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Post by ski on Nov 2, 2010 9:49:59 GMT -5
Two more days until the opener and the weather looks to be pretty good. It should be a frosty morning and I have seven days off work to enjoy it with. Dog and gear are ready and I have a couple spots at FWA's I will be trying. May all have a safe and enjoyable season.
Perhaps all five of the people that visit this thread will share their experiences here ;D
Cary
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Post by verno427 on Nov 4, 2010 18:45:41 GMT -5
good luck ski, i just moved to nw indiana really dont know anywhere that is good for public land a friend has land by beecher il so thats where we always go, best of luck tommorow
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Post by stubbleducker on Nov 5, 2010 5:57:55 GMT -5
Good luck to all. Won't be getting out this week, but one week from today will be driving my 11 yr old to KS to chase a couple birds around. Can't wait!!!
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Post by ski on Nov 5, 2010 14:38:00 GMT -5
well, got skunked on day one.
Had a beautiful day and a great time with Sophie, but I left her beeper collar charging at home (it is good and charged now!) and also forgot my whistle and camera. I couldn't let her range normally as she is very hard to keep track of without the beeper - it is just so hard to see her. Conditions were very dry, windy and cool.
Will try again soon and hopefully get a picture or two. Saw some beautiful cover!
Pretty nice by Beecher.. good luck verno. Stop in at Beecher Meat and Liquor. ;D
Good luck in Kansas Stubble!
Cary
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Post by ActionPoint on Nov 6, 2010 11:31:27 GMT -5
Didn't see a single pheasant yesterday. I've hunted this particular area for five years and have never been blanked, muchless gone without seeing a bird. I did find a couple dead turkeys, which is as disturbing as not seeing any pheasants. Looks i'm gonna have to spend some extra time doing some predator control this year.
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Post by throbak on Nov 6, 2010 19:30:32 GMT -5
jumped 35 birds would have been done at 11:00 if we could have been better shots, wild birds too
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Post by ski on Nov 7, 2010 8:02:19 GMT -5
how can you miss a pheasant? ;D (been there, done it!) Sounds like a great time was had, throbak! Sophie took some stubble to her front right paw and punctured a pad. Rested her yesterday and will again today, but situation is now in doubt for the early season vacation. Either the vet or the field monday.  Those late-cut firerows the DNR cut right before the season are like beds of nails in this dry weather. thanks to all for posting. Very interested in how it is going for everyone. |
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Post by gilder on Nov 7, 2010 17:39:24 GMT -5
Good luck to all. Won't be getting out this week, but one week from today will be driving my 11 yr old to KS to chase a couple birds around. Can't wait!!! I want to go to Kansas, can you recommend a place? Thank you. |
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Post by ski on Nov 8, 2010 17:33:46 GMT -5
Have to say I am pretty proud of Sophie today. A bit of background is needed: As a pup, I had her retrieving to hand, but after a lot of working OT and medical issues, she went a long time without seeeing birds shot. I plan to spend more time at a hunt club to work with her, but back to the story... Very warm and dry conditions today as I visted our FWA of choice. We saw no pheasants, but she pointed 2 woodcock and 25 or so quail. I was loaded for pheasant for the first covey and missed twice and then once more on a single.  While making one more pass, she pointed up another covey and I got a double here in some very thick cover. I had two birds down but Sophie wasn't doing too well. In the thick cover she started to overheat, so I cooled her a bit, then took her to the truck for rest as I went back to look for the birds. Not a chance in this thick cover and I was feeling pretty low as this was a limit for this FWA and I sure did not want to lose those birds. I took Sophie to the HQ for awhile and noticed she was back to normal, so we went back to the area for another look. I did not take my gun as one way or another, I figured I shot my limit. After her rest, Sophie was like a machine! She points a single that we flush, then another. All I can do is watch. She is fired up and I walk her through the area I think the bird is, but she keys in much closer in. Ah ha! She found the first bird. It is quite warm in the weeds and she shows stress again. I take her to cool off and she looks like she can do one more run. Again, she is like a machine and in short order, she finds number two bird! I have my limit. The cover was very thick and these would not have been found without dogs. Think I will sit out most of the unusually warm weather before going out again. Sophie with the first quail. A scratched-up and very raw dog sits with both quail. |
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Post by stubbleducker on Nov 9, 2010 10:13:54 GMT -5
Way to go, Sophie!!!! Great looking dog! I want to go to Kansas, can you recommend a place? Thank you. Go to the KS div of Wildlife & Parks website and download the WalkIn Hunting area atlas. Opening weekend is a zoo on public land but aftwards anyplace in the western half of the state, especially the larger plots, gets little pressure. You can download the locations into your GPS directly from their website, then just drive around til you find something that suits your fancy. They've got a couple more birds than in Indiana, so your chances are pretty good! West and North Central are supposedly having a banner hatch this year according to the KDWP. Or you could just follow JackC around through the snowdrifts!! |
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Post by gwpman on Nov 9, 2010 21:38:55 GMT -5
Ski,
how many parties drew for the TNC?
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Post by ski on Nov 10, 2010 1:55:16 GMT -5
Sorry, I did not wait for the draw and went out at the crack of dawn. I did not see how many drew. I saw two other hunters that blanked out where I hunted.
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Post by gilder on Nov 11, 2010 20:31:41 GMT -5
Thank you very much, that is everything I needed.
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Post by ski on Nov 12, 2010 8:00:58 GMT -5
I hunted on Veteran's Day and noted that party numbers for the TNC were quite low, with spots open through the day.
I am kind of letdown by the DNR... the great FWA cover that held the birds earlier in the week was now criss-crossed with fresh cut lanes. The wide cover fields we all know we need for supporting bird numbers were now cut up into patches no wider than 40 yards.
rant over...
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Post by gwpman on Nov 18, 2010 21:28:51 GMT -5
Thanks for the heads up ski. ill be out there sunday morning.
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Post by ski on Nov 20, 2010 15:14:50 GMT -5
Hope to go myself Sunday, I'll be the guy with the upland shirt and pants on.  They will be drawing for the properties on the west side of US 41, I believe. |
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Post by gwpman on Nov 20, 2010 17:42:51 GMT -5
I scouted the TNC today. I cant believe how dry it was. I didnt see a lot of guys doin put/take.
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Post by ski on Nov 20, 2010 18:09:43 GMT -5
yes, very dry. There is water in the ditches in the TNC just north of area 13. Birds are out there but pretty cagey.
I am hoping we get the drizzle they are predicting tonight, but from what I am seeing it doesn't look like it will. Have not had good conditions even once this season. I have the week after Thanksgiving off and will hit a couple clean-up hunts if I don't go tomorrow.
Pretty odd about the P/T hunters... they are all pre-reg'd and paid for already.
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Post by gwpman on Nov 20, 2010 20:14:56 GMT -5
The cover looks great on the east side of the road. I wish they would do that on both sides. Looks more natural. Hopefully the burn will bring in more natural grasses. and maybe quail.
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