Anyone know how gain access to a place or where to go? I would like to give it a try but would rather not go on a guided hunt. I've heard Lions clubs sometimes offer hunts. Anyone know anything about this?

The Volunteer Fire Department at Lazbuddie, Texas does a pheasant hunt. There is also one in Morse, Texas.

I don't have the contact numbers for either one of these, but you should be able to find the information by doing a google search.

I did a quick search, and according to the online Texas Fish and Game magazine the following communities have pheasant hunts like you're looking for:

Hart, Olton, Vega, Easter, Lazbuddie, Stratford, Dalhart, Dimmit, Friona, and Nazareth

Call the Chamber of Commerce or High School Ag Teacher in any of these communities and they can probably give you the contact person's info.

[This message has been edited by Ag65Son (edited 9/28/2010 5:50p).]

spearman has a pretty good hunt and I think they give you a map of places to go.

the morse lions club has a good one.

IF you call the small panhandle towns most of them will have a chamber or lions club type hunt. Most of them charge almost as much as a guide though.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/hunting/2008/12/texas-panhandle-home-some-americas-best-pheasant-hunting

Talks about Hart & Nazareth

Don't be shy about stopping in at a farmer's front door. Just be polite and offer some of the bounty.
We are more than happy to allow individuals to hunt with us if they simply ask. Heck sometimes we even let them go on their own.
Do NOT just stop on the side of the road and start hunting. We don't hunt opening weekend in Moore County because we get up early, eat breakfast and start watching for the poachers. "Hunting" poachers is kind of fun.

The Catholic church in Vega does a hunt every year opening weekend. Raymond Artho is the guy to talk to.
Here is an article that lists some more. The article is a couple of years old, but I would imagine that most still do the hunts.
http://lubbockonline.com/stories/111807/gen_111807049.shtml

Some not all guided hunts are safer and shoot lots of birds. As an outfitter I can't afford to take guys out and never shoot anything. I know the rotary hunts can be hit and miss sometimes. If I wasn't booked for the year I'd love to have you come see our operation!