South Dakota Pheasants

Gator · May 1, 2014

The start of the annual pheasant hunt in SD. We brought 100 hens and 3 roosters(roosters was thrown in) and they was turned loose last weekend on 4 different farms. My brothers are seeing them already hanging out with other hens and wild roosters so with fingers crossed, we hope to have a good hatch, this year.
Rain and Bugs is what makes the hatch good for the young birds,
Good rains before the hatch and nothing the first weeks after they hatch and a tons of bugs.
Annual trip back this year will Nov 11th thru the 17th.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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oilcan · May 3, 2014

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Gator · May 5, 2014

I got it Bruce and Thanks, You and your dog will have a great time. Start collecting some Hard hitting 4s and 5s for those late season birds.
I use Poly Mag X60 4s from www.Polywad.com , They hit like a ton of bricks.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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oilcan · May 5, 2014

Thanks warren i will check them out.

Gator · Aug 29, 2014

Headed back on the 9th of November will be in SD on the 10th thru the 16th. Hoping to see some new faces.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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oilcan · Aug 29, 2014

Gator,
I ordered and received some of those polymags can't wait to see how they perform.

Gator · Aug 31, 2014

They shoot awesome,really like the pattern they throw. I use the 8's in 20ga for dove and quail.

The new South Dakota Pheasant survey is out.

The annual pheasant brood survey results show a 76 percent increase in the statewide pheasants-per-mile index from 2013.
? GFP surveyed 109, 30 mile-routes across the state to estimate pheasant production and calculate the pheasants-per-mile index.
? The 2014 statewide pheasants-per-mile index of 2.68 is up from 1.52 in 2013. The statewide pheasant-per-mile index is similar to 2002 when hunters harvested 1.26 million roosters.

With favorable weather conditions this past winter and spring, along with the availability of quality nesting habitat across the state, we are going to see an increase in this year?s pheasant population. Survey results show pheasant numbers rebounded the strongest in central South Dakota; especially in the Pierre, Chamberlain, Mobridge and Winner areas. Results also indicate that pheasant numbers are substantially higher than 2013 throughout much of eastern South Dakota.?

Counts are climbing still, Locals are seeing more and more birds with the hay cutting going on, They are seeing hens still on eggs also as of last week.

With Corn prices down, I think you will find a lot of corn still standing come hunting season.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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oilcan · Aug 31, 2014

That is great news.

Other then the drive i am REALLY looking forward to this trip should be a great time.

hntnfool2 · Aug 31, 2014

I saw the pheasant survey the other day and it should be a good year, I'm thinking of heading over November 1 - 10. I've been going for the last 5 years and other than the drive it's always a good trip.

Gator · Sep 30, 2014

What area are you hunting in. We are around Carpenter.
Was back there 10 days ago saw some good looking birds, The raccoons are thick as all get out, alot of them laying on the road by every slough.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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Gator · Oct 16, 2014

The family started combining corn are seeing some good numbers of birds, lot of corn is still to wet to pick, so this weekend opener will have a lot of standing corn for those early hunters.
Standing corn is hard to hunt without a lot of hunters/walkers and blockers. Hoping a lot of cornfields are picked by the time we get there in Nov. pushing those field birds into treebelts and sloughs and CRP. Just a update guys.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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oilcan · Oct 16, 2014

Gator,
I'm in Colorado I'll give you a call when I get back around the 1st to go over some of the details of the trip.
Bruce

Gator · Oct 18, 2014

Looking forward to it. Should a funny hunt this year.
Talk to ya soon.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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Gator · Oct 29, 2014

Checking the weather daily should be in the High 40s during the most day's and lows in the 20's at night. Winds shouldn't be too bad either. Last week they had snow flurries on 3 of the day's we was going to be there and now it just going to be cloudy on those days.

Hoping the slough's get a good thick sheet of ice on them, so we can get further into them cattails.
Corn is getting combined at a good rate, But a lot of corn will still be standing. Waiting is sure fricking hard. LOL
Truck is half packed already.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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oilcan · Oct 29, 2014

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Gator · Nov 2, 2014

Got it sorry to hear about the ankle, That is a really nice buck,
Hope you get well soon, Will send ya some pictures from SD.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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DW · Nov 3, 2014

Opening?

JK post up the bird pics gator. Hope u stack em like cord wood!

Gator · Nov 3, 2014

Headed back on Sat 8th Nov. will have some pictures to post up after we return. They got a few small rain showers today. Couple of days light snow is now forecasted that week. Well shooting late season ditch parrots isn't always sunshine and easy limits. LOL

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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oilcan · Nov 6, 2014

Big storm coming Gator have a safe trip.

Gator · Nov 17, 2014

Had a great hunt, the weather was brutal to say the lest one day started at -17 we started hunting at -3 no wind until about 2 pm then it got cold. Best day we had in the hunt we got 23 of them.
About 3" of snow, cold and colder weather. Dogs worked great.
California boys hunted hard even when cold. Had a few guys that showed up for a day or two and hunted with us, they had a good time and seen more birds then they had all season. Saw some great WT bucks in the Rut(just starting). Last day we was there it started to snow again (got 5" more). But the amount of birds we saw sitting out of sloughes and tree belts was unbeleiveable as it was snowing hard and the wind was blowing pretty good, as we drove out (7 A:M).

I will try and get some pictures downloaded this week.
We left alot seed birds for next year LOL.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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DW · Nov 17, 2014

Glad it went well, aside from that January weather. Lookin fwd to the pics!

ForkWest · Nov 21, 2014

Yep Gator, lets see some pics!

hntnfool2 · Nov 22, 2014

Gator am glad to hear that you made it back ok and sounds like the trip was a success other than the weather, I was sure hoping to catch up with you when I was back there but the weather didn't cooperate for me, hopefully next year.

Lance