1/6/26

B

benelli-banger

Well-known member
Current group disbanding, melancholy experience, been that way for decades…much fun and bonding with old and new friends…best times of one’s life, with exception of immediate family and events associated with that. No matter what, I worry a bit and stress out about the experience everyone’s having.., who I am, part of the deal. Low 40’s and calm winds today, overcast mostly. Couple friends coming in tomorrow…the lab is my almost 1 year old, Merle…between ND/SD, over 40 days on the ground, really strong hunter, freezes when bird is stationary.,,one of those “freezing labs”! Couldn’t be happier with her!!! ❤️❤️
 

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Man you guys kill pheasants...someone has to (should be) eating all those. You ever get tired of eating pheasant?
How long are some of them tails? Looks like good ones in the bunch.
 
They’re all eaten. One of the guys pictured here brought pheasant pot pies, and he only uses legs and carcass meat for those…he makes stock from that process. The veggies in those pies are from his garden…outstanding! I have very little in my freezer right now, I gifted some as I drove out here to the owners of great harvest bakery in St. Cloud, great folks. I stock up on their products every time I pass through, they’ve become friends. I made a big batch of my go-to after last trip…oh, yeah, shared with the guy whose house burned down on 2/9/25. This group that concluded today was my 4th since 11/19-11/23, which was my first “group” this season…we harvested over 250 on those hunts. My farmer host is a seed dealer, he had 11 guys today hunt his place who are seed customers, I hunted with them this time last year…good guys, good dogs, good shots. They got 33 today. I have a lot of one-time hunters, they all love taking home a limit. Only one guy, maybe two, have been repeat hunters this year, and they put their birds to good use. I made a big batch of poppers after my last trip as well, and I spread those around to my former office mates, my auto mechanic and his guys, etc. The group in mid-November did poppers on that trip…a big hit. The repeat hunter who left today does a variety of chowders and soups with his birds, very popular with his family and extended family. I’ve only shot a handful of older birds this year, that’s how prolific the hatch was here. I’m relegated to guide more or less these next several days, two guys arrive tomorrow who are good hunters with good dogs…I did a good bit of that this last few days as well. Might hit 50 again tomorrow…pretty amazing. Likely not many January’s like this in the next 5-10 years, who knows? Loving the experience my pup has gotten this fall, if she never improves, I’m good with that! She’s terrific and she listens pretty well, thx in part to the vibration mode on her collar. Lots of really good public and private habitat close by that’s pretty new, really amazing what it’s done for the wildlife. As they say, make hay when the sun is shining…trying my best!
 
I don’t get tired of eating pheasant, I’ll use up
mine well before spring in Duluth. I never have that many in my freezer, I cook a big batch after every trip, which is usually 5 birds +\- right there. I’m anxious to try a curry pheasant dish one of the guys on this trip makes. I’ve been doing an Asian spicy noodle concoction that is dynamite…did it with sharpies this fall up in ND…really good! Gotta go, farm couple bring supper over in a few minutes…33 year history with that family…they got me anchored here, and tipped me off to the ground I co-bought 25 years ago wedged in between ground they own. The friendships are the best part of this life out here!
 
The legs were very light colored compared to the other birds. Almost like a chickens leg color. Came out of 8' fragmites, so feeling fortunate we ever got to hold this bird. When it went down in the middle of this stuff, I said to myself, "we'll never find that one". Dogs are incredible hunter aides!
 
Goosemaster said:
You guys really get a lot of birds, you must be in a good area, and have good private ground. If those are all wild pheasants, then that's good. If they are pen raised, then that isn't good...
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Yes, good area…more birds than I’ve seen in many years. Lots of good private ground, but a lot of CREP ground in the immediate area that’s under 3 years old that is blossoming very nicely…thousands of acres within 5 miles or so. The other day we were hunting in some very windy conditions and we were in a semi-protected dry creek bottom…I came in from one end, and my buddies from the other about 1/2 mile away…I dropped down a fairly steep hill to get into the cattail/grass mixture, and the very start of that cover exploded with all hens…40+ in an area the size of a 2 stall garage…one rooster was nearby and gave me the slip…lots of birds on this farm…there are 4 of these dry creek bottoms within about 3/4 of a mile in addition to several cattail sloughs, chunks of CRP, cedar belts, Milo plots, etc…lots of good habitat very close to some of these CREP fields…draws birds in pretty well…proof that good habitat is the key…much of the ground I’m referencing isn’t farmable, which is kinda common in this area, and holds birds because of that…a lot of hilly, low ground..,many years it’s pretty wet, not this year, making it pretty accessible. I’d say right now hens are 75-80% of what we’re contacting…maybe more?
 
