Vizsla, Good to see a fellow DPSP pheasant hunter! Here's the scoop. Des Plaines IMO is a pretty good place to hunt. I don't hunt weekends there too much because it does get a little busy, but there are some good spots to hunt. Fridays are my day, Im lucky to have a job where I can take off when I need to.

If I were you, Id get there about an hour before they start checking in. Check in begins at 7 so Id say getting there around 6 is a good idea. The "Sweat Line" or the line of people who are there to get there first choice of areas starts getting long early. There is no drawing for areas, first come first serve. Plus, if your thereearly,you can have a cup of coffee in line and get other hunters opinions about where to hunt.Some of the spots there are a lot better than others so the earlier you get there, there better choice youwill have. Ive also got some valuable info. from guys in line, helped me harvest more birds there. If you want to know some of the good areas with or without dogs, shoot me over a PM. I hunt w/o a dog and usually find a decent number of birds, but I work for them. Des Plaines really is a good spot to hunt.Enjoy yourself. These birds aren't wild, but they sure arent tame. Ive hunted both and most of the time, these birds are almost as smart as the wild ones. Not to say you won't get an easy one here or there, but the majority that I kill were runners or held tight and it took me thinking like a pheasant to get them. Have fun and if you ever do a Friday hunt let me know, I should be there or Kankakee at least 5 times this year outside of gun deer season.