benelli-banger
Well-known member
Well, almost end of the season…hope to get back out to SD once more. Started in early September hunting sharpies and huns…love that hunt, love that country! Thankful for water in sloughs and stockdams…because such a warm time of year, that water was awesome for the dogs…light cover helps the dogs as well, not common to cause overheating, but hunting early in the am helps that as well. Had a few weeks between the final sharpie trip before SD pheasant opener, did some ruffed grouse hunting around home…should have done more, best year in a LONG time per those out in the woods a lot…many guys were getting limits regularly, even up to 12/31…I missed the boat, but that’s ok. SD was very dry, and moderate to warm temps, even up to 1/4/24, my final day of my recent trip. Lots of habitat was mowed, plowed, cut, etc…downside to the temperate, dry weather. $6,000/acre farmground, or $200-$300/acre rental prices, will do that. Luckily my area got lots of ground enrolled in habitat programs, which will offset the habitat losses, but I still cringe when I see it happening.
I‘d say birds were up in most areas, as I hunt same spots year after year, can discern trends from prior year…not huge increases, but increases. I saw sloughs with hundreds of birds, and they weren’t huge sloughs…ten acres? Fifteen acres? good sign…certainly drew birds from many directions, but there were birds to draw. Very thankful for safe hunting pals, healthy body that allows me to walk all day if need be, and healthy dogs that avoided any injuries. Have figured out a simple, inexpensive, and reliable dog bootie system for my dog with sensitive pads. My Orvis $25 ear plugs are awesome, very thankful to have discovered them last season. Lucky to have farmer friends that are generous and hospitable who put up with me and my pals! Our cooking and hydrating in the evening with our local farmer friends is always the highlight of the season! Food is usually edible!
...beverages are always wet!! 
. Shooting was good this year, but some spectacular misses nonetheless! This season only confirmed my penchant for lighter guns, open chokes and standard loads as far as velocity and amount of shot…usually #6 lead in the real early season and then #5 lead once pheasant season opens…whether shooting sub-gauges or a 12 gauge. Had no vehicle problems with the exception of a flat tire caused by bean stubble…one of my close farmer friends has a tire shop and a hired man who will fix flat tires…very lucky to be 5 miles away when I discovered my tire being low…but the 40 minute walk I just had finished buoyed my spirits no matter what my vehicle‘s condition! I really feel lucky to not have had any inclement weather in the course of my trips this fall…never fun. Will pray for adequate moisture, but no wicked blizzards…birds in great shape thus far, not always the case. Hope to have many more seasons, ideally like this one…
I‘d say birds were up in most areas, as I hunt same spots year after year, can discern trends from prior year…not huge increases, but increases. I saw sloughs with hundreds of birds, and they weren’t huge sloughs…ten acres? Fifteen acres? good sign…certainly drew birds from many directions, but there were birds to draw. Very thankful for safe hunting pals, healthy body that allows me to walk all day if need be, and healthy dogs that avoided any injuries. Have figured out a simple, inexpensive, and reliable dog bootie system for my dog with sensitive pads. My Orvis $25 ear plugs are awesome, very thankful to have discovered them last season. Lucky to have farmer friends that are generous and hospitable who put up with me and my pals! Our cooking and hydrating in the evening with our local farmer friends is always the highlight of the season! Food is usually edible!
...beverages are always wet!! . Shooting was good this year, but some spectacular misses nonetheless! This season only confirmed my penchant for lighter guns, open chokes and standard loads as far as velocity and amount of shot…usually #6 lead in the real early season and then #5 lead once pheasant season opens…whether shooting sub-gauges or a 12 gauge. Had no vehicle problems with the exception of a flat tire caused by bean stubble…one of my close farmer friends has a tire shop and a hired man who will fix flat tires…very lucky to be 5 miles away when I discovered my tire being low…but the 40 minute walk I just had finished buoyed my spirits no matter what my vehicle‘s condition! I really feel lucky to not have had any inclement weather in the course of my trips this fall…never fun. Will pray for adequate moisture, but no wicked blizzards…birds in great shape thus far, not always the case. Hope to have many more seasons, ideally like this one…
