ranch and relax than to get overly serious about killing an elk.

This may seem crass, but after 4 months of bird hunters, I am really glad that it is over. The last month hasn't been too bad as we started getting a large amount of snow and sub zero weather. We generally feed between 500 and 1000 pheasants each winter as they feed with the cows and hang in the shelter belts. I took the dogs out one last time today, but in this severe weather the pheasants are trying to scratch for food and don't seek shelter during the daylight hours. In the brush areas the snow was so deep the dogs had trouble going. And the pheasants just ran ahead of us by about 1/4 mile.

I personally think the hunting opportunities in this area are going to weaken in the coming years. Alot of ranchers/farmers are to the point where the block management money isn't worth the hassle of putting up with hunters for 4 months. This year saw 1000's of acres pulled and I wouldn't be surprised to see more this coming year. I have one group of hunters that stop each year to visit and say thanks.......other than that zippo. So, wherever you plan to hunt, make sure you stop in and tell the landowner that you really appreciate the opportunity, it just might help to preserve the sport you love for someone else to enjoy.

charlie

id pick any were out of michigan id love to get my dogs out in the open in some good bird country

Sure Ezzy, come on out sometime!

Lots of great states to go IMO - take yer pick!

Nebraska Sandhills. If you go to the right area, you can get into Sharpies, Chickens, and Pheasants all in the same hunt!!

I've been out there training on horseback in the summer, and went back with a buddy and hunted the same ranch on foot that fall, and just had a blast. I would say that if you go, try to do it on horseback, it's A LOT easier in the serious hill country.

I'd say to try to hunt around the Brewster/Halsey area.

I have a friend who went to the Nebraska National Forest this season and hunted on foot and limited every day. Just camped out at the campground and had a great time.

The Sandhills is like a whole different world, you've got to see it to believe it!!!

PM me if you want more specifics.

Doug

I will chime in to tip the scale and put in another vote for Idaho. The reason is variety. Not just in bird species but the country. In a days trip you can spend time on the rimrock of one of the massive river's and twenty minutes later be up in rolling sagebrush hills for hun's. And yet another twenty minutes be in high mountains. And the species variety in nice too . I have encountered Phez, quail, hun's, and chukar all before returning to the pickup truck on one walk!

im in this boat too i need to figure out where i can go next year within reason i would only be able to stay for a week or so....im a young guy so not a lot of money...i hunted south dak this year and loved it but i think its all a money game out there i would like to try and find some place else with better access to better public land...i would like to go to Montana i here arizona is great i just might be a little worried about rattlesnakes

Montana , South Dakota , maybe Minnesota .

I would go back to my old stomping grounds in North Dakota to hunt the ducks, geese, grouse and pheasant I hunted growing up. I live in AZ now and do enjoy hunting quail but I miss hunting back home. I had some amazing places to hunt and always limited out but it's been over 20 years since I have been back there and I am sure things have changed, so maybe a trip somewhere a little closer would be a better trip.

Put me down as another for Montana. I have never hunted there before, but the pics posted here are enough to make me really want to!

Rut

gpblitz wrote:Arizona, I would love to hunt the different types of quail they have. If gas prices hold I think I will.

I am currently in Arizona where I have a winter home and you are correct about the qauil. The Gambrel Quail are very plentiful almost like pigeons. I do not bring any of our dogs here because we are concerned about snakes, cactus spikes, and yesterday I had a Bobcat walk through the yard. Pretty neat as I have never seen one before.There are plenty of hunters here but I prefer less potential problems with my dogs. Don't ne scared away as this is a great place... just be cautious and careful with yourself and the dogs.

I live in Az also and had a GSP in the 90's. As a pup she tangled with a jumping cholla cactus by accident. I took her to the vet had her sedated and over 500 stickers later she was fine and she never went near them again. I looked at that as when I grew up and my dad would say when I was about to do something stupid "You'll only do that once". I learned also. When she was older and I had her in training class we snaked trained all the dogs and they learn real fast not to go near them.

Don't be afraid to come out here and hunt as usually by fall and the temps drop most snakes are hibernating and the chances are slim you'll run into one.

Lots of quail here and open areas to hunt.

We usually go to South Dakota for pheasants, but the last two years its been way to windy to go. I like the terrian and really like the place, but just way to windy. If it wasn't for the scenery I doubt I would go. I would like to hit up Wisconsin in November for some grouse and woodcock hunting.

