Pheasant hunting in Dakotas??

Chacoblue777 · Jul 12, 2017

Hello,

I am hoping to plan a pheasant hunt in either South or North Dakota this fall. I am looking for a nice place with a lodge, meals, and dogs. Of course a place with lots of good birds. Will be flying in with a friend for the hunt. Anyone have any good leads or recommendations for a good pheasant hunt? I have never hunted Dakotas for birds, and never done a lodge style/outfitted bird hunt. Thanks for any advice!

DirtyTough · Jul 12, 2017

I'm not a bird hunter really, but from what I can tell the pheasant population in ND looks really down this year. Also I heard they are worried about the hatch since its been so dry. Not sure how SD is doing this year but you might want to spend more effort researching there. They might also be looking the same though. Sorry I'm not more help.

Regards, Branden

littlebull209338 · Jul 13, 2017

We have hunted with SNAKE DEN Lodge in Preshow SD several times and had a very good experience. They have excellent golden labs which they breed and train, lots of good land and a reserve area where you can double your limit. The food and lodge are very good and the family makes you feel like family.

muliehntr1017 · Jul 13, 2017

Definitely focus on researching South Dakota. North Dakota will be a waste of time for the next few years with the winter they had.

Tyler Holderby · Jul 13, 2017

If you do an outfitted hunt, birds won't be a problem. Most operations raise there own birds.

Gator · Jul 13, 2017

Pen raised birds released on hunt day are pretty easy to find and kill.
We release mature hens in the spring and try and put them out where we see wild ones(roosters and hens) on the roadside in the morning before mating season starts. They seem to do pretty good that way,all their young are wild as march hares come hunting season.
Over several years it really shows on the amount of hens seen during the hunt season.

I go back every year and hang out with family and friends nothing like home cooked meals and cold beer.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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WestNDMuleys · Jul 13, 2017

Not a huge pheasant hunter myself, but in western ND I hear a lot of guys saying the pheasants will be struggling after our winter and for how dry it has been this summer.

Chacoblue777 · Jul 13, 2017

Thanks all for the advice and comments! I hadn't realized North Dakota was in such bad shape this year. Good to know!

Also, I am only interested in wild birds, not going all the way there to hunt pen raised birds. Thanks again for the comments and suggestions.

littlebull209338 · Jul 13, 2017

The birds at SNAKES DEN are wild and can be a real challenge! The first time we went I didn't know the ropes and when I got out of the pickup I slammed the door...literally.. over 100 birds took off. The hunting up there is a little different than most are use to with 12-18 guys walking a field. The best position for an old guy is the end of the field "blocker" or the side of the field. Lots of shooting! If someone kills a hen they call the warden and they come and give a $100 ticket and do not make a big deal of it but it is easy to do with that many birds flying. NOT THAT I DID IT!!! We have several put & take type pheasant hunting companies here on the front range and they are not even in the same league, by a long way.

Chacoblue777 · Jul 13, 2017

>The birds at SNAKES DEN are
>wild and can be a
>real challenge! The first time
>we went I didn't know
>the ropes and when I
>got out of the pickup
>I slammed the door...literally.. over
>100 birds took off. The
>hunting up there is a
>little different than most are
>use to with 12-18 guys
>walking a field. The best
>position for an old guy
>is the end of the
>field "blocker" or the side
>of the field. Lots of
>shooting! If someone kills a
>hen they call the warden
>and they come and give
>a $100 ticket and do
>not make a big deal
>of it but it is
>easy to do with that
>many birds flying. NOT THAT
>I DID IT!!! We have
>several put & take type
>pheasant hunting companies here on
>the front range and they
>are not even in the
>same league, by a long
>way.

Good information! Thank you!

LoneWati · Jul 17, 2017

x2 for Snake Den in Presho.

Muley_73 · Jul 17, 2017

Bad River Bucks and Birds was amazing last year. All wild birds and a tremendous experience. Pheasants, prairie chickens and sharptails. Can't wait to go back. If you're interested I can get you more information.

cheeseheadinOHIO · Jul 17, 2017

My buddy and I have hunted SD for pheasant three times. We prefer to stay at a local motel Days Inn in Pierre and dine out where we want. State capital and airport nearby. We hunt Broken Arrow Farms about ten miles out of town. www.huntbrokenarrow.com They provide the dogs and lunch. We do the Day Hunts. It is a preserve so you can pay to take more than normal limit if you wish. They raise birds to ensure good hatches, then release to the wild. Call Mark Haugan. We're going back this fall again. Check them out.

joesikora · Jul 17, 2017

Hey Cody, I've been chatting with your brother Scott about bear hunting. Looks like he's got the low down on a great hunt!

Joe

"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you
think their right" - 2001
"I can't argue with honesty" - 2005
-Joe E Sikora

Muley_73 · Jul 19, 2017

Joe,
They had a great time up there this spring. I think we are going to try and do it again in the next year or two. Right now I am trying to save pennies to go after Tur in 2019.

beelbug · Nov 10, 2022

Chacoblue777 said:
Hello,

I am hoping to plan a pheasant hunt in either South or North Dakota this fall. I am looking for a nice place with a lodge, meals, and dogs. Of course a place with lots of good birds. Will be flying in with a friend for the hunt. Anyone have any good leads or recommendations for a good pheasant hunt? I have never hunted Dakotas for birds, and never done a lodge style/outfitted bird hunt. Thanks for any advice!

Ive pheasant hunted North Dakota for 30 years, let me know if you are looking to head up there, I can give you some spots.