SoDak hunters......let's here about opening day?

I had a wedding today, so wasn't able to go, but I got a report from the group that I usually hunt with and at 3:45, they had 23 roosters in the truck, so I'm guessing they were a pretty happy group of 8 men and a gaggle of labs..

Edited because of a recent text at 915.

"We filled out with the last bird shortly after texting you. The rest of the bird reports are not good around here. A lot of 1/2 bird per guy reports... its all about habitat...
 
Last edited:
I hunted some ground near Winner today. A quarter that has reliably provided quick opening day limits for a group of six produced only seven birds today. Five of the seven were very young roosters, two were last year's birds.

To be fair, there's an awful lot of corn still standing, which results in the birds not being concentrated in areas where they would typically be found post harvest. I suspect our numbers will indeed by down, but not by the sixty percent that the GFP estimated a month or so back. I'll add that while traveling to and from Winner, I didn't see nearly the number of hunters I typically do on opening day.
 
I got a text a little while ago from some guy's west and south of Pierre. 6 guys shot 11 birds. All crops are still standing in that area, which we all know can make the hunting pretty tough, even when there is a bunch of birds. He has had 5.5 inches of rain since oct 1st. With the cooler weather, nothings drying out very fast. He is hoping to get on it next week:thumbsup:. Me too:)

Talked to another guy east of Pierre today. 12 guys had a limit by 5 on private land.
 
Last edited:
Opener

And here I sit.......................................:(

I hope they get the crops out soon, so I can then venture over and try to find some birds.
 
Two hunters, 2 Pudelpointers, Lulu 16 months and Mazzie 8 years, six birds, the last about ten minutes before sundown. The dogs were great and we shot only this years hatch birds and really had to watch closely. I passed up a number of not absolutely sure shots. Pic is Lulu.
 
Uncle Buck said:
Two hunters, 2 Pudelpointers, Lulu 16 months and Mazzie 8 years, six birds, the last about ten minutes before sundown. The dogs were great and we shot only this years hatch birds and really had to watch closely. I passed up a number of not absolutely sure shots. Pic is Lulu.
Click to expand...
Opps. Here is the pic.
 
Two of us hunted north of Aberdeen on public land. 6 birds by about 4:15. I am happy
 
Gatzby said:
Two of us hunted north of Aberdeen on public land. 6 birds by about 4:15. I am happy
Click to expand...

that sounds good, but did you see enough birds that a 6 man party could have filled? 2 guys is an easy fill, I know, I have done it many times.
 
hunter94 said:
that sounds good, but did you see enough birds that a 6 man party could have filled? 2 guys is an easy fill, I know, I have done it many times.
Click to expand...

We did not see 18 roosters. We didn't need to, we shot birds and enjoyed some nice dog work. For me it was a great day. And today was just as good, maybe even a little better.

Oh and congradulations on the many 2 man limits you have filled!
 
Hunted polo area. Six guns and ended the weekend with limits both days. Definitely had to work harder than past years but Honestly it was the best hunting I've had in two years. Enjoyed actually hunting and not seeing as many birds. On a side note the birds were very young most from last year.
 
Well the numbers were really down and it was good in some areas and not in others. It was a real education in just how hard it is to know what's going on during the year, what I consider as the best area on the farm was a real bust yet an area that has been down was really good--go figure, the harvest I think was part of it(standing corn near by=tough hunting). The opening day group includes the chance to hunt a REALLY REALLY GOOD spot about 20 miles away and it was down about 30% or so and was just good instead of outstanding.

Bottom line: I had the chance to limit both days but had a little of the can't hit anything problem. If you come to SD this year you are going to have to HUNT to get your birds. :cheers:
 
Gatzby said:
We did not see 18 roosters. We didn't need to, we shot birds and enjoyed some nice dog work. For me it was a great day. And today was just as good, maybe even a little better.

Oh and congradulations on the many 2 man limits you have filled!
Click to expand...

my only point is, last year when me and a buddy were killing 2 man limits every day, we were easily seeing 100 to 200 birds each day....I know good hunting is a limit, in this case 6 birds...but not for long, if you can't see 18 birds each day...just a thought.
 
numbers down

Birds seemed to be in the larger corn fields and were very tough to catch on the edges. Corn is really tall so the birds didn't flush they ran, and if you did get the birds to flush in the corn you couldn't draw a bead on them because the corn was so tall you had a second and zoom they were gone from sight. Blockers got some actioin but in my opinion our blockers need to spend more time shooting clay pigions because they couldn't hit water if standing in a boat in the ocean.

Once the corn gets harvested I think there will be a chance for more action. Road ditches and sloughs and tree belt cover is all looking good so far this Fall. So unless the farmers get mow happy the birds will have cover this winter. just my 2 cents
 
Talked to a few groups this weekend...
Faulkton - 8 hunters, 9 birds- private
Redfield - 4 hunters, 9 birds - public
Doland - 12 hunters, 8 birds - private
Orient - 8 hunters, 15 birds - private
I hunted today - 5 hunters, 8 birds - private
2 buddies hunted public CREP - 5 birds
Number of bird seen by all groups was much lower than last year. Several guys said worst bird numbers they have ever seen. The private ground we hunted today was outstanding, but saw about 100 birds. Other guys said they normally see 500-800 each day. I ran new pup this morning by the house and got up 1 rooster and 1 hen in about 30 minutes. Was a great day.
 
Hunting Miner Co. On Private land. I've got my limit all 3 days thus far (and to my surprise)! I hunted the same piece of property last year and numbers are better than last year by far. Seeing a lot of young birds too! I love it here!
 
imagine if you hunted west of there wear there are more birds you would be well just as happy if you limited out each day... i swear 1 guy with a good dog is better then a army of guys just walking the birds to death i seen it in action this last wk-end 9 guys missed alot of birds on opener me my self with 1 dog kicked up 45-50 birds wish you the best of luck on ur last 2 days in SD may u limit out again both days!!!

i just talked to a dentist that was out in SD for 5 on private land he left after 3 days just no birds in the area worth hunting he was mad!!! be happy you are on birds wear u are not everybody is as lucky this season!!!
 
Last edited:
I have yet to flush or see a rooster on public land this year. Yesterday I never even flushed a hen. I tried to hunt a public area with a corn field bordering the south side and a corn field to the east across a minimum maintenance road. I hunted it for 2 hours before sunset and I never saw a bird fly out of the corn to roost in it. My dogs didn't even get birdy. It's going to be a long season.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top