re: Paging Wick: Making first wild pheasant hunt-DAY 1 FINISHED

That area won’t have many sand burrs, they would only be present around disturbed areas like edges of roads and possibly edges of crop fields, places like that. I’ve hunted KS from one corner to the next and the only area I have booted dogs due to burrs is the extreme Western reaches. A dog having soft pads would be the main reason to boot. If you do for some reason find a lot of burrs, you can make a boot out of duck tape that is disposable and works fine, it’s my boot of choice. Lewis boots are too heavy and clunky and not necessary for that area.

That is not a generally great part of the state for pheasants. Pheasants are present, but that is generally a better region for quail with some mixed bag opportunities. If I’m hunting a place that could have both species, I’m shooting 20 gauge 2-3/4” 1oz high brass 6’s. For quail I would just go with high brass 7.5’s. I have shot many many pheasants with an ounce of 7.5’s out of a 20 gauge. Just remember that if the bird is in good range, almost any load will do the trick. Im not saying shoot 7.5’s in a place that is more likely to produce pheasants, but super heavy 3” pheasant loads are generally not needed.

Good luck, bird numbers in that state are spotty. Keep extra clothes in the truck in case you have a morning with heavy moisture on the grass, you can get pretty wet on those early walks. Park as far away as you can stand to walk from the ground you plan on hunting and try to stay as quiet as you can while hunting. Be careful with the roads, that area has gotten some moisture recently.