Obviously there are exceptions, but here are some generalities that apply to the part of the state I hunt, which is southeastern/east-central SD. Public land is about as challenging right now as it gets. No snow. Tons of cover of all types. Birds largely not grouped up, particularly roosters, & particularly during shooting hours. They're even tough to scout right now, because they're tough to see without snow. Although pheasants may be roosting on public land, most really don't need it AT ALL during the day. They know they're unsafe there, so they wake up, go to private land for breakfast at sunrise, & spend the entire day on private land before coming home to roost, hopefully during the last hour of daylight, but sometimes after sunset. Most roosters found on public during the day right now, are antisocial types, hanging out alone. Much public land right now lends itself way better to a single or pair of hunters, rather than larger group. During late morning & early afternoon, before they head back out for dinner/supper (depending where their parents grew up), hunting "skinny" cover can be a good bet. Something small enough that pheasants can be forced to fly, ideally within shotgun range. Food should be nearby (1/4 mile. Closer is better.). Roosting cover really need only be somewhat close, like within 1/2 mile to a mile. The closer you are to sunset, the closer you should be to roosting cover. Ditches fit this bill. Commonly bounded by picked grain on 1 side & the road on the other. Thick ditches! Cattails. Nasty tickets. Phragmites. 2 guys/dogs can hunt toward each other to pinch birds. But regardless, be quiet!! Hunt into the wind as much as possible & don't park close to an area, even a ditch, you hope to find a rooster. Park 100 yds away or more. Roosters can be found now, but unless you can hunt their private ground daytime loafing areas or their roosting areas, you've got to do something different than you did a month or 2 ago.
