I'm thinking about looking into a trip for upland birds. I am thinking something within a good day's drive from the Houston area. I've always wanted to hunt Kansas in the snow, don't ask me why but I just think it would be cool. Just looking for thoughts and experiences that you might have had.

Thanks.

When I say day's drive. I do mean 12-16 hours

Right now, Kemt/ Stonewall County Texas is as good as it gets.

I have a very good population of quail On my lease in Menard and hunt them after deer season is over. Looking for a combo hunt of Quail, chucker and pheasant. If you know of a place that can give me all or two of the three let me know who.

No wild chukar a day from Houston.

I'm a bird dogger more than a hunter, and nothing beats wild bobwhite quail for me.

I have done a few road trips to different places for different kinds of upland hunting. There are a couple public areas with wild chukar in western CO within your range, but it would be very difficult iffy finding them hunting. Utah is the closet chukar state, but would be more of a 16-20 hour drive at the least for you. Kansas Pheasant with bonus quail and prairie chicken would be your best bet within your set driving range.

You are correct sir, but I have never hunted pheasants before and really would like too.

Ok, if I stay in Texas to hunt where can I go to get a great hunt. When I say great hunt I'm talking EXPERIENCE. I love watching good dogs work, hunting with other people that have the same passion as I do.

The Nail, Stasney Cook, or Matthews Ranch. My kinda country.

Since I haven't been yet, S Dakota. I'd like to see the pheasants black the sky, like I've heard about. Along with the chance for grouse and partridge and combine a waterfowl trip in with it. Then, I'd like to hunt the 6666's, Pitchfork, Tongue River and Swensons.

I'd love to hunt S. Dakota also.

I hunted North Dakota but a friend and I flew up there from Houston and met a group who drove up from Kansas. It was a good trip. We found lots of sharpies and a few Huns. The Huns were a lot of fun but hard to find.

I live in north Texas and plan on driving to Montana this year, and on the way back hit the panhandle WMA's. Also have a S.Dakota pheasant hunt planned for this fall. It's going to be a lot of driving and bird dogging this season!

S Dakota for me.

Houston to SD is under 16 hours drive. That would be doable. If you want to shoot any bonus greenhead chickens while your there, it's a draw for non residents and time to apply right now.

I find SD pheasants too commercialized for me. On top of that there pen raised birds. Nebraska Sandhills for sharp tails would be my vote

SE part of North Dakota, has geese, ducks, huns, pheasants and you can usually get access by asking politely.

The group who left us were planning to road hunt their way back to Kansas.

I would go back home to Kansas and quail and phasant hunt with my uncle and cousins like we used too...

Walter

Walter, what are we waiting on. Let's go I'm ready

I would hunt ruffed grouse with a close working setter in upstate NY or Maine...preferably on an abandoned farm with stone fence rows running through overgrown orchards. Peak fall foliage, crisp north wind, maybe a light snowfall. Frost meets Hemingway.

We live in Houston and try to hunt Gregory SD every year.

SD but try to get there before Turkey day or it can be coooooooollllllddddd

Arizona for a mixed bag quail hunt. Put some shoes on your dog. Me personally I want to hit Idaho for wild chucker. First I need to drop 20lbs of fat...lol

Nothing like SD, spent years thinking about doing it and 3 years ago took the leap and now we book the next year before we leave. Last year went early Nov and two days hunted in t shirt. Next day 20 mph wind with snow and 36 degrees for the hi, the weather that time of year changes overnight. We hunt public land and road edge most of the time. Last year paid for one day on a private farm 5000 acres that had a turnip and radish field 20 acres specifically for holding phesant. It was an unreal experience to see that may wild birds in one place.
My advice is do it now you won't regret it. I read today the only thing you regret are the things you did not do.