The terrain accessed for these upland hunts, whether flat or hilly makes for
an enjoyable walking. Hunting parties can expect to walk 2-4 miles each day while
searching for birds. Persons attempting this upland hunt should be in very good
physical and cardiovascular condition. Persons with heart conditions or with bad
hips, knees or ankles can be accommodated, as you always need someone to do the
blocking/posting.
Our upland hunting is done behind either pointing or flushing dogs. One guide
leads a maximum of 6 hunters. We recommend that you bring your favorite gun;
shells can be purchased locally or you can bring your own, check with your airline
to verify. We strongly recommend that you use #5 shot or larger for pheasants to
reduce wounded birds. We require that you wear blaze orange while a field.
Shotgun hunting with multiple guns in upland environments is inherently dangerous,
and while hunting we are 15 miles from medical help. An upland hunt for wild birds
of any kind is not the place to learn basic gun safety and shooting etiquette.
Persons who are inexperienced upland bird hunters, unless they have significant
firearms handling experience in field situations, will not be allowed to participate
in our upland hunts. Further interpretation of this condition or an explanation
for its reasons will be cheerfully given if requested by telephone.
DEER HUNTERS NEED A ND LICENSE AND HAVE TO ABIDE BY ND HUNTING REGS AND LIMITS.
SEE THE ND GAME AND FISH SITE FOR MORE INFO. BOTH WHITETAIL AND MULE DEER ARE
PLENTIFUL. HUNTERS WILL HAVE THE EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO THE RANCH FOR THE HUNT.
LODGING AND 3 MEALS A DAY ARE INCLUDED. AREA SHOPS PROVIDE GAME PROCESSING.
BIRD DOGS: WE FURNISH A DOG, YOURS ARE WELCOME BUT GET AGREEMENT FROM YOUR HUNTING
GROUP TO HUNT WITH THEM. FACILITIES AVAILABLE.
If you plan to
participate in guided bird hunting during season, you need to bring your own shotgun.
Shotguns can be checked as airline baggage provided they are in a locked shipping case.
Please check with your airline in advance to avoid any problems with transporting. You
can also ship your guns to us prior to the hunt to insure they are not lost in luggage.
Modified choke is optimal for use on pheasants. Please bring the
appropriate loads of lead and steel shot shells for upland hunting.
All hunters should bring suitable shooting glasses as eye protection and some type of hearing
protection. Bring along your favorite vest for carrying shells. Deer hunters don't forget your
rangefinders and binoculars.
Bring some type of comfortable, waterproof upland lace-up boot or high-calf, firm fitting boots
suitable for long walks in wet terrain. Wax cloth chaps and/or jacket are good to bring for
repelling rain and wet vegetation. Bring a lightweight safety-orange hat and safety orange vests,
bird and shell vests.
Our expectation is that all guests will have had a gun safety course or years of gun handling
experience. We reserve the right to refuse guiding to inexperienced shooters/hunters or persons
in poor physical condition for upland bird species. Inexperienced shooters/hunters will hunt
under close supervision. Shooting of game will cease when daily and/or possession limits of
game are reached, or you chose to do something else or just relax.. Hunters are expected to
harvest game with intent to personally possess the salvageable meat for shipment and consumption.
Meat may not be abandoned or wasted. Cleaning station is available and there is a local business
that does game bird cleaning. Local butcher shops will also process deer.
We reserve the right to terminate any hunt where, in the guide's estimation, any shooter or
shooters are behaving in an unsafe or unsportsman like manner. Hunters may not consume alcohol
before or during a hunt, nor will a hunter be allowed to hunt while under the "hangover"
effects of alcohol.
While enjoying the services of Heart River Preserve there are a few simple rules that need
to be followed. No smoking inside the guest quarters, there are chairs on the porch and the
deck if you smoke. If smoking in the field make sure that your butts are extinguished before
discarding. No loaded firearms in vehicles or in the guest quarters. No shooting at low birds,
to protect all of us a field as well as the dogs If using tree stands or ladder stands a full
body harness and safety strap must be used.
