Iowa's Pheasant season opened last Satuday, 10/26. My parents have a 480 acer farm in Page county in SW Iowa - all of it CRP, ditch, fence row, or pasture. Weather was crisp and overcast. With 7 friends and three bird dogs we hunted from nine to noon and bagged 18 pheasants between us. Saw probably as many roosters that weren't shootable. I'd say the pheasant population was at least 20% higher than last year.
Two of the dogs were German Shorthairs, one really knew her stuff. One was a Britney still learning the ropes.
I was the only one shooting a 20ga, a 26" Benelli Montefeltro, though I was shooting 3" 1-1/4 oz loads. Everyone else shot a 12ga. One Berretta 390, two Remington 1100, two 11-87s, one Mossberg 500, and one guy had a Spanish O/U imported by American Arms guns and made by Hermanos Zabala (for under 6 bills seem like a nice single trigger box-lock). I think everyone was shooting sixes, except for one who shot fives.
Rained all day Sunday and I didn't go out bird hunting, though I did shoot my .44 Mag Ruger SBH some off the back porch to test some handloads and to sight it in for deer season in December. Mom cooked pheasant for lunch on Sunday and it was delicious. Planning to go back again in two weeks. Legs are a little sore from all the walking. The Montefeltro was sweet. God, I love that little shotgun - light as a feather and shot like a dream. -- Kernel
Two of the dogs were German Shorthairs, one really knew her stuff. One was a Britney still learning the ropes.
I was the only one shooting a 20ga, a 26" Benelli Montefeltro, though I was shooting 3" 1-1/4 oz loads. Everyone else shot a 12ga. One Berretta 390, two Remington 1100, two 11-87s, one Mossberg 500, and one guy had a Spanish O/U imported by American Arms guns and made by Hermanos Zabala (for under 6 bills seem like a nice single trigger box-lock). I think everyone was shooting sixes, except for one who shot fives.
Rained all day Sunday and I didn't go out bird hunting, though I did shoot my .44 Mag Ruger SBH some off the back porch to test some handloads and to sight it in for deer season in December. Mom cooked pheasant for lunch on Sunday and it was delicious. Planning to go back again in two weeks. Legs are a little sore from all the walking. The Montefeltro was sweet. God, I love that little shotgun - light as a feather and shot like a dream. -- Kernel