5 Tips on How to Hunt Pheasant Without a Dog
Learning how to hunt pheasant without a dog can be challenging, but worthwhile. Whether you can’t afford a dog, are allergic to dogs, or simply prefer to hunt without one, being able to figure out how to hunt pheasants without a dog enable you to hit your rooster limit every season.
Here are our top tips for learning how to hunt pheasant without a dog:
1. Take Your Time
Practice makes perfect, and nowhere is that more evident than when hunting, and especially when hunting pheasant without a dog. Not only will you need time to develop the right approach as you learn more about your local birds, but you also might need to tweak your shot and your gear.
2. Look for the Water
One of the obvious benefits of working with a dog is that he can locate the pheasant for you. However, you can still learn how to hunt pheasant without a dog by paying close attention to pheasant habits wherever you’re hunting.
Some pheasants are extremely wary, and others have tendencies like heading uphill or downhill, but one thing that most have in common is that they like to hang out by water. So, look for them by lakes, ponds, or creeks, or even livestock troughs.
3. Get Good at Driving the Birds
Hunting and fishing guide Jeremy Eubank has a tried and true method that involves two or more people: the hunter is stationed at the top of the hill, while the walker slowly zig-zags up the hill. The pheasants will usually head uphill and break as the walker edges closer and closer.
4. Don’t Go Too Fast
If you suspect pheasants are ahead of you, don’t go too fast. Doing so can cause them to run instead of break. Usually, going slowly is the better option.
5. Take Advantage of Cold, Nasty Weather
Pheasants love cold weather, so it’s an excellent opportunity to beat out other hunters and hit your bag limit! You’ll need to make sure your boots, jacket, and backpack are waterproof and don’t forget a hat and gloves, but even a short hunt in cold weather is more profitable than a long hunt in warm weather.
