18 Nebraskaland • January-February 2021
IN THE FIELD
LATE-SEASON PHEASANTS
By Jeff Kurrus and Gerry Steinauer
PHOTO
BY
JUSTIN
HAAG
Late-season pheasant hunting can be a challenging, but
rewarding, adventure. To the hunters' advantage, most
others have stowed away their guns for the season and
there is less competition. To the pheasants' advantage, the
remaining roosters are now well-educated. Here are a few
tips to help you bag those wily roosters.
Pay Attention to Your Cover
The chill and snow of winter has pushed birds into dense,
insulating cover, so hunt thick grass or weed patches or
marshes. Also birds now avoid heavily hunted areas so seek
out-of-the-way places such as the back side of a marsh or
isolated patches of cover far from parking lots if hunting
public lands.
Be Quiet
The slamming of car doors, talking and constantly blowing
your dog whistle will send the now skittish roosters running.
To trap these prone to run roosters, zig-zag through fields in
an attempt to push them to field edges, or better yet, corners
where they will be forced to flush.
An After-Breakfast Hunt
There is no need to rush. Wait until mid-morning to hunt
after pheasants have fed in crop fields and settled in mid-day
loafing cover where they will be easier to approach.
More Bang
Late-season roosters tend to flush a bit farther out,
so consider using shells with more bang, perhaps 3-inch
magnums with a larger shot size.
After a Snow
In snow, learn to identify fresh rooster tracks, and trail
them for a flush.
Lastly, be prepared to walk, there are no easy roosters this
time of year.
