Hunting Pheasant

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Paul Morrison

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I'm new to SW Ontario, my parents have 100 acres up in the beaver valley, south of Meaford/Owen Sound, I'm in London ON.

I've hunted partridge and grouse before up in Thunder Bay, we don't have pheasant there, and we mostly go for a walk in the woods until we see one.

But... down here you have long necked pheasant, and I know they must be around because I saw one while driving on the side of the road (alive).

So, my questions are:

1) what are my chances of finding grouse near my folks?
2) Where are pheasant most likely to be found? in fields? Edge of treeline? In the bush?
3) What's the best way to hunt them?
4) Best shotload?
5) what choke?
6) Best time of day?
7) how do you clean them? (Grouse are really easy, just step on the wings and pull the legs!)

Oh, and anyone who hunts them in the London area and is looking for a hunting partner, I'm up for it! (in the proper season and on crown land or with permission).
 
Paul,

In ON, other than the various operational Game Farms, there are only a handful of public places where Ringnecked Pheasants are released with regularity during the hunting season.

1. Pelee.org - http://66.51.126.108/i?page=hunts&sid=8T122515144663

2. HullettMarsh.org - the FOH (Friends of Hullett) release aprox 1700 birds each season (end Sep-early Dec). No fees involved but one may put in a donation of $25 that goes towards conservation work. This is in Clinton, ON.

3. Fingal Wildlife Mgmt Area -http://www.naturallyelgin.org/fwma.shtml

4. Conestogo Lake (GRCA) - there is a need to procure a seasonal pass for this location - number of hunters are limited. http://www.grandriver.ca/index/document.cfm?Sec=27&Sub1=123&Sub2=0

5. Luther Marsh (GRCA) - presently the word is that the pheasant hunt program will be discontinued there 2009 onwards.
http://www.grandriver.ca/index/document.cfm?Sec=27&Sub1=128&Sub2=0

Hunting is best (and more appropriately) done with the use of dogs. Despite being pen released, those birds are still hard to bag :) without the benefit of a dog since they (the Cockbird) tend to run as long as there is cover. The hens will likely hold tight and provide comparatively more opportunities for a close flush.

Combo of Mod/IC (in case of double guns - assuming 12 or 20) with loads of #6 (my preference), #5 etc will do fine.

Early morning or late in the day would be the best time, IMHO, as the birds "move from cover" to feed. Having said this, at Hullet, for example, those wily birds tend to stay more inside the corn fields making it almost impossible to get to them without a dog. Again, it would be imposible to locate one that is shot down if a dog is not there to retrieve. Personally, I pass up any such attempt since I don't use a dog.

Hope this helps.....
 
I wouldn't say there is big population of Pheasants around London, ON.. Although last year I did see a CockBird while stand hunting for deer, which shocked the heck out of me. I think they come from one of the game farms around this area, or escapee pets.

You could take a drive up to Hullett Marsh:

http://www.hullettmarsh.org/

They release quite a number of Pheasants every year, and it is public access.

Also, Fingal https://ozone.scholarsportal.info/bitstream/1873/1055/1/267569.pdf

releases a number of pheasants every year, also public access.



1) what are my chances of finding grouse near my folks?
Not Sure

2) Where are pheasant most likely to be found? in fields? Edge of treeline? In the bush?
Generally in a field, or along hedge rows.

3) What's the best way to hunt them?
With a good pointing or flushing dog.

4) Best shotload?
I use #6 2 3/4"
5) what choke?
Modified
6) Best time of day?
Any
7) how do you clean them? (Grouse are really easy, just step on the wings and pull the legs!)
I just breast them out


Ahsan beat me by a couple of minutes!
 
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