NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/581251
22 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2015 TJ Walker Hunting Southwestern Nebraska One thing I've learned watching hunters and hunting pheasants myself is that hunters tend to become more predictable as the season moves on, always walking the same routes through fields. I can tell you that while pheasant behavior is also somewhat predictable, their "anti- predatory" responses aren't. Hunters that mix it up a bit – zig-zagging their trail, stopping to listen for 30 seconds, looping back around here and there – will have more luck, especially later in the season. And if you are hunting alone with a dog, let the dog lead the way. They know where to go. Another thing would be to resist the temptation to "hurry" to the end of the field when late season birds are flushing out of the end of the field you are hunting. You are not going to catch up with them, and those aren't the birds you are going to shoot. And truth be told (with radio telemetry and GPS data to support it) you are probably hurrying past as many birds as you are seeing flush, and those "tight sitters" are the ones you have a chance at. Jerrod Burke Hunting Southwestern Nebraska Pheasants are "edge birds." It doesn't take large blocks of habitat or an army of hunters to put birds in the bag. Unless the weather has been especially harsh or there has been a lot of hunting pressure you will likely find the most birds on the edges of fields close to food sources. Focusing on many small patches of habitat that fit the "edge" standard often times produces more birds, especially early in the season. Mark Davis Hunting Eastern Nebraska Before your hunt, with an unloaded shotgun, tape a small flashlight to the end of the barrel. Pick a place on the wall and practice bringing your gun to your shoulder with the flashlight on. This will help you get used to the proper position for the gun when raised in a hurry. The flashlight gives you an idea how close you are to your target. Also, when on the practice range, use a hand thrower instead of an electronic clay pigeon thrower. A hand thrower is less likely to be consistent – more like true hunting. My friends and I take turns throwing runners, left and right, high and low in an effort to confuse the shooter. It makes for a fun competition. ■ For more information on pheasant hunting, visit OutdoorNebraska.org. Instead of walking down cut winter wheat field rows, while hunting pheasants alter your routes, including walking across the rows. 22 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2015 PHOTO BY JEFF KURRUS