Throwing this out there now because time flies by. Im looking for folks who want to pheasant hunt. I have a dog. Not the best trained but he can find birds ,flush and retrieve

I wouldnt mind some private property or gun club as a guest. Ive done the WMA and its a scarey effing ordeal.So there you have it.I was in VT on a preserve last year and froze my sack off. but i had the whole place to myself.

i do a fair amount of pheasant hunting... also starting to get into duck and goose..i am not far from you but i usually only hunt state land in sussex county... not as bad as most areas..

I agree about some of the WMA's. I don't but I have been tempted to throw buck shot in a sock, if I get shot I'm returning fire with the intention of winning. Some of the southern most WMA's aren't bad. I may be interested dependignon date and location. I wouldn't mind trying something onther then the DMZ, I mean WMA.

im actually looking at getting into pheasant hunting this year do tell your info

I hunt pheasant at Giberson's Preserve in Pemberton NJ and at Bent Creek in Allentown NJ. Both great places! I use a muzzleloading 10 ga. SxS black powder shotty as well as my 20 ga. centerfire on occasion. Been shooting pheasants for a while now. Loads of fun, especially with a well-trained dog that holds point.

 

If we can get a foursome or slightly more, count me in. Birds should run about $23.00 each and a hunting party of four usually buys 20 or so birds. I won't go to a WMA as I deem them UNSAFE.

 

Dave

nice can you hunt pheasant with 12 gauge? i mean i guess so.. i see shot for it but i think most go with 20 gauge?

nice can you hunt pheasant with 12 gauge? i mean i guess so.. i see shot for it but i think most go with 20 gauge?

 

Can hunt with 12 ga

nice can you hunt pheasant with 12 gauge? i mean i guess so.. i see shot for it but i think most go with 20 gauge?

 

I hunt with a 12. Have killed pheasant with both gauges, no problems.

I use a muzzleloading 10 ga.

 

I guess there's no need to pluck them afterwards

 

You should bring your Walker as backup in case they charge...

I guess there's no need to pluck them afterwards

 

You should bring your Walker as backup in case they charge...

 

Joe,

 

It's a cylinder-bore 10 ga. SxS by Pedersoli of Italy. I use 85 grains of black powder, a cushioned wad, 1&1/8 oz of #7.5 combined with 7/8 oz of #6's for a 2 oz load that fills-in the pattern. Doesn't blow them all to hell since the pattern is fairly wide. Does knock 'em out of the sky though. I've used the patterning board at Old Bridge and saw what it does, as well as shoot some steel coffee cans to test for penetration. They still need a good pluckin', LOL!

 

The Walker in case they charge line is a classic! Now if I was deer hunting and needed to dispatch an animal, the Walker would get the job done, although I don't think that it's Jersey legal!

 

Hope to shoot with you again soon friend.

 

Dave

I have been tromping the State's WMA's for pheasant and quail since I could first tag along with my Dad in the early 60's, then I took to hunting them on my own once I could drive. My Dad and I still get out each year and bird hunt. He just turned 86 last month. Over the years I've been lucky to have hunted in nine states for upland birds over our pointing dogs. Our WMA's are perfectly safe to hunt under the right conditions, yet can be truly scary to hunt under the wrong conditions. As I've gotten older I can no longer suffer fools gladly, especially when the fools are waving guns around. The advice that I give to many is what I have been doing the last twenty years or so.

 

I no longer go out on "Opening Day" of pheasant season here. It's a zoo. I'll have already hunted a full month in New York since their Oct. 1st opener so it's not imperative I get out. (And if I've gotten a trip in to Maine for grouse and woodcock, I'm still "there" mentally so I might not be interested in going in N.J. for a while.) Watching a N.J. state WMA parking lot fill up at first light, then morph into a surreal scene of men and bird dogs straining on the leash, jostling for their "position in line" at the gated road leading in to descend upon the game fields is both unnerving if not pathetic.

 

When I go out now I usually get to the WMA lands after 10:30AM. Most of the early-bird hunters have gotten their recently stocked birds and are home already or cooling their heels at a deli having breakfast. My dog will usually find birds despite them being moved around, and I feel like I'm hunting. There's nothing worse than going out and getting your limit in the first hour. On the weekdays, they stock on Tues. & Thurs., so those early mornings are busy in the game fields with lots of hunters as well. If I hunt those days, I will go late. The better deal is I hunt the "off" days; Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and go early mornings. Scenting is good on the cold ground and the dog will always find birds. Some of the best times of day to hunt is late in the day as the temps cool. Scenting conditions are ideal. If we hunt the right places, we can find pheasant after the N.J. stockings end in obscure places (I.E. secret) late into the season. It's not uncommon for me to get birds in late January or early February. By then, those that have survived the hunters, coyotes, foxes and raptors act like wild birds and are truly tough to take when hunting alone with just one dog. They'll give you a run for your money and make the dog work to his extreme. If a wild flush occurs after a half hour trail without a shot and a bird in the gamebag, it is still a minor victory of sorts in my mind. Many times I'll be hunting the Whittingham tract and I"m the only person out there with my dog.

