ROAD HUNTER

was a kid, and it was pretty easy to shoot a couple roosters whenever you wanted to during the season. But it’s been over 25 years since I’ve seen a wild pheasant in my old stomping grounds. Valley quail abound, creating solid hunting opportunities, but the pheasants are gone, making hunting these gems on private preserves another reason I love such opportunities this time of year.

For hunters, preserves test our shooting skills and keep us active and in shape. Mind you, not all preserves are the same, nor are the birds, so shooting and physical intensity can vary.

I’ve hunted a number of privateland venues over the years. Some have had sparse cover remaining for birds