Dysinger's Thorn Bottom Hunting Preserve

[Orange & White]

Members:

Ann and Brad Dysinger, owners and operators of Thorn Bottom Hunting, have a treat in store for anyone looking for a quality pheasant hunting experience. Located on County Road 60 in Grover Hill (Paulding County), Thorn Bottom is well worth the price of admission. While priced a bit above other preserves ($150 for five pheasants with two chuckar included as part of a Christmas special), I believe the customer service, condition of the farm, and attention to detail provide serious value for those hunters looking for an enjoyable, true-to-life pheasant hunting experience.

I'll admit it; I'm new to the pheasant hunting game, but after 'shopping' Thorn Bottom as well as two other (intentionally nameless) preserves, I'm hooked on TB. Not that the other preserves did anything wrong (I had a blast at all three locations -- and so did my 14-month old Brit), its just that the Dysingers go above and beyond the standard to guarantee their guests enjoyment.

The neat and clean clubhouse has plenty of country charm as a roaring fire greeted me upon my arrival and welcomed us upon our return from the field (it was 16 degrees and windy).

The terrain was varied with a mixture of switchgrass, multi-flora rose, overgrown fence rows, marshes, and forests providing an ever-changing and ever-challenging variety of landscapes.

Guides are mandatory for non-members. I was lucky, as Ann chaperoned me and my Brittany, Coach. Her knowledge of phesants and their behaviors was certainly appreciated by this novice.

Dogs are available upon request, and, after going birdless for 45 minutes on this windy afternoon, Ann called in reinforcements and sent for her six-year old Brittany, Oliver. I believe Coach gained valuable experience from the opportunity to watch and learn from the more experienced dog.

The birds at TB certainly behaved differently than those at the other preserves. Previous encounters with pheasants had exposed me to birds that sat very tight and flew only when I flushed them, while the birds at TB will fly and run at will, a characteristic I that I understand to be common with wild birds. When asked, Brad reported that this was due to their supplier's very large (30 acre?) flight pen.

Open from October 1 through March 15, with the exception of the Ohio Deer Gun Season and Christmas Day, Thorn Bottom accepts Master Card, Visa, and American Express. Morning Hunts are from 9:00 a.m. to noon and afternoon hunts run from 1:15 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Pheasant hunters looking for a good day's hunt should certainly investigate Thorn Bottom Hunting. Ann and Brad can be reached by phone at 419.587.3555.

[uglykat26]

how high are there fences around the preserve.................lmao , o i couldnt resist

[Gern186]

how high are there fences around the preserve.................lmao , o i couldnt resist

No fences here, birds can go where they want to.

[uglykat26]

can ya hand feed them cause its no fun if i cant hand feed them beforei shoot them

[biznutz]

Thats a beautiful ad you just depicted. What kind of kick back are you getting?

[longhaulpointer]

you should have linked a you tube commercial for the place with the owners kissing a baby or something.

[Orange & White]

I'm not on the payroll @ TB; I'm simply a satisfied client. If I had experienced poor service or had an unsatisfactory hunt I would have stated that as well. I'm simply sharing an opinion of what I believe to be a first-class hunting preserve.

O&W

[MaS19]

Save the $150 and take your fat ass out to some state land and stomp around.

[Orange & White]

M:

Thanks for the suggestion, but I've done that and have been less than happy with the unethical behavior and downright unsafe hunting practices I've seen other 'hunters' exhibit. Check me if I'm wrong, but isn't it proper to flush the bird and have it fly rather than shoot it as it runs? I've seen that, as well as many other situations that when I've ventured to some of the WA in sw and sc Ohio.

I see by your profile you live in Wood County. Perhaps pheasants are more prevelant up north than they are in my neck of the state (Greater Cincinnati). If you can suggest to me some areas in the state where I have a better than average opportunity to encounter pheasants, I'd appreciate it.

I don't care if I shoot a bird or not; I'm out for my dog (~15-month-old Brittany) more than anything.

Thanks again for the thought. I look forward to your timely reply

O&W

[benehunter]

Hi O&W,

Thanks for the valuable info and review. Unfortunately I do not live in that area but it's good to know.

[rgecko23]

O&W...you dont have to explain your actions to some jackass on here giving you a hard time....

thanks for the review. sounds like a good place.

[Buckeye Lew]

Yesterday I had a 12 month Lewellin at a perserve and shot 7 pheasants over him in 4 hours worth of work. It's doubtful that I could get into 7 birds the entire season if I stayed on public hunting here in SW Ohio.

Perserves do serve a purpose on getting young dogs valuable experience that they simply can't get hunting on public grounds.

[benehunter]

O&W...you dont have to explain your actions to some jackass on here giving you a hard time....

thanks for the review. sounds like a good place.
:yeahthat:

[jackalope]

Perserves do serve a purpose on getting young dogs valuable experience that they simply can't get hunting on public grounds.

So if the preserves purpose is to help train a bird dog.. My only question would be, Train him for what??? You yourself said it invaluable to hunt wild birds in S.O.. Maybe train him to hunt more preserve birds, so he can get more training..... Makes no sense and is a bit lacking in the justification department.. I have no problem with people hunting "preserve" animals.. Just don't piss on my head and try telling me it's raining.. Call it what it is Shooting farm raised birds, and have fun if thats what floats your boat. ..

[Azzy]

The first gun I ever had in my hands was at a Preserve. I shot the crap out of pheasants all day long. It was definitely fun for a first time hunter. It would be hard for me to go back to one knowing how preserves work.

I have to give props where props are due, though. It's what got me interested in hunting.