Awesome shots, thanks for sharing.

Great pix & nice story! Your approach to WMA seems the only way I'd try it again. Thanks for sharing.

Great pix & nice story! Your approach to WMA seems the only way I'd try it again. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks and be safe if you do go.

 

The only sad admission I'll make is that N.J. is my least favorite state to bird hunt. Pheasants are okay birds to hunt but they are tough on pointing dogs. But you need a dog to hunt them if you want consistent and ethical success. There are few native game birds anymore in the state due to habitat loss, carrying capacity, predation and changes in farming practices. The put-and-take mentality of the State on WMA lands has bred an automaton-like hunter who expects results every time he/she goes. There are efforts underway with quail and grouse restoration projects in N.J. but they are very small and under-funded with the brunt of the work coming from volunteers. (Imagine doing in NJ what PA is doing today? Closing down certain gamelands for pheasant restoration projects?) Black River is the closest WMA ground to me yet I will no longer hunt there on weekends unless I go in the afternoons. It's easy ground to walk for my Dad but I'm not a fan of the cover there. Pheasants prefer to run vs. fly and all seem to go into the safety zones, where they can be seen hanging out on the front lawns of those McMansion's. I'll go there on a weekday sparingly, but that's the extent of it.

I can echo Parker's statements 100%, but from a southern jersey pov.

 

I have done the Greewood Forest, Medford and Glassboro WMA Artillery shoots. Not my idea of fun. It used to be ok, going every Thanksgiving with my uncle, but know it is totally over run. If you have a good+ dog, go in the afternoons and pick off singles at the least. Best to just go hunting the WMAs after stocking season or the later stocking dates. Wait for the crowds to dies down. I have a place I used to go to until my dogs both passed away... it is a WMA, but I would only go on off days and late season. I have a new dog now, and it will be a year before I have him trained enough to go.

 

Learn that bird hunting is more about the dog then the gun. Without trying to sound like a tool, I got to a place a few years ago where limiting out quail was not fun, so I took up grouse hunting in the N. Ga mountains, where the pop density of ole ruff is about one bird per two acres. But that makes it sound easy... those mountains are rough, overgrown and steep. In 5 years I prob flushed 50 birds, spotted 25, got points on 15, pulled the trigger 10 times and hit four. Never been happier with my bird hunting.

I can echo Parker's statements 100%, but from a southern jersey pov.

 

I have done the Greewood Forest, Medford and Glassboro WMA Artillery shoots. Not my idea of fun. It used to be ok, going every Thanksgiving with my uncle, but know it is totally over run. If you have a good+ dog, go in the afternoons and pick off singles at the least. Best to just go hunting the WMAs after stocking season or the later stocking dates. Wait for the crowds to dies down. I have a place I used to go to until my dogs both passed away... it is a WMA, but I would only go on off days and late season. I have a new dog now, and it will be a year before I have him trained enough to go.

 

Learn that bird hunting is more about the dog then the gun. Without trying to sound like a tool, I got to a place a few years ago where limiting out quail was not fun, so I took up grouse hunting in the N. Ga mountains, where the pop density of ole ruff is about one bird per two acres. But that makes it sound easy... those mountains are rough, overgrown and steep. In 5 years I prob flushed 50 birds, spotted 25, got points on 15, pulled the trigger 10 times and hit four. Never been happier with my bird hunting.

Axeman, so true. Yes, it's all about the dog and watching them work and do what is genetically engineered in them. I've been to most of the southern WMA's as well. Used to be the only area my Dad would take us when we were young. Used to hunt quail way down from May's Landing to Cape May. My Dad's cousin lived in May's Landing and had a kennel and a line of English pointers he bred back in the 60's. Assunpink is still my Dad's favorite WMA during the weekdays. It's a shame they stopped stocking quail there though. Don't laugh, but I buried one of my Setter's there back in Sept. of '78. I figured it was a most fitting place for him and I go to that special spot occasionally just to reminisce. Corny maybe, but I'm a sentimental guy when it comes to a good bird dog.

