I'm contemplating going up to SD to chase Pheasants--but I need info. Can any of our friends here tell me about the overall picture? I'll be going in blind (other than what I learn here)--what are the hunting area oppertunities? Is it mostly private, no hunting, or can one realistically find places to hunt WITH BIRDS? I don't mind (don't enjoy, but don't mind) knocking on doors, but I'm not in to paying to hunt. How about public land? Anything some of you partners can provide will be greatly appreciated!!! With a PLUS!!!
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Pheasants in South Dakota
- Thread starter moosehunt
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Not looking for gps points (did I ask for such?) and not planning to go for at least a month. I'm interested in general info. Is it worth going if you "do it yourself"? Is it worth going if I'm not a "pay-to-hunt" type? As to "do it yourself ", this is part of the process, unless Dakotans convince me that they don't want me up there--maybeso it's an unfriendly place. Maybeso North Dakota would be better, but a good bit further to drive, hence my South Dakota preference. I've always heard good things about SD Pheasant hunting, thought I might spend a weekend there, maybeso in November or December. I generally get some good info here--hope it continues to be so.
i'm just trying to be realistic - no need to get defensive. if you're willing to drive to n.d. (from where?), you might not want to overlook iowa - typically good pheasant numbers there, too.
overall, bird numbers are up - at least on our farm they are. public hunting is going to vary wildly, but there's no reason why you couldn't have success without having to pay to hunt.
i prefer to hunt late season myself as the snow and cold will bunch them up more. makes for a more exciting hunt, but fewer flushes. dogs don't get as tired, and the goose hunting is better, too.
deer seasons will be starting to open in some places if you wait until mid-november, meaning private land access may be tougher to come by - and i can't think of a more undesireable hunt than chasing birds during deer season on public land - so check season dates for where you might be headed to.
from aurora county to minnehaha county in an east-west line north to marshall, day, roberts, and grant counties all usually have good numbers. east river deer season typically opens late november and is mostly done by december. check dates to be sure, though - especially if you are going to go to the more northern counties.
as far as friendliness goes... -shrug- dunno. i don't know that s.d. is any more friendly than n.d., and don't know that the residents of either state will get too fired up one way or t'other regardless of where you hunt.
overall, bird numbers are up - at least on our farm they are. public hunting is going to vary wildly, but there's no reason why you couldn't have success without having to pay to hunt.
i prefer to hunt late season myself as the snow and cold will bunch them up more. makes for a more exciting hunt, but fewer flushes. dogs don't get as tired, and the goose hunting is better, too.
deer seasons will be starting to open in some places if you wait until mid-november, meaning private land access may be tougher to come by - and i can't think of a more undesireable hunt than chasing birds during deer season on public land - so check season dates for where you might be headed to.
from aurora county to minnehaha county in an east-west line north to marshall, day, roberts, and grant counties all usually have good numbers. east river deer season typically opens late november and is mostly done by december. check dates to be sure, though - especially if you are going to go to the more northern counties.
as far as friendliness goes... -shrug- dunno. i don't know that s.d. is any more friendly than n.d., and don't know that the residents of either state will get too fired up one way or t'other regardless of where you hunt.
Well thank you. Dakotasin. Distance wise, I'll be driving from Nevada, meeting my partner (coming from SW Colorado) probably somewhere in Wyoming, where we'll leave one vehichle. Shoud this sashay come together, (not a done deal, we're looking into it, hence my inquisition) we'll camp while we're out. Your info is a good start. In your opinion, should we plan to try and hunt public ground, or should we concentrate our efforts toward knocking on doors, requesting permision on deeded ground? Our potential plan is to drive on a Friday, hunt Sat/Sun, drive home on Monday. Obviously, we'd like to have a soud plan for Saturday morning. We're not asking for anything special, we just want to ascertain if the venture is logical. We've heard a lot about SD Pheasants and we're into a venture, provided it's not a waste of our time.
