Any good public land to hunt pheasants?

Last couple of years I have done pheasant hunting near Spearman in Hansford county. While I have mostly been going with a friend/outfitter, the last two years I have gotten there early and checked out the public hunting land areas in Hansford county.

There usually 2 or 3 areas not far from Spearman/Gruber, that are nice tracks, some with ponds/lakes, that offer walk-in hunting for ducks, geese, and pheasant.

It's not too bad either - I would have done better except that hunting pheasant by yourself is frustrating because so many of the birds run and you never get a shot.

Last year, however, the population was virtually wiped out by the drought. I saw ONE bird on the public land (a hen) and only about a dozen birds were taken by a dozen folks after 2 hard days hunting on several tracks (over 10,000 acres) - and we had FAR better hunting than anyone we talked to.

The year before, we saw literally hundreds of birds every day and generally limited out pretty early.

From what I have heard thus far, it doesn't look much better (maybe worse) this year up in the panhandle.

Surprisingly, further south (southwest of Amarillo) I know I guy whom I mulie hunt with that says he has pheasant all over his property this year and he hasn't seen pheasant in the area for over 20 years! Go figure.

Surprisingly, further south (southwest of Amarillo) I know I guy whom I mulie hunt with that says he has pheasant all over his property this year and he hasn't seen pheasant in the area for over 20 years! Go figure.


Whoever received just a little rain between May 1, 2012 and the end of July will have a pheasant hatch and chick survival. I have been keeping up with the spring and summer showers and the area from Hereford to Silverton & Turkey and southward to Lubbock and south and southeast of Lubbock (Crosbyton & Afton) and those areas have been receiving fair amounts of showers. Not big down pours but enough scattered rain showers for a good hatch and good chick survival.

We hunt a lot north of Ft Worth and see no birds, ever. Very depressing

That don't sound good. I'm hoping to go to So. D. in October and find some birds up there.

Man are you in for a treat! You'll be covered up with birds! I'm hoping to get up there next year for a nice mixed bag.

I think it'll take a couple years for TX, OK, and KS to fully recover from this drought. Hopefully bird number just get better and better in the mean time. Things seem to be looking better this year than last year so it's a start.

i am hoping to go to SD in november i will find out this week end

Anybody know how the birds are around Plainview?

Probably not good. I live in Spearman and most of the guides and farmers who host big hunts are cancelling for the second year in a row. It has been too dry the last two springs for birds. Very depressing. I am hearing that they had a good hatch up in Kansas.

The Plainview region will be fairly good this year. Some timely rain helped. Been seeing quite a few birds east of Plainview and in the Hart area. Hunting will be O.K., but nothing stellar.

Call ahead, I have a dog in N Central S. Dakota and it has been hot and dry all summer. Cover is burnt up. Birds are running and bird work tough.

Thanks for the info. Hope I get to go up there.