january hunting

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woodsman

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Hi,might have to delay december trip until january,how will the hunting be that late.We are coming with two pointing dogs,britt and gsp,and hope to be able to get into birds that still hold.Any opinions will be greatly appreciated.
 
You can't ever guarantee birds that still hold anytime of year. We were hunting in high winds today and all of them were skittish. The weather, as always, will play the biggest role in how the birds are acting that time of year.

I have hunted Kansas in January where it can be -10 on day and two days later be in the high 70s.
 
Tpharkman said:
You can't ever guarantee birds that still hold anytime of year. We were hunting in high winds today and all of them were skittish. The weather, as always, will play the biggest role in how the birds are acting that time of year.

I have hunted Kansas in January where it can be -10 on day and two days later be in the high 70s.
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This is very accurate. From now till the end of season, weather will play a big role in success. IMO there isn't much difference between Jan and Dec. The majority of the birds jump way early, then you just try to find a few stragglers, unless you're lucky enough to get out when the weather is right.
 
This may be a dumb question but this is still all new to me, bird hunting. When is the weather the right type of weather?
 
Cane72 said:
This may be a dumb question but this is still all new to me, bird hunting. When is the weather the right type of weather?
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Snow, ice, bitter cold, cold front coming (head to the feed). A "normal" winter day will have them piling out the end before you ever get there. Wind makes them skiddish but if used properly, can be beneficial.
 
kansasbrittany said:
Snow, ice, bitter cold, cold front coming (head to the feed). A "normal" winter day will have them piling out the end before you ever get there. Wind makes them skiddish but if used properly, can be beneficial.
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I don't mind some wind, they can't hear everything.
 
I agree with the two previous posters, but would add silence is essential, car doors slamming, actions closing on guns, yelling at dogs and companions, all will make you think the field is empty. More like big game hunting than upland. use any wind to your advantage, as noted. Moving slow and erratically, assume there's a bird everywhere and anywhere, so be ready. Snow helps a bunch. Try to hunt cover the opposite way it has been traditionally hunted, go deep onto public areas and work your way out, birds are used to the opposite. Good Luck.
 
I have killed birds in 70 degree temps and in single digist with blinding snow and howling winds.

I have also hunted when it is cold and precip and only gotten a few shots.

My own personal opinion based on my years of hunting is that when there are birds and the numbers are up, then the weather doesn't much matter.

I mean it can help that's for sure, however unless it is pouring rain (which sucks for many reasons), or if it is a blizzard and it isn't worth anyone's life to die for pheasants, then any weather will do.

Sure if you have dogs, the warmer it is the it is harder on the dogs, so for me I like days where the temps stay in the 30s. Whether or not is is snowing or anything is fine, however I like the temps to be in the 30s during the day. Good on the dogs and keeps the birds frozen in the back of my truck until we get back to clean them.

Greg
 
A lot of well-seasoned advice on this thread!!! Late-season can be very frustrating at times, but also the most satisfying of all by far - this is true "HUNTING" at it's finest & every hard-earned success is pure sweetness!!! If the hunter wins every time with ease, that's not hunting - it's called shooting... :cheers:
 
Thanks for the advice-I guess it will be a a tougher hunt than early season as the birds must flush out of range a great deal more.We'll just have to hunt harder for those birds that stay behind and that will be the fun of it.Thanks again
 
Those late season hunts are the best for me. Living here I have the advantage of waiting for the right weather conditions, then if possible, cancelling work and chasing those ringnecks. Those of you coming in, will have to take what you get weather wise.
 
@Byrd.,I'll just stay here & keep lousin and grouchin - I ain't no Marshall Dillon & my wife ain't Miss Kitty ( she's a big-city girl
all the way)...I was dumb enough to drag her out in the sticks ONCE!!! :D

But dang, I sure miss the days when I could hunt out the back door be4 work & jump back out again in the evening. Was just kidding you - ENJOY, somebody's got to!!! Yeah, I know some of the tradeoffs too, but hey in the end - like the title from one of my favorite sermons ever heard, "Wherever You Go, There You Are"!!! :cheers:
 
If you get some weather, you will be in heaven!!!! Hunted a blizzard back in the day and it was amazing!!!! Without a dog, shot my limit early with 2 foot flushes into the gail force winds!!! It almost wasn't fair!!! But since I braved the elements , I scored !!!!!:cheers:
 
i have one one of my best hunts in late january... and i have also my worst hunt ever in january ..
 
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