6 replies to this topic

[.243Win]

My dad, brother and self arrived in the Imperial Valley about 3pm friday afternoon.We wanted to have a little daylight to scout around, and see what conditions had changed since our last vist in September.We were hoping to find some doves to shoot Sat am before setting out to hunt pheasants at 8am.Our limited scouting time produced a field that was puzzling at first.From a distance of about 150 yards, we were watching doves dive into a small field of what appeared to be sugar cane.Sugar cane has been grown on a very limited if not experimental basis for the last 5 years or so down there to see if it would be feasable/money maker.Since we all know doves don't eat sugar cane, a closer inspection was needed to find out what the food attraction was.As we drove around and next to the field, it quickly became obvious: corn field.Every other row or hedge had been planted in what we call kaffir corn; some may call it millet or milo.There were some swaths that the harvester had cut lengthwise through the field in 4 places.The cane and corn were left standing; other parts of the field not visible from the paved road and been topped, and then disced up. Most of the cane/corn stalks were about 4 feet high. The cane was very effective at hiding the corn from view.This created quite a smorgersbord for the doves, and there were several hundred dining in the field.With no other hunters in sight, we left the field to return in the morning to shoot doves.At 5:39 am Sat morning, and with no other hunters around, we beagn shooting doves around the disced up portion of the field, as it left plenty of room to locate downed birds.By about 7:30, as were waiting for my dad to finish up his limit, we heard a rooster pheasant cackle over in the cane/corn field. Shortly thereafter, we saw him fly from the edge of the field to the center of the field.Evidently, our shooting activity had started to irritate Mr. Rooster.With good fortune smiling on us, and luck at our side, at 8 am, we started to walk the field. The standing portions were only about 20 yards wide, ideal for 3 hunters to work and watch the clearings as we walked the field.In no time at all, the first rooster shot up in the sky and was quickly brought down. He was quickly recovered and we continued our walk. At the end of 1 hours time walking the field, 3 roosters had risen up, and 3 roosters had gone down.We gathered them up and headed off for the making of breakfast. Of course, we had to pose for pictures, so the pic with the 3 of us in it was taken in the field where the doves and pheasants were taken. Note the cane and kaffir corn stalks.Approx 4 hours later, we returned to the field for another look.Our curiosity had been aroused: could there be other birds that we had misssed ? This field was quite a food magnet for lots of different birds.We don't hunt with a dog, and ditch hunting had produced 2 roosters that got up in front of us for shots; yep, my dad missed 1 and I missed 1; a little too extended for our 20ga guns.We exited the vehicles, took note that no other hunters had been at the field, and walked the field again, this time a little slower and more patiently.Our efforts paid off again as 2 more roosters were brought down. One hen flushed when spooked as well.We took another pic of the birds, and continued on with the days hunt.At the end of the weekend, we ended up with those 5 pheasants and three 2-day limits of doves.It was quite an experience to hunt that field, both doves and pheasants, with no other hunters around, and a cooperative land owner, who told us later when he drove up, he planted the kaffir corn too late for the Sept dove season. He just decided to disc part of it up and leave the rest standing.Our Sunday afternoon was spent chasing a large covey of quail in/around a cotton field they were hiding in.They one that battle.Enjoy the pics !

[SpotandStalk]

Great work...good to hear your plan worked out. If you would have posted pictures showing a limit of quail, dove and pheasants...I would have thought you shot em' in a cage. Nice work,S&S

[SpotandStalk]

243,Went out for a quick evening hunt today in the Imperial valley as I wasn't able to make it out for opening day-weekend. I saw Pheasant heads and wings everywhere. It appears it was total carnage out there over the weekend. I hunted from 2:30 until the 4:40 sunset. I saw two hens...a rooster that crossed the road, ducked into some bushes and simply wouldn't come out. I kicked dirt, made noise, someone even shot into the bush and he wouldn't come out. Pheasant tracks were everywhere...from smaller chick size all the way up to what could be interchanged for a big turkey track. I finally found a nice covey of quail, the only problem was it was 4:30 and I had 10 minutes until sunset. I took one quick pass...they flushed-I missed...had to get back to the car as the sun had set and the squitos were eating me alive. I'll probably try again next week. S&S

[ShooterJohn]

Looks like a very successful hunt!

[SpotandStalk]

243,How'd the Imperial county Pheasant taste? In all your experience do you have a recipe you like for the big birds?S&S

[.243Win]

my mom and grandma used to just fry them like chicken.my moms cousin from S. Dakota uses the deep fryer and some catfish batter..mmmm!I prefer browned over hot skillet, then dump in can of cream of anything soup and just let them simmer; I skin them so I don't like them drying out on me.somtimes bacon and onion and garlic, pan fried.sometimes you just get a tough bird period !sorry, I don't have a lot of recipes for them

[SpotandStalk]

Sounds good...I got some Chukar in Idaho and we fried it up with some Bass and chopped up french fries...what a meal! S&S