Mike knew a spot down 55 South near the Dwight area that we got to just about sunrise. Mike and Clint both explained a few things to me and we got started walking the area. We started walking slowly stopping every few steps or so to see if we could hear anything. The wind was crisp and bit at the only openings I had, which happened to be my finger tips. I packed a few extra hand warmers which I shared with Mike and Clint. I seemed to have dressed and layered warm enough for the weather. After a little while walking, out of nowhere something flew out from the brush and just about scared me dead. I struggled to get the Mossberg to my shoulder in time to realize that it was a Hen. Since we were out hunting wild pheasant and not somewhere that breeds them to hunt it is a no-no. We kept walking down that side for quite some time and came to a stream that lead to some farm land. When we approached the stream right on the other side was a good sized doe standing there, who turned tail and ran once it got sight of us.
We made our way back down the trail in an attempt to flush out anything on the other side. When we finally reached the end, back where the car was parked, we kicked out another bird; this time a Rooster. Another nervous raise of the Mossberg after I heard a few shots from my friends. I saw a few feathers fly off after Mike's shot but the bird took off flying. Sure that it had been hit we set out after it, but not before taking a breather to rest our legs and get a bite to eat out of my day pack. It was probably about 11am by now and we headed down the other direction after the one that got away.
The long journey down took us through some great country side. In a group of trees we were finally able to track down the wounded bird. I heard a rustling on the side and swung to shoot, forgetting the very important rule of don't shoot the pheasant on the ground. Luckily, I more then likely missed the bird and it was still wounded from the first shot. Mike put the bird down and we threw it into the pack. We made our way down as far as we could before we hit what looked like a man made river or soon to be river. We trudged our way back to the car attempting to flush out more birds but only another Hen as we ended up back by the car. We took a break to rest our legs and decided to go grab some lunch at the local gas station. By now it was about 3pm or so, we've spent a lot of time walking around through some thick waist to chest high brush. I would have never though my legs would be so sore and we weren't done yet.
We took a drive over to another spot that looked like it had some potential. We got out and geared back up. It wasn't about 10 minutes into walking when Mike flushed out another Rooster. I jumped out by him and he took two shots with his over under with no report, Clint took a shot his way and the bird kept on going. By now the bird was a good 50 yards away. I took up the Mossberg and followed it a second or two before squeezing the trigger, one shot and down with the pheasant. I had taken my first bird. The excitement I felt after seeing the bird fall was almost unexplainable, it was a rush of joy mixed with a little shock. I gave an excited yell and rushed over to verify that it was dead, and it was. We bagged the bird and kept on moving. We went as far as we could there and turned back around. This time the rustling we heard resulted from a rabbit. The first one ran out quick past and I didn't have a shot. Not 2 minutes after that another came out, this time it was not so lucky. I took one shot, saw some dirt kick up, thinking I missed took another. It was a good shot and the rabbit was down.
We came out of the area across from that to meet another hunter on an ATV. He recommended that we check out another spot a little ways away so we did. Not thinking to ask more questions about where this spot was we headed aimlessly to were we assumed he had been talking about. The drive was not a total loss though; on our way over in the car I was able to catch a view of a few bucks in the field fighting it out, I have not seen this in person so it was very interesting We worked that area till sundown. We didn't flush out any more pheasant but I did see the biggest buck of my life. From a ways away you could see the massive build of this animal and a rack that puts many to shame. I stood there for a few seconds and took off. I am still thinking of going back here with the bow and trying my luck at it. You all will be the first to know if this happens.
We took the long drive home with 2 pheasants and a rabbit. Not bad according to how difficult I've been told wild IL pheasant can be to get. I was very excited to have my first time out be such a great experience. Nothing beats being outdoors with some good friends. Below is the photo of my first pheasant taken by Clint Rife.
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