What happened to small game hunting? Truth be told, I like it better than anything else. I probably shouldn't say that on this site, but I do. I live in New York and there are only a few options. Those being duck, rabbit, squirrel and ruffed grouse. There used to be a big pheasant population here in the 60's and 70's (I wasn't around), but it is pretty much gone. I hear there are pockets of a few birds here and there, but access is very difficult. Rabbit hunting is pretty good here, but again, access is the issue. Every year something changes and land is lost. Twenty years ago, we could hunt all day for bunnies and never worry about borders. Gone. Squirrels are abundant on the lands I hunt, but I really don't care for their table fare. So, I maybe go once in September and that's it. But, I love hunting them. They are like stalk hunting stupid deer! Especially when you use a .22 (that is all I use). Duck hunting is so freaking expensive and access is almost impossible. Dove hunting is probably my ultimate favorite, but illegal here in NY. I got to do it when I had business in Texas and when I lived in Ohio. AWESOME!! Our deer season is over in New York and now I will be pursuing small game until February 28th! Anyone else out there hunt the little ones?
I really enjoy dove hunting but thats about the only small game I hunt. It's honestly been at least 3 years since I've even seen a rabbit while hunting. I can't hit a quail lol, so I seldom hunt them.
We don't have quail here, but I have hunted them on game farms. Lot's of fun and even better on the table. When I made more money I used to go to the game farms at least once a month for pheasants, chukar and quail. But I cannot afford it anymore. I no longer have a pointer and the pheasants are $20 a piece AND they have minimums! Back in the day I could go by myself and purchase 3 birds and it only set you back $50. Not bad for 4 hours of entertainment and food on the table. But now they have like $200 minimums. Bummer. Since the coyotes got a strong foothold here (the last 15 years), the rabbits sightings have been way down. We shoot less rabbits as the year goes on, but even less now with the yotes.
I used to small game hunt alot when I was in high school, but then I picked up bowhunting and the small game took a back seat. About the last 4 years now I guess I have gotten back to my roots and have started to squirrel hunt a little and pheasant hunt alot. Actually, I sit here with an open buck tag and will be spending the weekend chasing roosters rather than bucks. Watching the dog work and having a rooster explode from the snow beneath your feet is just so much fun.
Me and my yellow boy love to bust the brush after them pheasants and grouse too. But ever since I got my Redtail trained, me and him have been chasing rabbits with the hawk. Another plus is that we can hunt till the end of March with the hawk too..
Great photos, guys! thanks for sharing. You shouldn't be talking there PT! When I saw that screen name "buttonbuckmaster", I thought it was one of your names!! How are the pheasant populations for you guys in Minn and Upstate NY?? Do you get many flushes per hunt? Sal
All the pheasants around here are all put-n-take birds the state stocks on state land. They release a couple times a week up until deer season starts then you have to really hunt hard to find the leftover stragglers. I actually like hunting the late season better - granted you don't have as many flushes but you don't have the crowds to deal with..
MN harvests about 300,000 birds per year, all are wild. The population is down a little this year after two tough winters in a row. Pre-snowfall, I would expect to get 10-20 flushes per hunt on public land. After snow is on the ground, it is feast or famine. You should expect to either flush 0 or flush 50-200 birds. Late season there are fewer hunters because of the snow, but when you find the birds, you really find them.
That sounds similar to here. I have spoken with people and they say they are pretty much all gone after the first week. they only release one time out here and it is like 2 days before the season. I have had success going on opening day, but it is dangerous. My nephew got shot in the leg on time, Preacher Tony shot the window out of a sedan (LOL!!!) another time and there are guys doing all kinds of stupid crap. Holy crap! I would have never guessed that MN had that kind of a population, especially with the winters you all have. Buffalo does not get as much snow as everybody thinks, but they didn't make it here. I am not sure why. some say clean farming (removal of hedgerows to maximize crops) some say pesticides, etc. I really wish they would rebound, but with all the sprawl out here, I do not think it will ever happen. I used to have a Brittany that was a whiz at pheasant, quail, and chukar hunting farm birds. When I took him on wild ones in Ohio (pheasant), he would get to close for them and they would flush (always out of range, he ranged far). But he was good on woodcock and grouse also. He was also descent on retrieving dead doves. Miss that dog.... Sal
looking forward to pounding some brush this year for bunnies .... next fall ...pheasants with Fiona ... hey, that sounds like a hunting show ... :D Sal... my button bucks are ALWAYS bigger than yours
i love my upland hunting. I dont do it as much since my ex stole my dog, but man is it addicting a coupla the places i hunt do so much put and take hunting that they have a year round breeding population of pheasant and quail. that way i dont have to pay. i used to be a straight up waterfowl ADDICT. layout hunting for geese and swamp ducks is pretty amazing.
MN, numbers are waaaaaaaaaaaaaay down from what i hear. even at the game farms. buddy owns and operates Traxlers and because of the snow said his business lost over $500K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you look like you have a good dog(s) and that helps a ton in the deep stuff these past few yrs up there. good luck to you guys! as for me since i moved to IL 4yrs ago i havent small game hunted at all, but credit it to much of my woodsmenship and 95% of my marksmanship! (the other 5% thanks to BB rifle and G.I. JOEs!) would love to get back in the small game saddle w/ my .22!
Man, sounds like a good thing going with the population. Get another dog if you can! I would but my wife is a Big time. I love waterfowl and bought my first layout blind for geese, but I have no idea what I am doing. We kill some geese in September and go to the finger lakes about every other year for the duck opener, but we go with seasoned veterans. I LOVE wingshooting. I want in on this trip if it comes to pass! PLEASE?!?!
