A Bird in the Bush
Pheasant hunting opportunities plenty in Illinois
By Scott Richardson, Pantagraph Staff
Sunday, October 26, 2003
HEYWORTH—The late Gene Dewey was a conservationist and a farmer who didn’t plow “fence to fence.”
The result is Dewey’s Hunt Club located two miles east of Heyworth on the DeWitt/McLean county line.
The hunt–for–fee operation features 100 acres of hunting ground populated with pheasant and chukar, another upland game bird. The spot is a trip back in time when Illinois was dotted with fields covered with legumes.
Dewey’s is one of about a dozen private hunting preserves licensed by the state of Illinois and open for fee hunting in The Pantagraph area. Illinois also boasts public hunting areas and some that are managed under public-private partnerships.
“We’ve seen more birds than I’ve seen in 25 years,” said Bob Dewey, Gene’s son who’s convinced tame birds released on the land have reproduced.
Unlike many attempts at pheasant habitat that are just narrow strips unable to support many birds, Dewey promotes a variety of prairie grasses and food plots. As a result, the land is home to both wild and released pheasants and at least one covey of wild quail, he said.
“It’s like hunting on a farm,” said Dewey, who charges an annual membership fee of $250 and smaller fees based on the number of birds taken ($13 per pheasant for a maximum of five birds, for example). “That’s why we’re successful at attracting and holding birds.”
It’s also why Dewey expects a good turnout when seasons for both pheasants and quail begin Saturday.
The seasons run through Jan. 8 in the northern half of the state and through Jan. 15 in the southern half.
This article was originally published Sunday, October 26, 2003, in The Pantagraph.