Posted: 1/6/2010 6:21:23 PM EDT
First time I've been Pheasant hunting. I think I'm addicted now! Went to a private game ranch, 640 acres. It was a great time, we bagged 23 birds, 2 black roosters. I downed three roosters and one hen. Birds were taken with a Win 1897(E) 12ga. This was on private land so so no plugs were needed. Shot was Remmington pheasant load # 6 shot 2 3/4" . Here's some pics
23 birds and one chicken, rotfl long story short version, a chicken had found its way onto their land, dogs flushed him and the old guy shot it, thought it was albino chucker lol 
Here's a group shot of the crew( I'm in the middle ) three coworkers and the other two guys I did not know Alan the old timer that got the chicken downed the black rooster lucky SOB I chased that bird twice up one field, the dog flush it out while I was crossing a fence and didn't have my shotgun in hand. 
Me in front of the biggest cottonwood tree I've ever seen. 
Another group shot, both guides and owners of the ranch on the far right 
Two coworkers Alan left, Kirk right All in all it was a great time, we had good guides and great dogs. Had a great time and will definitely be going back soon. Birds have been cleaned, and waiting to be cooked, will post a kill n grill pics when I get a chance. 
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Quoted:
very cool. Our wild pheasent population is few and between  I had to travel to Utah, The owners of the ranch maintain their bird population, the biggest threat is the redtail hawk. I'm not sure if they purchase the birds or if they raise them and release them into the fields before a hunt. |
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Quoted:
So what's the story with the "black Roosters"? And who shot the chicken? The older gentleman shot the chicken  We were near the edge of the field walking back towards the lodge, the dogs flushed it out, it was only about 2 feet off the ground when he got it. I was on the other side of him and could here it clucking away as most upset chickens do.
The dark colored pheasants or aka black roosters are just a very dark green with deep blue/black plumage( colors match close to a male mallards head feathers). I'm not sure if they are a different breed or just a rare color combnation. Tail feathers and neck/head feathers ( minus the white ring) are the same as the others we got. If I would have bagged it personally I would have had it stuffed and kept on my mantle. Anyone have any good recipes? I have two defrosting right now, not sure how to prepare? |
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Quoted: Quoted: So what's the story with the "black Roosters"? And who shot the chicken? The older gentleman shot the chicken We were near the edge of the field walking back towards the lodge, the dogs flushed it out, it was only about 2 feet off the ground when he got it. I was on the other side of him and could here it clucking away as most upset chickens do.The dark colored pheasants or aka black roosters are just a very dark green with deep blue/black plumage( colors match close to a male mallards head feathers). I'm not sure if they are a different breed or just a rare color combnation. Tail feathers and neck/head feathers ( minus the white ring) are the same as the others we got. If I would have bagged it personally I would have had it stuffed and kept on my mantle. Anyone have any good recipes? I have two defrosting right now, not sure how to prepare? http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/46/Breast_of_Pheasant_Under_Glass9079.shtml |
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Pheasant is so tasty to cook. Cook it like lean, cleaned skinless chicken.
A great easy way: 1 can each of cream of mushroom, cream of celery and cream of chicken. sliced mushrooms and celery. I even used black olives before. Cleaned pheasant breast. Put all cans of soup and ususally about 1 can of water. Mix in mushrooms and celery, and bird. Simmer in crock pot or in big pot till cooked and tender. It will fall off the bone if you cook it in the crock pot for bout half a day. Make some white rice and enjoy. Great on a cold day. That is a huge tree! Now that you have the bug, plan a trip to South Dakota next fall. Epic bird hunting adventure. edit to add: I lol'd at the chicken. That is classic with it hung up with the rest. |
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They are most likely pen raised birds that they went out and spun them around and threw into the brush just before you went out. Most places you can't shoot hens unless they are pen raised and released on private land. The hens in the picture would lead me to belive that those aren't wild birds. We used to do that with bobwhite quail that were pen raised when we would take guys out with their dogs to flush and shoot at. You spin them around to get them dizzy so they won't walk off before you get the guys on the canned hunt out to give them something to shoot.
I used to hunt wild Ringneck pheasants and quail when I lived up in Yankton, South Dakota. Reminds me of the guy I worked with in AZ who was always bringing the pictures in to show the game he shot when he would take trips to Texas. There were always fences behind the animal he shot and a big barrel feed spreader nearby. He told us once about the deer he shot. The rancher had to send his wife to town first to get the daughter away. Turned out the deer he shot with his bow was from a one acre pen in the yard and the deer were the daughters pets. He missed so many times the rancher told him to climb an apple tree with his bow while the rancher waved his arms to get the deer to move toward the tree. 
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