 

I will agree with you though, I will take grouse, wild quail and then woodcock hunting over any other gamebird. (Grouse and quail are better eating too!) Better for pointing dogs and more of a challenge for both dog and hunter. Starting to find grouse again in NJ but they are scattered and still as secretive as ever. This thread now has me wanting to get out and do some bird hunting. Oct. 1st can't come soon enough.

Ha... i thought I was the only sicko out there. I spread my old Girl Hannah's ashes in the fields at Greenwood Forest. She loved hunting there, she could really use her nose in cold mornings on the sand, great water spots to cool off and there was limited briars or thorns to tear her up. I figured I would get out there a couple of times a year in the future to pay my respects.

You're both right, it's all about watching the dog work! If it was just about guaranteeing a harvest, I wouldn't be out there handicapping myself with a muzzleloading shotgun. I love to watch the dog work the birds by circling them and making the birds stop running, so they can get a good point. With the cylinder-bore, I need to work a little closer than some to get a good shot. Having a dog hold point allows me the time for a few additional strides to get close enough for a clean shot. And I'm usually good enough to drop them, and if I don't, well, at least I got to watch a well-trained dog do it's thing in the fresh air.

 

Now I want to go bird hunting tooooo

With the cylinder-bore, I need to work a little closer than some to get a good shot.

Smokin.50,

 

I don't think you will ever be under-gunned at all. I have to believe that with your 2 oz. mix the way you've loaded your 10 ga., you're still throwing at least 590 pellets up in the air. That's a pretty lethal, all-encompassing charge. A bird hit square with that load at close range would be high in lead content. And that charge should be more than sufficient out to 35 yds. even with a cylinder choke.

 

I stick with 7/8 to 1 1/8 oz. handloads with any of the three gauges (12, 16 & 20) for pheasant. They offer a good balance of speed with low recoil. Combined with the proper size shot they are all effective at the ranges I take my shots, which are usually within 35yds. or less.

Joe,

 

It's a cylinder-bore 10 ga. SxS by Pedersoli of Italy. I use 85 grains of black powder, a cushioned wad, 1&1/8 oz of #7.5 combined with 7/8 oz of #6's for a 2 oz load that fills-in the pattern. Doesn't blow them all to hell since the pattern is fairly wide. Does knock 'em out of the sky though. I've used the patterning board at Old Bridge and saw what it does, as well as shoot some steel coffee cans to test for penetration. They still need a good pluckin', LOL!

 

The Walker in case they charge line is a classic! Now if I was deer hunting and needed to dispatch an animal, the Walker would get the job done, although I don't think that it's Jersey legal!

 

Hope to shoot with you again soon friend.

 

Dave

 

Just bustin' your stones Dave. I bought a 10ga SxS off a forum member about a year ago. Never shot it. He also gave me a bunch of reloading "stuff" that I'm not too familiar with. There is some kinda rig that looks like it's for loading shells individually. I think there are some brass shells also. Next time we meetup I'll bring it so maybe you can school me on how it's done.

Parker,

 

That load of mine works good out to about 30 yards or so, then the energy drops off (due to the weight of the shot), since it's not as fast out the muzzle as a 12 ga. low-brass target load with a 2 3/4 dram equiv. charge.

 

When I wrote the above I meant that my style of shooting with a cylinder bore isn't really meant for a dog that flushes 40 yards in front of you. I like to work close to the dog, so I can see the beautiful animal working the hunt, and the cylinder bore spreads the lead enough so that there's still some bird left for the dog to retrieve, LOL!

 

What you're doing with the hand loads is what I'd do if I was shooting centerfire. Nice chatting with you today. Now I wanna plan my next bird hunting trip!

 

Have a great evening!

 

DAve

Parker,

 

That load of mine works good out to about 30 yards or so, then the energy drops off (due to the weight of the shot), since it's not as fast out the muzzle as a 12 ga. low-brass target load with a 2 3/4 dram equiv. charge.

 

When I wrote the above I meant that my style of shooting with a cylinder bore isn't really meant for a dog that flushes 40 yards in front of you. I like to work close to the dog, so I can see the beautiful animal working the hunt, and the cylinder bore spreads the lead enough so that there's still some bird left for the dog to retrieve, LOL!

 

What you're doing with the hand loads is what I'd do if I was shooting centerfire. Nice chatting with you today. Now I wanna plan my next bird hunting trip!

 

Have a great evening!

 

DAve

 

What kind of velocities do you get with that charge? 1000-1100 fps?

 

a cylinder bore isn't really meant for a dog that flushes 40 yards in front of you.

