Pheasants Forever’s Anthony Hauck posted a great tribute to his favorite slough, which sadly is no more. It got me thinking about another conservation failure. One I experienced firsthand.
Federal Premium has announced that it has surpassed a total of 50 million shotgun shells sold in support of Pheasants Forever, the nation's leading upland habitat conservation organization. The special shells are sold in boxes marked with the Pheasants Forever logo, as part of an on-box royalty program.
Upland bird hunting has an essence to it that's difficult to describe. It's a different ballgame than most any other fall hunting experience, and creates an addiction that's not easy to kick, even long after you've left the field. Our Digital Managing Editor, Shawn Skipper, had his first taste of a true pheasant hunt earlier this fall while traveling with Browning and Winchester. Get an inside look at his hunt here.
As Iowa pheasants have declined, predictably so too have Iowa pheasant hunters. However, could the rooster population finally be stabilizing--or even recovering?
No dog? No problem. You can still bag a limit of pheasants. Hunt model pheasant habitat, and remember what a ringneck likes to do—run. Also, a couple of partners as drivers and standers always come in handy.
Pheasant country and prime agricultural areas tend to go hand-in-hand, so this time of year many farmers encounter nests while discing the earth or mowing fields. Unfortunately the hens' instinct is to sit tight and wait out the threat—not the best strategy with a tractor bearing down on you.