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We all know the facts about pheasants…with good habitat and “Goldilocks” weather conditions, especially a few years in a row, populations can and do explode in short periods of time. We had virtually no winter here last year..,i was hunting in shirt sleeves several January trips a year ago…50’s. I witnessed the carry over this April and May, I was here several times. Conditions have been pretty ideal…several years in a row, and we’ve got habitat..,it doesn’t happen often, but when it does bird #’s jump pretty good.
 
benelli-banger said:
Current group disbanding, melancholy experience, been that way for decades…much fun and bonding with old and new friends…best times of one’s life, with exception of immediate family and events associated with that. No matter what, I worry a bit and stress out about the experience everyone’s having.., who I am, part of the deal. Low 40’s and calm winds today, overcast mostly. Couple friends coming in tomorrow…the lab is my almost 1 year old, Merle…between ND/SD, over 40 days on the ground, really strong hunter, freezes when bird is stationary.,,one of those “freezing labs”! Couldn’t be happier with her!!! ❤️❤️
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Damn, that’s a pile of birds! If she hunts as nice as she looks you’re doing real good!
 
I hear you barking b-b. They can't do anything without the habitat. Weather conditions is the wildcard, it can wipe them out or allow for population explosions. Food availability will be the next factor. I don't even worry about the predation factor.
It has to be quite remarkable to have that much habitat in a local area to witness the bird population now.
 
remy3424 said:
I hear you barking b-b. They can't do anything without the habitat. Weather conditions is the wildcard, it can wipe them out or allow for population explosions. Food availability will be the next factor. I don't even worry about the predation factor.
It has to be quite remarkable to have that much habitat in a local area to witness the bird population now.
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Yeah, I came here 32 years ago, full of CRP and a jillion birds…didn’t know how good we had it! We had 15 years of good to great to exceptional hunting, then the CRP started to expire…still decent hunting, there’s a decent amount of habitat that isn’t farmable, and a few landowners were putting ground back into various programs here and there…then the CREP ground got enrolled, and my farmer host put some more ground in CRP and the weather has been cooperative. My 1/4 is all habitat, which usually is decent hunting, though we need to rejuvenate the grass. We don’t see a lot of predators, though one guys pudelpointer killed a coon a month ago…but not many encounters with predators of any kind, but they’re around.
 
benelli-banger said:
Yeah, I came here 32 years ago, full of CRP and a jillion birds…didn’t know how good we had it! We had 15 years of good to great to exceptional hunting, then the CRP started to expire…still decent hunting, there’s a decent amount of habitat that isn’t farmable, and a few landowners were putting ground back into various programs here and there…then the CREP ground got enrolled, and my farmer host put some more ground in CRP and the weather has been cooperative. My 1/4 is all habitat, which usually is decent hunting, though we need to rejuvenate the grass. We don’t see a lot of predators, though one guys pudelpointer killed a coon a month ago…but not many encounters with predators of any kind, but they’re around.
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You should turn me on to this farmer house, so that I can hunt it!
 
Bob Peters said:
Can you do a different post with your pheasant recipe with the wine and celery etc. The one you cook all the time for the auto mechanic?
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Yes. I cube the meat, and brown it in olive oil, salting and peppering a bit…set it aside. Cut up 2 large yellow onions and a whole stock of celery and use a veggie peeler to create ribbons of carrot…1-2 large carrots? About that, I guess…sauté the veggies in olive oil and add a couple cloves of garlic, smashed. A healthy amount of herb de Provence and cracked black pepper…lots of both. Add about 4-6 oz or so of dry sherry, not cooking sherry. Add a few small cans of mushrooms, or fresh if u prefer. Sauté for 12-15 minutes, maybe more…no biggy. I use a Dutch oven, like le creuset…add meat back in, with 2 cans cream of mushroom soup…bake at 275 for 90-120 minutes. While that’s baking, make a lb of wild rice, drain it, set it aside. When Dutch oven is done, add rice and stir. Maybe add more pepper and herb de Provence…don’t be shy! Fold in a 24 oz container of sour cream, and sprinkle with smoked paprika…I go heavy with that! That’s about it, I sometimes substitute Marsala wine for dry sherry. Enjoy!!!!
 
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