Hunting Pheasant and Quail without dogs?

[GeneRector]

  Howdy! I have an opportunity to hunt some public land that has quail and pheasant. I don't have any bird dogs and I would probably hunt on my on during the season. How successful can you be if you hunt without dogs?  Your views appreciated!  Thanks!

[dukkillr]

you will not be very sucessful and you will end up extremely frustrated.  Pheasants, particularly on public ground, get smart.  You'll walk right by them, they'll circle around you, or they'll get up 200 yards in front of you.  Plus you're going to end up losing a lot of birds.  A wounded pheasant can easily outrun a human and they will bury themselves so deep in stuff you'll never see them again.

My advice:  Find a buddy who has a dog, or even try to hook up with someone at the public ground.  I've invited people, especially kids, to join my hunt when it's clear they'll be better off with the company. 

Maybe even try a pound lab if money is the issue?

[Don Fischer]

Hunting birds without a dog? Who ya gonna share your lunch with?

[308Win]

I jump shoot Quail relatively easy without dogs, Pheasants tend to hide in thick heavy cover in NYS making dogs advisable.Without them you will tear your trousers and come out covered with burdock.

[RBishop]

I would like to have $10 for every quail I killed as a kid without a dog. Don't know anything about pheasants, didnt have them on the farm here in TN!

[jmm1245]

When I lived in PA I did very well on Pheasant w/out a dog. I hunted long days on public land mostly focusing on natrual pinch points or in the woods where others wouldn't go. I typically harvested 35-40 birds a year this way. I will admit then when asked to join a party with a dog, I was amazed by how many birds I walked right by.

jmm1245

[lewdogg21]

Pheasants without a dog is like going to war without a gun. 

I can't tell you how many times I've had my lab on the bird and its literally right in front of me and i can't see it or it hasn't flushed. Basically your setting yourself up for a long days walk.  The only chance you would have is if you see them standing on a road somewhere and see where they go in and you get there ASAP but with utmost quiet. 

[Selmer]

I'll disagree with the "have to have a dog" guys.  We never owned a dog growing up and were extrememly successful, but on primarily private land.  Look for smaller grass strips or good ditch cover and try to work it slowly.  The roosters that will flush are the ones that hear you come in and then don't hear you at all.  They'll get nervous and finally go for the flying escape, or they'll run, but you won't see those birds.  It can be difficult, but don't just crash through as much cover as you can as fast as you can, you might put up a bird or two, but if they know exactly where you are, they'll be where they are safe.  Dad had a great weekend up in the middle of SD for the opener last weekend.  Their party killed 138 in three days. 
Selmer

[lucky guy]

It's always better with a dog, but I've done pretty well with quail on public land without a dog.  I've done the best early in the season before the birds get thinned out and scattered. 

One thing I've noticed is when you jump the covey watch where the singles and doubles go down.  They usually won't fly far and once they go down they won't move much.  If you see where they light you can go after them and they'll probably still be there.

I think a bigger problem without a dog is finding the downed birds, especially if they're not a clean kill and they burrow into the brush after they go down.  Mark where they go down the best you can and be persistent in digging them out once you get there.  In the sage and greasewood arid areas I hunt the backs are just about the same color as the wood and they can be really tough to find once they nestle down in there.

I won't have those problems next year, my english setter puppy is due to be born in about 10 days!   



   

[jmckinley]

  I agree with a couple of posts pheasants can drive you carzy with the sprinter legs but if you are careful you'll take a few birds. Find isolated cover one than has only one escape route and I have taken many birds from those areas. If you walk heavy cover stop and be perfectly still. There are times when the birds can't stand this and flush. The best bet is find a couple of friends and block and push and you'll have better luck. i hunt quail here in NM w/o dogs and do fine . It's hard work but it can be done. If the darn things fly up hill I will not chase . When got where u thought they were they're waving at u from the next hill. I  back off and search for other birds. I haven't went hungry yet. God luck,  Jess PS. I have hunter these birds for over 40 years and I know one thing for sure, regardless a day in the field beats anything I know except well>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[moxgrove]

If you don't have a dog, bring a kid! They can weedle into those tight spots where the birds hide. You canget birds w/o a dog but you really have to work at it. stick to edges and choke points. They will usually try to hide there. Having a buddy does help all kidding aside. you can take turns being the flusher. Otherwise just watch the terrain and keep moving. If nothing else, you will get a work out.

[Wayne from Maine]

I have hunted pheasants on SD for three years now, and have hunted grouse for twenty years or more without a dog.  Some of the time in SD we hunt in large parties and dogs are not necessary, but are nice to get into some areas in shelter belts that are otherwise hard to reach.  I tend to stay a day or so longer than the rest of the party and have hunted alone without dogs or in groups of three or four without dogs.  No doubt it is harder in the small groups or alone without dogs because the pheasant can outrun you and will sometimes let you walk by.  That is not to say it is impossible.  It takes a lot better understanding of the bird's likely actions and some tactical planning.  If you have hunted ruffed grouse without a dog you already know about tactics.  Much of the same things apply.  You have to know what kind of cover the birds will be in and where they are likely to go when flushed.  You then have to approach that cover so that you can get that shot when they go.  Yes, it is harder.

That being said I have already put a deposit on a lab and get it the end of April.  I am hoping to do less hunting by surprise.

[Arizona Jake]

While there are no pheasants out here in the Arizona desert, there are plenty of Gambel's, Scaled and Mearns quail to keep us busy.

I've always done very well hunting quail out here WITHOUT a dog, and find a dog to be more of a hindrance than help, except when hunting for Mearns quail, which inhabit the nastiest oak canyons and hold very tight.

Every time my hunting buddy brings his Brittany along, we spend more time plucking thorns off the poor dog's feet than hunting, not to mention removing pieces of cholla pods, etc.

Dogs are a necessity for hunting pheasants in the midwest, but not needed for desert quail.

Good Hunting,

JB

[nodlenor]

Never tried pheasant without a dog but I used to hunt quail without a dog when there were a lot more of them. I suppose it would make a difference where you are hunting and what kind of ground you are hunting on. A good dog would save you a lot of extra walking and save time by finding birds for you also for me having a dog and watching him (or her) work is a big part of bird hunting.

[mattmillerrx]

I too grew up hunting with out a dog ( quail ).  I would still recommend having some one else go with you dog or not it makes it easier to flush em and watch were they go down so you can follow.