uplandchessies
09-30-2002, 09:46 PM
Well, I just got back from eleven days of bird hunting in three states and the outcome was not that great. Although it is a little comforting since we lost two days of hunting out west, it still doesn't make up for the lack of habitat and birds. We lost two days of hunting, because my buddies plane that was due into Billings, MT on the 20th, came in at noon on the 21st. Because of the weather in Cincinati, everyone on-board missed their connection in SLC. Things got even worse when I arrived to pick him up on the 21st. Delta lost his hunting gear -- including his gun! They found it and got it to us, but that was two days we missed out on. I was able to bag 3 sharptails in MT on the day my buddy was supposed to arrive, but we didn't see another bird the one day we hunted there together.
South Dakota wasn't any better! When we got there (two days late), we were faced with no habitat and other hunters telling us we should go home. One guy from OK said that in 680 miles of driving, the habitat looked like desert. He said opening day he counted 60+ pick-ups with dog boxes -- the second day, three. He wasn't wrong! We were able to hunt two days there and other than me bagging a prairie chicken on the last walk through before we headed back to Billings, that was it. One did flush wild and that's when I bagged the one I got. My buddy didn't fire a shot the entire trip. I bagged 4 birds, hit another and fired a total of six shells for the entire trip. Looking back, we probably would have done a little better in MT.
The Northern LP of Michigan doesn't look much better for you grouse hunters. In three days up there we flushed ten grouse and that includes reflushes. On top of that, the flushes were all wild with the exception of one, which should have come home with us. If your after woodcock alone, then it looks good. We bagged 27 and the flight birds had not arrived yet.
If any of you have plans for a trip out west, I wish you all the best. If it were me, I would consider going someplace else. We did see some pheasant while in SD, but it was when we were driving -- we didn't flush one while hunting and that's with an experienced bird dog.
South Dakota wasn't any better! When we got there (two days late), we were faced with no habitat and other hunters telling us we should go home. One guy from OK said that in 680 miles of driving, the habitat looked like desert. He said opening day he counted 60+ pick-ups with dog boxes -- the second day, three. He wasn't wrong! We were able to hunt two days there and other than me bagging a prairie chicken on the last walk through before we headed back to Billings, that was it. One did flush wild and that's when I bagged the one I got. My buddy didn't fire a shot the entire trip. I bagged 4 birds, hit another and fired a total of six shells for the entire trip. Looking back, we probably would have done a little better in MT.
The Northern LP of Michigan doesn't look much better for you grouse hunters. In three days up there we flushed ten grouse and that includes reflushes. On top of that, the flushes were all wild with the exception of one, which should have come home with us. If your after woodcock alone, then it looks good. We bagged 27 and the flight birds had not arrived yet.
If any of you have plans for a trip out west, I wish you all the best. If it were me, I would consider going someplace else. We did see some pheasant while in SD, but it was when we were driving -- we didn't flush one while hunting and that's with an experienced bird dog.