I understand this. But any dog that flushes birds at 40 yds. out is simply an untrained or a young, over-eager dog. Besides, a flush at that distance would put the bird out of range by the time any hunter could mount and swing the shotgun. Even George Digweed would balk at this presentation.

 

Enjoy!

Kevin

I'm told to expect to see around 900 FPS, so it's a little slower than 1045 Gun Club Lite.

 

You're right about the over-eager dog. I was quail hunting with friends and our "trained" dog we hired flushed an entire covey of about 20 birds at 50+ yards by running too fast past them.

Throwing this out there now because time flies by. Im looking for folks who want to pheasant hunt. I have a dog. Not the best trained but he can find birds ,flush and retrieve

I wouldnt mind some private property or gun club as a guest. Ive done the WMA and its a scarey effing ordeal.So there you have it.I was in VT on a preserve last year and froze my sack off. but i had the whole place to myself.

 

Ok this got a little off track.. so ill quote/repost my original topic.. :thsmiley_deadhorse:

Ok this got a little off track.. so ill quote/repost my original topic.. :thsmiley_deadhorse:

 

If you ever make it down to the Clinton WMA and need a hunting partner I'd be happy to meet you there. I'm afraid I can't help with anything else.

Oneshot... I am way south of you and hunt mostly even further south. There are some good preserves in the Allentown area and then way south near Pennsville.

 

There are some really nice private clubs, your looking $2k min to get in. I like hunting for free and safely.

Ok this got a little off track.. so ill quote/repost my original topic.. :thsmiley_deadhorse:

OneSHot,

Have you tried hunting the DWGNRA lands in N.J.? A lot less people go there than on the WMA's and the State does stock a number of areas.

 

Most hunting clubs that have leased land that stock their own property with birds usually don't allow guests, so that scenario may be tough to find. I know fellows that are in various clubs; from pure bird hunting clubs to ones with combined offerings for deer/turkey/pheasant. They pay anywhere from $650 to $5,000 annually. The $650 clubs are usually a farmer's lease or club land with a semi-wild permit. You show up in the morning with pheasants you've picked up yourself at a breeder and then stock them yourself. As the prices go up then you have more regimented structure to how things are done, like having the birds delivered to your property, a place to store the birds in inclement weather, possibly a clubhouse for members, a caretaker on the property, a stocking committee that assigns a group each week to stock, work parties to prep and plant the land for crops, etc. Most clubs are structured to get a set amount of birds each season for their members, because the breeder needs a commitment by June so he knows how many chicks he needs to raise and feed. Clubs that commit early lock in to a per bird price of $10 or $11. Clubs that don't commit end up shy on bird count towards the end of the season, no birds at all, or pay more than the going pre-commitment rate. It's a rather engaged process to be organized, and it takes some work too. The other option is to go to a public pheasant preserve and pay as you take.

 

I'm fresh out of any other ideas other than a N.J. license, a pheasant stamp and tread the areas after the masses move through and enjoy yourself alone with your dog.

I'll hunt the WMA this year but only after the tools go homes. I hate to see my dog get shot by some turd who thinks he saw wings on him(my dog). Not to mention them shooting over "my dog".

Jon ,axe I dont mind driving so maybe we can hook up when the time comes.. I actually used to hunt on club property up in Vernon as a guest,however ive lost touch with the guy .

Thanks for the info Parker.

I'll hunt the WMA this year but only after the tools go homes. I hate to see my dog get shot by some turd who thinks he saw wings on him(my dog). Not to mention them shooting over "my dog".

Jon ,axe I dont mind driving so maybe we can hook up when the time comes.. I actually used to hunt on club property up in Vernon as a guest,however ive lost touch with the guy .

Thanks for the info Parker.

I feel your pain. I like to bird hunt, not argue with people. There are too many idiots out there and not enough CO's to police them all in this state.

 

Treat yourself to a trip out of state somewhere. I hunt more in N.Y. each and every year. Woodcock hunting has been great up there the last few years. PA is another state with a good wild bird population and grouse is on the upswing too. Or go to Maine for a week. Anywhere parallel to or north of Baxter State Park. Their grouse cycle is on the upswing and you'll experience 25 flushes in an eight hour day.

 

Kevin

WOW grouse!!! I used to have them on my driveway when i was a kid up here in NNJ doing their mating dance. I havent seen a grouse in NJ in 30 years or more.

Im clearly going to have to travel,but its worth it.. I did hunt that preserve in VT last year and it was fun and it was just me and my dog..I would have to research to find good hunting in NY/PA since ive never hunted them.