Newbie in Sioux Falls looking for partners

L

Leftyhunter

New member
Hi ,
I just got settled into Sioux Falls. I used to live in the LA area and have done some upland, waterfowl and deer hunting in mostly California.
I have never hunted ring neck pheasants as the California Fish and Wildlife Service as far as I know stopped planting them years ago and the local predators keep their numbers low.
I unfortunately don't have a dog but I have money for gas and food. I also enjoy fishing as well. My background is I am 63 and spent most of my working career in armed security in LA. If interested or just want to meet in person then please PM me.
I do have a 2003 Nissan Xterra which I could drive if that helps.
Leftyhunter
 
I'll suggest what worked for me when I moved here to Sioux Falls 23 years ago. Join DU, Delta, PF, and SD Wildlife Federation. Attend some meetings and banquets. Get to know like-minded others. Also in the mean time, try to figure out a way to start building a few land owner relationships.
I'd take ya out but I'm currently without dog so until we find a new pup the only solo hunts i'm doing is road hunting.
 
For hunting without a dog, I would recommend walking ditches along gravel roads and 2-track section-line roads. Look for good cover in the ditch, next to harvested corn or soybeans. When you shoot a rooster flushed from a ditch, there's a real good chance it falls in the harvested field and is easy to recover. If it hits the ground alive, ground-sluice it right away. It's legal to cross the fence to retrieve the bird, just make sure and leave your gun in the ditch.
In my experience this is by far the best way to bag a rooster hunting solo without a dog. Walking in a field with heavy cover, or in cattails, you're gonna lose a lot of cripples without a dog.

There aren't a ton of good ditches around....it takes some driving/searching to find them. I'd recommend getting 30-45 min NW, W, or SW of SF.
I found this photo from a couple of years ago on my phone....I took it because of the deer trotting across the road, but it's a good example of a nice-looking ditch to walk.
 

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roadscholar said:
For hunting without a dog, I would recommend walking ditches along gravel roads and 2-track section-line roads. Look for good cover in the ditch, next to harvested corn or soybeans. When you shoot a rooster flushed from a ditch, there's a real good chance it falls in the harvested field and is easy to recover. If it hits the ground alive, ground-sluice it right away. It's legal to cross the fence to retrieve the bird, just make sure and leave your gun in the ditch.
In my experience this is by far the best way to bag a rooster hunting solo without a dog. Walking in a field with heavy cover, or in cattails, you're gonna lose a lot of cripples without a dog.

There aren't a ton of good ditches around....it takes some driving/searching to find them. I'd recommend getting 30-45 min NW, W, or SW of SF.
I found this photo from a couple of years ago on my phone....I took it because of the deer trotting across the road, but it's a good example of a nice-looking ditch to walk.
Click to expand...

And with bird numbers up, ditches are decent options this fall. Got my 3 last night in a 1.5 mile stretch of minimum maintenance road while on the way out to the river to fish.
 
Leftyhunter said:
Hi ,
I just got settled into Sioux Falls. I used to live in the LA area and have done some upland, waterfowl and deer hunting in mostly California.
I have never hunted ring neck pheasants as the California Fish and Wildlife Service as far as I know stopped planting them years ago and the local predators keep their numbers low.
I unfortunately don't have a dog but I have money for gas and food. I also enjoy fishing as well. My background is I am 63 and spent most of my working career in armed security in LA. If interested or just want to meet in person then please PM me.
I do have a 2003 Nissan Xterra which I could drive if that helps.
Leftyhunter
Click to expand...
I'm putting a thumbs down on California in general, but if you PM me I know a farmer out in that Sioux falls area
 
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