It’s a well-known fact that women are the fastest-growing demographic in the world of hunting and shooting sports. Pheasants Forever was quick to recognize this and launched the Women on the Wing program for ladies in 2018, which has been growing by leaps and bounds ever since. The fundraiser for the program, which is also looking for new members, is a banquet called “Women, Wine and Game.”

Four ladies who attended one such banquet in Oakland County last year decided to form their own chapter in the Thumb region of Michigan, which they called “Thumbs Up Women on Wings.” I have always supported women and girls getting involved in all aspects of the outdoors, and this past February I jumped at the chance to accompany these ladies on their site-based pheasant hunt at the Dead-End Hunting Preserve near Almont. My equipment for this hunt consisted only of a camera, and I was impressed with what I saw on a beautiful, sunny winter day as I followed these ladies and their dogs through some fantastic bird sanctuaries.

It was easy to see that all of the hunting dogs had been skillfully trained by their owners. What I saw was amazing dog work that required staying close, obeying commands and executing targets, followed by excellent retrieving skills. The four dogs used were Old World breeds, including a couple of Spinone Italianos and a couple of pointers, both of which are known for their slow, close-sighted and thorough work in the field.

The ladies also proved to be good wing shooters, and I enjoyed watching chittering pheasant cocks soar and then tumble back down to the accompanying staccato of gunfire, followed by dogs eagerly retrieving the kill. During a lunch break at the tailgate (which is a potluck with some amazing gourmet selections), I was struck by the downright warm camaraderie the ladies shared, including their candid discussion of dogs, shotguns, ammo, and what gear, boots, and clothing are best for women.

During this conversation, I told the ladies that most of my family farm participates in conservation programs that focus on providing suitable habitat for wild pheasants, which basically benefits all wildlife, including songbirds and insects. I invited them to visit my farm sometime, and if it worked out, we would plan a “ladies only” pheasant hunt in the fall.

To meet my CRP contracts regarding required middle management practices, I recently had two of my prairie grass fields “mastigated” (a combined process of mowing, shredding, and mulching) and a third field deliberately burned to restore everything. The results were outstanding, thanks to regular rains in June and July that produced a variety of prairie wildflowers that were quickly covered by thick, head-high prairie grass.

I had invited the ladies of Thumbs Up on the Wing to bring their dogs to my family farm in mid-August for a visit and field training (without shotguns) to thoroughly familiarize themselves with the lay of the land prior to our planned fall pheasant hunt. It would also give them and their dogs an introduction to the wild pheasants in my area, which are never easy to kill.

In response to the invitation, I was informed that the number of members had grown from four to nine ladies (including dogs), to which I replied that this was no problem at all, as pheasant hunting was traditionally a group affair.

The day of field exercises started off rainy, but eased a little as the ladies and their dogs were ready to leave. The long grass was cool and damp, which proved to be ideal conditions for the hard-working dogs and the ladies, as at this time of year it could have become unbearably hot and humid in a very short space of time.

I stayed back and watched from the sidelines so to speak, letting the ladies sort things out in their own way as they and their dogs quickly disappeared completely out of sight in the long grass. Not surprisingly, the pheasants were all running around in circles due to the very wet and dense vegetation, particularly the thicker underlayer in the grass. As descendants of the ultimate survivalists, today’s wild birds are runners and will only flush and fly as a last resort, but the dogs had a lot of trouble getting things under control.

One important factor the ladies discovered in my dense undergrowth, which can be over 8 feet high, is knowing where the dogs are going and in which direction. Being “old fashioned” and having dealt with these types of situations for a long time, I am a firm believer in putting bells on the dogs’ collars, which adds a pleasantly special touch to a unique atmosphere.

High tech of course offers a variety of electronic gadgets including beepers and even the sound of a screaming hawk, but I’m not a fan of those. I found the sound of the screaming hawk quite annoying, like fingernails on a chalkboard. I can only guess how the dog felt wearing it! Bells let you know where the dog is, when he’s stopping and when he’s moving again. Over time you know what’s going on when you hear the bells and the chimes, and the batteries never run out!

Yes, folks, old-fashioned dog bells always work for me when hunting in thick upland undergrowth (including grouse and woodcock). This is a method I suggested to the ladies after following their dogs in a literal maze of undergrowth.

Afterwards, the dogs were allowed to swim in the farm’s pond and cool off while retrieving thrown decoys. Most of the ladies also belong to the North America Versatile Hunting Dog Association and their dogs cover a variety of hunting applications.

After our adventure, we had the typical “Tailgate Potluck” with a wonderful menu. There is no doubt that the ladies of Thumbs Up Women on the Wing are ready for a real fall pheasant hunt at Lounsbury Farm, and plans are in the making.

They are also hosting a fundraising banquet on Saturday, September 7th at the Richville Conservation Club with the theme “Women, Wine and Game” with a social starting at 5pm. As always, there will be a great menu and of course lots of prizes.

It’s a good time and a great place for ladies who want to participate in outdoor adventures involving shooting, hunting, hounds and wonderful camaraderie in the great outdoors.

For more information visit [email protected].

Email Thumb-based freelance outdoor writer Tom Lounsbury at [email protected].