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2019 Kansas Hunting Season

The 2019 hunting season was a huge disappointment. I was horribly skunked all season. Our normal dove hunting grounds were empty, the dove were non-existent this year. The massive spring storms are thought to be the culprit. I was toying with visiting a buddy of mine in Abilene, Texas to do some dove hunting with him but they had the same thing there.

I only managed to get out pheasant and quail hunting once. Missed my one shot at a rooster that I had – I did kick up some feathers off the bird, he just never dropped.

I deer hunted on a new piece of land with a buddy. He managed to shoot a deer on the opening day. Unfortunately for me, nothing showed back up for the next four days. Including Mr. 8 Point I happened to see during one of the 2 weekends I was able to scout the place. That was the only time I saw him. I had a couple of trail cams out that caught a few does, but they just didn’t show back up.

Keith and I also put in for a Kansas muzzleloading antelope tag but we didn’t draw. We have a point for this year though!

So that’s my tail of woe… Hoping this year is better.

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Upland Final Weekend

I was able to get out for the final weekend of pheasant and quail season. I was invited along by an old friend from high school who I hadn’t seen in a while, nor had I ever hunted with before. He took us to some family land down in south central Kansas. And like what we had seen back in November on opening weekend, the birds were a bit few and far between.

But as the saying goes, it’s better to be out hunting than not. And we still had a great time. I came home with one pheasant and a quail. Two others of the group took 4 quail. Again, not a great hall, but typical for this season (due to the heat and drought of last summer). I hoping we don’t have a repeat of the heat again, or next season could be even worse.

I’ve also found my favorite way to enjoy quail and pheasant, Pheasant (and quail) Teriyaki. I got the idea from another hunting buddy who did something similar with Goose. Here’s the basic recipe, I don’t measure much, but it’s pretty simple.

I cut up the quail and pheasant in bite size pieces and marinated in teriyaki sauce for a couple of hours. Chop up some onion and garlic. I probably used a small onion and 2 cloves of garlic. Saute the onion in oil to soften, don’t brown it. Once the onion is soften up a bit, toss in the garlic and game with all the teriyaki sauce. Saute for a few minutes until the meat is almost done. I had about 1/2 cup of chicken broth left over from the rice, so I tossed that in with a few more dashes of teriyaki. Simmer until meat is fully cooked and liquid is reduced some. Server over rice or noodles.

Yumm!

I’m grateful for good friends and good food. Thanks Alan for taking us out for one last chance to get some game.

Keep your powder dry.

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Kansas Quail and Pheasant Opening Weekend

I was able to make it to the opening weekend for pheasant and quail this year after missing it in 2010 (which was a banner year, right guys?). The reports weren’t good for western Kansas due to the heat and drought we had over the summer. But this year, it was about more then just going hunting. Keith had beat cancer and was finally back home. This year was a celebration, hunting was just the vehicle to celebrate with.

 

The usual crew was there, minus a couple of friends that couldn’t make it. We only saw 5 roosters that Saturday, but we got into 3 large covey of quail. The quail was a pleasant surprise as I expected to see even less of them. Of the roosters, only 1 was in range for a shot, and one of the Nate’s took it. Lots of quail were taken, not sure of the final count. My daughter Mariah ended the day with 3, I managed to drop a couple.

Keith even managed to accompany us to one of his favorite spots, the infamous “tail water pit”. That was one of the spots we busted a covey of quail at. Keith even managed to drop one. I think that was the highlight of his weekend.

I was excited to see quite a few deer all three days were were out there and am looking forward to deer season coming up in December. My wife is as well. This will be her second hunt. We’re going to set up our stand at an old ranch south of Meade thanks to Jason Edwards. Keith and I had scouted that back in 2010, but we never made it out there to hunt, so I’m looking forward to setting up on a new piece of land. I’m hoping that the wife and I both get a shot, we definitely need some meat in the freezer.

All said, it was a great weekend and we’re all relieved of Keith’s outcome and glad to see him back home. We had lots of great food, lots of great discussions around the bonfire. We feasted on elk stew and the ladies made some great dutch oven cobblers. And of course, the traditional visit to the Duck Inn for a burger.

I hope everyone had a great time out. Looking forward to getting in the field again. Keep your powder dry.

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It’s Pheasant Time

Can’t wait! Heading out tomorrow to see the guys and walk some fields. I’m taking my Grandfather’s old Winchester Model 12. Hardly any blue left on, it’s longer than most shotguns these days, but dang if it ain’t a sweet old 12 gauge.

Good luck to all the Kansas hunters this weekend.

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Kansas 2011 Pheasant and Quail Season Opener

Quail and Pheasant season begins next weekend here in Kansas. The forecast hasn’t looked good for many parts of the state due to the hot, hot summer we had. The western half of the state, which generally has the best pheasant hunting, looks to be non-existent this season. The reports I’m hearing is that the cover, along with the water, just dried up.

I’m going out there anyway, as well as most of the opening day crew that goes there. It’s more for our buddy Keith, than it is for the hunting this year. We’re going to celebrate Keith’s beating cancer and finally getting back home. And really, that’s way better than the best pheasant opening weekend ever.

Anyone else going out next weekend? Where are you headed? Let us know in the comments beloww.

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Last Two Weekends For Kansas Upland Hunting

me_with_hat
The New Hat

Heading out tomorrow morning for the next to the last weekend for pheasant and quail season here in Kansas. I’ve been itching to get all of January and things just haven’t gone my way. I’ve got a new hunting hat and I need to see if it brings me any luck, because we all know, hunting it all about the hat. At least that’s what Keith tells me.

I’m heading down to Southeast Kansas Saturday morning with my daughter to get a tour of a new aquaintance’s ranch. He says it hasn’t been hunted much over the last couple of decades and there used to be some quail down there.

Sweet! I love a good quail hunt.

So I’ll be sporting my new hat and my Browning pump 12 gauge and my daughter will be along with her Stoeger side-by-side (which is a really cool story that I’ll have to tell some day). Wish us luck. I hope we see something tomorrow.

Keep your powder dry.