I was hoping some of you pheasant hunters on here could help me get started pheasant hunting for this upcoming year. I will probably be going out public hunting grounds. Whether i'm by myself or i'm with my dad or brother I do not know. I was just wondering what i'm all gonna need. I know that most people use dogs but I know you can go by yourself. Is it easier to hunt with dogs? Also i've seen a call for pheasants before to, to locate them? What kind of choke should I use? Any info would be appreciated! Thanks guys.

Well, my first pheasants was with a old Winchester single shot 12. We were just walking in the tall grass when it went up...and then went down...I remember it well. Just get out and do it!

dogs are the best part of pheasant hunting man. if you can get a hold of one or get a German shorthair pointer. in my opinion they are the best. i reccomment size 6 shot in 12 gauge but 20 gauge is great too. if you have any other questions PM me or somethin

Alright, I have a single shot shotgun but I will probably be using my dads 12 gauge Remington Pump. I'm working on getting a dog.................and a car, and a new bow, and lots of other things. Dogs high up on my list though. I've been planning on getting a shorthair pointer. There kind of hard to find for on a little bit cheaper side. I wanna get into pheasant hunting though. Not many members of my family pheasant hunt. I'd be glad to start it in my family.

Your dads pump or your single will work fine. I shoot an old single shot with a mod. barrel. (no choke) I use wolf ammunintions 5 shot pheasant loads, drops them like you wouldn;t believe. German shorthairs are real good dogs, my neighbor has two, but you can't beat a lab . If your hunting public grounds you more than likely will need steel shot. I love hunting with dogs personally, but it can be done without one. As far as the call goes, i have never heard of one but go ahead and try it, it could be money. For chokes i would go with a modified or improved, shoot both and see which one works better. Good Luck and if have any other questions, PM me.

I use a 28 gauage over and under... English Pointer dog...now that's a deadly combination. #6 shot will do just fine.
Go and have a great time.

Carol is the queen pheasant hunter around here!!

Good luck, they are a blast to hunt!!

Thanks guys. I've been looking into getting a dog. I think I'm gonna get one in a couple months maybe. Looking at getting probably a german shorthaired pointer, a lab, or an english pointer.

IMO pheasant hunting is fun anyway you do it, with a dog or without, alone or with family or friends. In the past I much prefered huntin over my dogs as I had spent countless hours trainin them. I prefer the pointin breeds, but it's all about preference. I owned a GSP and she was quite impressive, also owned a Viszla and a Lab. IMO be careful about jumpin into buyin a dog. As you probably know they are a 10 to 15 year commitment. Just getting into pheasant huntin as well as birddog training may be a little much all at once. Not sayin it can't be done. I would recommend huntin with friends who have been before and/or own birddogs to kind of show you the ropes.
In regards to weaponry, 12 or 20 gauge; singleshot, pump, auto, O/U, doesn't really matter. I shoot in 20 gauge a O/U or an auto and in 12 gauge an auto. They all kill birds. In my O/U I shoot a IC and a Modified, in my auto's I usually shoot Mod.. Do your best and have fun!

I'm in the same boat as you dhenke, I got a guy at work whos big into pheasant hunting and has a dog and all, he said that he's going to take me out some this year. From what i understand the hunting gets easier for the dogless hunters later in the season because the birds flush a lot easier. The guy i spoke with said that in early season his dog will point the birds but you almost have to walk up on them and flush them by kicking around the area. I cant wait until october!