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Pheasant Run Outfitters - A Utah Pheasant Hunting Adventure!
By Richard Ouimet, Trail Master Outdoors
 Pheasant hunters will find paradise just a few hours south of Salt Lake City in the serene valley south of Levan, Utah. My son, Brad, and I had the pleasure to discover this upland hunter's hot spot on a beautiful weekend in late February far after the traditional end of the hunting season. Mark Gillman and the staff at Pheasant Run Outfitters made us both feel very comfortable on this unique expedition to a world class hunting ranch.
Pheasant Run Outfitters Highlights
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WORLD-CLASS PHEASANT HUNTING FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH MARCH.
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PRIVATE ACCESS TO HUNDREDS OF ACRES OF PRIME PHEASANT HABITAT.
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NEW, 5000 SQUARE FOOT LODGE BUIILT TO ACCOMMODATE HUNTERS, BUSINESS GROUPS, CORPORATE RETREATS, AN FAMILY REUNIONS
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INCLUDING 2 FULL KITCHENS, LARGE FIREPLACES, NEW FURNITURE, GAME ROOM, AND A HUGE HOT TUB.
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FACILITIES ACCOMMODATE UP TO 26 OVERNIGHT GUESTS.
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We found that Pheasant Run Outfitters exceeded our expectations in every category including new lodging, great food, and a superior pheasant hunting experience for thousands less than making the trek to the Midwest to hunt. Mark Gillman and the staff at Pheasant Run Outfitters welcomed us like a home coming experience at the front door of the expansive lodge directly east of Fayette off of Highway 28.
On our way up the well-maintained dirt road leading up to the ranch, we passed many barns and rustic pioneer cabins that were in great need of repair. However, upon our arrival we were pleasantly surprised to coast to a stop in front of a beautiful new lodge amidst an expansive 800+ acres of ideal pheasant habitat. A fire was burning in the fireplace on that chilly evening as Mark finished final preparations for dinner. I had expected something akin to tuna casserole and rice crispy treats, so we were absolutely blown away when Mark, chef extraordinaire, rolled out his tender roast beef, delicious baked salmon, baked potatoes, tossed green salad, brownies, and all the rest of the trimmings.
 After dinner, the families enjoyed a quiet evening by the fire, watched a little TV, or even retired to bed early in preparation for the exciting hunt the next morning. You can do whatever you want at PRO Birds, giving each visitor the feeling that they have the whole place to themselves.
The rising sun beaming off of the snow-capped mountains to the East and the beckon call to breakfast reminded us that it was time to get up and get ready for the hunt. The pointers were ready to run; several birds could be seen lifting off in the distance, but first things first…. It was time to eat! It would be an arduous day, and we would need the energy. Once again, Mark amazed us with French toast, sausage, orange juice, and lots of other breakfast choices. I could really get used to that kind of great cooking. After a short preparation of guns and gear, we stepped literally out of the backdoor and started the hunt. A long drive to your hunting spot is not required at Pheasant Run Outfitters as is commonly found at Midwest ranches.
The pointers bolted out in front of our group as they eagerly went in search of the big roosters that surely were hiding in the brush and willows. Pheasant Run Outfitters is not a "boot and shoot" ranch. It would take a bit of hunting and good dog work to find the pheasants, not unlike a wild land experience in traditional hunting territory. That is what made the experience realistic, exciting, and rewarding.
 Less than 30 minutes into our hunt, one of the pointers froze in a perfect point reminiscent of an ice statue. It was a beautiful thing to behold. Brandon, Mark's son, broke the silence of the early dawn with his side-by-side shotgun as a huge rooster lifted off. One of the pointers raced to retrieve the bird as the other dog with us went seeking other pheasants in the area. These expertly trained and well conditioned dogs were not only invaluable in finding and retrieving birds, but a pleasure to hunt behind. No shouting commands needed there, preserving the serene experience of an upland hunt. Other birds were taken within an hour. At one point, our group slowed as the dogs circled onto a ridge of perfect pheasant habitat. A few seconds later, the dogs picked up the scent cone of another pheasant in the area.
It was my turn now. The calm was suddenly interrupted with the flutter of a huge rooster lifting out of the brush 20 yards below me, seeking the safety of altitude and distance. A quick blast from my Russian Baikal Sporting 12 gauge found its mark, and the dogs were on their way again to proudly display their trophy retrieval. I guess all that trap shooting practice paid off that morning. My son Brad and the dogs soon flushed out his first bird of the day, another colorful rooster pheasant. Brad would go on to take two other pheasants that morning. A few chuckers raced away from us, and I managed to take one that seemed to be racing twice as fast as any clay pigeon. Over the next few hours, Mark was able to expertly guide us through the rolling hills and furrows that comprise this expansive ranch. Every few minutes, at least one member of our group had a shot at a trophy pheasant. Wow, upland hunting really does not get better than this.
Approaching mid-day, the temperature reached near 50 degrees on this unusually warm February day. In the warm weather, the dogs lost some of their ability to pick up the pheasant scents. But it wasn't over yet. About a quarter mile down a country road to the West, we sighted a trophy rooster pop up through the brush and land near a fence lining the road. Brandon, an energetic young man, was about to prove all of us wrong. After a friendly wager with Mark, his Dad, Brandon bolted down the hill through the field, reminiscent of a scene from "Dancing with Wolves".
Drawing upon his experience, cunning, and endurance, Brandon stalked the pheasant as it lifted up over the fence and dirt road into a thick cover on the other side. We all observed and commented that there was no way Brandon would succeed in taking this agile and crafty rooster. We all were too quick to pass judgment. Brandon bolted over the fence, across the road, and headed into the brush as the pheasant gracefully lifted off in a futile effort to escape Brandon's side-by-side shotgun blast. He proudly waved his arms in the air in triumph as we all cheered his hunting success. Mark had lost his wager, but you could not miss the smile of a proud father.
After a quick bite to eat, we all headed out for an hour of excitement that ended in a flurry of three roosters scrambling to flight in all different directions as we attempted one last time for the day to harvest just one more pheasant. That marked the end to our perfect pheasant hunting experience. As we pulled away from the lodge that afternoon after the staff expertly processed our birds, the conversation centered on the "one that got away" and the wish to return next season. The memory of a Dad and his son and this incredible Utah pheasant hunting adventure will last a lifetime, and Pheasant Run Outfitters was the ideal place to make it happen for us.
 Trail Master Outdoors would like to thank Mark Gillman and the staff at Pheasant Run Outfitters for their gracious hospitality that made the publication of this article possible. Trail Master Outdoors is in business to provide you with the gear, knowledge, and experience for your outdoor adventures. We welcome all opportunities to review your outdoor product or service.
Your feedback is appreciated: email: rich@trailmasteroutdoors.com
(801) 318-5999.
web: www.trailmasteroutdoors.com.
WWW.PROBIRDS.COM
PHONE NUMBER: 801-420-1867
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