Don't be afraid to really slather that mushers wax on...and pls post some pics with a report on your return!

Harold, you are a seasoned hunter and I'm sure you'll handle a new locale well...and your dogs are obviously fit and ready to go. I hope the weather conditions you encounter are favorable. Pheasants have a way of holding tight after a fresh snow...:whistle:

Spring Starts Early
 

Harold,
Fellow member Jeff Sweeter was kind enough to show me some SD hospitality today. SE South Dakota had a high in the upper 30s today and we had a great time. We put up birds normally not seen in this area. Maybe 200 or so. We took a break and captured this pic of a few birds and Jeff’s great young dog Katie.

Birds were bunched in cat tails and were pretty spooky. However, a large number of birds were in sparse cover and would have held good for pointing dogs. We did switch from 16s to 12s after the first walk.

Damn Dean, talk like that will get me fired up . I kind of have low expectations for a late season hunt. I'll be more than happy to get a bird/day if that, and would love temps like that. We are staying in Artesian.

I was planning on shooting 16's. I am not a 12 ga guy, and really dont have a good 12 ga pheasant gun . My Fox pin gun is cyl/m. I will bring my GH 16 and 1oz RST's in 5 and 6. I also have a G grade Lefever 16 choked F/F and a Savage era 16 Fox SW with 2 3/4" chambers. I also have a 16 Rizzini OU with double triggers and choke tubes and have 1 1/8 oz loads in 4,5, and 6 for it. Oh yeah, an NID Ithaca 4E 16 choked M/F is a good pheasant gun but I dislike the flat safety.

Harold,
Shoot the 16s. Leave 6 shot at home and shoot your 5s. These birds are tough, heavily feathered this time of year. Tight chokes with a 16 and judicial shots will still work.

Think I was crazy going to SD in Jan. Almost 50 degrees here , a foot of snow back home. Not a Parker, but had to use non tox shot on a WPA. Rizzini 16 ga. With double triggers. WILLIE, but unfortunately was a hen.

Harold, How in the heck did this last storm miss you and dump 10 inches on us south of you?!?! You must be livin' right. Enjoy your lack of snow and warm temps. I have a feeling they will not last long.

zero degrees, 24 mph winds, minus 30 wind chills, making things a little brisk. High of 8 today. Only shot at 2 today got 1. Good success on WPAs , so using Boss nontoxic. Ithaca 4E 16 today.

gota be tough and want to really hunt in those conditions....charlie