I hunt state land. I hunt Sand Ridge State Forest and Johnson-Sauk Trail State Park. I buy my permits on-line and on a rare occasion I go and try to get in stand-by. I hunt Sand Ridge early in the season and when there is deep snow I go up to JST. I close out the season at both places - ones in the northern zone and the other is in the southern zone. The birds are released pen raised birds, but after the first hour of moving them around it becomes a decent enough hunt. Many times I've gone home with just one bird I got early and then never seen (up close) or hit another bird the rest of the day.

If you go up to Panther Creek they have a couple of open units that produce a few pheasants and quail and don't require on-line permits. Just stop and get a windshield card at the ranger station. Tough hunting because it is a popular place.