Gun Dog Forum

Hey all,

New to this forum, thought someone might be able to help a total rookie. I have a vizsla that I've been running in field trials and hunt tests for the past few years. I've shot over him a few times and figured out that I like it!

Shooter also loves pheasant, so I'd love to go somewhere for some good pheasant hunting - being in Florida, I'm guessing that there's no place remotely close where I can get him on some wild pheasant. Can anyone point me towards some info on the best states for pheasant hunting? I know SD - where else? Preferably closer, but geez, I'm going to be driving a LOT no matter what, so I guess it doesn't matter.

Here's a picture of my boy...

Welcome aboard. Nice looking dog. Probably the closest place to you for wild birds is Iowa. There is some really good hunting in the north central and northwest portion.

Ezzy

Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota should have good numbers of wild birds. Northern Missouri and Oklahoma have some as well.

Hmm.. pheasants, and from Florida, eh? Plan on a decently long trip.

i am just taking a wild hare guess from your first post, but it sounds like you have not hunted before. you should check license requirements. some states up here require that you either have a Firearms Safety Cert., or a prior license, in order to buy a nonresident hunting license.

Fine lookin' lad! Most states recognize hunting licenses from your home state in lieu of a safety cert, but check'em out anyway.

Welcome to the forum. As a matter of fact, yesterday our local paper had an article on Iowa ranking second in number of roosters harvested last season. We also expect this year to be better than last as we had a mild winter and so far a good spring (no flooding of nesting sites) all which should translate into a great hatch. So come to Iowa and you will not be disappointed. Here is our department of natural resources website. www.iadnr.com. Good luck.

Wagonmaster wrote:i am just taking a wild hare guess from your first post, but it sounds like you have not hunted before. you should check license requirements. some states up here require that you either have a Firearms Safety Cert., or a prior license, in order to buy a nonresident hunting license.

You done guessed right. Absolutely a good thing to check, thanks for the reminder!

I'll definitely give Iowa a look, too - thanks.

Most of what I've found no matter where I look is advertisements for hunts with guides and their dogs and so on. Well - that's great and all, but that kinda defeats the purpose. I want to bring MY dog and shoot over him. Can't find many places that will just let me hunt on their land.

Ayres, that's a nice looking boy you got there. Congrats on the SH legs, keep it up. I've done a lot of AKC trials and hunt tests with Shooter, we managed to finish his SH and DC this past season. Time for the real stuff.

phermes1 wrote:Ayres, that's a nice looking boy you got there. Congrats on the SH legs, keep it up. I've done a lot of AKC trials and hunt tests with Shooter, we managed to finish his SH and DC this past season. Time for the real stuff.

Thanks! That is a good lookin V you got there too. I failed to say that earlier, but rest assured that is what I was thinking. And I know how you feel about getting to the real stuff. I want my boy to finish up MH early this fall - the trainer doesn't recommend hunting wild birds until after he finishes up (easier to control planted birds to create training situations and avoid mistakes). I'm looking forward to getting done and back to the real stuff too.

Phermes I sent you a PM

I'll definitely give Iowa a look, too - thanks.

Well now, if you do and want a hunt on the "West coast" of Iowa, drop me a line or PM or email I know a couple places and since you are from way outta town