My good friend Tim Ellerbroek invited Adam Chester and I up to his hometown of Sibley Iowa in far NW Iowa for an amazing pheasant opener weekend hunt. Hunting the pheasant opener is tradition in the Ellerbroek family, and I certainly found out why! Wade and Dona Ellerbroek as well as Ted Schutte were the group’s hosts. Ted and Wade are both members of the FNAWS (Foundation of North American Wild Sheep) with Ted being a past president of the organization. Each year the duo auction off a pheasant hunt in Iowa as a fundraiser for the Wild Sheep organization. This year hunters traveled from the States of Washington, Wyoming, Nebraska, Missouri, and of course Iowa to participate. The group included both male and female hunters aged 14 to 70’s? 

 While the vast majority of the state is seeing the worst pheasant hunting in decades we enjoyed great success. This was due to the great land management practices that have been put in place for many years, the sniffers of four great dogs, and the knowledge of our “guides”.

Saturday’s bounty included 34 pheasants and 8 gray partridge, while Sunday the group bagged 15 pheasants.

 I would like to send out a special thanks to the Ellerbroek’s, Tim for inviting me, and Wade, Dona, and Jim for putting up with me. It was great getting a chance to meet and visit with the living legend Ted as well !

Great success in the rest of the season !