E/SE SD conditions

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benelli-banger

Well-known member
Arrived after dark, snow looks helpful but not problematic…maybe 3-4” fell most recently, not much drifting that I can tell…friend of mine was here hunting during the holiday, snow wasn’t an issue…a help he said…
 
OnPoint-GSP said:
Aberdeen bound for two weeks. Will be my first trip any recommendation other than dress warm?
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Hand warmers for your gloves is a must, along with a neck warmer to protect against the wind. I would suggest to not overdress, as it only takes 10 minutes in a field to sweat right through everything you have on.
 
12 degrees with north wind at 13 gusting to 22…windchill -4. Not terrible, but the 4-5” of slightly crunchy snow mixed into the grass makes for harder than normal walking. Added an extra jacket, and an earband…hearing was impaired by wind, big time. 90 minute walk, had 8 flush within 20’ over the course of the walk, 5 within 6-8’…took a long shot at a rooster hung up in the wind, missed, and had 2 roosters get up at my feet, vacillated between which to shoot at, ultimately missed the one I chose…the 4 I got were close flushes, and fairly close shots…took the 10 year old and the 10 month old…pup is doing great, she’s an “alerting lab”…she freezes and alerts me that a bird is there…cool to see the rooster emerge from the cover and run 3’ before flushing…flushed about 7’ from me. Most of the 40-45 birds I contacted were near the end of our hunt, not sure why they were where they were…my buddy didn’t contact that many either til close to the end. Golf gloves were fine, and I had a stocking cap that was too small, so I cut the top off and made a headband so ears were covered. Phone says 3.5 miles…7100 steps…more like 2 hours? Nothing got cold, but not the easy and energetic walking like some hunts…
 
I'm curious on if the cattails/ponds have frozen over - they were wide open when i was there before Thanksgiving but the temps have certainly dropped.
 
wapete said:
I'm curious on if the cattails/ponds have frozen over - they were wide open when i was there before Thanksgiving but the temps have certainly dropped.
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I was out in eastern SD on tue and stepped through some ice in cattails. No big deal, the water was only about 6 inches deep but I was kinda surprised how easily I went through. I'm not exactly petite though, 240 lbs.
 
Wrapped up hunt today; 6 above at ten, still 6 above…slight wind, no ear protection needed as in hat, headband. Golf gloves were on. 2 of us hunting, about 2 hours 10 minutes, 4.7 miles. Not bad conditions, some snow, some drifts, nothing one had to think about walking around vs plowing through. 6 shot, none lost, many misses as well. Lots of pretty good dog work.,,I had my 3, my buddy has no dog, 8 year old lab put down 7 months ago due to cancer. Running 3 at a time quite a shit show, but I do it a fair amount. Lots of hens. First spot, a 1/3 acre cattail sloughs, loaded with birds…each got 1, cripples we had to hunt down across the road on CREP. 100 birds? 150? 200? Too many, regardless, once a bird is down and that search begins. Good hunt, good group (5), good dog work, no hurt dogs, some good grub, and I’m returning with 2 kittens…3-4 weeks old? Always something! 😁
 
They’re my buddies! Bottle feeding, as well as wet kitten food…several townsfolk are asking me about the kitty’s…I’ve had visitors and they enjoy them…I’m whacked, I get it…😆
 
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