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Pheasant and Quail

Do it yourself Iowa private land upland bird hunting for both pheasant and quail in the region in Iowa where these two upland birds exist in huntable numbers as overlapping wild bird populations.

Highlighted by the yellow line is the region in Iowa where the Grand River watershed crosses over from Missouri. This area has recurring large grain crop fields crossed by numerous dry brush filled drains allowing for combination habitat well suited for pheasant and quail. This is where we lease private Iowa bird hunting land.

While many Iowa upland bird hunters choose to concentrate on Iowa pheasant hunting, the quail in this Iowa region will offer another chance to expand their experience.

This experience is for the self guided hunter of his own dogs that enjoy their dog work more than just the birds. The chance to have a mixed bag bird hunt of pheasant and quail is the same opportunity the Ruff Grouse and Woodcock hunter achieves in the northern woods. That little bit of added adventure that makes a good day even better.

Any quail hunter that expects a limit every day has limited experience on wild quail or pheasant hunting. Between this father and son combination it took them all day to get eight combined. The dad's comments were: "Here is a photo from yesterday. TJ got 3 by himself and doubled on another with me."

Put things into perspective. One dog, a second season youth hunter with a 20 gauge and wild quail. The real value was the father-son time.

Another Youth Hunter

Opener

With Iowa's season opener leading the the Association's three states starting the last Saturday in October the Iowa upland bird hunting season adds another week to our overall field time.

This earlier Iowa opener may not always be an upland bird hunting advantage largely due to Iowa's standing crops, the warmer temperatures in October through November that can make for heat fatigue for both hunter and dog.

Conversely, Iowa is sufficiently north compared to all of the Association's other regions that its additional snowfall has made for some tough winter conditions of 30 inch snow cover. A snow cover unheard of in Kansas in contrast except for the unusual winter of 1936, long before many of us were born.

Further contrasts exists with Iowa's earlier winter brings relief compared to the southern Kansas region that remains notably warmer later in the season.

This weather example concerning Iowa upland bird hunting and the variety of weather and terrain differences available to the Association bird hunter gives that hunter the opportunity to hunt in his preference of conditions both by bird concentrations and weather conditions.

Many seasoned members will review weather forecasts before deciding where to hunt. Drawing the ice or snow line may determine a northern Iowa bird hunt for the first light snow of the season. Or, the hunter may chose a southern Kansas bird hunt where any snowfall is a rarity and occurs but a few times if at all during the entire season. While the Iowa snowfall may last for weeks of ground cover, in Kansas any such snow can be counted on to quickly melt away.

The bottom line with our regional variety of weather conditions winter weather is not reason not to be out upland bird hunting somewhere.

"Didn't see a bird until mid afternoon. 4 coveys, only took
8 birds and all were on the covey rises. Covered a lot of ground." Kevin, a long time member of many good quail dogs.

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