A Florida rooster ringneck. (Photo by Ian Nance)
September 25, 2024
By Ian Nance
Hidden Gems : Roads less traveled & waters less fished in Florida. Florida Sportsman magazine’s 'Hidden Gems’ project in the August-September 2024 issue featured 14 hotspots for Florida’s hunters and anglers, from the Keys to the Panhandle. Today, we highlight pheasant hunting at Three Pines Preserve near Dade City in Pasco County, one of several Florida hunting preserves offering pen-raised pheasant hunts.—Ian Nance, Florida Sportsman magazine contributing editor.RELATED Florida-Style Pheasant Tower Shoot Florida Sportsman's 'Hidden Gems.' Susie was panting hard on a bluebird December morning, resting from retrieving pheasants as Cole Sellers and I celebrated the knock-down power of lead shot. A first-timer at a tower shoot, I’d dismissively and incorrectly assumed the released ring-necked pheasants would fly like drunken chickens. On the contrary, the birds soared to heights that would give enthusiastic sky-blasters pause. My last-minute decision to leave the 20-gauge home in favor of a 12 provided Susie more exercise, I’m certain, than if I’d elected the smaller bore.
That was a morning of pure fun, hosted by Three Pines Preserve near Dade City. Suffering from boredom indoors during the July heat of last summer, I’d booked the shoot with several buddies for the interlude between duck seasons, figuring there’s nothing else happening in the wing-shooting world, and flying to the Dakotas for pheasant was not in the cards.
Tower shoots—and “shoots” rather than “hunts” is apropos—are derived from European origins. There, teams of beaters will drive birds towards gunners who attempt to down hard-flying partridge and pheasant. Rather than employing teams of beaters to march over hill and dale, though, the American model refabricates this sport by releasing pheasants from elevated stands towards the waiting guns. These shoots have been increasingly popular on those Florida ranches hoping to supplement their income.
Three Pines Preserve, in Pasco County, is one of several Florida hunting preserves offering pen-raised pheasant hunts. It’s a season-bridging pursuit which puts food on the table and wingshooting skills to the test. (Photo by Ian Nance) How this worked was pretty simple, though the shooting certainly wasn’t easy. Pairs of participants occupied one of 12 haybale blinds located approximately 25 yards apart and arranged in a circle 75 yards from the release tower which was completely obscured by scrub oaks, so you never knew from where the birds would arrive and who would be in the shooter’s seat.
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A couple hundred birds were released throughout the morning in intervals, with each team of shooters changing positions until each team had hunted each blind and all the birds were released. During intermissions, hunt staff drove around in golf carts, collecting birds and offering water for hunters and retrievers
After rotating through the stations, the shooting proved to be random, though certainly more hulls were shed in a few locations over others. A BBQ lunch was served afterwards where we poked fun at each other’s shooting skills and settled up on prop bets before heading home with cleaned gamebirds on ice.
Three Pines retrievers on the job. (Photo by Ian Nance) As expected at such a deal, the two dozen shooters ran the gamut of experienced hunters to relative newbies, all looking to burn a Saturday. The armament on premises reflected their respective ranks, with beautiful double-barreled guns shooting alongside workhorse pumps and a couple camo models fresh from the department store display. I opted for my all-purpose Winchester 1400 semi-auto. With a modified choke and 2 ¾-inch Federal Premium Hi-Bird rounds packed with 1 1⁄4 ounces of #5 shot, I never felt overmatched as birds sailed out of the scrubs and over the cypress.
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Of course, Three Pines is not the only ranch offering tower shoots. Reputable hosts can be found throughout the state with an internet search. For the most part, the cost runs from $300 to $400 for three to four hours. Most operators will host a mailing list that will notify clients when bookings open. Spots tend to fill fast. I quickly discovered why.
Cooking Pheasant It’s easy to think “chicken” when cooking pheasant, but tougher “wild turkey” is closer to correct. As such, roasting or grilling usually requires brining in advance to retain moisture.
To avoid this, the easiest method is to cut the breast meat into strips and marinate overnight in a combination of buttermilk, Frank’s Buffalo Sauce, and poultry seasoning. The next day, toss the strips in panko breadcrumbs and fry.
From there, these are great on top of pasta alfredo or can be dipped in any number of condiments, with sweet chili sauce my go-to.
