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Dog-less Bird Hunting
11/13/2009 5:27:25 PM
I know it is easier and more productive to hunt with a dog, but right now it is not an option for me.
So what are some tips or tricks you guys have that can make my hunts more successful?
I spent both Saturday and Sunday last weekend and didn't flush one bird. I am planning on going out again in the morning and would like to get at least one bird. It is getting frustrating spending all this time and getting no reward for it.
So what are some tips or tricks you guys have that can make my hunts more successful?
I spent both Saturday and Sunday last weekend and didn't flush one bird. I am planning on going out again in the morning and would like to get at least one bird. It is getting frustrating spending all this time and getting no reward for it.
11/13/2009 5:57:25 PM
What are you hunting, pheasant or quail? I have watched dozens of times as groups of dog-less hunters walk themselves dead in search of quail and left the field saying there were no birds, then in no time with a dog, I have found birds in those very fields. It is almost a necessity but if you try hard enough you will eventually get some birds.
11/13/2009 6:48:47 PM
Try to stick next to fence lines, by rivers and creeks if they have long grass . Making friends with someone that has a bird dog will help.
11/14/2009 11:57:50 AM
Well I got one this morning.
I worked my ass off for it. The birds wouldn't fly, all they wanted to do was run.
I am planning on getting a dog, right now I'm just trying to get the feel for things.
I worked my ass off for it. The birds wouldn't fly, all they wanted to do was run.
I am planning on getting a dog, right now I'm just trying to get the feel for things.
11/14/2009 10:42:18 PM
OP, what kind of birds are you hunting?
11/17/2009 7:23:36 AM
Originally Posted By flipper1:
Try to stick next to fence lines, by rivers and creeks if they have long grass .
Try to stick next to fence lines, by rivers and creeks if they have long grass .
+1
I have hunted Pheasant for years without a dog, ya it sucks going home empty handed most of the time, but when you bag one that’s big biz. The wild birds will only fly if cornered severely they will run right by you. The pen raised ones are just plain dumb and will fly very easy..
But you can always bag you a dove durring the season,, Dove are the Dog less hunters Pheasant
11/17/2009 6:15:58 PM
Originally Posted By Digital_Chaos:
+1
I have hunted Pheasant for years without a dog, ya it sucks going home empty handed most of the time, but when you bag one that’s big biz. The wild birds will only fly if cornered severely they will run right by you. The pen raised ones are just plain dumb and will fly very easy..
But you can always bag you a dove durring the season,, Dove are the Dog less hunters Pheasant
Originally Posted By flipper1:
Try to stick next to fence lines, by rivers and creeks if they have long grass .
Try to stick next to fence lines, by rivers and creeks if they have long grass .
+1
I have hunted Pheasant for years without a dog, ya it sucks going home empty handed most of the time, but when you bag one that’s big biz. The wild birds will only fly if cornered severely they will run right by you. The pen raised ones are just plain dumb and will fly very easy..
But you can always bag you a dove durring the season,, Dove are the Dog less hunters Pheasant
It's nice to have a dog for dove hunting simply because without a dog you always loose some birds. Any dog that isn't gunshy is a benefit when looking for your downed doves.
for pheasants it depends if you are hunting fields or ditches. Ditches you don't need a dog, but again it helps a little.
I went out quail hunting a couple weeks ago with no dog. There was so much cactus and other sharp pokey crap out there that frankly it would have been cruel to take a dog with us. Only got a couple. A dog may have helped, but quail numbers are really low this year.
11/17/2009 6:41:46 PM
I used to hunt grouse in WV with no dog (sometimes).
There they get around the old strip mines in the brush, around the sumac, the wild grapes, the blackberry briars, etc. Walk slow, stop every 6 or 8 steps and stand still for a few minutes (it seems to make them nervous and they'll jump themselves sometimes.)
There they get around the old strip mines in the brush, around the sumac, the wild grapes, the blackberry briars, etc. Walk slow, stop every 6 or 8 steps and stand still for a few minutes (it seems to make them nervous and they'll jump themselves sometimes.)
11/18/2009 10:38:20 PM
Also another tip is to slow down and listen. Especially if it is just a couple of guys. Zig and zag while walking and walk slow when in heavy cover.
11/23/2009 9:46:53 PM
Originally Posted By Whaledriver:
Also another tip is to slow down and listen. Especially if it is just a couple of guys. Zig and zag while walking and walk slow when in heavy cover.
Also another tip is to slow down and listen. Especially if it is just a couple of guys. Zig and zag while walking and walk slow when in heavy cover.
This is good advice.
Pheasants........
I like to walk into the wind, take my time, walk very slow and pause about 30 seconds every 30 feet or so. That tends to make the ones holding nervous and can get them to flush.
Walking into the wind allows you to get up on them without them running away from you as much as they do if you're walking with the wind.
If you get several up, pick one out and make sure you kill it and mark its drop. Hunting without a dog one of the biggest challenges can be finding a downed bird. This is of course complicated to the point of the impossible if you don't get it killed and it takes off running. There have been times when I hit a bird, it was headed down and I went ahead and shot again because I knew he wasn't dead and would run as soon as he hit the ground.
11/24/2009 10:33:00 AM
You ought to try and find some guys that have dogs to hunt with. I have dogs and I don't like to hunt by myself all the time so I try and take guys out that don't have dogs. That way my dogs get more work then when it's just me. The worst part about not having a dog is when you do shoot one and you can't find it.
12/4/2009 9:21:56 PM
I really like hunting with dogs for a number of reasons but most for their ability to find a downed bird. But since I don’t own a dog and am not going to get into that at this point in my life, hunting with a dog isn’t always practical for me. Additionally, sometimes its fun to go out and see how you can do on your own, that’s the way pheasants were originally hunted around here, nobody used dogs.
However you do it be sure to have fun, it’s more about the hunt that the kill………..at least it is for me.
However you do it be sure to have fun, it’s more about the hunt that the kill………..at least it is for me.
12/23/2009 2:49:01 AM
Quail is tough with no dog.
My friend and I go out all the time, we generally get a couple each trip. Just lots of walking. And they really like to hold. You can walk right by them and they wont move. Take 30 seconds to a minute every once in a while and just stand still and listen. Once, when doing this, I had a quail flush from right under my feet. No shit, when I looked down where he was, there were tail feathers under my boot. I was STANDING on the dang bird and he didn't flush.
My friend and I go out all the time, we generally get a couple each trip. Just lots of walking. And they really like to hold. You can walk right by them and they wont move. Take 30 seconds to a minute every once in a while and just stand still and listen. Once, when doing this, I had a quail flush from right under my feet. No shit, when I looked down where he was, there were tail feathers under my boot. I was STANDING on the dang bird and he didn't flush.
