Annual Family Pheasant Hunt

[Mule Packer]

For the past four years, our oldest son and his three boys have come up to the ol' homestead for a pheasant hunt. There's a local pheasant club, so it gives the boys a chance to go out and bag a few birds. Once again, great hunt. I'm at the point now where watching the dogs work and watching my grandsons shoot are the big highlights of the day for me. Came home, plucked birds, cleaned guns by the wood stove and watched football. Doesn't get much better than that.

 

[SMSgt]

Great! I used to hunt pheasants in eastern WA, but being mostly wheat fed, I never thought they had much taste. Sage-fed pheasants is a totally different story, so I hope your bunch made a good meal of them.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Chip, that is a nice photo to document a glorious day.

You're gonna need a big glass to put those under.

 

[robvious]

time with family outdoors, hunting and the promise of a pheasant dinner.. sounds like a perfect day..

 

[Pig Hunter]

Family pheasant hunts are always something special! Glad you had some birds for the dogs.

 

[Jebus35745]

Looks like fun and a great way to leave a memory with the grandkids. Beautiful scene behind you also. Perfect day, Larry

 

[Valmet]

Looks like a whole lotta fun and you did well!

 

[MRB1]

Pheasants taught me how bad of a shot I am. Great fun, and they are safe.

 

[llowry61]

Looks like a good time was had by all. Great to see the grandchildren showing an interest in hunting. Pheasant on T-Day used to be a tradition here in the midwest. All cornfed and tasty!

 

[SMSgt]

Pheasants will test your sphincter muscles.

 

[Rudi]

Great stuff there!

 

[Skeet 028]

We didn't have Pheasants where I lived...but we had big family rabbit hunts. We always got a few quail too. My mother loved quail and ducks especially wood ducks.. Of course I shot lots of wood ducks

 

[lihpster]

We didn't have Pheasants where I lived...but we had big family rabbit hunts. We always got a few quail too. My mother loved quail and ducks especially wood ducks.. Of course I shot lots of wood ducks

In the '70s here, a scout was going for Eagle and his project was putting up nesting boxes for wood ducks. My father helped him, making many of the boxes himself and he and the scout and others the scout could convince to help put up somewhere between 50 and 100 boxes. We would be floating down the river and he would point them out. Seemed like they were all over.

 

[STCM(SW)]

My German Short haired pointer would find more pheasants then the limit in NJ & PA back in the 1970's....

 

[max]

I was in South Dakota about a month ago for my 26th annual trip out there. I have become very close to the family we hunt with. I have given all of the grand kids a shotgun and the daughter I missed, I gave her cash this year as she now has 2 kids of her own. This year I gave one of the kids, his second gun.

I am getting older and may not make it back but we had a great time this year.

 

[TheHobbyist]

That may be the description of a perfect day.

How did you cook that fancy chicken?

Thanks for sharing. Best, TH

 

[zeke]

Some best memories were small game hunting with grandfather, although pheasant were a special treat to come across. And am very pleased to see some still plucking birds!

 

[WardenRoss]

I've Pheasant hunted in South Dakota. Quite the experience for a son of the deep south!

The pic below is of my dad and uncle James, circa 1927. My Granpappy Ross owned and operated a qual plantation. My dad was the dog handler starting at six-years old.

Interesting that back then the hunting dogs (pointers and setters) were all obedience trained. When the leash goes on, they went into obedient mode. Even a small boy could handle a pack.

The dogs were never kenneled and stayed on the porch of the big house. My grandmother and the sisters were left alone cooking for all the farm hands. All the men folk were out working the farm. The dogs guarded the house. Lord help the stranger that attempted to approach the big house.

My folks took the dog training seriously with a lot of pride.

 

[SS336]

What a great time you had with your family. I have to say I'm a little more than jealous. Making memories the old fashioned way.