Pheasant etiquette question

S

Skadergen

Member
So as a new dogless pheasant hunter. I was walking through grass in a public hunting area with many rolling hills and I believe I saw 2-4 pairs of hunters( some may have been the same) and a solo hunter. Had a pheasant cross about 35-40 gliding down a draw. There were hunters that popped over the hill( to my left) and most likely flushed this rooster, I reasoned later. I dropped the bird as I walked to it picked up the rooster and dispatched it, I noticed a dog working my way another 20 yards in the brush, and the dogs owner walking in from straight a head of me.

We spoke for a bit and I apologized on the off chance his dog was working that bird. He said no issue as he didn’t have a shot anyway. The more I think of it, the rooster was well ahead of the hunters to my left, and most likely dividing the space between me and the oncoming hunter and his dog. So I Don’t believe anyone else had a shot anyway, honestly not sure anyone else may have seen it.

My question… as we spoke the single hunter (with the dog) kindly invited me to walk along. He didn’t have a bird yet and I respectfully declined, because I truly didn’t want to impose or hinder his hunt. We talked about where he was heading and I volunteered to go the other direction to let him work with his dog. Should I have gone with him? Would I have helped him or hindered him? Honestly I would have been honored to hunt with him and his dog, again I just didn’t want to be in the way or end up shooting a bird with a snap decision while he and his dog did the work.
 
I don't hunt with people I don't now. You never know how safe a person is with a firearm.

You have just as much of a right to the there as another hunter does. The fact that you don't have a dog and he does is irrelevant.

That being said, you did the right thing on having a civil conversation with him. If you hunt public land on the weekends, you are going to encounter other hunters frequently.
 
gim said:
I don't hunt with people I don't now. You never know how safe a person is with a firearm.

You have just as much of a right to the there as another hunter does. The fact that you don't have a dog and he does is irrelevant.

That being said, you did the right thing on having a civil conversation with him. If you hunt public land on the weekends, you are going to encounter other hunters frequently.
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He was more than cordial, and looked nearly long in the tooth as I.

I guess I was wondering if it would have been helpful for me to go with him since he asked. Not sure if he was thinking I was an a$$ for not going with him to help him harvest his bird. Hope not.
 
Skadergen said:
He was more than cordial, and looked nearly long in the tooth as I.

I guess I was wondering if it would have been helpful for me to go with him since he asked. Not sure if he was thinking I was an a$$ for not going with him to help him harvest his bird. Hope not.
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Were you in a party hunting state or how were you going to help him get his bird?
 
remy3424 said:
Were you in a party hunting state or how were you going to help him get his bird?
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Good question, I guess I was thinking of shooting another person game. Just wondering in an extra person “flanking” or just walking through the grass would increase the chance of a flush, thereby increasing the chance for him to bag one.

Again I’m an upland bird neophyte. My intention was to stay out of his way, just wondering if his asking me if I wanted to hunt was really asking for a bit of help. Typically most everyone bird hunting I see is in pairs or groups.
 
remy3424 said:
He had a dog, he would be just fine. You could have been the the beneficiary in that equation.
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Ok good, i just didn’t want the be the non helpful jerk. I figured it would be all upside for me since he had the dog, I’d probably feel guilty if his resources flushed a bird I would harvest, especially if he didn’t have one.
 
Skadergen said:
Ok good, i just didn’t want the be the non helpful jerk. I figured it would be all upside for me since he had the dog, I’d probably feel guilty if his resources flushed a bird I would harvest, especially if he didn’t have one.
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I agree it would have been of benefit to you. I had a guy I met on public that I hunted with for multiple years and became friends with. I had a dog and he didn’t. Agree that it would depend on the vibe. I always looked at it as more chances for my dog to get on more birds.
 
He asked you to join, so I wouldn’t have any hard feelings on the chance a bird got up and you harvested it assuming you’re not overtaking his shooting lanes or anything. With him inviting you to join, I think he just wanted to help you out via his dog and he wasn’t going to be a try hard butt and get jealous in that case.
 
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