“You should have been here last week!” It’s an old quip, but like any joke, this one carries some truth. Upland hunting is inherently unpredictable. Just a few days, hours, or even minutes can change everything. Show up after another group, and all the pheasants could be scattered into the next section. Hunt a few days after a blizzard, and you will encounter very different conditions than during last week’s heatwave.

With upland hunters increasingly connected by technology, chasing the best bird hunting conditions has become commonplace. Bird hunters excitedly trade hot tips on where the quail numbers are up, or what walk-in area just yielded a pheasant limit. For better or worse, it seems like secrets don’t stay that way for long.

Following the crowd is hardly a recipe for success. It is more rewarding to plan your own adventure and find your own birds. When you hit the road for an upland adventure, it is still sensible to try for a window that maximizes your fun factor. Here are a few ideas on how to be the hunter who says, “You should have been here last week!” instead of kicking yourself for bad timing.

The Perfect Time to Hunt Pheasants

As a whole, upland hunters spend more time chasing pheasants than any other upland quarry. Wild pheasant opportunities exist from coast to coast, but most hunters focus their efforts on the northern Plains and Midwest states. Whether you are headed to South Dakota, Montana, or Iowa, timing the perfect pheasant hunt can be tricky.

Seasons begin opening in mid-October, but you are likely to encounter just as many hunters as roosters if you go the first few weekends of the season. Likewise, Thanksgiving and Christmas are popular occasions to hit the field. You can still find birds during busy times, especially if your dog is better than most.

Some seasons run through January, but late season birds can be very jumpy. Weekdays during the middle of the season are your best bet if you are after a limit of pheasants on public access. Try early December, especially right after the first few snowstorms. Inclement weather will make the birds hold a little tighter, and it will also thin out the competition.

If you are planning a rooster road trip, look for areas that seem hardly worth bothering with at first glance. Quality, not quantity, is what makes a hunt, so carefully scan available walk-in parcels before making the drive. If you find a few small parcels with good cover, you’ll likely do better than the crowds that flock to the big public access blocks.

When to Hunt Ruffed Grouse in the Northwoods

Ruffed grouse hunting is practically a religion to Northwoods hunters. If you are interested in converting to the faith, timing your trip to the northern forests makes all the difference.

Smart local hunters avoid the heat and ticks of early season. There are birds in the woods, but it doesn’t matter much if you can’t even see them flush through the thick foliage. October is prime time, as the season changes leaves drop to the forest floor. Walking through a kaleidoscope of gold and orange is an experience in itself, but October grouse hunting is no secret. You’ll likely encounter other hunters and pressured birds during the heart of the season.

If you prefer a little more elbow room, plan your Northwoods road trip a bit later. Late November will certainly be colder, but a little snow on the ground weeds out the fair-weather hunters. Your reward will be peace and quiet, especially when your dog’s bell stops in the middle of an exciting point.

The Great Lakes states and northern New England are the heart of North America’s grouse obsession. Look for areas with a good mix of timber age classes, then hone in on young clear-cuts where the saplings are thick. Don’t forget, ruffed grouse hunting is also available nearly coast to coast. You might have just as much fun and less competition in central Appalachia or the Rocky Mountains.

Hunting Prairie Grouse Before Winter

Lately, it seems like everyone and their dog travels to the prairie to hunt prairie grouse in September. That’s because sharptail and prairie chicken seasons open sooner than most. Eager hunters come to the grasslands from all over to get their rusty dogs on wild birds.

Unfortunately, the crowds have gotten downright silly in a few of the more popular zones in Montana, the Dakotas, and Nebraska. If you want to avoid fleets of dog trailers at the local motel, the solution is simple: go later. Late autumn offers you more elbow room, but cold mornings also safeguard your dog against the dangers of heatstroke and rattlesnakes—real hazards to the early season hunter.

Prairie grouse have a reputation for being jumpy as fall turns to winter, but they are far from un-huntable. Even though your dog won’t have the advantage of uneducated September broods, you will no doubt find shooting opportunities. It can be difficult to get around the prairie once snowdrifts block trail roads, so the best window to chase prairie grouse might be from late October to mid-November.

Find the best prairie grouse hunting by scanning aerial imagery for large swaths of intact prairie. Even if you only see a few public access parcels, they are probably worthwhile if healthy grass, bushes, and forbs cover the hills. Don’t be afraid to knock on a few doors to ask permission as well.

When to Plan Your Western Chukar Hunt

Chukar live in some of the wildest corners of the West. These Middle Eastern imports are an all-season staple for locals, but if you are planning a special trip to chukar country, you want to pick an ideal time.

Travelling hunters often focus on chukar in January after upland seasons have closed in other states. By this point in the season, chukar have already been educated. Some winters bring enough snow to make access difficult. Two track roads get spicy, and deeper snow wears you and your dogs down.

The early season isn’t ideal either, as most chukar live in fairly warm environments. Heatstroke and rattlesnakes are just as unpleasant as subzero temps. Split the difference and plan your chukar hunt in November or early December. Young birds will be full-fledged adults, but they won’t yet have a PhD in sprinting uphill and wild-flushing downhill.

The canyon country of Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada draw the bulk of travelling hunters, but other chukar opportunities exist in just about every western state. Regardless of where you explore, look for dry, broken topography with a few natural water sources and plenty of cheatgrass.

The Best Timeframe to Hunt Prairie Quail

The central Plains are a popular pheasant destination. Locals chase ringnecks, but there are also die-hard bobwhite quail addicts. If you are hoping to experience the exciting rush of a covey rise of quail, tallgrass prairie states offer long seasons to test your wingshooting skills.

Most quail seasons open in mid-November, drawing crowds. With limited public hunting access in the region, some walk-in areas can get uncomfortably crowded. If you want to go early season, you might be better off to pay for private hunting access.

Likewise, late season brings more travelling hunters and continued pressure. Even though the central Plains can be warmer than other bird hunting destinations, the mid-season might be the sweet spot. Try a trip to Oklahoma, Kansas, or southern Nebraska in December and you’ll probably beat the trailer loads of dogs that flock to the best public land options in the late season.

Regardless of when you go, look for quail in the breaks in vegetation types along creek bottoms, shelterbelt tree rows, and old farmsteads. Bunchgrass CRP fields bordering woody patches and sumac thickets are always a good bet. Further west, focus on greener areas along reservoirs and river bottoms.

Take What the Land Gives

With busy schedules and life demands, most upland hunters don’t have the ability to always pick the perfect time for wingshooting adventures. Sometimes, the best time to go is the only time you can. Even if you have the luxury of chasing birds non-stop through the season, don’t get hung up on always finding the best spot at the best time.

Every day of following our dogs afield is a gift. Whether you bring one bird or a limit back to the tailgate, approach every hunt with an attitude of curiosity. That way, your efforts will always be rewarded. Timing is everything when it comes to a great bird hunt, but if you put in your time, the great days will come regardless of where you explore.