Hunting Indian Reservations in SD

JPH

JPH

Active member
Looking at all possible options for do it yourself SD trip in 2009. Wondering what peoples experiences are hunting on Res lands? I know some are run better than others. I have heard the hunting can be excellent with access to good property. I have also heard horror stories about typical Res stuff w/ animosity towards outsiders. Looking at making a trip with my 14 year old son and don't need any unnecessary distraction. Wondering if anyone has first hand experience from this past season?
I talked with a biologist at Lower Brule. He said they had thousands of acres of WIA. Sounded good.

Any insights appreciated. Feel free to PM.


Thanks:cheers:
 
JPH said:
I have also heard horror stories about typical Res stuff w/ animosity towards outsiders. Any insights appreciated.

Thanks:cheers:
Click to expand...

JPH, I can't offer you any insight but it reminds me of Indian Chief Two Eagles...

Two Eagles was asked by a white government official, "You have observed the white man for 90 years. You've seen his wars and his technological advances. You've seen his progress, and the damage he's done."

The Chief nodded in agreement.

The official continued, "Considering all these events, in your opinion, where did the white man go wrong?"

The Chief stared at the government official for over a minute and then calmly replied. "When white man find this land, Indians running it, no taxes, no debt, plenty buffalo, plenty beaver, clean water. Women did all the work, Medicine man free. Indian man spend all day hunting and fishing -- all night having sex."

Then the chief leaned back and smiled. "Only white man dumb enough to think he could improve system like that." :D :D
 
I have not hunted LB res for birds but have shot P-Dogs there the last few years. I have never had any problems. I did see some Pheasants and chickens. The walk in areas that I saw did not seem like they were great pheasant habitat. You can hunt some of the deeded land but you must get permission and they sometimes charge a fee. A read a magazine article that said Standing Rock or Cheyenne reservations were suppose to be good hunting areas I think they are cheaper licenses also. I think it was in either Outdoor life or American Rifleman which talked about it.
 
OK that article sounds like the typical BS you hear about the reservation. Of course everyone knows someone who had a bad experience from hunting reservation ground but few have had bad experiences themselves. Last year I hunted PD and fished around crow creek 12 times. Yea the town is dirty but the people are not bad at all. What the writer of the article did not tell you is they have a fairly decent hotel at Fort Thompson. Like a modern day Holiday Inn type. Every summer thousands of fisherman come and stay at that hotel and park there $40000 boats filled with rods and electronics and never have anything stolen. The casino serves alright food and most of the gamblers you will see are white ranchers. The reason not to hunt reservations is not because of the people but finding birds on WIA.
 
I have hunted the Standing Rock reservation the last two years with no problems. I stayed at the casino across the river from Mobridge (very nice people and rooms, price is only $45 per night, food is not great. I have also stayed at the casino at Prairie Knights (north of Fort Yates), great people, roooms and food, $65 p/n. License is only $75 dollars for all year and the season opens up a week earlier than the state season. For $5 you can get a map of all the open hunting areas on the reservation, most of it is open. I left my boat in the parking lot and had no problems. Oh, I got my limit everyday except for one, just me, my wife (she doesn't hunt, walks and takes pictures) and my lab "Dakota". More deer hunters than bird hunters.
 
Thanks for your insights. Like i said I am trying to gather any and all info before planning anything solid for 2009. I have never hunted SD , but I want to make every possible attempt at a quality hunt since I am traveling 1000 miles, and only have a few days to hunt.
I ahve considerd the WIA, paying trespass fees, and the reservations. Open to any options that are self guided. Just want to be able to hunt ground that has birds.

Keep the info coming.

Thanks again.
 
JMBZ71 said:
JPH, I can't offer you any insight but it reminds me of Indian Chief Two Eagles...

Two Eagles was asked by a white government official, "You have observed the white man for 90 years. You've seen his wars and his technological advances. You've seen his progress, and the damage he's done."

The Chief nodded in agreement.

The official continued, "Considering all these events, in your opinion, where did the white man go wrong?"

The Chief stared at the government official for over a minute and then calmly replied. "When white man find this land, Indians running it, no taxes, no debt, plenty buffalo, plenty beaver, clean water. Women did all the work, Medicine man free. Indian man spend all day hunting and fishing -- all night having sex."

Then the chief leaned back and smiled. "Only white man dumb enough to think he could improve system like that." :D :D
Click to expand...

JMB, you are flippin priceless my friend. I laughed so hard when I read this I almost had to go change the undies.

You rock! You got all these great posts hidden in this forum I had to go "hunt" them out.....;)
 
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