Wisconsin Pheasant Season

[Gary Cripps]

Season opened last Saturday here in Wisconsin. I'm fortunate to have, with my wife, an 80 with 42 acres that we planted in prairie grasses and forbs three years ago. The balance is woods, stream and some marsh. Started a wild life shelter belt this spring that runs 1400 feet long to help the pheasants survive the harsh winters. So now the fun begins. Had a friend over Thursday for an outing. He got a brace of birds and had a great time. He went in Friday for scheduled major surgery and will be out of commission for the rest of the season. I hunted this morning with my wife handling the camera. I handled the Parker G grade 20 ga. with 26 inch Damascus barrels and RST 7 1/2 shot shells.

[Wild Skies]

Nice pics, please tell us about your dog.

[Gary Cripps]

That's Ginger. She is a brown two year old standard poodle. She has a great nose and loves the hunt, loves water, keeps squirrels out of the garden and geese off the lawn. She goes everywhere with me and will do anything I ask if I know how to ask. Last year when 9 mos. she went on a 4600 mile western trip with us in a pick-up. In the fall she hunted and retrieved ducks and pheasants. This year not have so many ducks but will do more pheasands and chuckers.

[TARNATION !!!]

Looks like a great day had. I have only seen one other standard poodle in the field over the years. It was black and was a great pheasant dog.
Cheers,
Jack

[charlie cleveland]

great pictures and lovely hunting ground...is the phesant numbers up in wisconsin...i have folks in kenosha wic..they say the phez has all but disappered around there...you have a great dog and companion there...not many dogs will do it all.... charlie

[Gary Cripps]

Thanks, We're trying to keep the birds going with correct habitat. For the dogs benefit I put out some pen raised birds about three weeks ago. They are mature and strong with 22 inch tail feathers. I do have native birds mixed in. We are flushing hens which are protected and were not planted.

[10ga Hammer]

Gary, Great to see another Standard Poodle in the field. We have two, great hunters and even better companions! You'll find a few pics of ours in my albums.