Aren't there some other guys on here that have tried out SD Pheasants? Surely there are. Let's share info/advice!!!
Aren't there some other guys on here that have tried out SD Pheasants? Surely there are. Let's share info/advice!!!
http://www.sdgfp.info/
link to SD game fish and parks. download the hunting atlas. Gives locations of public lands, free hunting areas. I use the atlas with a regular SD map to figure just where the areas are. You are driving up from the south-west, but your best hunting will probably be south-central SD. Lots of places to buy your license and pick up a hunting atlas hardcopy. Frankly I don't think knocking on doors will work out well, just my opinion. There are a FEW places where the fees for a day hunt are $50-75. Most are much more. Hunting public land very hit and miss. Supposedly pheasant numbers up, but GF&P always says that. Not to discourage a SD hunt, but if Nebraska is any closer for your purposes, might not be bad to check out. If you drive up from SW, swing through the Black Hills, stop at new Cabelas in Rapid City, drive through Custer State Park, very nice in the off season. All that said , if you refuse to pay to hunt pheasants and don't have land yourself (like me) it can be rather difficult and discourageing to find birds. Just has to be right time and right place.
link to SD game fish and parks. download the hunting atlas. Gives locations of public lands, free hunting areas. I use the atlas with a regular SD map to figure just where the areas are. You are driving up from the south-west, but your best hunting will probably be south-central SD. Lots of places to buy your license and pick up a hunting atlas hardcopy. Frankly I don't think knocking on doors will work out well, just my opinion. There are a FEW places where the fees for a day hunt are $50-75. Most are much more. Hunting public land very hit and miss. Supposedly pheasant numbers up, but GF&P always says that. Not to discourage a SD hunt, but if Nebraska is any closer for your purposes, might not be bad to check out. If you drive up from SW, swing through the Black Hills, stop at new Cabelas in Rapid City, drive through Custer State Park, very nice in the off season. All that said , if you refuse to pay to hunt pheasants and don't have land yourself (like me) it can be rather difficult and discourageing to find birds. Just has to be right time and right place.
wild willy
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I hunt SD every year the odds of hunting good private land without paying are slim at best
Thank you, gents. Mr. Willy, I kind of suspected that, and I'm not paying to hunt--unamerican in my view. SD, you address exactly what my concerns are regarding finding birds on the public ground. I already have the atlas you refer to. I'll leave the Cabela's to you! We have one near in Reno. Wouldn't cross the street to go fight the crowds and hoopla BS! Went to one in SLC (Utah)--what a hassle! Must have been 500 people in that zoo! Went to the one in Kearny, NB about 20 years ago--crowded, but not as bad. I like your thoughts on Nebraska, which I've been thinking about. A lot closer, especially for my partner. So, now, we ask, any info on Nebraska Pheasants? More access available? Any input appreciated.
It can be done. I've done it in Iowa and MN, park the truck and walk the ditches, if you see an inviting field or fence row, find the landowner and go knock. I've only been turned down once, lady was home alone and wouldn't give me the time of day. It's fun as heck, especially if you have a good dog. Bring plenty of sandwiches, snacks and drinks. Good luck!
park the truck and walk the ditches
You can't do that in SD. I believe they passed that law a few years back. Northwest Iowa should be pretty good expecially by the MN border and southern MN.
Go to the forums at www.pheasantcountry.com. Lots of good, real-time info there, particularly for self-guided hunters.
Matt9052--You can't hunt ditches in SD? I didn't read that in the regs. What classes as a ditch? One carrying water, or has carried water (how recently?). Not questioning you, just never saw where it says ditches are prohibited to hunt. What happens when you're crossing a ditch? How far on each side of a ditch is covered? Does the size of the ditch make any difference?
Found What I was talking about. Says you can Fire in the roadway only. On page 42. You can hunt, but there isn't much room to move and lots of regulations.
http://www.sdgfp.info/Publications/HuntingHandbook.pdf
http://www.sdgfp.info/Publications/HuntingHandbook.pdf
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