Late Season Pheasant

January 14, 2011 Lock, Stock and Bedlam No Comments

There is still plenty of time to take advantage of some of the best pheasant hunting in Nebraska by joining the few but proud late season hunters. Hershy and I were discussing this on our Nebraska Outdoors Radio Show (every Thursday from 6pm – 7pm on Lincoln’s 1240 AM KFOR) and I told him the late season did not officially start until January and oh boy are we here!

Late season birds act a little different than they did during the relaxing days of fall. The weather has them forced into habitats that offer access to necessary cover and access to what little food is available. They can be skittish if already hunted earlier but… over 75% of our pheasant hunters have not been in the field since late November! Many times I find late season birds to hold as tight as opening day birds! Find the thick cover such as lowland thicker areas in CRP, cattails near wetlands, etc. and you will find birds. The closer these areas are to grain fields that have good supplies of waste grain the better. You may not get away with lots of noise on your approach but a stealthy sneak should put you right on them. Also…don’t get caught up in hunting a field in any one direction if using a dog…just let the dog work the field and follow. They know how to find these elusive critters. Wear some orange, keep you zones of fire safe and have fun!

Get Em’ Out There

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