>>1593195Best place to start is look up state/local laws. Generally your state will have some resources on where pubic land is for hunting, when the season starts etc.
Start out by reading your states hunting/trapping regulation handbook. It'll give you a little basis to go on. Bag limit, etc.
From there see if you can find a map of pheasant populations in your locale. Denser the better obviously.
Then look for what wildlife management areas, walk in access, state sanctioned land, etc. is available around those areas. Before hunting season starts stop by the areas just to check them out. Look for tree lines etc. patches where birds might be, if you feel like it go kick around the areas and see if you see any/kick any up.
Purchase your license and when season starts head out. Depending on where you are don't expect to get anything the first time out. If you do swell.
My personal bit of advice is hunting without a dog can be a little more difficult depending on how the birds behave. A lot of birds will simply run away or lay low when you pass instead of spooking. The best move you can do is cover ground quickly. Walk the lines fast and be loud if you have a friend, talk to each other, they won't be expecting it as much and it gives them less time to run/helps startle them into flight.
As for affording a gun, check out
http://www.armslist.com/ for local listings, basically the craigslist of guns. Or just stop by pawn shops, etc. You can get a cheap shotgun $100-150 that would be enough to get you started even a single shot 20ga will do, these birds aren't flying tanks + $10 for a box of ammo + ~$5-10 for a license it can be a pretty cheap hobby to pick up.