With me, it's SD for sure. What an incredible wealth of wild birds they have!!! Pheasant, Hun, Sharpies, a few quail, and waterfowl. I've never been anywhere like it.

Being as I live in fantastic quail and pheasant country in the Oklahoma panhandle I think I would have to say just for a change of scenery I would like to hunt eastern Oklahoma for some bobwhite quail. We have lots of blues and tons of pheasant but not many bobs around here and I keep hearing that Oklahoma is one of the premier places to hunt quail anymore so I guess just to hunt some bobs I would like to get over around central or eastern Oklahoma. If I had to go out of state though I would love to see Idaho and do some chukar hunting. Never been chukar hunting but I have watched it on the outdoor channel and it looks like hard work but fun.

tommyboy72 wrote:just for a change of scenery I would like to hunt eastern Oklahoma for some bobwhite quail.

Not much stopping ya there
Good call on the chukar, I'm betting those outdoor shows do some good editing so you don't have to hear the guys panting into their microphones scaling rimrock. Great way to burn some calories while toasting birds. Just last week I put a good scratch on the receiver of my Winchester 1200 while wedging it between some rocks and pulling myself up. Sometimes there's merely a fine line between rock climbing and chukar hunting.

tommyboy72 wrote:Being as I live in fantastic quail and pheasant country in the Oklahoma panhandle I think I would have to say just for a change of scenery I would like to hunt eastern Oklahoma for some bobwhite quail. We have lots of blues and tons of pheasant but not many bobs around here and I keep hearing that Oklahoma is one of the premier places to hunt quail anymore so I guess just to hunt some bobs I would like to get over around central or eastern Oklahoma. If I had to go out of state though I would love to see Idaho and do some chukar hunting. Never been chukar hunting but I have watched it on the outdoor channel and it looks like hard work but fun.

Good luck finding any birds East of I-35. There are tons of Bobs in Western Oklahoma. You just need to comeout of the panhandle.

Sorry Romeo everything else in Oklahoma is east of me. I live in a town that is half in Texas and half in Oklahoma so I should have been more specific. I have a buddy in Enid I am trying to get to find some places to hunt over around there and I have some buddies who live in Arnette and mainly hunt hogs and deer so I am going to talk to them and see if they can give me some good spots, they have been bragging about all the quail there but they do not bird hunt much. Sounds like a lot of work for a big guy like me Benny but I would love to just be out in the cliffs and mountains I see on the outdoor channel. Where I live it is just flat, brown, dry and with no lakes, rivers, creeks, water, or mountains to speak of. I would just love to hunt that habitat one time before I get too old to do it.

gonehuntin' wrote:With me, it's SD for sure. What an incredible wealth of wild birds they have!!! Pheasant, Hun, Sharpies, a few quail, and waterfowl. I've never been anywhere like it.

I'm sure we just had a great year and all and I was spoiled - but I went to SD for the first time in November and it was basically TOO easy. We hunted near Burke/Gregory and Pheasant were EVERYWHERE. We limited out in under 2 hrs the whole time, with the last day taking 40 minutes and maybe 1/4 mile of walking. These were wild pheasant and they weren't nearly as hard to shoot as I'd been lead to believe. I'm not saying I'm a spectacular shot, either.
Either way - we spent a lot of time in Bill's Bar in Burke, SD as a result. Good times.

A friend suggested I try out Texas or Oklahoma and go after some quail. From what everyone's saying, I'm certainly interested. I have no idea where to even start, though!

Kinda biased on my vote, but I would say South West Texas Quail hunting. But other than that believe it or not It almost as fun hunting Wild pheasant here in Wyoming.

Always wanted to do some quail hunting in OK or AZ. Also would like to go to Montana.

Always wanted to go to Kansas, Oklahoma, or Texas. Have heard about finding 20-25 coveys of birds a day. That would be a real day of hunting.
Good Lord willing, I am going one day.

It's possible but do not expect to go on public land and find 20 to 25 coveys a day. The days are gone when one could do that on public land. Anymore if I move 7 or 8 in a day on public land is a great day. However, when you start getting into birds there is nothing like it. Kansas has lots of birds this year. I am not sure if it is like that on public land in Kansas but th hunting was really good on the leases ther.

I wonder where we are going to go this year. Like I said earlier in the post that we usually hit up SD every year, but it seems like others want to go somewhere different. I would love to hit up Kansas.

