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You can pick up a paper atlas at most gas stations. I primarily use OnX as you can research ahead of time on your PC (see aerial photos), make and review notes from previous years, and make a game plan. But the road maps in OnX are just terrible and Google is not much better. Need the atlas for...

The recovery time is a concern of mine. Seems like it was still in recovery mode from the 2017 drought.

Similar to what we saw - All WIAs were hayed and many of the WPAs hayed. CREP was mostly planted corn. And the freshly baled hay is stacked up next to the older bales from years past that were unused and rotting. Also frustrating to see the mowed down WIAs next to the unmowed private ground.

Silver Dollar - Aberdeen

I love SD and make several trips out there every year and also hunt closer to home in MN. SD is a special place with a lot of memories for many people. Certainly a lot more birds in the state and generally leads to better hunting, especially if you can get onto some lower-pressure private...

Quiet on here... Any reports from the resident opener?

It's a ghost town Thanksgiving week - great time to hunt. Never ran into anyone sitting on a field. Hardly see any orange vests/hats even out on the road.

Spot on here. Fill up the vest w/ 3" steel 2s or 3s and go hunting. Other than target loads, I have not bought lead shot in a decade.

My apologies to those who have seen this already - I know I have shared some of this in the past regarding the utility of the survey (RIP). The roadside survey does have inherent shortcomings: No two survey conditions (year-year) are the same, habitat on routes changing, ditch mowing, etc...

Hot is always the biggest challenge - I would definitely not insulate the topper. Dogs have fur and you can put hay in the box so they can nest in a bit. Blankets or kennel covers also help a lot when its really cold. A couple of things I have done to help: 1. Get a topper with sliding side...

I voted with my dollars. Took 5 trips to SD this year. BUT, packed in all food and booze from out of state - cooked and drank at the house. Not one dollar to the local economy, other than license fees and some pay-at-the-pump fuel. We usually dump heavily into bars and restaurants, but with...

We just got back from a 5 day hunt out there. Our 3rd trip out there this year. We lived in a bubble this entire trip because as has been stated - very few seem to care enough to take basic precautions even as their numbers go through the roof. We packed in all food and drinks, paid at the pump...

I have been in SD hunting since Wednesday. This heat is brutal for the dogs. My approach is to hit one good field at 10 before it gets too hot, then spend the rest of the day driving around scouting - hit small pieces of cover near water - maybe 15 minutes each. Swim the dogs before putting back...

Hunting the wrong cover? Have good dogs? This is a very different year than last: Crops are almost entirely out, just got 8-10" snow up there, temps are lower... Need to adjust to the different conditions. We just got back from that way and did very well (and have heard similar reports from...

Looks like the replies above clear up the question pretty well. For me, I have found it easier just to fill the vest with 3" #3 steel and get on with hunting. Have not carried lead in a decade and can't say I have seen any perceptible decrease in birds bagged. No longer have to worry about...

The higher ground is dry, but water levels still high out there. Not standing water in fields everywhere like last year, but lakes are well above normal level and tall cat tails in some spots where there would usually be grass/weeds.

First time I have heard anyone (other than my teenage son) refer to 10 am as "that early" :) I have always hated waiting until noon to hunt. Waste half of your day sitting around (many of which are precious vacation days) with dogs going crazy. At noon, you miss those stragglers still on the...

Correct

Randy - I don't know why one particular member has such a problem with your comments, but I don't think that applies to anyone else on here. I can't imagine how your comments would be interpreted as 'dividing America' or 'class warfare'. Your comments were matter of fact and complimentary to the...

Bacon-wrapped bites is by far my favorite method. Its a bit of work, but well worth it. 1/4" thick strips of breast on top of 1/2 piece of bacon, roll up and pin with a toothpick. Grill/smoke low heat for a while, then mop with BBQ sauce and caramelize on high heat. Another reason I like this...