The WMA's of KS offers great wild bird hunts. I usually pick an area and find decent numbers of both Pheasant and Quail.
I like the week before Christmas....
JW
Yep, I should have also mentioned Kansas, as I've done what you said late in the year with good success on both birds and very few people on them then. I have been up in the north-central area for the most part around and out from that one big reservoir that the name escapes me right now.