Anyone know what part of the state has a good population of bobwhite quail and pheasants.

Kansas

We went to North Dakota this last fall and had a great time with huns and pheasant. we'll go back this fall.

phermes1 wrote:

gonehuntin' wrote:
I'm sure we just had a great year and all and I was spoiled - but I went to SD for the first time in November and it was basically TOO easy. We hunted near Burke/Gregory and Pheasant were EVERYWHERE. We limited out in under 2 hrs the whole time, with the last day taking 40 minutes and maybe 1/4 mile of walking. These were wild pheasant and they weren't nearly as hard to shoot as I'd been lead to believe. I'm not saying I'm a spectacular shot, either.
Either way - we spent a lot of time in Bill's Bar in Burke, SD as a result. Good times.

You must have been on private land. I've never heard of anyone getting that good of hunting on public land. We work mighty hard for our birds and it's a rare day that both of us limit out. I have never tried the private land thing and from all I've read and seen, I don't want to.

Although I normally don't go with the majority....

Montana, hands down. Upland bird variety, grouse, and don't forget ducks. The scenery is awesome.
On a side note, always wanted to go to Texas for a quail, dove, and snow goose blow out!
In reality I'll take anything outside of Ohio.

I agree & we have the ODNR to blame for that IMO,all they are interested in are Turkies & Deer in this state.HMMMMMMM could it be for the money ?

I am planning a trip out to Nebraska in October and may even have the chance to meet up with DGfavor to hunt Idaho. Hopefully everything pans out. I do think that Utah has about as good a population of forest grouse as one could hope for.

Ive got to figure out where is going to be easier for a do it yourself hunt...i need to narrow it down to MT,ND, KS I guess you just have to find out for yourself and go out and try and find birds....just stinks when you don't have long to stay and you've never been there before....

I am going to WY this year to shoot Sage Grouse. I am from ND and shoot plenty of ducks, pheasant, huns and sharpies. I want to try something different.

South Dakota for the great mixed bag of birds.Mainly Pierre National Grasslands.

texscala wrote:may even have the chance to meet up with DGfavor to hunt Idaho.

Texcala,,,,, don't ya live like 2 hours from DGfavor?

Something like that....2 hours is not too far to drive for a few birds. I might even try to convince him to meet up for some training and to tutor me in the ways of photography.

texscala wrote:
may even have the chance to meet up with DGfavor to hunt Idaho.

Texcala,,,,, don't ya live like 2 hours from DGfavor?

What are you sayin' Rich? He needs to set more lofty goals??

Anytime Tom - c'mon up!

Although it will be tough to choose over my beloved home state of Ohio where the wild Turkey and deer roam, along with the wiley coyote and squirrel minutes from my home ...... I am planning on tagging along with ole VZ if he happens to put on a sponsored hunt ..... say out Illinois way or even Missouri. I'm here to tell you that next season ole VZ could gather some of the nicest bird dogs in the vicinity to gather for a chance of a lifetime hunt out that way. Write that down. Betcha I would take a camera !!!! da WingShooter

If you've followed my Awesome Upland Road Trip via my blog (www.scottlindenoutdoors.com), you pretty much know where I stand: South Dakota, hands down. Okay, the birds and open country are #1. The variety of habitat is pleasantly surprising to many as well. But beyond the hunting, it's the people. Yes, we spend 6-10 hours a day in the field, but when you call it a day, you're welcome at every grocery, tavern, restaurant and place of business ... even wearing blaze orange with blood stains. My dog was the hit of more than one happy hour! I hunted with everyone from the Gov. Mike Rounds to Ted Turner while there, (photos and stories at the blog), as well as many just plain folks. Can't decide which I enjoyed more, so will savor every single step in all the fields, ditches and prairies we coursed.

Seeing the pictures that DFavor takes, I'm going to have to go with Idaho as well. Montana too. Amazing countryside. We hit up SW ND every year and love it, but nothing wrong with a little change of scenery to keep it interesting.

We have just about everything a guy could want where I am from but if I could I would love to go to British Columbia to shoot Chukar, Quail, and Wood Ducks. Oregon, Washington, or Idaho would be great but Montana will probably be this fall. I want to shoot a Sage Grouse and have a full body mount done inside a glass box. I will use it either for a coffee table or an end table.

North West Idaho

Goldenoaklab, If you are talking about the Clearwater Country, that might just give the best variety of birds in the country.