Does anyone have a Panhandle Pheasant report?

I was wondering if anyone has a Pheasant report? If there was a good hatch, is there a good bird count? It was rather low from the drought last year, haven't heard anything this year.

It's not good. My step dad is a salesman, he lives in Amarillo and services the whole TX/OK panhandle. He's on the road a lot and says he's seen very, very few birds. I have BIL and nephews in Parmer County; they farm about 6K acres - bird counts are bad. Ducks will be bad as well, all the ponds and playa lakes are dry. May be a few geese and cranes, but they will be transient.

Pheasant hunting will be poor again this year, im out in the fields all day and see very few if any.

Is this left over from last year's drought, or is it something from this year as well?

Last years drought is also this years drouth. Very little rain in the panhandle this year.

It don't look very good around Friona

What about Plainveiw area ???

We have land in Plainview also and NO BIRDS! Don't waist your trip this year.

No birds in my area either, I have not seen one bird on the road leading to my house this year. Good years I see them almost daily.

Last year I was at the Nazareth Basketball tournament and ran into a bunch of hunters and they told me they had killed only 2 birds in three days, and they are saying it is worse this year. Find someone who has pen raised or don't even waste your time.

There's a pheasant report on page 4 of Lone Star Outdoor News that comes out this Friday, you can view it on lsonews.com. The first thing the article addresses is the Panhandle.

Good article. Unfortunately no good news.

I have seen a bunch of birds in one area that we duck hunt in. Plenty of water in the area and lots of pheasants. Everything is really spotty. I have some buddies in other parts of the panhandle that have seen some as well.

No birds west of Plainview where I usually hunt nor in the Guymon/Hardesty , OK area.

There are few west of guymon, keys and boisecity. Not near the number s three years ago but better then last year

I am glad i saved my money this year, but next year I am going out even if all I do is contribte to the local Lion's clubs.

Any reports around Dimmitt?

There are a decent amount of birds south of Dimmitt. I haven't seen very many on our farms north of there. Best bet is around Hart or west of there.

That sounds great, thanks for the info!

You betcha. Might look around Bovina as well. I've heard good things from those parts.

Well I'll be hunting in Plainview on Sat. and I'll let y'all know what I see.

Thanks!!

I was in Plainview for Turkey day. Brother in law said there were no birds.

Two hunting, hunted south of Dimmitt. Moved 9 roosters , bagged two, missed two, others no chance. Not bad for two guns. Dogs did great with the 20 knot wind and very dry conditions. Checked by the warden and he said that these were only birds he'd checked, no one else had bagged any birds.

Good job!

Hunted north off Stratford yesterday morning and got blanked...will hit Sunray area today. Hunted corners on 1/4 sprinklers with dogs. There is no water and its so dry and dusty, there is no scent.

5 of us killed 11 in 45 minutes in that area between duck and goose hunts. There are a few birds around, But entirely to dry for us to get much dog help besides on the dead ones.

South of Dimmitt that is.

I'm headed to Petersburg in the morn..anybody heard any new reports or is it still tuff huntin?

I saw 3 roosters in the ditch near petersburg about a week ago. I've also heard from a friend in Floydada that there are some birds around. Good luck!

Are these places you all are talking about on public land, or do you know landowners? Any suggestions for public land within a few hours of Ft. Worth?

Great hunt in Petersburg!..in my opinion. 4 guys kicked up 5 roosters and killed 3. Other 2 were to far out..I wasnt expecting much so I thought we did pretty good.. kicked about 7 hens also.

They are all private. I have no idea about places around Ft. Worth, but there aren't any pheasants that I know of anywhere near Ft. Worth. Wild ones anyways.

That ain't no kidding, it was bad bad bad hunting up there this year and last, don't know what happened if it was the drought or what but that place went from great hunting in 2010 to terrible in 2011 and the same this year. The birds in that area are non existant.

Hunted Friday afternoon and all day Saturday around Floydada. Saw exactly 2 roosters and got both. Zero hens. Was pleasantly surprised at the quail. Got into 7 coveys and killed about 18. All of the coveys were good sized with the biggest going close to 20 birds. We had a lot of cut milo and a couple of fields of cut corn around the CRP. I suspect this had the quail somewhat concentrated, but it dang sure didn't have any pheasants pulled in. We had 2 pointers and 2 labs and the dogs were really struggling with the scenting conditions. They walked into the birds 2 or 3 different times without ever smelling them and busted the coveys. Did get to see several classic points. Decided not to hunt Sunday and left Sunday morning when the howling norther hit.

What did you find the quail in? Just brush around the corners of the fields?

I do remember seeing one good quail covey in friona this year, but like I said no pheasant. We have hunted the area off and on since '99 and thats the first time I remember seeing any quail there, but we are usually coved up with roosters.