First Self Guided Upland Bird Hunting Trip
Self Guided Hunt Exection
As a do it yourself hunts organization we are set for execution of wild pheasant and quail hunts. We do not train hunters, dogs or conduct propagation. Simply, just the execution of private land self guided upland bird hunting. However, we have observed a good many new to the Association pass on what has been the most successful approach to our wild quail and pheasant self guided hunts.
Take Away The Mystery With A Plan
This is our attempt to remove some of the mystery for the first time Iowa, Missouri or Kansas self guided hunter.
The idea is that those that hunt with us will have a plan long before leaving home. All will know exactly where they will be hunting each day of the entire trip. Plus have a place to stay. The importance of this is each hunter can have the adventure of new spots, hunt both pheasant and quail and enjoy the challenge of learning a variety of habitat. That same hunter may feel confident that when finding a favored spot of returning to that region each hunt.
Self Guided Hunter Upland Bird Hunting Mistakes
The first aspect that occurs once hunters find the range of options we offer is to try to do too much right from the start.
A common misstep is to try and hunt each of our three states as seasons open. They do so sequentially from Iowa to Missouri to Kansas. This grows into repeatedly retracing those hunts through the season.
This multi state approach does have the advantage of offering a type of tour of the three states. That will show a great range of habitat. Within that range of habitat most hunters will find one more suited to his dog power and preferences than the other. If the idea is to take such a tour, then that is a good course of action to take. That is as long as the attitude is to learn regions and not the the better farms within any one region. It is frequently in contrast with the dynamic that is far more prevalent that hunters want successful hunts as soon as possible.
Fast Track To Wild Quail Coveys and Wiley Pheasants
Those that seek the most successful hunting on the fastest track possible will do better by taking a more concentrated approach to breaking into the Association lease land.
That concentrated approach begins with settling on one species between the wild quail and pheasant we offer. After that decision contact either Jon Nee (he runs pointers almost exclusively for quail) or John Wenzel (setters and brittanys spread between pheasant and quail hunts). They will recommend a choice of regions of where to hunt.
Once a region is selected that hunter is well advise to spend the majority of his first season hunts within that region. Not necessarily covering the same farm from day to day. Any one region will have tens of thousands of acres. But the concentration is on that region's predominate habitat type - the key point. Learn the habitat and how that one species occupies that cover.
That first season hunter if concentrating on a particular habitat type within one region will soon find increasing levels of success on subsequent days and hunts. As success grow so does satisfaction. Once a certain level of satisfaction is achieved that same hunter should expand his horizons.
Create Choices The Key To Continued Hunting Satisfaction
Expanding horizons is the development of the same concentrated understanding of habitat in a nearby region. Having knowledge of a second area allows for the choice of where to hunt on subsequent hunts or seasons.
That having a choice will become all the more valuable when a specific region's spring nesting and brood period experiences adverse weather one year while the other region does not. Having that preparation work accomplished in more than one region allows for that flexibility of having a choice of where to hunt based on population cycles. That may make all the difference to salvaging a hunt during a bad weather year. It also a good way of maximizing a first season pup's exposure to more quail and pheasant than most have had before.
That last point about first year dog exposure to wild game is the ideal fit to our self guided hunter approach. This aspect of working with the hunter capable of his own hunt execution and dog training makes life a lot easier than those that required a guided effort. That sense of ease makes more energy available to find better land.
Once a hunter has at least two regions of good boots on the ground time for his first choice (quail or pheasant) then expanding out is the next step. That stepping out is to new habitat types which allows for that added bit of adventure of exploring new ground.
Under this concentrated approach to breaking into MAHA leases it will take 1-1/2 to 2 seasons worth of time. That time can only be paid for by the hunter with his walking the land.
