Cosmo and I have been pheasant hunting a few times now since deer season finished and it's been gangbusters.  The area I hunt is up a whopping 70% from last season according to the roadside count.

 

Stunning 44 degree sunny day today, finished in about 2 hours.  I don't know how many seasons or days I have left with this dog, but for now she is still charging ahead, finding them, and retrieving them.  I consider this a priceless experience with my loyal four legged friend.

 

Also, just for the record, I'm 9 for 9 shooting at roosters this season thus far.  I literally haven't missed one yet.  Not sure how long that can continue.  My previous record was 13 in a row, way back in 2007.

 

 

That’s great Gim. Birds are slowly making a comeback in Iowa. Which we need. 9/9 is fantastic. I’m horrible at shooting birds.

Your annual pheasant posts with Cosmo are literally some of my favorites of the year. Such a cool outing.

13 minutes ago, VolFan said:

Your annual pheasant posts with Cosmo are literally some of my favorites of the year. Such a cool outing.

 

You generally know when they're coming too.  Sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas here.

 

One of these days that dog is not going to be ably to physically do it anymore.  She turns 13 next month.

On 1/6/2025 at 4:15 PM, gim said:

 

You generally know when they're coming too.  Sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas here.

 

One of these days that dog is not going to be ably to physically do it anymore.  She turns 13 next month.

@gim 13 years, that’s awesome. She is a good looking dog. Although my in laws were not hunters my FIL had a soft spot for labs and had 2 black labs at different times during which he was a boater which both the dogs and myself got to enjoy. 

2 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

13 years, that’s awesome. She is a good looking dog.

Thanks Eric, she has a routine bi-annual comprehensive health check on Monday.

 

Warmer weather takes a higher toll on her, I can see it. She has a lot more energy in the winter. I cannot take her in the boat fishing as often anymore because she over heats easily.

 

I’ve been using glucosamine supplements in her diet for the past 6 months based on advice from the vet. It’s supposed to help with joints, hips, and knees in older dogs.

Glucosamine is good stuff for old dogs , we also have a 13 year old and 10+ dog. 

My dad has been giving his 2 Great Danes glucosamine for a couple years now and swears by it. We’re getting ready to do the same for our older dogs as per the vet also and just picked up a senior formula dog food that has both glucosamine and chondroitine added to the food.

On 12/7/2024 at 4:08 PM, Loomis13 said:

That’s great Gim. Birds are slowly making a comeback in Iowa. Which we need. 9/9 is fantastic. I’m horrible at shooting birds.

The population in Calhoun county where my parents live is outstanding and has been for 5 years or so.  

 

I miss it a lot sometimes, but not enough to buy an out of state license.  

 

There are like 0 pheasants in my area of Wisconsin outside game/hunt clubs which release hatchery birds.  I did pick up waterfowl hunting this year and found that I have a couple really good goose recipes...still not like pheasant though.

2 hours ago, dwtaylor said:

There are like 0 pheasants in my area of Wisconsin

Wisconsin may not have a robust pheasant population but most of the state is definitely considered prime deer and turkey habitat. Western Wisconsin consistently produces the biggest whitetail bucks in North America.

14 hours ago, dwtaylor said:

The population in Calhoun county where my parents live is outstanding and has been for 5 years or so.  

 

I miss it a lot sometimes, but not enough to buy an out of state license.  

 

There are like 0 pheasants in my area of Wisconsin outside game/hunt clubs which release hatchery birds.  I did pick up waterfowl hunting this year and found that I have a couple really good goose recipes...still not like pheasant though.

Our ornithology professor always called ring neck pheasants Chinese chickens. Delicious, but not native to America so you’re only hope at a population booming is large numbers of escapees from the hunt clubs 

 

 

This. Is. OUTSTANDING!

11 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Chinese chickens

It’s true, they aren’t native. They originated in China. Oregon released a small amount many years ago and they proliferated across many parts of the country, primarily in the plains states of the Midwest.

 

The key to wild upland bird populations are 1) habitat, and 2) weather. Pen raised birds (aka flare nares) do nothing to supplement wild populations because they grow up in a barn. They have no survivability or wild instinct. Honestly, they act more like domesticated poultry than wild pheasants IMO. No challenge whatsoever.

I’m jealous, all we get here are stocked, it’s all over about 15 minutes after sunrise.

So fun!  Bucket list for sure. 

On 2/25/2025 at 4:45 PM, gim said:

It’s true, they aren’t native. They originated in China. Oregon released a small amount many years ago and they proliferated across many parts of the country, primarily in the plains states of the Midwest.

 

The key to wild upland bird populations are 1) habitat, and 2) weather. Pen raised birds (aka flare nares) do nothing to supplement wild populations because they grow up in a barn. They have no survivability or wild instinct. Honestly, they act more like domesticated poultry than wild pheasants IMO. No challenge whatsoever.

 i have never hunted feral birds..  only on a farm operation.  zero challenge.

 

true story.  i got invited by a couple of coworkers.  i accepted mainly to watch his dogs work.  they were pretty spectacular.  the pheasants?  nope.  boring.  they would explode out of cover with the enthusiasm of a runaway party balloon.   this one lifted off, and the guys went full auto (sounded like it).  no one connected.  they were awful shots.  i had the time to ask them, "you all done?'

 

then BOOM.  i dropped the nearly hovering bird.    the range/farm owner invited me to hit the other sections to mop up.  i passed.   too easy.  i made the mental promise to myself to go after wild birds one day.  soooo...one day.  hopefully soon.

3 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

i accepted mainly to watch his dogs work.

The barn raised released versions are really good for dog training because they’re dumb and slow. It guarantees success. It greatly helps train a young dog.

 

Beyond that, there’s no use. Zero challenge for the hunter.

On 5/20/2025 at 3:21 PM, gim said:

The barn raised released versions are really good for dog training because they’re dumb and slow. It guarantees success. It greatly helps train a young dog.

 

Beyond that, there’s no use. Zero challenge for the hunter.

zero challenge.  agreed

3 hours ago, MaxXSaker said:

A 70% increase in birds is impressive, and it’s heartwarming to hear how well Cosmo is still performing - treasuring those moments with a loyal dog is what makes hunting so special. Your shooting streak is remarkable too; here’s to hoping it continues deep into the season.

 

This is kind of an outdated thread now but they just released the August roadside count here and it's up another 85% from last year.

 

I expect to hunt again later this season with my dog too.  Turns 14 in February.

Always one of my favorite posts of the year!

One of my favorites too, I have a springer spaniel here and no pheasants in (at least my part of) NH. She does love the grouse though!

On 12/7/2024 at 3:08 PM, gim said:

 

 

Seinfeld fan??????

 

She is in fact named after the K man.

 

I’ve seen every episode at least 40 times. I know every line before it’s coming.

 

Awesome. Don't know how I missed this the first go round.