Favorite bird to hunt

[Sandhills]

Favorite upland bird is a three way tie between Sage hen, Mountain Quail, and Band Tailed pigeon. Now I live in a state where those don't exist....

Waterfowl it's canvasback and blue bills as far as ducks go and specks as far as geese. I hunted a more honkers than specks but I say specks because I prefer to eat em.

 

[fallschirmjaeger80]

In western PA for me these days it's woodcock. The ruffies have gotten so scarce that I feel guilty shooting them anymore.

 

[Bobbyboe]

I love hunting upland birds, but my favorite is spring Turkey. Not even close.

 

[Amos Keeto]

Bird?
Well, the turkey gets my vote!
Coming at you gobbling and strutting gives me an adrenaline rush like no other!
........
But I just love shotgunning!

 

[ceejay]

Hunting ruffed grouse in Oct/Nov is what I love the most. I think I would really enjoy Chukar hunting but I live on the wrong side of the country to make it something I will ever do while I am young enough to give it a shot.

 

[White Falcon]

Turkey. Three birds at one sit. Best ever!

 

[MunsterMash16]

Ruffed Grouse for me on the highly pressured Michigan lower peninsula state land areas that I hunt with my dog and my dad. No smarter and more elusive game bird out there.

Close second would be woodcock. Its a mesmerizing spectacle to see the dog work in the tight stuff, going from full blown sprint to slamming on the brakes into a tightly coiled and contorted spring at the scent of the woodcock 2ft in front of his nose. Then watching the aerial display unfold as a woodcock erupts into flight twisting and turning like a fighter jet through the cover.

 

[ElPollo]

Scaled quail and prairie-chickens. I like the big open country.

 

[Irish Miner]

The turkey, no doubt. Wish I would have started hunting them sooner than I did.

Then sharptails, love their vocals and looks.

Chukar

Huns

 

[SIontheHunt]

As a young man all I wanted to hunt were ducks dark to dark for a few seconds of shooting
As a middle aged man I gravitated towards upland hunting, sunny fall days,crisp air good exercise and shoot a few birds
As an old man I dove hunt, lots of challenging shooting, several month long season, still upland hunting but the dove hunting sharpens my shooting skills better than any other bird.

Have to agree. I am a younger man but nothing better for kids or hanging with buddies. Just need a shotgun and a bucket.

 

[Dukhtr3]

Dakota green heads in a field is so much fun. The only bad thing is now that I am 40 I lack the spare time to scout for days like I used to before kids. One good thing is my boy gets in driver's license next year and he has the bug like me.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[dgreco]

Gamble’s quail in Arizona.

 

[huntsman22]

 

[OMF]

Wow @huntsman22, a yellow bellied sapsucker! Now that's some good eatin.

 

[txiong124]

Bandtail pigeons and doves are the best for me. Provide more challenges and also, more time to hang out with a buddy or two.

 

[el_jefe_pescado]

Waterfowl for me--rocky mountain river mallards specifically. But the upland itch has been creeping in as of late. I like really good dog work and the camaraderie of friends more than anything. It's such a great reprieve from the more intensive big game hunts.

 

[S.Clancy]

Chukar or Mtn Grouse. For the same reason, lots of hiking and pretty much no people.

 

[limpet]

Snipe for upland birds (hold the gunny sack and stick jokes) with a 28 gauge for extra challenge. Hard to hit and dang good eats.
Waterfowl is anything I can point my scull boat at but canvasbacks or black Brant if I had a choice.

 

[huntineveryday]

It depends on the week! Any bird my dog is currently working well on is my favorite.

Early September sharptails- solitude and views of wide open sandhills, with the excitement of hunting season finally here!

Early teal mid September- bluewing rockets that decoy easy and taste great, with nice mild temps

Late September Prairie Chickens- closer to home, open pastures where the dog can range out and work

Early October- duck opener in the marshes, covered up in brown ducks with wigeon and pintails

Late October- pheasant opener with roosters cackling on the flush, the comradery of opening weekend hunts, quail covers surprising you from field to field

Mid-November- peak mallard migration, a strap full of greenheads and a smoker full of duck ham to share with friends and family

December- warm water slough ducks with the bonus greenwing or pintail surprises

January- the phonecall to assemble the group for a good feed field setup for Canada geese, corned goose going into the freezer

Late January- nothing like a salty dog successfully working a late season, high pressured public land rooster!


There's a reason to be excited to get in the field for 5 months straight!

 

[Beaches To Backroads]

I grew up in Oregon and left before I became a bird hunter. Growing up hearing and seeing Pheasant has made them my little trophy bird. A nice rooster is a beautiful thing. Meat is ok, but the beautiful feathers, size and the flush style hunt around ponds, fields and oaks, make them so much fun.