Handgun and Rifle shooting bench ideas

[ken erickson]

Aint that a fact! ack in the day (early 60's) we had them every place all native no stocked birds, and the flocks were, well a lot of birds.

Just a point of clarification. Ring neck pheasants are an introduced species and not native to North America.

Skeets makes some good points which highlights the importance of supporting organizations such as Pheasants Forever. They do lots of good things not only to support pheasant populations but habitat in general , from supplying native grassland seeds to conservation easements and trusts.

 

[RCW]

Pointer carrying a pheasant…while “Dad” is taking a piss off-camera. (see the seat made of a 5-gal bucket and padded lid.)

Apparently “Dad” doesn’t think the tripod or the bucket needs camo.

George, I sure wish we still had those birds around here. It's a real shame that they are are pretty much gone for good here. Hunted them for some years with english springers and a lab. Those where the days.

Like the others, I haven't seen a pheasant in years. Had them on our house property 30+ years ago.

I have some fond memories hunting wild pheasants over English Setters. One Setter was a small gal that had a hard time to get them to flush. They'd just run. She never gave up though. She did great with Ruffed Grouse.

Friend had a licensed shooting preserve where he stocked birds. They typically wouldn't survive winter, so I was invited to "clean them up" a couple times. He had a couple hard-pushing labs that would get them to flush. His wife's white toy poodle even flushed a bird once.

@GeoHorn - shooting pheasants from a fixed stand and tripod is something I'm not familiar with.

Was obviously a very successful day. Great looking dog.

 

[RCW]

Just a point of clarification. Ring neck pheasants are an introduced species and not native to North America.

Skeets makes some good points which highlights the importance of supporting organizations such as Pheasants Forever. They do lots of good things not only to support pheasant populations but habitat in general , from supplying native grassland seeds to conservation easements and trusts.

Good point. Introduced from Asia if I recall correctly?

For many decades, our NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) operated Pheasant Farms and stocked Ring-Necks in various places. One Pheasant Farm wasn't too far from us.

Always thought it odd NYSDEC raised an introduced species. I think they've gotten out of the business, but unsure.

They also operate Fish Hatcheries for the same purpose of stocking. A hatchery isn't far from us either.

Might (not sure) have had a legacy back to the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) days to put people to work during the Great Depression prior to WWII.

We had several CCC camps in our area. One of my Grandfathers was at one. Mostly for the purpose of Reforestation (Tree Plantation) projects. We have about 80,000 acres of NYSDEC Forest Lands in our County.

 

[dirtydeed]

Like the others, I haven't seen a pheasant in years. Had them on our house property 30+ years ago.

I have some fond memories hunting wild pheasants over English Setters. One Setter was a small gal that had a hard time to get them to flush. They'd just run. She never gave up though. She did great with Ruffed Grouse.

Friend had a licensed shooting preserve where he stocked birds. They typically wouldn't survive winter, so I was invited to "clean them up" a couple times. He had a couple hard-pushing labs that would get them to flush. His wife's white toy poodle even flushed a bird once.

@GeoHorn - shooting pheasants from a fixed stand and tripod is something I'm not familiar with.

Was obviously a very successful day. Great looking dog.

This photo sits directly above my monitor...brings back many fond memories...

Yep, that's me in both photos...

sorry Jim, didn't intend to derail your thread. Carry on

 

[skeets]

Yes Ken there were introduced. not a bird that originated in north America. How ever after so long that became native,( not being farm raised birds) while not being indigenous they were fun to hunt

 

[Tughill Tom]

Good point. Introduced from Asia if I recall correctly?

For many decades, our NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) operated Pheasant Farms and stocked Ring-Necks in various places. One Pheasant Farm wasn't too far from us.

Always thought it odd NYSDEC raised an introduced species. I think they've gotten out of the business, but unsure.

They also operate Fish Hatcheries for the same purpose of stocking. A hatchery isn't far from us either.

Might (not sure) have had a legacy back to the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) days to put people to work during the Great Depression prior to WWII.

We had several CCC camps in our area. One of my Grandfathers was at one. Mostly for the purpose of Reforestation (Tree Plantation) projects. We have about 80,000 acres of NYSDEC Forest Lands in our County.

NYDEC is still rising and stocking Pheasants, I went one opening day after I moved up here and left after 10 minutes. It was NUTS with guns, not something I'm into.

 

[RCW]

This photo sits directly above my monitor...brings back many fond memories...

Yep, that's me in both photos...

View attachment 160690

sorry Jim, didn't intend to derail your thread. Carry on

Super pictures. I used to have some similar with Pheasants, Deer, Geese, and especially Woodchucks. I was into woodchuck hunting many years ago.

Hard to tell.....Left photo is an 1100 with vent rib? If so, always wanted one. Had several 870's until the tragic boat accident.

Sorry for the tangent.....

 

[dirtydeed]

Super pictures. I used to have some similar with Pheasants, Deer, Geese, and especially Woodchucks. I was into woodchuck hunting many years ago.

Hard to tell.....Left photo is an 1100 with vent rib? If so, always wanted one. Had several 870's until the tragic boat accident.

Sorry for the tangent.....

Close...Beretta 1200. Not as nice as an Remington 1100, but surely lighter to carry.

Although most of my pheasant hunting was with an old Stevens 311 double in 12 ga. I could really hit with that thing...the 1200 works well too.

 

[Tughill Tom]

I'm kind of lucky in that I can once, and a while scare up a Gouse or two every now and then on the upper 40 and kill another Pine tree with my 28Ga Beretta

 

[RCW]

I'm kind of lucky in that I can once, and a while scare up a Gouse or two every now and then on the upper 40 and kill another Pine tree with my 28Ga Beretta

I knew old guys very good with a .410 or 28 gauge on grouse. I haven't seen a 28 gauge in decades, and they were rare then. .410 has been rejuvenated some.

I was often a 16 gauge guy. Those are few and far between anymore.

A Ruffed Grouse is SO fast when it flushes.....

I wasn't of their "caliber"

I "pruned" a lot of Norway Spruce during winter grouse hunting.....

 

[Sawburner]

My shooting bench in my shop and in the shooting shed. I disassembled it to get it out of the shop and in shed, it would take my tractor and forks to move it. Made with 3/4” yellow pine and LVL for framing.