[Gern186]

So if the preserves purpose is to help train a bird dog.. My only question would be, Train him for what??? You yourself said it invaluable to hunt wild birds in S.O.. Maybe train him to hunt more preserve birds, so he can get more training..... Makes no sense and is a bit lacking in the justification department.. I have no problem with people hunting "preserve" animals.. Just don't piss on my head and try telling me it's raining.. Call it what it is Shooting farm raised birds, and have fun if thats what floats your boat. ..


Maybe he is going to take his dog where there are real wild pheasants, like out west somewhere.

[Zach01]

I've been out on public land maybe 15 times 4 or so hrs each trip. So thats about 60 hrs and I got 5 pheasant, 1 of the trips I got 2 birds. Inbetween trips that I didn't get on any birds, which were many, I go to the preseve to keep my dog (11 months) on birds, and also take my 8 year old boy with me so he can see the action. Oh my son has been with me on many of the public trips that we got skunked, so he knows how hard it is, the preserve is a treat for us all.

[Buckmaster]

The ODNR does stock Public Hunting areas so many of those birds are pen raised too. I guess it boils down to how many birds you wish to harvest in a given day. Whether pen raised hunting on Public Hunting or pen raised hunting on a Preserve.

[CARPN-JAKE]

Its unfortunate but if you really wanna bird hunt in Ohio you pretty much hafta go to preserves.I say this and I have never once in my life went to one...I know I sure don't see wild pheasants very often....If I do its worth tellin someone about. There are probably way more turkeys in the state than wild pheasants...And don't get me started on grouse...I never really got to hunt pheasants growing but did grouse hunt alot...God knows they're population has went thru the floor in the last 10 yrs.

[Lance]

From Jackalope So if the preserves purpose is to help train a bird dog.. My only question would be, Train him for what??? You yourself said it invaluable to hunt wild birds in S.O.. Maybe train him to hunt more preserve birds, so he can get more training..... Makes no sense and is a bit lacking in the justification department.. I have no problem with people hunting "preserve" animals.... Just don't piss on my head and try telling me it's raining.. Call it what it is Shooting farm raised birds, and have fun if thats what floats your boat.

I'm not going to tell you it's raining but here's what it is.

To make a good bird dog you put as many birds in front of it as possible. While I would love to have enough birds around to train on preserve birds fit the bill for that just fine. I've got places I can put my dog on wild birds(grouse and woodcock) but not with the regularity that I need to train a younger dog. Especially when I'm working steady to flush and beyond. Getting a dog on preserve birds the first few years pays HUGE diivdends down the road. If I'm going to work my but off on getting my dog on wild birds whether its here or out of state I want my dog to be ready for it when he gets there.

Also as mentioned earlier it is a good venue for a newbie hunter. We're picking a new pointing lab pup up for my 10 yr old daughter in a couple weeks and I'm sure we'll be getting some preserve time in for both of them over the next couple years. :bouncy:

[Buckeye Lew]

Jackalope,

I never meant to confuse the conversation. I enjoy getting out and hunting/fishing period. I enjoy running my bird dogs on birds. As I mentioned birds are scarce and a perserve provides them an oportunity to do what they were intended to do. It takes birds to make a bird dog.

As for train for what... I have opportunities to get to other areas where wild birds are available, and if I ever intended to run my dogs in field trials this extra bird work is esential.

Oh yeah... I do like shooting a few as well :)

[Zach01]

I think were splittin hairs here, for those that never hunt or train on pheasant release places, where can you keep your dogs on birds, I'll be heading to the preserves at least once a month when season closes.

[ohiosam]

Jack is the dog whisperer he doesn't need birds to train dogs, he just whispers instructions in their ears.:evilsmile:

My Dad used to talk about the one neighbors teams of horses. They were the best around because they had an orchard and those horses pulled sprayers all summer in the orchard. They were better then the dairy farms teams because they were worked more constantly. Dogs are the same way, you can't expect them to go months without a bird then act like a champ when they finally get on one. Preserves allow year round training that public land doesn't.

[Zach01]

[quote=ohiosam;305321]Jack is the dog whisperer he doesn't need birds to train dogs, he just whispers instructions in their ears.:evilsmile:

:bowdown: Now that's just hilarious, thanks for the morning chuckle :biggrin:

[longhaulpointer]

arguing the validy of a game preserve, to put it bluntly, is stupid. I don't think that anyone on here really cares if you go to a preserve. if you do get over it. what started all this is the description o&w gave of tb. if you like the place that fine, we don't need the hours of operation, types of creditcards taken, etc. Tell us you like the place and give the web address. When you post a review that makes it sound like you own the place you should expect criticism from others that enjoy other preserves.

on a lighter note, ow i live in cincy and you can get into wild birds within an hour to hour and half. Mainly fayette, pickaway, madison and ross counties. All these counties have wild birds, #'s seem down this year, but early in the year you can get into good #'s. or if your brave go down to Scioto and chase some grouse, if you get one you'll probably never want to go to a pay for relaese place again.

[Orange & White]

Longhaulpointer:

I did not know there were wild birds in south central Ohio. Are you speaking of public land or private? If public is the answer I'll do some legwork on the DNR website and locate the appropriate wildlife areas for the '09 season.

BTW, The main reason I visit preserves (TB as well as others in W and SW Ohio) is to insure that my nearly 15-month old Brit smells and sees birds. I don't care if I hit one (I miss more than I hit) or not, but I want to insure that Coach has a positive experience each time out.

Final note, I'd love to meet up with you to pick your brain about pheasant hunting. You seem very knowledgeable and I know I have a lot to learn.

O&W

[uglykat26]

i seen a few wild grouse here in harrison county during muzzy season if any one wants to know where they are shoot me a pm , i dont wanna put the spot on here publicly then have it slammed with hunters , but there is some leg work involved in getting to them