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Taking more roosters will help hen winter survival. Roosters take best cover and available food sources and harass hens. Most guys won’t hunt in January. I see the changes as positives.

I think it’s more about people are not going on vacations this summer because of COVID. I guess some feel it will be safer out in SD. I tend to agree. SD has had one of the lowest number of cases in the US.

Thanks for the replies. I bought the guns. I really like the S & W 20 gauge. Very nice scrolling and pretty dark wood. It will be my “club” gun. I’m a Browning guy so I’ll use the Gold Hunter for a variety of hunts.

Have opportunity to buy a couple of shotguns from a friend who needs the $$$. He inherited these from Grandfather. First is Smith & Wesson 1000 20 gauge auto and other is Browning Gold 12 Gauge Auto. Both guns are in great shape. No marks or scratches. He wants $775 for both. Deal or no deal?

I have been fortunate to hunt a family “Working” farm with good habitat. We pay $150 a gun per day. The farmer has not increased their price once since we started back in 2006. 100% wild birds. I’ve hunted public land and The cover was good but with hunting pressure we saw very few birds. I...

I think this could potentially backfire on them. So you advertise and all the nonresident hunters come to South Dakota claiming “ birds are everywhere“! Guys come out and only shoot a few birds for the group or they find a public place and it’s loaded With other hunters. If they have a poor...

It’s still early but the dismal pheasant survival reports coming out of parts of SD should help the the outfitters who supplement pen raised roosters for their hunting grounds. More guys may opt for that next year. I was on the U-Guide site and found this comment interesting by a dissatisfied...

Feb 22-24 Schaumburg, Illinois Who’s going? I will be going on Saturday!

Spent the last week on private land in Faulk and Spink county’s. Here is a snapshot of what we saw. We have hunted same land last 15 years. 2017 was the worst year we ever had as bird numbers were terrible. 2018 is better. 1. Birds are up about 15-20%. 2. You had to hunt near corn and water. 3...

Field Crops Report: Corn condition rated 2 percent very poor, 4 poor, 23 fair, 52 good, and 19 excellent. Corn silking was 76 percent, well ahead of 41 last year and 47 for the five-year average. Dough was 10 percent, ahead of 1 last year and 2 average. Corn 🌽 May come out early this year...

A friend of mine has a Browning Citori 725 20 gauge field. Says it only has 10 rounds through it I have seen the pictures and it looks really nice . He is asking $1850. Is this a fair price? I look forward to anyone's opinion. thanks, Bob

Haven't seen many opening weekend reports? My guess is birds are down for most of the state otherwise we would have some bragging going on here.

Just got off the phone with the farmer where we hunt and he did not paint a good picture. He said the SDGF got it right with roadside counts. He said a large hail storm hit the area in July and thinks "it wiped out a lot of chicks". So much damage was done to to corn crop by the hail that they...

It's May and its nesting season. The first 2 weeks of May is when the majority of the hens will be on nests. A hen will lay 1 egg a day until she lays between 12-14 eggs. She does not sit on the nest until all eggs are layed. What we do not need is any freezing temps. The 10 day outlook looks...

My Grandfather has left us 2 boxes of Winchester 348 Silvertip rounds. The boxes have to be from the 60's-70's and in great shape. I googled them and most prices are around $75-$90 per box. Does anyone know why so expensive? I'm unfamiliar with this gun and ammo but it is a large cartridge. Thanks!

I am heading out to get my new SM pup on 12/13 and have an opportunity to hunt a couple days near Athol, SD. Anyone hunt near here this year with a bird report? Thanks.

6 guys, 3 dogs leaving Illinois 7:30am. Sleeping in Watertown, Sd tomorrow pm. Hunting Sun- Wed private ground. Will report in next Thursday when we return. Good luck everyone. Bob

My 75-year-old father is one of our "Professional" Blockers. He can't walk like he used too but he will tell you that the "Best shots block" and the the rest walk. Anyhow, I think he must get tired holding the gun push after push and ends up with poor form. He will get the nastiest bruise after...

I have a soon to be 7 year old Small Munsterlander. Best hunting dog I've ever had. Getting another SM pup this Winter. So, should I get another male or go female. Not interested in breeding the dogs. I love my Gunner as he is a big strong male and hunts all day. What are advantages or...

Went yesterday from Chicago down I-57 south to Champaign then West on I-74 to Bloomington then North on I-55 back home. Combines were out in full force taking both Beans and Corn.