Rules for a Rooster Road Trip

Rooster Road Trips don't have to be bookended by oil changes, but each added mile marker ups the odds for intrigue. Regardless, whether you're going 10 or 10,000 miles this fall, here are a few Rooster Road Trip rules of the road to live by.

1. I'm Sorry, But He's Not Available. If you're buddy picks up his cell and its work, you have the right to confiscate his phone. Second offense and phone is substituted for a clay pigeon.

2. Simple Man. Driver controls all musical selections, though each passenger gets one veto per hour. Driver should place preference on classic rock and country. Driving privileges revoked if station isn't turned less than 15 seconds into a Lady Gaga song. Same goes for knowing a Lady Gaga song by name.

3. Dude, Where's Your Car? If you don't get lost at least once, you're not getting far enough off the beaten path. At least once, the driver should stop, examine the road and ask his fellow hunters, "Do you think we can make it?" Mud accumulation should leave neighbors wondering, upon your return, if you've gone to Maaco or gone bananas.

4. I'll Have the Special. Before I landed at Pheasants Forever, I was a newspaper reporter in a small, rural town. Once a week, I ate at my favorite little café on Main Street. I think it was called Schultz's, but I'm not sure – the food was catchier than the name. On the road, eat at least one meal per day at a place you've never heard of. You'll remember the grub, even if you can't place the name or name the place.

5. You'll Thank Me Later. The worst feeling while pheasant hunting isn't missing a gimme. No, it's when you're tired, cold, famished, darkness has fallen and there are still birds to clean. They call it field dressing for a reason – field dress in the field upon returning to your vehicle, and enjoy what's left of your evening.

6. Or…."Bird cleaning @ 50 cents/bird." "Giant Pheasant Statue next Left." Life on the road is the perfect time to check out some of the fare only pheasant country has to offer. You may never do it again…or want to do it again!

8. Keys to Hunting. After driving 12 hours to extreme northwest North Dakota, I was excited about the prospect of my inaugural Sandhill crane hunt as a warm up before the pheasant fields. One accidental bump by my colleague at the fuel station changed that. It's hard to hunt when your gun is locked inside the vehicle. I've yet to bag a crane, but I always bag an extra and accessible set of keys.

9. They'll Make More of It. I keep a couple of spare boxes of shot shell ammo in my ride at all times, in addition to what I pack for a trip. The place to run out is the range, not the middle of South Dakota.