Intro
In this guide, I’m going to walk you through how to set up a pheasant grind on Askiy Ridge. This is one of the simplest and cheapest grinds in the game, and I’ll show you everything you need: the setup, loadout, zones, and some useful tips and tricks to keep it efficient.
What You Need for the Setup
The beauty of the pheasant grind is its simplicity. You only need:
- 10 tents
- 10 waterfowl blinds
That’s it.
For the cost, you’re looking at:
- 160,000 in-game cash for the tents
- 80,000 in-game cash for the waterfowl blinds
- A total of 240,000 in-game cash to get fully set up
Compared to other grinds in Call of the Wild, this is one of the cheapest and easiest to prepare for.
Loadout for the Pheasant Grind
Here’s the loadout I run and recommend:
- Anantha .22 Mag (from the Pump, Flip & Fire Pack) – great for picking off pheasants at a distance. It has much better accuracy and range than the standard .22 LR.
- Cacciatore 12 Gauge Shotgun – perfect for pheasants in flight. Birdshot costs only 118 in-game cash, making it very affordable for grind hunting.
- Frost (optional backup rifle) – useful in case you come across something else worth shooting.
Both the .22 Mag and the 12 Gauge are cheap to shoot and still turn a profit during this grind.
When and Where to Hunt Pheasants
Pheasants feed in different zones at different times, so you’ll want to set up for a time window that allows easy rotation.
The best feed times are:
- 8:00 – 11:00
- 14:00 – 18:00
Choose one of these and stick to it. That way, you can move from zone to zone without constantly resetting the time.
Tent and Blind Placement
Setting up is straightforward:
- Place a tent next to your zone.
- Place a waterfowl blind directly in front of it.
This means you can spawn in, run to your blind, and shoot without building hunting pressure right on the tent location.
Key Tip: Match Their Flight Path
When pheasants spook, they’ll take flight in a set direction. If you place your tent so you’re facing the direction they fly, they’ll pass over you, making them much easier targets.
Sometimes they’ll be awkward and fly into trees – that’s just pheasants. If this happens, rotate your tent until you’re lined up with their usual escape path.
Finding Pheasant Zones on Askiy Ridge
Finding pheasant zones isn’t always easy, but there’s a trick:
Look for the light sandy patches on the map between treelines. Almost all of my zones have been found in these more open areas. These spots are much easier to check than dense forest, and you’ll likely find multiple zones clustered there.
You don’t need to locate every zone like you would in a whitetail or moose grind. Ten good zones is plenty to run a consistent rotation.
A Problem Area to Avoid
One part of the map worth mentioning is the mountain section. I found some good zones here, but setting up was a nightmare. I couldn’t get a tent placed in the right spot, and shots were awkward.
Instead, I just walk this area occasionally and shoot any big pheasants I see. It’s not worth setting up a permanent grind there.
Tips to Make the Grind Easier
A few extra tricks will make this grind smoother:
- Shotgun Tracer Perk: If you unlock the tracer perk, pressing F after shooting shows you where your pellets went. It only works for the first two slugs but makes leading shots much easier.
- Retriever Dog: Send your dog to fetch downed pheasants while you line up the next shot. I also give mine the tracking skill, making it the ultimate pheasant-hunting companion.
- Shotgun Scope: The Meridian 1–4x shotgun scope is a great option for extra accuracy without losing awareness of the flock.
Why Askiy Ridge Works Well
One of the best things about pheasant grinding on Askiy Ridge is visibility. The snowy landscape makes the birds stand out clearly, so spotting males versus females is simple. That saves time and helps you focus on your target birds.
Final Thoughts
The pheasant grind on Askiy Ridge is cheap, efficient, and a great way to stack up some impressive trophies while still turning a profit.
If this guide helped you, consider joining the community:
👉 Discord for maps and chat: Join here
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Happy hunting – and I’ll catch you out there in the next one.