Guided Upland Bird Hunts

FCS hunts upland birds with Mike Schumann usually each February or early March at the old Dismukes/Bieberstein Ranch near Dime Box.  They have 900 acres of blackland prairie covered with native grass and short brush, post oak savannah with improved pasture, lightly wooded uplands, and heavily wooded bottomlands – an ideal match for upland birds like quail, pheasants, and chukars.  Mike’s address is 1011 Cr 453, Dime Box, TX 77853.

We had several highly successful hunts with Mike Schumann.  For example, on 2/23/19, eight FCS hunters killed a record 101 birds, including 63 quail, 22 chukars, and 16 pheasants.  And here’s a picture from the 3/3/18 hunt.

The hunts start at 9:00 AM and end around 3:00 PM (not counting travel time).  As with all ranches in Central Texas, these will be pen raised birds.  The hunts includes:

• Kids (15 years old & under) hunt FREE with paid adults
• FREE shooting lessons
• Sporting clays and bird processing included (lunch not included)
• Hunting dogs will be provided (if you would like to bring your well-trained (for upland bird hunting) and well-mannered dog, you can if that is OK with the other hunters in your group, but only one or two dogs can come)

Package options include:

• 18 quail
• 9 chukars
• 6 pheasants
• A mix of 6 quail, 3 chukars, and 2 pheasants (a full mixed bag)
• A mix of 9 quail and 4 chukars
• A mix of 4 chukars and 3 pheasants
• A mix of 9 quail and 3 pheasants

Hunters in each group will need to hunt the same packages.  Mike assigns three – five hunters per guide.  He doesn’t have enough guides for one guy to hunt 18 quail by himself, while another hunts nine chukars by himself, and another hunts six pheasants by himself.  If he did, then the cost per hunt (essentially having a 1:1 guide) would be triple his normal rates.

This is not a shopping trip!  The birds that you order will be put in the field, but there is no guarantee that you’ll harvest them.  Harvested birds will be divided equally or proportionally by the guides.

Costs:

• The guide fees are $275 on weekdays and $300 on weekends.  A $100 deposit will be required by a due date.  Mike  accepts PayPal and checks.  Hunters who do not pay the guide fee by the due date will be removed from the list of people who RSVPed for the trip.  We recommend a 20% tip ($55 on weekdays and $60 on weekends), based on the effort, not the results.
• We’ll split the vehicle gas.  If we take a toll road, because we’re running late, we’ll split that fee.
• We’ll eat out or get drive-through food.

What to Bring:

• Texas Hunting license and upland game bird endorsement.  If you bought a super combo license it includes your hunting license and upland bird endorsement.
• Shotgun.  A 12 gauge piston-operated semi-automatic with a 2 3/4-inch or 3-inch chamber is recommended.  A plug is NOT required for semi-automatics and pumps capable of holding more than two shells in the magazine while hunting upland game birds.  A 20 gauge is also a good choice and only has 12 1/2% less payload (per equivalent shell) when compared to a 12 gauge.
• Four boxes of Remington Shur Shot Heavy Dove Loads or equivalent in 8 shot for clay targets, 7 1/2 shot for quail and chukars, and 6 shot for pheasants.  Randy Rowley recommend a box of 8 shot, two boxes of 7 1/2 shot, and a box of 6 shot for a full mixed bag, although you’ll probably shoot less than 10 target loads, less than two boxes of 7 1/2 shot, and less than five 6 shot shells.  For example, on the 3/7/26 hunt, Randy shot five target shells, 31 7 1/2 shot shells, and one 6 shot shell, for a total of 37 shells.
• Blaze orange cap and hunting vest and clothing appropriate for the season.  You never know when it will rain, so bring rain gear.
• Shooting glasses or sunglasses.
• Drinks and snacks (optional; drinks are highly recommended).
• A medium-sized ice chest or bag to take your birds home in.

Expectations:

These hunts are a service to FCS members and guests, but the Event Coordinators/leaders will enforce the following expectations:

• Follow the guide’s instructions and abide by the FCS Bylaws Regarding Conduct.
• Pay for your share of vehicle gas.
• Help when the guide asks you to.
• Control your dog (if you brought one).
• Talk quietly (upland birds can hear you and can run away from the noise).
• Show up.
• Be on time.
• Don’t have a pattern of canceling at the last minute.
• Read the Event Coordinator’s/leaders emails and don’t ask questions that have already been answered in the emails (and you would have known the answers for if you had read the emails).
• Return the Event Coordinator’s/leader’s phone calls, emails, and/or texts, if he or she asks a question or asks you to acknowledge something.

RSVPs are required to Randy Rowley, FCS president.  Also contact Randy if you have any questions.