We had arrived an hour before sunup. The air was heavy with humidity. The ground was wet. Walking through the grass our boots immediately began to soak up the moisture. It was too hot to don chaps. Should’ve worn my gaiters I murmured. At least from the knees down I would’ve been dry. Angus brushed up against me as he barreled himself into the still dark morning. My brush pants were wet where the German wire-haired pointer had rubbed against. His coat was absorbing the water in the air and grass as he trotted along us as we made our way into the Flint Hills. Minutes passed and the early morning sun rays were making themselves across the ridges and prairie. The landscape was mostly green with speckles of yellow and tans. Ripples in the land were from the breaks that intersected the property. Fall was coming. Summer wasn’t leaving yet though. The morning temperature was rising fast. Rorschach sweat patterns began to materialize on our backs from wearing our bird vests.
We trekked across the prairie heading to the northwest corner of the public land property known to hold prairie chickens. The dogs were working hard. Venturing out a good distance and quartering back and forth, covering a good space of grassland with their nose. A mere thirty-five minutes into the hunt and I signaled the others to rendezvous on me to take for a much-needed water break. After downing a couple of deep gulps of life sustaining clear liquid and letting the dogs get their tongues wet, we pressed onward. Hundreds of yards turned into miles. Up and down and across ridges we hunted. The trucks appeared as tiny dots where’d we’d parked them at.
The rest of the hunt followed the same pattern. Walk. Stop. Drink. Walk. Stop. Drink. Just as soon as we were out of water, was the time when we decided to turn and start to make our way back. A breeze would cool us off briefly when we reached the top of hills and ridges. It brought much needed relief. A quick check of the Garmin showed the dogs had traveled upwards to eleven miles, while we had merely walked four. All without firing off a shot. The gained elevation on some of the hills were high enough for spectacular twenty-mile views. Kansas is NOT flat as commonly suggested.
Looking around I noticed we all looked a bit disheveled. Walking can be tiring when looking for chickens. However, we have become masterful at putting one boot in front of the other. Long distances are the norm. It’s what we bird hunters are good at.
September hunting for prairie chickens can be demanding no matter if you’re chasing the birds in Kansas, Nebraska, or South Dakota. Temps can soar into dangerous levels for man and dogs alike. Those hunting or should I say “walking” across The Sunflower State looking for chickens, the hunt can be physically draining due to the time of the year…late September days can still feel like summer. For hunters, it’s a good way to gauge how well in shape they’re in for the rest of the season.
Kansas’ prairie chicken season runs from September 15th through January 31st of the following year. Those hunting chickens in September and October allows wingshooters who want to use dogs on the big Kansas prairies, as birds tend to hold better in the earlier portion of the season.
OTHER BIRDS. It’s a good time to get those big ranging dogs out for some needed exercise, conditioning, and exposure to wild birds. The early season provides hunters the opportunity for dogs the chance to work coveys of quail and pheasants, which aren’t legal to shoot until November.
Hunters walking in on their dogs in a classic point may relish in surprise to find a covey of 20 quail exploding from underfoot as they cyclone up into the air, instead of chickens. Think of it as early scouting for those other upland birds while chicken hunting.
HOLDING TIGHT….SOMETIMES. September finds prairie chickens in scattered small groups, or as singles which tend to hold better than larger flocks of late fall and winter. These family groups, made mostly of hens and their young tend to hold tight. This tight holding pattern allows dogs to work these prairie birds, allowing hunters to get into shooting distance at knocking down a limit of two. However, this is NOT always the case. Prairie chickens are flighty birds and big ranging dogs can “bump” birds into flushing prematurely. Hunters should spread out to cover large distances.
HEAT. September carries with itself some dangers and obstacles to overcome. The month can bring the heat. Mornings can be warm to start off with, add humidity and climbing temps and you have a recipe for misery. Hunts should be stopped when it gets too warm as the likelihood of dogs being affected by the heat more than people is the norm.
This means bring plenty of water. Water for yourself. Water for the dog/s. Stop often to allow canines to cool down then resume to walking. Ponds, creeks, and other water sources (windmills and stock tanks) are an excellent way to cool off dogs. Hunters should carry a minimum of two water bottles, and if able to a hydration pack. Collapsible plastic water bottles are a good alternative to use as they deplete in size and can add to your water load.
WALK THE PRAIRIE. Prairie chicken hunting takes on a marathon feel to it. The expanses are large. There’s no shortage of public lands and accessible private lands through Kansas WIHA (Walk-In Hunting Access) where the birds might be. Hunters should concentrate their endeavors amid wide flowing pastures of tallgrass prairie habitat, particularly places where native prairie is interspersed with agricultural fields. Prairie chickens prefer grassy areas of medium height. Areas that transition from short to medium height vegetation allows birds to detect predators easily while foraging for food and loafing. The flowing prairie holds the very food source chickens consume – leaves of prairie plants, seeds, buds, and insects in the form of grasshoppers.
I tend to focus on clumps of red sumac when hunting chickens, these patches which tend to have sparse ground grass provide shade during rising temps.
Whether it’s the Flint, Gypsum, or Smoky Hills, the tops of hills and ridges should be points of interest when hunting chickens. While at the top, look for craters and bowls where prairie grouse like to hang out during the day. As hunters are walking these small and large slopes of land, the leeward side of hills, just below the crest, especially on chilly wind mornings can provide hunters with the golden (chicken) egg.
These are all excellent places to put boots on the ground…and walk. So, loosen up those vest straps if needed, take a thirst-quenching drink, and walk just a little bit more. Enjoy those September juants for a bird that drives us to walk to the horizon.