The Opener

[memyself@I]

I have never ever hunted the opener anywhere in MN or Dakotas. Never had private land to hunt it that weekend and don't want to fight crowds on public land. So whats everyones experience been on opening day in MN on public land??? Anyone going to Madelia to take in the Govs opener?? I don't know if the town will put on a good party and eats or not. I've been to the parties/feeds at fishing opener and sometimes they have a pretty good party and eats.

Just thinking out loud here regarding WMAs WPAS being grazed and hayed in MN now, Madelia is the"pheasant capitol of MN" its in the ag belt, and the governors opener is there. Might be a good time and place to spread the word, chat other hunters, farmers, politicians at all levels regarding your thoughts on the issue, even talk to the media about it, make a TShirt on your position and wear it etc etc etc. I read Landwhers interview in Outdoor News this week and he doesn't open up and speak about it in length.

Dan

[memyself@I]

Link to Madelia and the opener, not anything posted yet about the opener and events. They also have a pheasant fest on Oct 5th, few details regarding that event as well. Anybody been to their pheasant fest????

http://www.madeliamn.com/calendar/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=508&year=2013&month=10

[Eric Wettschreck]

So whats everyones experience been on opening day in MN on public land???

It really depends on where in MN you are. I've heard/read plenty of horror stories but where I'm at there is a lot of public land. No real troubles for me but I can see where certain chunks of public land get pretty pounded by 9:30 am.

Never been to pheasant fest.

[memyself@I]

If you google pheasant fest madelia mn it does take you to the pages for it and the governors opener. Shooting events, celebrities (Ron Schara) I am guessing booths, banquet, free music etc. Could be a good time.

Eric whats the sentiment down your way on haying and grazing on WMAs from farmers and hunters alike> Do you see much grazing/haying on WPAs as well?

I was blown away to see the feds dozed down 2 tree groves (former farmstead sites) last year at Slaughter Slough WPA

Dan

[Eric Wettschreck]

Actually there's quite a few people who don't know grazing is being allowed. I'm not a fan of it but good luck finding a farmer around here that is against it.

I drive aboot 25 miles one way to get to work in Worthington. I have not yet seen any grazing going on in the WPA/WMA's that I drive by. I've heard it's happening in other areas, tho.

I don't like seeing grove sites dozed away either. I guess I understand why it happened, in a way, kinda sorta..............but it still sucks.

[Ryan_V]

I also don't hunt opening morning. and pheasant hunting is my absolute favorite thing in the world to do. to many idiots out there opening morning. I've seen alot of very bad situations on opening morning. opening afternoon is usually my first outing

[CANOPY SAM]

Yea, I agree. I don't like to see Public hunting areas grazed or hayed, but I'll all but guarantee you'll never convince a politician to speak against it, at least not for the record, or in the presence of a group of farmers.

Pheasants and grouse will always take a back seat to big agriculture. The big waterfowl orgs have found a little ground with stopping further drainage of wetlands, which is a great thing, but when the badly needed hay/alfalfa ground isn't producing what cattle farmers need, there's just no where else to go for feed.

It does suck, but what else are you gonna do?

I'd happily hunt central NoDak on the pheasant opener. There's hardly anyone around. If you plan to hunt the really popular pheasant areas, you're gonna find a zillion other hunters. Go to the areas with fewer birds = fewer hunters = plenty of opportunity with virtually no barriers.

[rundrave]

I would guess that with the way crops are going the majority are still going to be un-harvested by the opener giving plenty of cover and hiding spots for the pheasants.

Granted in MN you can start at sun up so you may be able to pick up a couple birds in the morning but is it really worth the hassle competing with everyone else on public for the opener? You get there first, but whats the stop someone else walking the same area only to cut you off etc.

If it was me I would go scout some areas prior to opener and pick a few that look good. Let all the other parties of hunters walk them all day long in the heat and deal with competing for a spot to hunt while the roosters are all out cackling at you while as they sit in the corn.

Wait until sundown when you have these places to yourself when these birds are heading back to roost. Very likely all the hunters are already done for the day, your dogs don't have to fight the heat and the birds are back in the cover.

[workin4bait]

Granted in MN you can start at sun up so you may be able to pick up a couple birds in the morning but is it really worth the hassle competing with everyone else on public for the opener?

What???? The starting time in Mn. is 9am everyday not sun up.

workin'

[rundrave]

What???? The starting time in Mn. is 9am everyday not sun up.

workin'

Sorry my mistake, I should have looked it up first. Wouldn't change my strategy either way though. Early season especially on opener, I am not fighting the herd on public. Sure you can and will get birds, in the morning and even mid day. I would choose to hunt late after noon when the sun is going down for the reasons I mentioned above.

[memyself@I]

Oh I agree Sam. I think any politician even in a one on one conversation would not say anything bad about agriculture.

I think if folks showed up at any of Madelias pheasant fest or opener activities with a Tshirt calling attention to whats going on would get heckled or booed BUT may call attention to whats going-on their home field.

You'd never get a guy like Schara to do anything other than "what me worry" everything is alright.

Tony Dean, if he was still alive he'd put the truth out there-he always did in his column and his TV show. He was the real deal and we need more like him not this middle of the road can't we'll all be friends type media personalities and journalists. Who are always on the lookout for freebie adventures.

Dan