Update to the optimism post earlier!!

[dawgs14]

A buddy of mine just got back from SE SD and he says the pheasants are thick! He said the most encouraging thing is what the locals are saying in terms of 24 season survivors, excellent moisture, and size of surviving broods. Looking good for sure. Come on October!

 

[Al Bonkers]

Yeah, no "Death Valley Days" so far this year. Everything is still greened up.

 

[That1uncle1776]

I haven't been scouting much yet, but im not seeing the numbers during my day to day activities as I witnessed last year.

 

[Fireman03]

I was in eastern sd a few weeks ago and young birds were everywhere on the backroads

 

[gim]

I covered a crap load of miles for work between Redfield, Mitchell, and Huron the second week of July and there was actually too much water then. It was standing all over the place in ditches and fields, and it rained hard twice too.

Not surprising that everything is still lush green.

 

[A5 Sweet 16]

Horrible conditions. No pheasants in SD this year. So bad we may never recover. Plan your trips to Iowa & North Dakota this year.

 

[Labradinger]

Im in the toilet of SE SD. Numbers are not great here. I see nothing driving a half hour every day. I imagine that west of me is far better.

 

[3birds]

A buddy of mine just got back from SE SD and he says the pheasants are thick! He said the most encouraging thing is what the locals are saying in terms of 24 season survivors, excellent moisture, and size of surviving broods. Looking good for sure. Come on October!

Southeast South Dakota
We haven’t really been seeing as many birds along the roads as expected
Moving some cattle this week and just about everywhere we went flushed up nearly grown birds
Plenty of insects - grasshoppers and cover
Starting to hear roosters crowing in the evening. All over
I think we’re seeing the effects of several years of nest predator control - everyone I talk to comments on birds in locations where they haven’t seen them in years maybe ever. It made the habitat we have more productive and when we finally got an easy winter things were set up for success
We are out of drought for the first time in half a decade. Nobody will be cutting hay on CRP this year. If you can handle heavy cover and a little wet hunting This fall could be exceptional

 

[That1uncle1776]

Im in se sodak. Actually got out to scout and terrorize road ditches today. There are birds but idk its hard for me to tell until its fridged. Lots of doves and canada geese tho.